Caught In A Cuff

Making It Alone

Aleesha's POV

"Okay baby, now get up fast and get ready. You are getting late for Zara's Haldi. Have you packed your bag? Arman inquired on the video call. He always calls me to wake me up, its like my days start with him and ends on him."Not yet, love, I did not get the time to pack it. But don't worry I'll manage to do it now. I just hope mom has packed her bag" I said 

" Then go and find out. Don't waste any more time. Bye love you and call me once you reach the venue ok?" Arman said." Okay, boss. Love you more."I replied before hanging up the call. I kept the phone aside and rushed downstairs to reach mom." Mumma...Mumma..Where are you?" I called out for mom loudly while running down the stairs." I am here in the kitchen" she replied back. I went into the kitchen She was busy preparing breakfast." Mumma, have you packed your bag? We have to leave for the hotel as soon as possible. We are already very late.". I said tensing my forehead." No Aleesha, I can't come with you. You will have to make it alone. I did not get the leave sanctioned for three days and secondly if both of us will stay at the venue then who is going to look after the house. We can't leave it vacant for three days. One of us needs to stay back here."Mom replied. " What? Are you kidding me? First Arman and now you are also ditching me at the last moment. This is not fair mom." I disgusted at Mom." That is because I and Arman, both have our own valid reasons for not coming with you. We don't have any other options,. Arman just can't miss the most important business deal of his life and O cant just come and enjoy the wedding rituals for three days leaving everything on hold. I have an office to go to." Mom replied irritatingly. Her tone made me even more upset. " Okay, if that is the case then even I am not going anywhere alone. What will I do there alone?"I said and turned around to leave." And what are you going to say to Zara then?You are her only friend and she loves you like her own sister and you are saying no to her wedding. What kind of best friend  are you?" I stopped in my way listening to what mom just said. " Listen, my baby, look I am sorry that I am not coming with you but think of Zara also. She does not have her mother, she has no siblings. Just a father who never paid attention to her and was always busy making money out of his business. You are the only one closest to her from childhood. Don't you think it would be unfair to her if you don't go." Mom said tapping on my shoulder trying to convince me. She was right. It was me with whom Zara shares all her feelings. I am her only emotional support since childhood. She will be heartbroken if I won't go. I smiled back at mom in agreement to what she said. " Good, Now go and get ready fast and do not worry about the packing  I have already done it for you. So just go and get ready." Mom said smiling at me because she knew my reaction."Really???..Thank you, mom. thank you thank you thank you. You are a lifesaver. I love you ..mmmuuaahh." I jumped on my place and hugged mom giving her a peck at cheeks and then ran towards my room in a hurry. I instantly took a bath, pulled out the yellow Anarkali that Arman bought for me yesterday, and wore it with a pair of silver oxidized jhumkas and bangles, putting a small silver bindi on the forehead. While walking downstairs I noticed mumma who just stopped serving breakfast at the  table and looking at me with a big smile on her face." Such a beautiful daughter I have." She said still smiling. " Like mother like daughter," I said and seated myself on the dining chair. I had my breakfast and meanwhile booked a cab for the venue. The cab arrived in the next five minutes and I left the place.

Hasan's POV

The whole night I could not blink my eyes even for once. I just could not get that girl out of my mind. Her beautiful brown eyes possessed me all over. It was not only her beauty that made me mad about her but also that infinite innocence that she had. I kept asking my men again an again if they found out anything about her but the answer was always negative. I don't know but something was very special about the grace of her that I could not get her out of my mind. She was not like other girls out there. She was different."Hasan" I heard Amma calling out my name by softly knocking the door of my room.I quickly opened the door for her. She looked at me puzzled. "Hasan, why are you not ready yet? Come on get ready fast and join everyone down at the lounge downstairs for breakfast. The Haldi ceremony will begin in an hour. Come soon." She said shuffling my hair." Okay amma you go and have your breakfast and I'll join you  in fifteen minutes." I said and directed t=my guards to accompany Amma. I went in and took a quick bath. I pule d out the yellow kurta that I bought yesterday. The kurta again reminded me of those pretty eyes. I was about to get lost in the dreams of my mystery girl again when my phone buzzed. It was Abdul's message saying" Sorry sir, I was not intending to disturb you by calling. But it was urgent so I had to message you. The meeting with the Sheikhs have been fixed for the day after tomorrow but its Zara's wedding on that day. So what are we supposed to do now? Will you be able to make it to Dubai? We will have to leave tomorrow."

" Handle it on your own Abdul. You and I are not different. I trust you with everything. I know you will make it work alone. you leave for Dubai tomorrow with all the necessary documents." I wrote back.

" Okay, sir as you say"Abdul replied. I kept my phone on the table and got ready s fast as I could and left the room.