Sanari burst through the hospital doors. Tears blurring her eyes like molten ashes. She paused when her sight struck on Annum's crooked posture. She made her way towards her in a rush.

On seeing her elder sister, Annum's heartfelt a bit content and stronger. She embraced her at once and let the barriers free, which she had been holding from such a long time. "Shh! it's all going to be okay." Sanari tried calming her down. Annum was younger than Sanari by only two years but Sanari never ceased to be the more responsible one out of both.

She ought to be responsible and looking after her sister, after her mother's departure. And sometimes it tired her. Not physically but emotionally. Staying stronger for so longer had worn her out. She wished she had someone who could hold her and comfort her too, just for once.

Losing Abbu was the last thing she wanted to happen to her. All her strength depended on him. She could never make a single day without him. Sanari had already lost so much in life. She knew this loss would break her right from her brinks.

"What happened to him?" She finally managed to ask Annum. "He wouldn't wake up when I got back from college. And he was burning with fever when I left in the morning..." As soon as she finished her sentence, the doctor interrupted them.

"I'm sorry girls! He had already expired when you brought him in." He gave both the girls a sorrowful smile. The world 'expired' ran through Annum's mind. How could he use such a vile word for their father?

Sanari, on the other hand, registered what the doctor told them. Abbu was gone. With such a peaceful bleak. Yes, Allah ought to be happy with him because he was such a humble and piety soul. He sacrificed the entire of his life for his daughters after their mother left.

She felt different feelings seaming within her. She somewhat felt grateful at how peacefully her father left the world. But on the other hand, she realised the shade of her father's protection above their heads was gone. What was she going to do? How was she going to make it through without him?

She pondered over what her father had told her that very morning. ' Everyone has to leave this world someday, that's a code we are born with. You certainly can't challenge nature. When it's my time, I'll have to leave as well and so will you. You can not outrun death. So relish the time you still have and stop worrying so much. You've had enough of it already. And finally when my time arrives, do not grieve over me. And do not think your life halted there, you still got to live and experience. Sanari I know you've grown into a strong young lady. And I hope you keep on staying strong and firm on being who you are. I'm proud of you. And someday do forgive me for the wrong decisions I took in your favour. I only wanted the best for you.'

Oh, Abbu how can I not grieve over your departure? How did you ever think I won't forgive you? How did you ever think I can make it on my own? With wild questions running through her head, she sank onto the ground in defeat. She let her emotions invade her strengths for once. She had been strong for quite some time now. She never imagined it in her wildest nightmares that that would be the last morning she sees her father warm and smiling in his bed.

Seeing her sister's shattered form, Annum sank on the floor beside her. She embraced her trembling body and offered her the support she needed. After all, they were sisters. They only had each other to depend upon now.

~~~~~~

Everyone who knew Abdul attended his funeral. Mostly was the staff from Haani Fateen's villa. They all felt great grief over his departure. Everyone offered their sympathies to his now two orphaned daughters. They felt bad for how they were both left on their own.

"Where are you going to stay now?" Amanda asked Sanari softly.

"At home, where else?" She curtly replied to her.

"But can you stay on your own?" She further asked her worriedly.

"It's about a lifetime. We have to Amanda. And that's what Abbu would have wanted us to do. He'd have wanted us to stay safe in the premises of our own home. And not depend on anyone helplessly." Amanda smiled at her strong words and hugged her tightly.

Sanari somehow managed to collect herself. She had to do it for herself and her baby sister. But her tears didn't seem to follow her conscience. They shed on their own accord.

~~~~~~

Haani entered the small portion of the graveyard where the funeral was at. He certainly wasn't a man who shed tears but Abdul's departure did upset him. He knew the old man since quite a long time and he had grown so fond of him. Haani didn't know how to express his emotions but he did feel them.

He greeted everyone and shared his sympathy. Abdul had no relatives that lived nearby, only friends and workers from his house. He silently noted that fact. Everyone seemed worried about what would become of his daughters now. He too pondered over the same question. How could a girl as young as Sanari survive on her own? But then there were millions of people out there who had met with the same fate. No doubt, he was one of them too.

He saw her sitting by the steps. Rocking her body back and forth. Her fragile and defeated form stirred up a feeling within him. Dark circles rimmed her big eyes. The light she held in them seemed to have faded away. From her lost form, he could tell she hadn't eaten anything or even rested. She could barely hold herself upright. She was still in the clothes she had on yesterday at work.

Seeing her this vulnerable, a string pulled at his heart. How he wanted to go there to her, hold her and comfort her. But he knew too well, he wasn't that kind of a man. And maybe she was too high on morals to let him touch her even at such vulnerable condition.

Haani was still looking in her direction when a shadow flickered to his sight. He saw a body approach her. From the stance, he knew it was a man. Tall and broad in his position. He noted blood drain out of her body on staring up at him. Her face changed into shades of horrific paleness.

He could see how anger radiated from her stance on seeing the man. But he also noted a flinch of terror cross her body. He couldn't hear what argument they were having but from the looks of it, she didn't seem happy. His desperation was increasing with the passing fragments of time. She was thrilling his interest and he wanted to know her mysteries so badly.

Yet again he found a new brim to her mysterious stance. Something the way that girl reacted told him she carried more secrets than she let anyone know of. Frowning his brows at the thought of it, he took a deep breath. This girl was making him desperate by each flicker of the time pendulum.

Slowly walking towards them both, he made a mental note to himself on getting records via his personal sources. After all, he was a man of power and nothing was ever impossible for him. On approaching the gloomy couple, her headshot in his direction. As if noticing her distraction from the conversation, the man only partially turned to confirm the presence of an intruder.

"I'll come for her, don't forget." He warned her in a deadly voice before disappearing into thin dust. She stared after he confounded.

"Hey!" Haani's voice brought her back to reality. Taking a deep breath, she tried stopping her shaking form. He noticed how fragile and small she was, not only physically but in so many different ways. She seemed lost and defeated in her own truces. "Salam!" She greeted him back in a broken voice.

"Are you okay?" He finally asked her, to which she nodded her head. "I'm sorry!" Yes, he felt sorry for her on losing her father but his confession was less of sympathy and more of an apology. Haani had never apologised to anyone before. But he knew that if he wanted to achieve her alternatively, he had to gain her trust somehow. She, on the other hand, seemed oblivious of his true intentions.

"Your father was a great man-" He wanted to continue before she raised her hand to cut him mid-sentence. "I know what kind of a man my father was more than anyone of you does. So just stop telling me about him. I appreciate your sympathy but I'm starting to grow tired of it now. Please stop feeling sorry for us." She pleaded with genuine words.

He blankly stared down at her. As if on cue, she began to leave his presence. But on taking a few steps she stumbled from weaknesses. With reflexes, he strongly grabbed onto her arm to save her from falling.

"Careful!" he told her worriedly. Without even looking at him she brought her hand to where he held her by the arm, unclasped his fingers and started walking away. Leaving him there by himself. He stared at his hand where her fingers had touched him. What was wrong with her? he wondered.

~~~~~~

"What are we going to do?" Annum asked in a broken voice while clutching her father's blanket to her chest.

"What we usually do. I'll continue Abbu's job at Haani Fateen's house and you'll continue with your college." Sanari replied to her and rolled over to her side. Both the girls were laying in their father's bed. Somehow it made them feel being with him.

Annum stared at her with an expression that said 'are you in your right mind?' She shrugged at her helplessly in return.

"That guy literally humiliated you Sana. How can you even think of working for him?" She finally spoke up to her sister. They never hid stuff from each other. Sanari had already told her about what had happened at the house.

"We don't have any other options. No other job will offer me such a salary that can fulfil our requirements." She genuinely answered her sister. She looked back at her with teary eyes. "Then I'll work as well so we both can make it through. And you wouldn't have to work for him."

She smiled at her sister. How much they had grown up, she only came to realise it now. "Abbu had always asked me to look after you. Plus you know I've learnt to be strong enough to watch out for myself. So relax and concentrate on your college and studies instead. I promise the day I feel unsafe, I'll quit." She told her promisingly. Annum nodded her head and hugged her tightly.

After a while watching her sister doze off, Sanari's mind replayed of what happened earlier. Seeing Behlul after five months was rather a shock than a surprise to her. She was scared of his warning but couldn't let him know that. She didn't want him to know he still had his effect on her. She knew she was much stronger now and she had to protect herself and Annum from him. Not in a million years could she let him touch her ever let alone have her. How her father's news reached his ears was no surprise. Behlul always had his ways. And as if on cue, he surprised her with his sudden appearance out of the blue.

His sick demands made her stomach twist. He knew they were on their own now without the protection of any man. He wanted to marry Annum. But that would only ever happen through her dead body. With Behlul's visit today, Sanari knew they weren't safe anymore. But how to find a way past his sneaky mind, wasn't an easy task to carry. She realised he was planning on something vile because when Behlul was up to something, nothing ever stopped him. She had known him more than good for her conscience. He was a sick man.

With a sigh, she looked at her sister's sleeping form. She seemed so peaceful. Smiling on seeing her like that, she made herself pacts on not losing it to him this time. He certainly could not deter her courage and strength this time. She will even fight him if she had to.

~~~~~~~

Looking one last look in the mirror, Haani was satisfied with his appearance. He had an important board meeting today and he wanted to look his best. Not that he ever ceased looking presentable 24/7. He had paired a pale violet cotton shirt with a royal blue Armani suit. Matching it with a blue tie having white strips running through it. Yes, he looked expensive but that's exactly what he was.

Fetching his MacBook, he made his way down to his dining room. With Abdul gone, he no more fancied early breakfasts in the kitchen. And now, even his daughter wasn't there. It had been four days since his funeral and Sanari hadn't come to work. He wasn't sure what were her plans but he waited for her to make a move. That was the only explanation on why he still hadn't appointed anyone on Abdul's position.

Calculating the time by his wristwatch, he still could have his breakfast before leaving for work. He strode into the dining room and signalled at the maid to bring him his breakfast. Oh, how he missed Abdul's cooking. He had grown up with that man. His daughter had the same tactics with cooking. He was impatiently waiting for her to make a decision. Sure she had to come in person to quit the job if she wanted. But he wanted her to come somehow so he can lay off his propositions to her. Yes, he had plans for her. And how dangerous he was playing, only he knew of it.

"Salam!" She crocked in her small voice while dragging in the breakfast trolley. He was beyond escalated in surprise on seeing her. She was wearing a pale green cotton sundress paired with a black long-sleeved cardigan. And her usual headscarf wrapped securely around her head. He remembered her calling it a 'hijaab'.

"You're here." It was more of a statement than a question. She didn't bother gazing up at him and continued placing his breakfast before him on the dining table. "Yes, I decided to continue my father's job in place of him. If that's acceptable of course?" She questioned him a bit nervously. He knew she needed the job, that was their only survival.

"What if I refuse to accept? " He questioned her back by raising a brow with amusement. On hearing this, she straightened up and gazed at him for the first time since she came in. "I-" She spluttered at her words flickering her gaze over his face blankly. He crocked a devilish smile, he knew he was playing her really well.

Blood ran down Sanari's face on hearing him say that. He couldn't be so crude to snatch away her only means to survival. Her entire existence depended on it now. How would she be able to look after herself and Annum without this job? Yes, she was a major in economics. But with her Muslim appearance, she couldn't find a job anywhere suitable and neither Abbu allowed her.

Abdul had forbidden her to work and she knew very well as to why. He was only protecting his daughter. But he wasn't there anymore and she had no other option but to work. And working as a cook with a satisfying salary was much better than working at an office surrounded by many non-mehrams.

"This was your father's job, not yours. You were filling in his position just for a while. He's gone now. And I didn't appoint you to work for me." His words interrupted her train of thoughts. He didn't feel good with using Abdul's name like that for his own selfish contrivance. But to catch a fish that he wanted, he had to lay in a bait for it.

"I need this job. I'm punctual and good at it. I'm responsible. I will put my best into it Mr Fateen but please-" she swallowed down a large lump and felt her throat going dry. He casually stared back at her. Tapping his fingers on the dining table, he pretended to concentrate. As if in deep thought, he suddenly figured out a way.

He knew he had laid his bait and the fish was already caught in it. But he was playing it slow and tactful. Her situation was frail and he could make her do whatever he wanted. Turning to face her, he spoke in a serious tone. "I have a proposition for you. "

She narrowed her eyes at him for a minute before finally asking, "What kind of proposition? "

"You are well aware of your situation right now. And let's be honest here, you aren't in the best possible placements. I know how much you need this job but I'll offer you a proposition instead," On hearing his curt words, she knew he was a selfish beast. He certainly wasn't going to offer her a proposition out of sympathy. In return, he would ask for something. Something she wasn't sure if she'd be able to give him. On recalling his last proposition of offering her money, she felt sick to the stomach suddenly. Her stomach lurched with panic and uneasiness.

"I'll provide you and your sister with a house to live in. I'll fulfil your each and every need and requirement. I'll support you financially and in every other sense that you may wish to point. Protection, support, everything." he spoke and waited for her response. For a minute she seemed to blank out of responses but finally managed to speak. "And what do you want me to do in return?" She nervously asked him. Now she was talking, he mockingly thought.

He got up from his seat and Sanari stepped back instantly. Stepping forward to close in the space between them, he stared down at her fragile height. He knew too well that by invading her private space, he punctured her confidence.

"Marry me." It wasn't a question or a statement but a demanding order. Her morals and religious beliefs would never let him cross over the walls to get her. But binding her in a matrimonial bond was an open leash for him. That would literally make her his in every practical and legal sense. And he will be free to do whatever he wills, with or without her consent.

Haani wasn't made for emotional attachments and certainly not for a relationship as such as marriage. So, this relationship would mean nothing more than a paper agreement. And being a businessman, he was used to making such vile deals.

"Why?" Sanari finally spoke out her mind. She wanted to know why would Haani Fateen want to marry her. There had to be something more to it. Something she couldn't even imagine in her wildest dreams. Men always were enslaved to their needs and wants. To attain their desires, they could cross any boundaries. Sanari out of all people knew that very well by now.

"Because I want you." He plainly answered her. No, his wanting wasn't like that of a man wanting a woman. His wanting was of an artist wanting an inspiration. Especially an artist on drought would probably do anything to get what he wants.

Her lungs seemed to freeze in the air she inhaled. With his words striking the membranes of her void mind, she blinked at him. How could he want her? She certainly wasn't a woman that valued herself of high worth. So flooding up with such degrading thoughts was very normal.

"I'm getting late. My proposal stands firm. The choice is yours. Either accept my proposal, marry me and stay with me. Or else you possess a free will to leave. I'm not willing to give you this job. And I don't have all the time in the world to wait for hearing your choices...

You have till tonight, ring me up to tell me your final decision before midnight. " he finished and bent down. Grabbing her hand, he placed his business card in it. Her hand felt so small in his. He wondered how she managed to carry such tiring jobs. The contact of her bare skin against his strung a chord with him. Before she could chain a protest, he let go of her hand and it fell to her side.

Strolling silently out of the dining room, he smirked at himself in triumph. There was no way she could refuse his proposal. She was a woman in need now. And when they're pierced with incommoding, they'll do anything to escape it. Even sell-off themselves.

~~~~~~~