One year later
Zain and Esther went to park for a walk. They both sat down on a bench facing the lake. Esther kept her head on Zain's shoulder and Zain started playing with her hair. They talked about random topics and enjoyed their icecream.
"So….when are you planning to propose me?" Esther asked hiding her face in his chest. Zain got surprised with her question and looked at her.
"I saw the ring you bought!" Esther added.
"You saw?"
"Mmm!" Esther nodded her head.
"Ahh..I was planning to propose you on valentine's day!"
"Really?"
"I hate you! You should have pretended that you didn't see anything!"
"No, you love me!"
"So… Is it a yes?"
"I think so!" Esther said.
Zain smiled like a fool and kissed on Esther's forehead.
"Ring?" Esther asked pouting.
Zain chuckled and took out a small box from his pocket and opened it. Inside it was a not so big, yet beautiful ring. Esther forwarded her hand and Zain slipped the ring on her finger.
"Did you like it?"
"Loved it!"
Zain interlocked her hands with her's and kissed on her knuckles, making Esther smile.
__________________________________________
Zain drove Esther back to her mansion. He pecked on her lips and said "I love you!"
"Love you too!" Esther replied.
"What's wrong dear?" Zain asked looking at the tear filled eyes of Esther.
"Nothing!" Esther said hiding her face.
"Dont hide anything from me!" Zain said, holding her hands.
"It's nothing, I just got…emotional....Zain, thank you so much! If not for you, I would have been still grieving over my lost. Without you…I...Thank you!" Esther said,in tears.
"Baby, I love you! You don't have to thank me for anything! " Zain said, cupping her face with his hands.
Esther took off her wedding ring ( Oliver's and Esther's wedding ring) and also the chain on which she kept Oliver's ring. She showed Zain her left hand and said
"I'm keeping my fourth finger free for you."
Zain hugged Esther tightly. He also shed tears of happiness. He placed small kisses on both her cheeks and said.
"Now you are mine! Only mine." Zain said.
"No, it's you who is mine!"
"Bye!" Zain said.
"Bye!" Esther was about to get off the car but turned around and said
"Have dinner with me!" Esther invited him.
"No, you go on!"
"No, you are coming with me! I am your fiance! You have to obey all my orders!" Esther said playfully.
"As your order, My lady!" Zain said bowing his head. Esther giggled hearing this.
Esther pulled Zain along with her.
As they went inside, they saw a person sitting on the couch. Aunt Evelyn was standing beside him, with a worried and terrified face. Esther's hands balled into fists seeing the person. Zain also stood there, shocked.
That person ran towards Esther and hugged her tightly. But Esther stood there like a statue, without hugging him back, without knowing how to react.
Her hands started shaking. Her head started spinning..
"Esther!" he called her affectionately. A tear escaped Esther's eyes as she called the person, her sound came out as a mere whisper…