"Rehaan Sheikh!" Arslan acknowledge him forwarding his hand for hand shake.
"Arslan Siddique!" Rehaan replied in same tone,forwarding his hand and shaking his hand to his. Maintaining eye contact with him.
"I didn't get to know about your arrival?!" Arslan said with same hard expressions.
"So was i!" Rehaan said and smacked his head.
"Oww" Arslan whined and rubbed the spot where he was smacked by none other than his best friend.
"Nautanki! (Drama)" Rehaan said but his face broke out in happy smile.
Rehaan hugged Arslan tightly,he too reciprocated same favor.
Apparently Rehaan and Arslan were flatmates as when Rehaan was in USA,he used to stay with Arslan only. They both had been good friends when they were in India but during their stay in USA both became best friends.
But some secrets are always meant to be hidden and Aaliya was Arslan's Secret which he never shared with anyone except Raziya that too she discovered by herself. So,Rehaan didn't knew about Arslan's Love.
They both sat down to talk and to catch up on each other's work life. Arslan ended up giving details about the new change of shares in their company on which Rehaan was happy to know about the highest shareholder which was Aaliya.
After having full details about the shares,Rehaan somewhat seemed worried.
"What happened?" Arslan asked him sensing his worry,as by now everyone left them two alone in lounge.
"Don't you think that the shares Hamid dadu (Grand father) has announced on the name of Aaliya's future husband would put her in danger?" Rehaan was referring about the 5% of shares that Hamid Siddique has announced that will be transferred on Aaliya and her husband's name. Rehaan meant to say that even 5% of shares in Siddique Empire meant Billions and to gain that anyone would try to lure Aaliya in their love trap.
"I am not concerned about that!" Arslan said removing his eyes from him and looking behind him,where he was able to see Aaban talking with someone on call. As Arslan knew that no matter what he feels about Aaban but he would not trap Aaliya for her shares and Aaliya was happy with him that what matters.
Rehaan followed his gaze which was On Aaban but didn't say anything to him but somewhere he was restless thinking about the possibilities of Aaliya's marriage.
They all had their dinner together with different thoughts in different person's minds.
Arslan was guilty about his past behavior,Rehaan was restless thinking about her marriage,Aaliya was cautious with her every action in front of Rehaan, Raziya was sad about her brother's state and Aaban was anxious about his next step.
Aaliya was moving towards her room when Arslan went to her calling her by her name. Aaliya stopped in her tracks hearing his voice. She was in her trance but then she remembered everything she was thinking of whole morning and afternoon.
Raziya Appi asking her to think about his reasons,when she really focused on that part that he was never career oriented person,it must be something deeper than it looks. She has finally came on conclusion thinking thoroughly about it that he should be given a chance but not easily that too only if he proves that he deserves one.
Only if he proves to her that he won't leave her once again,she would surely not leave this matter like that only. She will find out his reasons her way by hook or by crook.
"Aaliya" he called while coming towards her in long strides.
She turned to him with blank expressions on her face,crossing her arms in front of her chest and in reply she just raised her eyebrows to him.
"I know as I already told you that i did grave mistake,I don't deserve your forgiveness but i am still saying please can you forgive me?" He asked with such vulnerable voice that made Aaliya to rethink on her decision but she still kept quiet.
"Everyone deserves one chance. I did mistake i accept it,i am asking apology from you for that. Tell me how can i correct my mistake?" He asked her again in a low whisper not having much courage to face her for longer time.
Aaliya's heart started to melt at his confession,she didn't wanted to forgive him like that only so she did one thing which she thought was right.
She turned around and went to her room. Arslan kept standing there staring at the sight with burden of his guilt and past mistakes.
"It's okay Aaliya, i knew when i decided to ask from forgiveness that it won't be easy! But if you are stubborn than so am i,I won't sit quietly till you forgive me." He whispered looking at her retreating back and left from there with a huff.
~*~
Aaliya entered her room and sat down on her bed,she opened her bedside drawer only to witness bottles of sleeping pills there,her expressions changed from confused to hard.
How can he just come back and ask for forgiveness one day? How can she even think of forgiving him that easily? Did she forget how miserable she got when he left her?
It was true that Arslan and Aaliya were cousins but for Aaliya,Arslan was her everything. He was her personal bodyguard,free advisor,best friend,protector,everything.
Aaliya never imagined her life without him before he actually left her! She was miserable when he left because from a broken shoe lace to her images in media,he had every solution of her problems.
Aaliya was never that close to even her own brother the way she was to Arslan. When he left she got depressed and developed Insomnia. Sleeping pills were the only thing she used to have to sleep in the night.
She had faced worst time when he left,she called him many times but his PA used to answer her every calls stating he was busy in meeting or something or other.
Even Aaban's confession was also not enough to make her happy and forget about him,then when she heard he was coming back she was ecstatic. She decided that she would be rude to him and as her Arsh bhai can not bear her rudeness,he would be hot on his tails to maneuver her but that never happened and that made her even more depressed.
It took her exactly six months to fight back with her depressing thoughts,that too only when Aaban got into an accident. She realized that her life is much more important to others than her own and it doesn't matter if Arslan doesn't care about her anymore,she have many persons to do that for her. She doesn't need anyone else now to show her worth.
She worked hard after that incident,she was now no more bubbly,happy,cheerful person but now she have turned into cold,arrogant personality which only cares for her family except Arslan at least that's what thinks.
She engrossed herself completely in her work cutting out herself from his every thought or memory but than he came back like none of these happened and asked for forgiveness.
"No,Arsh Bhai.It's not easy at all!" She whispered to herself and went to her walk in closet to change in to her night dress.
~*~
Hey guys!
Finally updated..phew!
Thoughts?
This is a part of Aaliya's State that how was her life when Arslan left!
Next one I'll try to show about Arslan's part,that how was his state when he left!
So,till next update,Allah hafiz!