Remarkable

3

"Assalamualaikum, Mom. What's up?" Armineh asked, tucking the phone in the crook of her shoulder as she flipped through the pages of the contract of privacy that Ardashir had failed to deliver last week by himself.

"Betay, Ahsan, Mrs. Bukhari's son is on his way to your office. I sent him there. Please see that you meet him, yes?" Armineh heard some shuffling then her mother's a deep breath as she sighed into the phone when Armineh's silence greeted her.

"Armineh, forget what happened last week. Not every man is going to follow in the footsteps of that walking disaster, forget everything he said. Okay?"

"Mom... it's my office. I can't have you mixing my private life with my corporate world," Armineh ignored her mother's plea, her fingers stilled on the pages of the contract.

"You don't want to see them at home, you left me no choice," Sabeeha declared angrily through the phone.

"I am sorry. How will I ever identify him? and please ask him to sit in the cafe instead of trotting to my cabin. It does not reflect well on me if I have different men coming to my office without an appointment, every other week, mom," Armineh released her breath that she had been holding as the words flowed out of her mouth.

"I understand, betay. Will you meet them at home then?"

"Anywhere, just not at the office so what does he look like?" Armineh chirped, trying to pull a smile on her face as her mother's mood lifted.

"Oh, he is one handsome boy, Armineh with a strong set of jaw and a kind smile. I am sure, you'll be drowning in his steel eyes."

"Mom!" Armineh exclaimed as her mother described her prospective husband to her. She laughed at her mother's enthusiasm, her shoulders shaking with mirth when her phone vibrated in her hands.

"Hey, mom? Hold on a minute, please. An unknown number is calling."

"No-No. I forgot Mrs. Bukhari. She's in the living room, I told her I was going to bring her some snacks, and here, I am talking to you," Sabeeha smacked her forehead, shaking her head at her forgetfulness.

"Mom, I don't think I'll be their ideal daughter-in-law after what you have done," Armineh said amidst laughter, her mother joined her. Her sweet laughter ringing in her ears, Armineh imagined the curve of her mother's lips and the glow on her face.

"Allah! Betay, utter nice things. Come home, early," Sabeeha reprimanded her pessimistic daughter and cut the call before Armineh could say bye.

Her phone rang again as the unknown number flashed for the third time.

"Assalamualaikum, is this Miss Armineh?" A manly voice resounded in her ears when she put the phone to her ear.

"Yes. May I please know who am I talking to?" Armineh questioned, her eyes drifting past the words of the contract.

"Oh! It"s Ahsan Bukhari. Your mother gave me your number in case I needed to find you, you know-" Armineh heard the hesitation in his voice and bit the inside of her cheek.

"Of course, Are you in the building, yet?"

"Hmm. Just going to pass through the metallic gates. Hold on a second, please."

"Do you think you can find your way to the cafe? I'll meet you down there in five minutes?" Armineh stood from her seat as she made her way to the washroom to freshen up a little.

The man she had met a week ago, must have been a walking menace on Earth with his misogynistic views. Even in the 21st century, she had yet to personally meet a man until last week who was aversed to the idea of women gaining an education and working. Unfortunately, for her Mubashir, the man whom she had to see was the very man who degraded women and considered them no more than a breeding machine to produce sons only. Armineh spent no longer than ten minutes in his presence to realize she wouldn't want to do anything with him even if he were the last man on Earth.

"Okay. See you," Armineh cut the call, she only hoped Ahsan wouldn't turn out to be like Mubashir.

❇

Armineh scanned the cafe, her gaze jumping from one person to another when she thought she spotted Ahsan. He was looking around like her, trying to spot her.

Ahsan had been typing away on his phone when he heard a throat clear. He looked up to find a beautiful woman standing in front of him as she twiddled her thumbs, an obvious sign of discomfort, dressed in pastel pink Kurti and trousers. Ahsan immediately stood up.

"Are you Mr. Ahsan Bukhari?" She spoke in a strong voice yet delicately as if her words would fail her, hinting at her nervousness. She was beautiful with her sleek eyebrows, straight nose. Ahsan found his eyes fixed on the glimmering nose pin and then pinned her with his silvery gaze as he flashed her a smile, gesturing for her to take a seat across him. Her long chocolate brown hair cascaded down her back, a few strands teasing her face as she raised a nimble finger to tuck them behind her ear. His hands itched to do the same. He knew he was besotted.

"Yes, and you must be Armineh."

"How did you find me?" Ahsan asked, taking a seat in front of her as he tried to shift his eyes from her but it was nearly impossible with the beauty she beheld. He admired the chic interior of the cafe and taste it delivered as he sipped his tea, pushing a coffee cup towards Armineh.

"Please."

Ahsan had been reluctant at the idea of his mother sending him to meet one of the girls after he had returned from England. He wanted no girl who could barely look after herself. He was twenty-eight, he wanted a woman. A strong, independent woman who despite her strength, he could protect, cherish and love. Someone who could match him, understand him, who could be at par with him and his intelligence. He was a barrister and had graduated from UCL for nothing. Someone like- he found his eyes fixed on Armineh, again. He had heard a lot about her and he was impressed even before he had met her. How couldn't he, the woman was practically famous in the corporate circle for her achievements, her unbeatable determination, and her intellect. Ahsan reprimanded himself for acting so silly and he had just met her. He loosened his tie as he rested his back against the cushioned chair.

"Lucky guess," Armineh said, playing with the rim of the coffee cup as she recalled the same encounter with Ardashir. His name was like a splash of cold water on her face. Good Lord! I need to stop thinking about him.

Ahsan chuckled at her reply and he bowed his head, in vain efforts to control his eyes. Armineh gave him a half-hearted smile once he looked up.

"Armineh, Don't you drink coffee?" the words smoothly rolled off his tongue especially her name, thick with the British accent and she swooned internally. She was still a girl, deep inside fawning over English folks.

"I don't actually but thanks a lot." She said looking into his piercing gray eyes, hooded with curled eyelashes. She appreciated his profile, the sunlight dancing around his fair skin sharpened his already prominent features with golden brown hair falling over his forehead. He was one handsome man.

"We'll order something else for you, then." He was charming through and through as he waved for a waiter and ordered her a glass of orange juice, she didn't object, it was her first preference. Armineh hadn't expected this, she only hoped he wouldn't be a misogynist or a narcissist like her former suitors.

"No, thank you. Mr. Ahsan, what do you do?"

"So the interview has already begun?" Armineh nodded for him to continue," Then I shall happily oblige, Ma'am" Armineh could have giggled like a schoolgirl but she controlled herself." I am a barrister, practicing in England, earning quite a lot for a single man. I have a mother my father passed away when I was six. She never married, again." Before Armineh could apologize, he interrupted her," It's all right you don't have to say sorry. It was a long time ago and I don't feel bad anymore, I just miss him. It's only natural that I do. No siblings and I have solely returned to seek a wife so she can make a dent in my savings and If I must say, I think- I know that I have found her." He smiled at her, mirth shining in his eyes. Heat crawled up the arch of Armineh's long neck, diffusing in her cheeks with a pretty pink hue. 

"What about you, Armineh? And please don't call me Mr. Ahsan. It's way too formal for two people who are simply getting to know each other and it makes me feel old. I am all but twenty-eight years old," Ahsan grumbled, the smile still didn't leave his face and he was very talkative while she could barely put five words in a sentence.

"Ahsan, I am twenty-six, working as an Assistant Vice president here, earning quite a lot for a single woman." Armineh gave him a meaningful glance, struggling to stop herself from smiling too much as he showed off his pearly white teeth. If only her mother was here." My father passed away last year. It saddens me a lot that he had left us early in life but Every soul shall taste death. I have a mother, obviously and an elder sister, married. Oh! And I have a beautiful little niece, namely Sara."

God! What he would do to pursue this woman and marry her.

He didn't like the sadness that washed over her face when she talked about her late father, he didn't know what it felt like to lose a father because he had been young then but he knew what it feels like to be without one. He sympathized with her.

Armineh's phone rang and she scrambled to her feet, accepting the call without even looking at the caller ID. She spared a glance at Ahsan, "Please, excuse me."

"Armineh, it's Ardashir. I just called to inquire about the Privacy contract. My assistant told me she hasn't received the papers back, yet."

"Of course, Mr. Ardashir. I have them actually, I'll deliver them first thing, tomorrow," She spoke in one breath, she hadn't expected him to call.

"Have you gone through them? Does it need to be drafted again?"

"No, sir. I have signed it. If that's all..." She paused, not knowing what else to say without sounding rude.

"Yes, that's all. I seriously hope I didn't catch you at a bad time. I have been warned that you are a very busy woman," She could detect a hint of a smile in his voice when he spoke slowly, deliberately tormenting her.

"Don't embarrass me, please." He heard him laugh at her muffled reply. She grimaced, it seemed she had succeeded in dully entertaining both men.

"Okay, I won't speak of it again. Are you at the office? Alone?" He asked.

"At the office but not alone, Sir. I have a friend with me and others."

"Ah! That's good. I'll see you, then. Bye." He quickly cut the call. The moment she mentioned her friend, the air of cordially disappeared.

Ahsan watched as she returned to her seat, biting the inside of her cheek and lost in thoughts, her mood had dampened significantly. She had been smiling only five minutes ago, he wondered who was on the call.

"Armineh, are you okay? If you don't feel too good, we can do this some other day but I'd like to see you, again." He said with an innocent smile that might have sent another woman's heart racing but not hers, his eyebrows furrowed in concern for her. Armineh began to feel suddenly very guilty.

"I would love that and Thanks a lot for your concern, Ahsan." She said smiling, gratefully, he was truly a gentleman as they both stood up.

"It's not a problem, I like your smile and I would love to make you smile." He was smooth as well in his casual flirting, it wasn't his fault that he hadn't grown in her society where she might as well have tarnished her reputation merely by sitting with him, alone.

Armineh blushed despite her reservations if she had thought she was one of those women whose heart won't race then she was probably wrong because his words had managed to make her heart trip with the dazzling smile that he bestowed on her.

Ahsan lightly touched her sleeve, stopping her beside him as he turned to her. She was tall, taller than most women as she reached his shoulder. He could imagine just standing there that she would fit graciously under his chin if he were to hug her.

"Armineh, I won't lie. I know this was only our first meeting but I like you if I hadn't made it clear, earlier and I would very much appreciate it if we can see each other soon that is of course, if you'd like to."

Armineh nodded and he could jump for joy. She was glad he hadn't imposed on her but rather felt the need to ask for her opinion. She didn't know, he valued her opinion. He was raising in ranks on her list with every minute.

"Okay- Okay. Just go home, early. I don't feel right leaving you all by yourself here but it won't be right if I stay here, either. It's practically empty and it's maghrib." He glanced at his watch, he needed to leave and find a mosque as soon as possible if he didn't want to miss his prayers.

"Will you wait for me? I'll be down in a minute, I need to fetch my bag then you can see me off. If that's okay with you?" Armineh suggested rather hesitantly. Armineh didn't find it nearly impossible for her to marry Ahsan anymore but it was still too soon to say anything.

"It'll put me at ease. I'll be at the entrance?" Armineh nodded, her eyes twinkling and Ahsan wondered if this was her genuine smile. Ahsan watched her as she hurried to the elevators, only to disappear behind the closed doors and then he turned around to wait at the entrance.

❇❇❇

Anaam stood in the corner of the room, glaring daggers at the woman who refused to look at him or any other person for that matter in the room.

"Ma'am, please. Reconsider your decision, you'll be in police protection. No one will do anything to you or your daughter." Saleh said, placing a hand over his chest as his eyes flitted between raging Anaam and calm Alizeh.

"That man doesn't deserve to walk out on these streets, freely. He should be behind the-"

"Thank you very much for all that you have done but I must repeat he didn't do anything to me, therefore, I can't complain. Whoever complained on my behalf needs to get their facts, straight." Alizeh said, slowly. Her voice rough due to her sore throat. Her hard eyes shifting from Saleh to Anaam as she met his angry gaze head-on, challenging him to say anything against her.

He pulled his lips in a straight line. Of course, he couldn't because he wasn't the victim. He wasn't the one who had suffered at Imad's hands.

"I'd like to rest, now." Alizeh turned to the nurse as she nodded, sympathetically.

"I see."Saleh grated out, looking at Anaam.

"Sir, I'd have to ask you to leave." The nurse said, looking at Saleh and he shook his head in affirmation as Anaam followed him, out.

"What is she trying to do?" Saleh asked Anaam as he rubbed his forehead, exiting the private room.

"Hell, if I know," Anaam forced out. "Just Don't let him out anytime soon. Try to keep him locked up for as long as you can."

"I would but lawyers are a pain in the ass. He'd be out in a day or two. I didn't let him contact his lawyer last week, at all but orders came from above, yesterday to release him. My superior learned that I had been keeping him without any complaint, all thanks to that woman." Saleh smacked his lips, together.

"What about the restraining order?"

"I can get it if you can convince her."

"I'll call you," Anaam told him as they shook hands and he patted Saleh on the shoulder. "Thanks, man! I don't even want to think what could have happened if you hadn't reached on time."

"No use, wasting time on what-ifs but please do explain that to her. How do you even know her?"

"Acquaintance," Anaam uttered, looking away from his friend.

"Okay. I'll catch you, later." Saleh said, if Anaam wanted to tell him, he would have. He could barely keep secrets and it sure didn't look like they were just acquaintances because his concern clearly explained what she meant to him. Anyone with eyes would see that.

Alizeh didn't turn to look at him even as she heard the door, close.

"Do you realize what you have done, Alizeh?" Anaam grated out as he placed himself on a chair beside her hospital bed. He was angry with her. Angry was a small word for what he felt. He was livid. His hands itching to throttle the life out of her so-called husband and her if he could without dying in the process, himself.

"Why did you take the complaint back?" He spoke calmly but Alizeh would have been a fool to believe that. The blood in his veins was boiling with fury.

"I asked why the f**k did you take back the f*****g complaint?" Anaam reiterated, loudly. Alizeh would have flinched if she wouldn't have been used to Imad shouting at her.

"I'll do as I please. You shouldn't concern yourself with matters regarding my husband and me," She said in a detached manner, still not looking at him which only managed to piss him off, more.

"Are you f*****g serious, right now? Do you f*****g realize what you have just said? You are an educated woman, Alizeh. A doctor, for f**k's sake. I expected better from you!" Anaam wanted to pull his hair at the incredulity of her words.

Alizeh spoke, lowly after a few beats of silence had passed between them.

"Why are you even here? Don't you have anything better to do than looking after strangers? Go and waste your time, elsewhere, please. No one needs you, here."

God! If her indifference didn't hurt.

"Wow! Stranger," A clap echoed in the room along with his mocking laughter as he quirked an eyebrow at her. "So, I am a stranger, now?"

Alizeh didn't deem his question with a reply as she closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted.

"A man who f*****g beat you to a pulp, you accept that he's your f*****g husband. You're going to lengths to protect him even in the condition that you are and you can't accept that I am here as your friend. Okay, I am not a friend. Can't you accept that I am a f*****g acquaintance and not just a nobody? I am the son of your father's friend." He paused, "For your sake, forget our familiarity even but I am a human, Alizeh. I couldn't have just left you to die that day and I can't just leave you, now."

He couldn't quite understand the absurdity of the situation. He didn't even hurt her and yet, she was pushing him away.

She didn't say anything.

"Do you have any idea as to what you have done? I don't think you do. Please, I'll remind you." Alizeh didn't miss his sarcastic tone.

"You barely survived that day from him. He kicked you! Punched you like a f*****g punching bag! Strangled you! You could have f*****g died that day. You have been in here for eleven days, now. Do you know he did a f*****g number on you? You might as well have been his f*****g masterpiece. The best in years." Alizeh's eyes welled up with unshed tears and a vein throbbed in Anaam's cheeks seeing that. If he could just get his hands on that son of *****.

Anaam got up from his seat, holding his phone in his hands, camera open as he closed the distance between them and picked her injured hand, lying by her side in a cast.

"Hold this!"

"Oh f**k!" He chuckled to himself as Alizeh looked at his fingers enclosed around her forearm in a gentle yet firm grip." Forgive me, it seems your fingers of this hand have been crushed." He uttered, lifting the other hand.

"Look at your face," He shoved his phone in her uninjured hand on her lap and stepped away from her, seating himself back in the vacant chair.

"Just look at yourself. Go ahead. Do you see the bandage around your head? I have been told your jaw's fractured. Can you see his fingerprints on your neck, easily?" Anaam inquired, gesturing to the red imprints spanning along her neck as his elbow rested on the arm of the chair. "Tell me!" His loud voice reverberated against the four walls and Alizeh whimpered, not because she feared he'd do something to her but she saw the blazing indignation in his eyes.

"Tell me, do you or do you not see the handprints of your husband on your neck?" He put a fist over his mouth, crossing an arm across his chest, his gaze unblinking, "The doctor told me about your cracked ribs, too. Do you hear yourself? I can and if you ask me, it sure sounds like a damned chore to even take a breath without hurting yourself."

"You wince, every. f*****g. Time," His eyes followed as she pressed her hands to her shattered ribs, shuddering when she tried to rein in a sob. "Let's not forget the bruises that decorate your whole body. Souvenirs, especially for you." His lips pulled at one corner.

He sobered, real quick, again.

"Your husband did that all on his own. This is domestic abuse, Alizeh if you're too blind to see and he deserves to be behind the bars so that he wouldn't hurt you, again. I did it so I could protect you and you do the damn opposite by taking the back the complaint, never mind, painting me as the devil rather than your sorry excuse of a husband," His chest heaved rapidly as he tried to hold his emotions. The sheer magnitude of his feelings baffled him.

"He is the father of my daughter. People will talk if he goes to jail and my daughter doesn't deserve this society's judgemental stares. I'll do when I know she won't be punished for his actions even if it is at my expanse." Alizeh said in a shaky voice, wiping her tears as the sincerity of her words resonated in his heart and he fell back in his chair, once again, unable to refute her claims. If only he could do something.

He opened his free hands and looked at his large open palms. He was free to do anything, he didn't see the rope tied around his wrists then why did it feel like his hands were tied?

Anaam blinked breaking the train of his thoughts.

"This isn't the first time, is it? You have only kept your mouth shut this whole time, haven't you?"

Alizeh didn't say anything to confirm his suspicions but in her hesitation, he found his answer.

He clenched and unclenched his hands, "You have been married to him for three years and this isn't the first time. Will you tell me how many times he has broken you like this, before?"

"Or worse?" He added as an afterthought. His head hung between his shoulders, he couldn't bear to look at her.

She was crying, her face hidden behind her small palms as her shoulders shook, and Anaam bit the inside of his cheek until he could taste the metal in his mouth.

"It wasn't an accident when I saw you all those months, ago." Anaam was vocal about his observation and every word, the truth of his words pierced her heart.

Three years and she had suffered at his hands. He hadn't been with her, then. Who looked after her? Her daughter? How did she manage to live like this? Did he hurt Sarah, too? Did she love him, so much that she had stayed with him despite all this? Will she choose to go back to him, again? How many days and nights had she spent in the hospital, before? Didn't Sabeeha aunty know anything about this? What about her sister? If they did why didn't they take her with them? What if they were as clueless as he had been? Why didn't Alizeh ever reach out to them?

Question after question ran through his mind as he stared out of the hospital window but he bit his tongue before he could ask out loud. There was no way he was letting her go without knowing the answers to his questions.

"Why are you doing this? What do you want from me? You barely know me," Alizeh whispered, he couldn't have heard her if he had been sitting any farther than he was.

"It's true, you don't know me but don't think I don't know you, either."

She c****d her eyebrows, in surprise. Of course, he had done his research when he had been making plans of marrying her. When he was still oblivious to the fact that she was a married woman, a woman too close yet far out of his reach. When he had first realized he loved her and wanted to spend his whole life with her.

"I told you I am-" He breathed, "-I am your friend, Alizeh."

"I don't want you to be my friend," He turned his head to look at her as he blessed her with a sad smile. His lips had only slightly lifted in both corners.

"I don't want to have to do anything with you," Her heart tripped in her chest as his smile vanished, completely, and turned his head, again to look out the window at the chirping birds.

It was hard to pretend you love someone when you don't but it"s harder to pretend that you don't love someone when you do.

"You're cruel, Alizeh. I'll give you that," He mustered up a smile that didn't reach his eyes as his heart wept in his chest. "Anyways, I consider you a friend. I gave my word to you and I don't go back on my words. No matter what, so the way I see it you have no choice. Whether you like it not, I am here and I will always be here for you." Anaam said as he stood from his chair and buttoned his blazer.

"I will do anything for you. Today, tomorrow, and every single day, after that," He vowed, earnestly.

"Do you do this for your every friend?"

"Yes but a little more for you. You're special," Anaam's eyes twinkled as he told her that and relished the blush that suffused in her cheeks as she bowed her head.

"You're leaving," Alizeh stated.

"Yeah, good observation," He said, giving her a thumbs-up as he opened the door.

"But-"

"I know, Alizeh. I know. Rest, I'll bring Sarah in the evening."