Aashiq (2)

 

Rafiq's POV

What are the chances that she would wake up and leap at me like a startled cat, mistaking me for a creepy thief standing in her room?

0% because, 

She was so deeply asleep that she barely stirred. Wrapped snugly in her grey sheet, only her delicate face was visible, with her pink cheeks glowing softly in the darkness of the night.

I stood there, watching her like a lovesick fool, feeling as if I were a ghost in her room. The space was old and smaller than her previous one, yet her beauty shone brighter than ever, captivating me completely.

In that moment, I felt as if she were the moon in my sky, illuminating my world with her presence. The don of Lahore had lost his heart to this small angel long before I even understood what it meant to love.

After three long, agonizing months, I was finally seeing her in person again. My cell phone vibrated in my pocket, and I sighed, knowing it was time to leave her side. But soon, I would take her with me, and we would be together again.

As I moved out of her door, I walked through the main gate, carefully opening it and locking it with the duplicate key I had made.

I noticed my two trusted men sleeping against a tree, standing upright, but they quickly woke when they heard the clink of my shoes on the pavement.

"Boss," they greeted me, and I glanced at my Rolex watch, cursing under my breath. It was already 2 AM. I had been lost in her beauty for three hours, completely unaware of the time.

I guess I was addicted to her, just like an alcoholic craves their next drink.

(Bewada ☠️) 

"Tum dono ne acha kaam kiya meri gair haziri mein," I praised them, and they puffed their chests out with pride, a small smile spreading across their faces.

"Mai sheher mein hoon toh ab zyada chaukane raho. Koi aanch na aaye un par," I ordered them, knowing that the enemies' focus had shifted to me since I had landed in Lahore. 

I patted their shoulders, allowing them to rest for the night. They had worked hard in my absence, always sending me photos of her and keeping me updated on her life while ensuring her safety.

As I drove my car through the silent roads of Lahore, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Her eyes had not sparkled with their usual liveliness, and her smile seemed smaller than before. Though she still blushed like always, there was an underlying sadness that I could sense in my heart.

For the past year, things had soured between our families. Dalia's father- my phupho, had fallen into bankruptcy and was taking loans from dangerous gangsters.

My dadajaani - the eldest in our clan, had advised him against this path, offering his help, but he had declined and even fought back.

Everyone in the Zaveri family could see that Dalia was being neglected by her own father and his new family, but phupho refused to acknowledge it.

As a result, our conversations had dwindled over the past year. I had left for my exams in Dubai and had only just returned today.

I needed to find out what was happening with her because my little cute kitten couldn't be suffering.

If anyone dared to lay a hand on her, I would rip them limb from limb and made the streets bathed in blood. I had always protected her in school, and I would continue to do so.

I reached the magnificent haveli, leaving a piece of my heart with my kitten.

"Rafiq!" A warm body enveloped me in a hug, and I smiled, returning my mother's embrace.

"Salam, Ammi jaan," I said, kissing her forehead, but she shot me an angry look.

"Itni der se kyun ghar aaye tum!? Adil ne kaha ki tum shaam ko hi Lahore aa gaye the. Phir aadhi raat ko ghar kyun aaye?" she accused me, her voice laced with concern.

"Ammi... aap toh jaanti hi hain na," I replied, but she looked at me, confused.

"Arey badi ammi, aapka ladla beta meri sautan se milne gaya tha," came the teasing voice of Zaid, my cousin.

He made a kissing pout and came to hug me, but I pushed him away. "Dur raho, Zaid!" I cringed at his antics.

"Areyy baby, tum toh mujhe bhul hi gaye," he acted dramatically, and the others in the house laughed at our playful banter.

I greeted everyone and exchanged pleasantries.

"Salam Nawab," an elderly voice called out, and I turned to see my idol, dada jaani, approaching me.

"Dada jaani, Salam," I said, taking his hand and placing it on my forehead, showing utmost respect.

"Aise hi Zaveri khaandan ka naam roshan karo," he grunted, and a swell of pride filled my chest. I looked at his aged face, feeling a pang of sadness as I noticed the white in his hair and the way he leaned on a stick for support. Yet, despite his frailty, the room fell silent whenever he entered, for he was the former Don of Lahore, the greatest of all.

He smiled knowingly, as if he could sense my worries about his health, and patted my head gently. We settled down in the living room while Ammi served me halwa, a comforting dish that reminded me of home.

I had recently made a significant deal with international mafia, and dada jaani had shared the news with everyone. It was a big deal in the underworld, which is why I had become the talk of various countries.

Don after don from different nations had invited me for new contracts, but I had declined them all, wanting to avoid any complications in the future.

Everyone looked shocked at my decision, but Ammi and Abbu blessed me, and we all agreed it was time to rest.

"Nawab," dada jaani called out as I helped him settle into bed. He coughed and reached for his inhaler, a sign of the tension that had settled in his chest.

He looked worried, and I knew why.

"Dada jaani, aap fikar na karein. Aapka yeh Nawab... iss ghar ki amanat ko kuch nahi hone dega," I assured him, holding his palm firmly.

He nodded slowly, and I waited for him to say more.

"Ruksana, sapne mein aayi thi hamare. Kuch toh bahut galat ho raha hai, Nawab," he said, recalling his late daughter- Dalia's real mother.

His words confirmed my fears. There was indeed something troubling Dalia, and I could feel it deep within me.

He looked lost in thought, pain etched across his features. I held his shoulder and said, "Dada jaani, mujhe par bharosa karein. Main Dalia ko kuch nahi hone dunga."

"Har hadh paar kar jaunga uske liye," I declared, anger and possessiveness clouding my mind.

"I know. Tum jao ab, aaram karo," he said, patting my head once more. I nodded, watching him as he prepared to sleep. I left the room after he closed his eyes, the weight of the night pressing down on me.

The darkness enveloped me, and despite my restlessness, I eventually fell into a fitful sleep.

The next morning came too early, and I was sleep-deprived, but what mattered most was meeting Dalia. I craved to see her, to breathe in her scent, to have her close to me once again.

"Zaid!" I kicked open his door and slapped his back, causing him to wince.

"Arey bhaijaan, sone do!" he groaned, but I poured water on him, waking him fully.

"Ammiii keher baras gaya! Haye khuda!" he screamed like a maniac, and I watched his antics with boredom.

He was such a terrible actor.

"Keher toh main banunga, agar tu utha nahi toh!" I warned him, and he grunted in irritation.

"Kuch kaam karna hai tujhe mera. Aaj hi," I said, my tone serious.

"1 crore dena padega, bhai jaan," he replied, a goofy smile spreading across his face.

"De dunga. Pehle kaam kar," I said, and he looked shocked, jumping off the floor.

"Waah waah, main toh crorepati ban gaya! Lekin aap itni jaldi kaise maan gaye!? Pakka Dalia bhabhi ka kaam hoga kuch," he said, dancing around the room.

I shot him a look to stop messing with me, and he instantly dropped his childish act.

I laid out the plan for him, and he was ready to execute it without hesitation. 

We had breakfast in silence while Zaid worked on his plan, the air thick with anticipation.

"Aaj bhai jaan aaye hain, toh main soch raha hoon, bahar dinner par chalte hain," Zaid announced, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Haan, bilkul! Party toh honi chahiye," Anisa agreed, her excitement shining through.

I looked around the table and saw everyone nodding, except for Adil. Our sharp-eyed sniper was too busy staring at Anisa, completely forgetting about his food. What an idiot.

"Toh phir sab aa rahe hain, toh... phupho ko bhi bula lete hain," Zaid suggested, and the mood in the room changed instantly.

The last time he came to the haveli, my father and he had a big fight. It had been a year since that incident, and the tension still hung in the air.

"Dalia bhi aayegi," Ammi said, her voice filled with longing, as if she missed her daughter like a mother would.

"I miss Dalia too," Anisa added, looking sad. Almost immediately, Adil jumped in, eager to cheer Anisa up. "Toh bula lete hain!"

He was completely blinded by his obsession for Anisa.

Dada jaani coughed, and we all turned to him, waiting for his approval.

"Bula lete hain," he finally said, looking at my father, who nodded in agreement. Finally!

He would call phupho, and I was sure he would agree to meet us to fix things.

I spent the rest of the time working on shipments while Adil trained new shooters in the training room. Adil was set to go on a mission for the mafia. I had made a deal with the Sri Lankan mafia, and they had chosen Adil for it. It would be tough, but Adil was the best shooter, so I knew he would handle it.

Zaid was busy managing meetings with ministers and gathering support for the upcoming elections.

Soon, evening arrived, and I dressed in my best kurta set, determined to impress my little kitten.

On my way out, Zaid winked at me, and Adil nodded as they left with other members, while I accompanied dada jaani.

The restaurant we owned was a beautiful mix of traditional Pakistani style, with intricate woodwork and bright colors that reflected our culture. The smell of spices filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation.

As we took our seats, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. I was waiting for Dalia's family to arrive, and my heart raced at the thought of seeing her again. I was completely captivated by her, madly in love, and I couldn't help but feel a strong desire to protect her.

When she finally arrived, she softly said "salam," and we all returned the greeting. She was covered from head to toe, but I could still see the beauty in her eyes.

She sat beside Ammi and Anisa, and my gaze was glued to her. I watched as she laughed at Anisa's jokes, her laughter ringing like music in my ears. My mother lovingly fed her, and I felt warmth spread through me, knowing she was happy again.

Abbu and phupho exchanged polite words, but the atmosphere was filled with unspoken feelings.

Dilroz was ignored by most of of the members that seemed to made her anger rose. 

While Ursh focused on food and ignored me. I knew he feared because one time in his school, I beat his friends for passing comments on Dalia. Dalia didn't know that. Only Ursh and I did. No one mess with MY babydoll, no one ever will. 

After dinner, we enjoyed some sweets, and I decided it was time to drop the next bomb because I feared no one.

"Dalia," I called her name, and she looked at me instantly, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Taking the papers from Zaid, I handed them to her.

"Yeh kya hai?" she asked in her small, cute voice, and I could see the confusion on everyone else's faces.

"College admission form," I replied, and her eyes widened in shock, just like the others around us.

Everyone, even dada jaani, looked confused, not knowing my plan.

"Admission ho gaya hai. Bas joining karni hai," I explained, watching as phupho took the papers from Dalia.

"Nawab? Itne bade college mein admission? Hum itni fees nahi de sakte hain, Nawab," phupho said, my eyes showing no emotion looked at him.

"Dalia ki padhai ka kharcha main dunga, phupho," I declared, and Anisa nearly spat out her water, creating a scene.

"Nahi, Nawab, yeh sahi nahi hai," phupho protested, but I was ready for this.

"Ruksana phuphi ki yahi khwahish thi," I countered, and that made him fall silent instantly. I knew he would always respect his late wife's wishes.

Ruksana phuphi would be proud of me for this. Dada jaani looked at me, and he understood what I was trying to do—taking his granddaughter home, where she would be loved and cared for.

Phupho nodded and handed the paper back to Dalia. She looked happy, and when her eyes met mine.She smiled and my heart exploded. I would bring hell to earth if she would smile so softly at me. 

It was finally time to leave, and we stood outside the restaurant waiting for our cars to arrive.

While phupho booked a cab, Anisa stood near Dalia and said, "Phupho, ab toh Dalia college jayegi, toh shopping bhi jayegi na! Please isse haveli bhej dijiye? Sirf kuch dino ke liye?" She pleaded, and phupho looked stressed.

"Han Amir, kuch dino ke liye bachi ko haveli aane do," my abbu said, and ammi joined in.

Phupho looked towards his wife, Dilroz, and she nodded, though her expression was not happy. It was strange; she didn’t seem excited about Dalia leaving.

Finally, he agreed, and my plan was complete.

Now, my little kitten would be under my watch, in my territory, and maybe, just maybe, she would be under my body on my bed as well. 

A smirk grew on my face, and my eyes showed my raw desire for her while she blushed and looked away.

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