That was the day when Irtaza went straight to his grandfather and asked him to teach the mafia skills. His heart was shattered into pieces and the constant sadistic and barbaric practicing of the mafia at such a young age molded him into a real sadistic notorious mafia don.
For years he had encaged himself inside his body. At family gatherings, he'll usually sit and observe everyone. If he wanted to share anything then he had his brother Shehryaar with him. After his mother's death, his father was so disturbed that he could hardly pay any attention to his children.
Irtaza was never an expressive person nor the one who could trust someone easily, especially after his mother's death nor the one who could be deceived by someone's beautiful and charming looks until one day when his eyes settled on Zahra.
Flashback
For the past several days, he had been working hard on his shooting skills and today was the day when his grandfather decided to take a test on him. He took him to the basement which's atmosphere was filled with the pungent smell of blood, and vomit as different torture weapons hung by the wall.
His grandfather showeď him his target, a man gagged and roped in a knelt position, his eyes begging for mercy. A sadistic glint entered the young boy's eyes as he traced the helplessness in them. He was feeling satisfied by watching his prey completely at his mercy. He had to shoot him straight in his heart and he didn't even hesitate before taking his gun out and shooting him straight in his heart but he missed it by two inches.
The man died on the spot.
Sudden anger surged through his veins that he was not able to meet his target, he emptied all of the bullets into the dead man's head.
A few minutes later, another man was brought to the basement on his grandfather's order. Like the previous one, he was also gagged and roped. The guards made him kneel several inches away from Irtaza and he took his gun out.
He didn't want to miss this one.
He had to impress his grandfather.
Sweat was popping out of his forehead but he didn't want to stop until the bullet would meet his desired spot. His eyes settled on the target.
"One," his grandfather said.
His eyes narrowed analyzing his shivering prey.
"Two"
He traced his heart from his eyes while pulling down the safety of the gun.
He smirked already knowing that he wasn't going to miss this one.
"Three"
And the sound of two bullets resonated in the silent atmosphere, both meeting at the same point, the center of the roped man's heart.
"Yayy gotchya," Shahryar smirked.
Both turned around and saw Shehryaar holding the gun in his hand like a toy, a victory smirk marred his face as he shot at the exact desired point.
Both brothers share the same sadistic glint in their grey eyes.
After the practice, Irtaza went back to his father's study to tell him about his achievement and found him seated on the nearby sofa, busy calling his younger brother, Mujtaba. Irtaza knew he was secretly in contact with him despite the warnings of his grandfather not to contact his younger brother anymore.
He sat down on the black swivel chair of his father and begin to scroll through the pictures on his laptop when suddenly his grey eyes fell on a girl, who was cladded in a red dress, smiling so innocently towards the camera.
He didn't know why but suddenly out of nowhere his heart begin to beat rapidly and he could hear it in his ears. He could figure out only one single thing on her face and that was innocence. She felt so surreal and out of the world to him.
He felt like at that moment he found a light in his dark hollow world.
As if she was staring at him with that innocent look on his face that did things to his heart.
His heartfelt sudden happiness after a long time. It recalled to him what being happy is like.
He asked her name his father and he told him that it was "Zahra."
"Zahra" he repeated under his breath.
Months passed by but he didn't forget her. From time to time he'd continuously ask his father about her and her childish acts. He didn't know what he saw in that picture of hers but he felt a sudden calmness and happiness enter his heart whenever he'll see her.
Happiness makes him forget all his sorrows, which gives him the hope that she'll be his one day.
Years went by but his heart got stuck in her. His eyes were settled on her, he knew she was his and only his. And he always gets what he wants. But he was waiting for the right time to claim her as his and only his.
...................
For years he waited for her and that day when she outrightly rejected him on his face, unleashed the hidden devil inside him. His desire to claim her as his grew more and more and then he forcefully married her unable to control himself.
At first, it was her hesitance and resistance towards him that he didn't like. Her that attitude used to make him think that she is not his, provoking the devil more and more in him.
But when he witnessed the immense fear in her eyes for him, the same fear which his captives had for him, something clicked at his heart.
His heart
Which always had been callous for others were opening its gates for her. His heart was similar to a dilapidated ruin in that no one dared to enter but since Zahra's entry into his life, he was feeling unusual things.
And then he decided to tame his sadistic self for her. He tried to fight his demons and act as a nice husband to her so both of them could continue a happy married life.
And in that process, he fell for her.
He began to love her.
And trust her.
...........................
The whole day at the university passed in a blur. There were lectures after lectures and Zahra was exhausted at the end of the day. Then she had to do some work at the library, It was already 4 pm when she got free. She went outside the university gate, waiting for Haseeb to pop out and take her back to haveli.
Today was her second day. Many of her class fellows got acquainted with each other on the very first day but she being an introvert didn't intermingle much with people. She was never an introvert but after the continuous harassment, she didn't open the gates of her heart to anyone else other than Daniyal. She had never allowed her heart to love someone other than Daniyal.
He was her best friend, her soul mate, her savior, her everything. The man who understands her. So it was nearly impossible for her to get him out of her heart.
He saved her from Shoaib.
The person because of whom she was about to take her life.
She can do everything for Daniyal.
But Zahra was unable to understand why Daniyal was asking her to be Irtaza's perfect wife yet she had no other option other than to follow whatever he says. And also because she trusted Daniyal and she knew that any decision of Daniyal for her would never cause her any harm.
But her conscience was eating her continuously for doing that with Irtaza. She can forgive Irtaza for what he did but she can't leave Daniyal for Irtaza. She loved him and it was not easy for her to eradicate the love of Daniyal from her heart.
Yet she was so confused about what to do and what not to do.
On one side it was the voice of her conscience but on the other side, it was her love for Daniyal.
More than 15 minutes have passed but Haseeb was nowhere. She remembered that she clearly told him to be here at 4 but he was still not here. Almost half of the people had left the university and the place was getting less crowded making her worried.
And then she heard someone coughing behind her making her turn her back and she was shocked to see two boys standing a few inches away from her, smoking. They both were eyeing her lustily from head to toe and she immediately turned around trying not to pay much attention to them.
Minutes passed by and those boys were continuously coughing after every 5 seconds to get her attention. Her body was getting colder and her heartbeat was increased knowing that both of them are still watching her. Her subconscious was telling her that both of them are not up to something good and her brain begin to create all the worst possibilities ever.
"Look at that girl." the boy said to the other making her legs shaky but she tried her best not to pay attention to them.
"Ah what a piece she is. She knows we're talking about her. At least give us a little attention pretty lady." the other called out to Zahra and she without paying them much attention begin to move.
She heard someone's footsteps from behind and she knew that both of them were coming toward her. Without looking back, she begins to move faster. Beads of sweat begin to form on her forehead as her body begins to lightly shake.
"Idher tw dekho," they both said whilst following her.
(At least look here)
"We're good in bed"
Her speed increased and there's speed increased as well. Her heart jumped to her throat as tears begin to sting in her eyes.
"Ooo where are you running?" they continued to follow her.
"We were waiting for you since morning."
She was panicking as she begin to run as fast as she can and they both also begin to run after her. She looked back and saw them following her, a lustful smile marred their faces. Her heart dropped and suddenly her body smashed into someone's chest.
She looked upwards and saw Irtaza standing there with a deep frown etched on his face. Her eyes widened for a millisecond and then a sudden relief entered them on recognizing who it was.
She abruptly hugged him and begin to hiccup on his chest. Her legs are shaky. He immediately covered his arms around her trying to comfort her.
"What happened Zahra?!" he asked worriedly.
"They..." she hiccuped pointing towards the boy who was now running in the opposite direction.
But the bodyguards of Zahra, who were dressed in casual, stationed outside of the university for her security, instantly caught those two goons and on Irtaza's order, they both were taken to one of his torture centers.
"Sh... Zahra relax. I'm here. No need to worry." He cooed Zahra who was crying badly in his arms. Her body was still shivering with aftershocks. She thanked God that Irtaza reached here at a time else they would've done something with her.
"Please take me from here." she cried and he followed her to the car, opening the passenger door he let her in and then seated himself on the driver's seat
"Shhh..... my life stop crying," he said and traced her eyebrow before placing a warm chaste kiss on her forehead.
"Thank god you reached here otherwise they would've done something to me." she hiccupped, wiping her tears away.
"No one can hurt you Zahra. I swear on my life. I'll always protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you. They'd have to pass on my dead body first." He promised.
But he forgot to mention that he could be the only one who can hurt her, only if she did something fucked up