Chapter-2

Erina's p.o.v

I am sitting in the library of my college and studying attentively.

I am in the last year of my college and will be graduating very soon.

My final examination is coming and I have to do good on that exam. There are only six months left of the examination. After that, I will be graduated. My mother has struggled too much while educating me and my sisters. I can't let her hard work go in vain.

After graduating, I will take a good job and show my father that girls are not burdens. They also can achieve everything if they are determined and do hard work.

Moreover, as the elder daughter of my family, I have many responsibilities to take. I have to take my sister's responsibility as well as my mother. I can't tolerate my father's abuse anymore. I am determined to save my family from my father's clutch.

I was so engrossed in my studies that I didn't notice that someone is staring at me intensely. I can feel that the eyes were roaming on my face.

I looked forward and found that Amaan is staring at me and smiling.

I saw admiration in his eyes. His eyes are really hypnotising and the softness of his eyes can melt anyone's heart.

" Don't stare at me like that," I said pouting and continued my study.

He didn't say anything further. He just closed the book hurriedly and took away it from my hand.

" Hey, give that to me," I said annoyingly and glared at him.

He asked like a strict teacher," First tell me, have you eaten your lunch or not?"

I didn't answer him because I haven't eaten anything. My father punished me for making hard roti(bread). He ordered me to eat only water for one day. As I don't have enough money with me so I couldn't eat anything. I have given my salary to my father.

" So, uncle again punished you? He asked me understanding my silence.

He took a deep breath and said holding my hand," Come with me."

" Where are you taking me? I asked him confusingly when he started dragging me. I just took my belongings somehow and followed him.

He dragged me towards the canteen and sat me down in a chair. He asked me," What will you eat?"

" Amaan, it's not needed. I am not hungry," I said nodding my head in negative. I don't want to eat from his money. He isn't rich as well but at least richer than me.

He replied sarcastically," I know. Your stomach grumbling sound is telling that you are not hungry."

He was right. My stomach was grumbling and I am too much hungry. A smile formed on my lips thinking about his caring side. I looked at him with my puppy-dog eyes.

" Biryani," I said without hesitation as my stomach is craving food.

Very soon my food was served on the table. Amaan ordered chicken biryani(A/N- one kind of rice dish with chicken and some spices) for me because he knows how much I love biryanis.

" Now, eat like a good girl," He said smiling at me.

I asked him smiling back," Won't you eat with me? Aren't you hungry?"

" I will eat later. You should eat first," He replied and sat in front of me on another chair. He again started staring at me with too much affection in his eyes.

I said holding a spoonful of biryani in front of him," Eat."

He tried to refuse when I shoved it inside his mouth forcefully. Without finding any other way he had to chew it.

I smiled at him and take my first bite from the biryani. I chewed it and started hissing and coughing after tasting it. The biryani was very spicy and I can't handle spicy food. I can't handle the spiciness.

" Water," I said with great difficulty and Amaan handed me the water bottle. I immediately started gulping down the water to soothe my burned tongue. Amaan started patting my back.

" Are you fine, Erina? Amaan asked me worriedly.

I replied wiping my mouth," I am, but the biryani was very spicy."

" It wasn't that much spicy," Amaan said frowning his brows and again tasted the biryani.

I replied huffing," Maybe it's not spicy for you. But, it was hell spicy for me. I can't eat spicy foods."

" Hmm. I understand. Then, let's go from here. Let me take you to a good restaurant. There you can eat something less spicy. You don't have to eat this trashy biryani anymore," Amaan said seriously.

I took a breath and said," It's not needed. I will eat something secretly while I reach home."

" Are you sure? He asked me suspiciously and I just nodded my head in positive. Though I will starve today but still I can't bother him anymore.

Then, he said holding my wrist," Ok. Then, let me drop you at your home.  I wanted to give you a bike ride always but you never agreed."

He said the last part with a slightly angry voice. Yes, Amaan has a bike and he told me many times for bike ride but I never agreed.

I replied sadly," No, you can't drop me. If the neighbours see me with any boy then they will fill my father's ear with rubbish talking and my father will show me hell. You know my father."

"These shitty neighbours!! He cursed under his breath angrily.

Then, he said patting my head gently," I can't drop you at your home. But, at least I can hire a taxi for you. You don't have to go in the public bus anymore tolerating harassment."

" Why do you care for me so much? I asked him becoming overwhelmed. My eyes are becoming teary. They are happy tears. Amaan changed my outlook on man. He proved that everyone is not like my father.

He replied looking directly into my eyes," You know the answer."

" Amaan, what if we couldn't end........." I tried to say worriedly when he pressed his index finger on my lips.

He said assuring me," Don't say like that.  I will go any length to make our relationship successful. Don't you trust me?"

I said removing his finger from my lips," More than myself."

" I love you, Erina. You don't know what you mean for me," Amaan said emotionally.

I replied shedding my happy tears," I love you too. I can't imagine my life without you."

At Night

Author's p.o.v

Zayed is seated at the dining table for dinner. He is wearing a simple casual and looking very calm. His whole face is expressionless.

Maids are serving food for him having fearful expressions. They all are looking very frightened and slightly shaking because of fear.

Serving is now completed and Zayed is ready to eat. He took a bite from the food and his facial expression become changed.

He threw away the food from his mouth and yelled loudly," Fatima khala(aunt).....Fatima khala........."

Fatima came running from the kitchen and asked worriedly," What happened Zayed baba?"

" Why this food is so bland? Where is the spiciness of this food? Didn't you remember that I like spicy foods?" Zayed asked angrily and threw away the dishes from the table.

Seeing everything, the maids and Fatima khala are literally shivering due to fear. They always feared Zayed's wrath.

" I am asking you something," Zayed hissed at Fatima Khala.

Fatima Khala gulped down her saliva and started saying with her shaky voice," Zayed....baba.....actually....the cook...is. ...new....so.....she.....doesn't....know....about.....your.....taste."

" If she is new then you should have informed her about my taste," Zayed stated clenching his jaw.

Fatime replied timidly," I am sorry, Zayed baba. I will be careful from next time."

" Fine. But, where is this new cook of ours? I want to meet her, "Zayed asked rudely.

No sooner had he said the words than a woman in her 40s came running from the kitchen. She has heard everything from the kitchen and apologised immediately.

She said lowering her head," I am really sorry, Sir. I didn't know about your taste."

Zayed didn't say anything further and started to leave the room. Before he could leave the room the cook asked him politely," Sir, if you don't mind can you tell how much spiciness you like so that I can prepare the food perfectly from next time."

Hearing the cook, a sinister smile formed on his lips which created a shiver in the cook's body. She gulped down her saliva with fear.

" Come with me," Zayed said and started going to the kitchen. The cook followed him like an obedient kid.

Reaching there, Zayed ordered the cook," Take the red chilli powder's jar in your hand."

The cook obliged him confusingly. She is wondering what's he up to!

" Take out a spoonful of Chilli powder and shove it inside your mouth," Zayed ordered the cook and she lost all the colours from her face.

She requested crying," Sir, I am sorry. Don't tell me to eat it."

" Do as I say," Zayed said clenching his jaw. His eyes are darkening with pure rage.

Without having any other choice the cook decided to oblige. She took a spoonful of chilli powder inside her mouth and started crying. Her eyes and nose become red and she is hissing.

Zayed ordered like a psycho," Swallow the chilli powder."

The cook just pleaded with her teary eyes where Zayed gave her a don't you dare look. The cook didn't have any choice without obeying him.

The cook swallowed the chilli powder somehow and started coughing loudly. She is literally feeling like vomiting. Her eyes are bloodshot because of the spiciness.

" Swallow two more spoons," Zayed ordered the cook and she just cried out more loudly.

She fell on her knees and joined her hands. She begged in front of him," Sir, please...Don't do this to me. I beg you."

" If you don't listen to me then I will throw you out from this job," Zayed said without any emotion and sat on a nearby chair.

The cook cried out loudly and pleaded to not snatch her job from her. She is the only earning member of her family. She can't lose the job. She begged and pleaded in front of Zayed. But, he didn't show any mercy.

Finally, the cook gave up and swallowed 3 spoons of chilli powder with great difficulty. After swallowing the chilli powder she is literally on the verge of vomiting. But, she controlled herself somehow. If she makes this kitchen dirty then Zayed will punish her more. So, she didn't dare to vomit.

On the other hand, Zayed enjoyed that cook's sufferings.

He was looking at everything like he was watching any interesting movie. He didn't feel anything seeing that cook's crying.

" So, I want that much spiciness in my food. I hope you have understood now," Zayed said so normally like nothing happened a few moments ago.

The cook replied with great difficulty," Yes, ......Sir.....I.....understood."

Zayed didn't say anything further and stood up from the chair to leave the kitchen. He turned behind to leave and found that every maid and Fatima Khala is literally trembling because of fear.

Zayed ignored their frightened looks and started leaving the kitchen. Before he could completely leave the kitchen Fatima Khala asked fearfully," Won't you have your dinner? We have other dishes to serve."

" I have lost my appetite," Zayed said and started going in another direction of this house.

Fatima Khala asked," That is not your wing. Won't you sleep now?"

Zayed replied without turning back," It's been days since I haven't met her. I am going to meet that betrayer."

Saying that he left the place without turning back. Fatima Khala ran to the kitchen where the cook is still crying and hissing.

Fatima Khala forwarded a glass of water to the cook and she drank it in one go. Fatima Khala isn't too much shocked seeing the cook because she knows about Zayed's nature. His cruelty is beyond level.

" Bade saheb(senior sir), what kind of monster you have made!! Fatima Khala murmured fixing her gaze on the poor cook.

Note- So, what's your opinion about the chapter? 🤔 What do you think about Zayed? 😐

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