The Accidental Wedding novel Chapter 43

Rameen

"Mia."

I heard someone call me, I turned and looked behind. This was the last person I wanted to see in this world.

He came beside me in a few long strides, I ignored him and kept walking.

"Mia, please can we talk," He said walking beside me.

"It's Mrs. Waleed Kamaal for you," I snapped and kept walking.

I had come for a meeting with the client and just had left their office and was on the way to hire a cab.

When I heard him call, seriously out of all people it had to be Imaad.

"Seriously Mia, we have known each other since childhood and we were, " He was saying but I interrupted him.

"It's enough Mr. Imaad Hassan, I don't want anything to do with you, and please stop following me," I halted and snarled at him.

He stood in front of me, looking ashamed with his head bowed down.

"If you will please, let me explain," Hesaid. I can't understand what was there to explain. He and his family and betrayed us at the last moment. If Waleed's grandfather hadn't intervened at the last moment I would have been an abomination in the society. The girl who had been ditched at the altar. Society would never care to consider whose mistake it would have been. They just past verdict that there must have been

some fault of the girl and hence she was rejected at the last moment.

"I don't think there is any need for an explanation, " I said and was turning when he grabbed my arm.

I looked at him furiously and tried to remove my arm from his grip, but he held it tightly.

"Leave my hand Imaad," I said through clenched teeth.

"Not unless you hear me out," He insisted.

I didn't want to create a scene in public, the photographs from the reception were all over the internet and tabloid if someone were to recognize me with a man holding my hand it would create a new controversy.

"Just leave my arm, and I will listen to what you have to say," I said trying to suppress my anger. Imaad loosened his grip on my arm and retracted his hand. He pointed towards a coffee shop, I silently

followed him. He walked to a corner table and seated himself, asking me if I would like to order something. I declined him and he ordered a coffee for himself.

" You have ten minutes, better start talking," I said looking at my wristwatch.

I don't know what I was doing, sitting with this man and why did I even agree to listen to him.

I had freaked out when he held my arm in broad daylight in the middle of a street, lately, I have been getting a lot of attention from the paparazzi, being a wife of the billionaire doesn't come easy. Waleed had tried to assign me with a guard cum driver but I had declined his offer.

Waleed used to pick and drop me to work and mostly I would go with Daniyal or Kabir to meetings. But today it happened that they both were busy and I had come to the meeting in a cab.

"Mia, I am really sorry for what I did to you, but believe me, I am not able to forgive myself.

Our business had incurred huge losses in the last six months, we tried really hard to control the damage but we lost a significant amount and were behind on the payment of the loans. I tried really hard to get some money from money launderers but it happened that we even lost that amount.

I called him again and again, but his cell was switched off, all kinds of negative thoughts started crossing my mind. What if he was in an accident?

I didn't eat dinner and instead was calling every contact in the hope at least someone might tell me that he was with them, but unfortunately, no one knew where he was. His secretary told me he had gotten a call from someone and had left in haste.

My family was out of town, they had gone to attend a wedding, only Dada was at home. I thought of calling Dada but he would only get worried.

It was midnight and still, he didn't return home. I had started to panic by now, he always used to call or text me if he was going to be late.

I was really worried about Waleed and was scared if anything happened to him. I was feeling guilty for keeping him waiting so long. I was holding back from him. Imaad's betrayal had shaken me from inside.

I had known Imaad my whole life, we had been engaged for a year. Still, he had ditched me on our wedding day. Trusting anyone after that betrayal was difficult for me. Though I knew Waleed was nothing like Imaad, still it took me some time to understand his nature. I wanted to trust him and was trying, I was glad that Waleed had given me space. He had never forced me to do anything.

Waleed had always cared about me since the day of our wedding. He had proved to be a good husband.

I don't think I had been happier with another man than I am now with Waleed.

I was missing him, his smiles, his concern for me, the way he flirted with me. Most of all I missed his touch. I wanted to be in his arms, kissing him and making love with him.

I realized how much I have got habituated to him, I hadn't realized when he was around and now when he was not there I was missing him and was wanting to be with him.

I prayed for his safe return to Allah, and I promised that I won't deny him his rights anymore. I just wanted him back safe and sound.

Thousands of terrifying thoughts were crossing my mind. I paced in the living room, and when my legs started hurting I sat on a sofa, my eyes were fixed on the clock it was two in the morning. It felt like I sat there for eternity dreading and scared.