Mohsin Baig.

"Rashid Zara"

"Sir, intel has it that he was in Dubai when Defence Minister Pokhriyal was shot dead in his bathroom. Nothing surprising there. I mean that's the pattern they follow. The mastermind hides in the bushes while their gunmen do the dirty business. I suspect he is the root." Rohan speaks looking at the projector which is displaying Rashid's image.

" If that's the theory then it could be Raheem also. Considering he has had more stones in his way due to Minister Pokhriyal than Rashid. He was in a supposed underground meeting with other chiefs as Mr.Pokhriyal breathed his last." I counter and the others nod in affirmation.

"So what's our move Sir?" Since Altaf Sir isn't here, I am issuing orders on the cases. This is the difficult part. Everyone under suspect needs to be interrogated and these fuckers won't cooperate. I wonder how Altaf Sir managed this.

"Send an enquiry notice to both of them at the same time." I command and we conclude the meeting.

I ask Rohan to print the update for when I take it to Altaf Sir's place. Even though I called the actions, I take his advice over everything. I am just waiting for him to get back to his health and resume charge.

The rest of the day passes in reading case files. After the officer timings are over, I walk out not before collecting the case file, heading towards Khan Villa.

I rub my temples as I think of that woman. Mahira Khan, that crazy fierce wanton woman. I blame my stars for aligning with hers, like why on earth did I ever think attending that wedding three years ago was a good idea. I was there in a decent black blazer and jeans, just to honour Altaf sir's wish never in my wildest dreams thinking I would be the groom myself.

I hadn't seen that failure of a bastard who left her alone, on her wedding but I knew for sure he didn't deserve to be Sir's son in law. Ever since I got married that day, I always had this question nagging me. How could someone like Altaf Khan choose a pesky, coward motherfucker to be his son in law. It got answered last week, his brat of a daughter is crazy for him.

Even after three years of his deceit and him not looking back to check up on her even once, she still lives for him.

Normal people would by now have forgotten the incident, and moved on. Maybe find another guy, the right one this time. But no, the great Mahira Khan has to be still stuck in the past, planning a revenge that I know will backfire upon her and thinking of him. My jaw clenches unconsciously as I recall how her eyes shone with a deep intensity whenever she thinks of him.

Whatever. I don't care what she does in her life. I just want out of this marriage of convenience. Altaf Sir asked of me, and I knew I couldn't refuse him. After that, I just left for my UPSC preparation. I never thought about this relationship much. It was just a burden, an obligation I was deemed to fulfil for all the things Altaf mamu did for me.

Though he is my Mamu, I never address him that because I respect him too much. He helped my dad with his business when things had gone downhill for us. I still remember that shaky phase as a teen, dad was bankrupt, mom diagnosed with tuberculosis which is treated now Alhamdulillah. He stood with us like a pillar, and I know I would do anything he demands me to.

I stop the car near the gates, getting down and click the Bluetooth as I hear a call notification.

"Assalamualaikum Mama! Kaisi hain?" It's been a while since we last spoke.

"Walaikumassalam beta. Main badiya hun. Tune khana khaya hai na? Ya ab tak bhooka hai?" She begins her usual complains.

"Mama relax! Main khalunga, abhi main Altaf Sir ke ghar par hun."

"Altaf bhaijaan se yaad aya, unhone mujhe call kiya tha pichle hafte. Mujhe unhone saamne se to nai kaha, lekin mujhe unki baaton se andaza hogaya ki wo tumhe hi apna damad banana chahte hain. Waise to tum ho hi, ab rukhsati hojaye to Hira hamare ghar ajayegi. Maine Nikaah ke waqt hi kaha tha ki saath saath rukhsati karwalete hain. Par tum nai maane, ab to tum khud kama rahe ho. Ab kya problem hai rukhsati mein? Kyun der kar rahe ho?"

I rub my temples contemplating whether to tell her about her favorite Hira or not. The only reason she wants this marriage is to avenge the bastard.

"Mama mujhe nai karni rukhsati. Mujhe wo pas..."

"Chup kar khotiye! Zyada bakwas na kar. Hira meri bahu hai, bas usse ghar lana hai. Seedhe se jakar bhaijaan ko bolde ham agle hafte rukhsat kar lejayenge hamari dulhan. Aur agar aaj haan nai ki, to dekh liyo kya hoga." With that she cuts the call.

Why did the most stubborn women land into my life is beyond me. I sigh in exhaustion, if she comes before me again I don't know how long I can keep my temper in check. The stunt she pulled yesterday was so cheap, my blood boils on its memory.

First I lost my shit when I saw her laptop playing that man's video, he looks the cheat that he is. Then when I questioned her, she left me dumbfounded with the bold move. I should have pushed her away the moment her soft hands landed on my skin, at that exact moment something within me felt a jerk. For the first time in years, my rationale had given up on me. But the next words that left her mouth surely threw me back into reality.

She is a fool if she thinks I believed her, the lie was clearly visible in her eyes but the fact that she could fall so low just to get back at me was unbelievable. Whatever, I don't have time to think about such useless matters.

I stride into the house meeting mami on the way who as usual invites me for a meal and I politely decline heading towards the studyroom where I know Sir will be waiting right now.

Just before I reach for the door, I am hit by something feminine, I know it with the smell. My reflexes come to life as I quickly balance myself before we both went tumbling down. In the process, I had to hold her forearms to save her from the fall.

My file is in floor, and I am already irritated with this woman whose hair are all falling all over my face and she wouldn't get off me, I am bent here in an awkward angle. I want to push her away so badly, my patience is on a thin line. The lady slowly raises her head to look at me, and I want to puke when her overly strong perfume hits my nostrils. She is a petite redhead, maybe she has dyed them. I don't care and I need her out of my arms, before I could push her away, a familiar voice separates us.

I quickly straighten myself and look back at Mahira's horrified expression which is soon turning into rage. Why are all women so dramatic?

I shake my head picking my file up, I can hear footsteps as she hurries towards us, she stands before me such that she is now in between me and that girl who I now realize is checking me out. Mahira snaps her finger before the girl to break her trance and it seems to work as she now focuses on her.

"Ramsha, are you okay?" She asks her in a not so worried tone.

"Call me Rams, and won't you introduce to me this fine young man?" She speaks in a thick British accent keeping her creepy gaze solely on me and now that I notice her attire, which hides absolutely nothing I can't help but mutter an Astagfirullah even though I am not that religious.

I quickly look away choosing to focus on an annoying and unattractive Mahira than her. Mahira seems to be fuming for some reason as she moves slightly to cover me completely from her eyesight. She still can't hide my face, which might be why she turns her murderous eyes to me signalling me to get out of here. I roll my eyes at her stupidity, why the drama when she clearly doesn't like me.

That seems to add to her rage, "Mohsin, are you leaving or should I make you?" Her seething eyes and flushed cheeks for some reason make her look beautiful, otherwise she isn't pretty at all.

Keep saying that, you might believe it someday.

I shrug my shoulders at her, giving her a challenging look. Before she completely bursts on me, I decide it is safe to enter the study now. Just as I enter, Mahira shuts the door telling something to the girl along the lines of this not being her England to eyerape men.

I can faintly hear the accent girl saying 'He was worth millions for just looking'. Even I cringe at her disgusting remark. Then I hear a loud bang which I am sure belongs to Mahira, her threat rings in the air a moment later.

"He is off limits you bitch. Stay away from him or the last thing you will live to see is my hands on your neck."

I freeze in my steps as I hear her thundering voice. I didn't know she could pull off the bad girl look so well. I look up to see Altaf Sir smirking at me, he is upto something and I am sure it is not good. Don't tell me he heard the entire ordeal.

I greet him settling down before his desk. He is still smiling at me, something tells me his next words are going to change my life forever. And man did they change it!

"I hear wedding bells around the corner, Baig."

Fuck.