Chapter 1
The narrow lanes of old Lucknow were swallowed by a thick, velvety darkness. The only sound was the frantic khat_ khat of Arham black heels striking the pavement.she adjusted her midnight-black abaya, the tiny pearls stitched into the fabric shimmering like fallen stars as she hurried.
Ya Allah, why doesn't this alley end?" she whispered, her heart racing,
Her phone buzzed violently. It was
Daniya
"Hello?Arhami, where are you? You slowpoke?" Daniya's voice was loud enough to echo. "The party started ages ago! ○ our classmates are here except you.
"Im coming, okay? I couldn't find a taxiand it's pitch black here," Arham hissed into the phone.
"I told you let me send my driver! Daniya groaned. "Wait..what if I send my brother? He's nearby."
Arham froze, " Shut up, Daniyal. He's so rude and terrifying, "He's my brother, you drama queen!"
Daniya laughed. 'Anyway, hurry up!"
The call cut. Arham began to jog, her eyessearching for any sign of a main road,"Taxi! Taxi!" She called out into the void.
Suddenly, the darkness was sliced open by the blinding LED headlights of a car.
BLACK BMW Series 3
Before Arham could even blink, two more cars pulled up behind it, but they didn't aproach her.
Instead, they moved to the BMW and opened the door with practised precision. A man stepped out. He looked to be around 29 _ thirty, carved out of shadows and authority. Azaan Firoz Hamdani
He levelled a cold, sharp gaze at her, his face barely shown because of dim light, but his eyes, if anyone looked in his eyes , would surely can't look up."Get in the car.
Arham stood frozen."|-
"I said, get in the car, Miss Arham Zaidi, Azaan interrupted, his voice a low, gravelly command. "I don't have time for your tantrums.
Arham's mouth hung open. How does he even know my name? Then it clicked that he was Daniya's brother. The 'Rock'The "Ice King.'
She wanted to argue, to ask how he found her? but his presence was so overwhelming she couldn't find her voice.
Arhami, you tallk to walls, why can't you talk to this man? she scolded herself;
murmuring under her breath, "Why is he so stone_cold?"
"Did you say something?" Azaan asked, his brow arching: No! Nothing! Why would i say anything?"
She squeaked
"Then let's go. "As the guards moved to open the passenger door, Azaan raised a hand,stopping them. In a move.
. that felt completely out of character for a man, so rigid, he stepped forward and opened the door for her himself;
Arham stared at him in genuine shock.
OMMO" Azaan Firoz Hamdani is actually opening a door for a girl? I need a camera.
No one will believe this. She slid into the leather seat, the scent of expensive sandalwood flling her lungs as he closed the door, walked around, andtook the driver's seat.
He drove toward the Hamdani Mansion in a silence that felt heavier than the darkness outside The car ride was an exercise in pure torture for Arham. For someone who usually spoke at a rate of a hundred wordsper minute, the thirty minutes of heavy Suffocating silence felt like three years.
She shifted in her seat, her fingers twitching against her black purse. If she didn't say something soon, she felt like her stomach would actually tie itself into knots But every time she glanced at Azaan, his jaw was set so frmly he looked like a statue carved from obsidian. He didn't even blink. He just drove-fast.
Allah is he even a humen, sometimes i doubt that what if he is a robot.
What did you say?
I have ear so next time be carefull , he said.and Arham froze for second, then said no i did,,,,,,n,ot..
Seeing her like that A smile crept on his face, but beore Arham can notice he came back to his Robotic face.
As the BMW finally glided to a half at the grand entrance of the Hamdani Mansion, He pulled out the key, and the engine died with a low "vroomm", leaving only the ticking of cooling metal.the engine cut out with a finality that made Arham jump.
"Oh, finally!" She gasped, the words bursting out of her ○ a dam breaking. She didn't wait for a guard. She scrambled out of the car as if the leather seats had suddenly turned into a bed of thorns. She needed air, she needed noise, and most of all, she needed to be away from the man who radiated the temperature of glaciers
.
A girl was standing under the bright, golden floodltights of the mansion in The maroon dress was Daniya she was not just waiting; she was vibrating with a specific kind of best friend fury.
Clad in a stunning outfits that sparkled under the garden lights, Daniya had her heels dug into the grass and her arms locked across her chest. Her eyes were narrowed into slits, tracking Arham's every movement like a hawk watching a very corfused mouse,
The silence of the lawn was even scarier than the silence of the car. Daniya didn't say a word, but her expression said everything: you are late, you didn't answer my last five texts S.
Arham stood there, her beautiful pearl embroidered abaya fluttering in the light evening breeze, caught between the Rock" behind her and the Hard Place" in front of her
Daniya's eyes darted from Arham to her. Brother her anger momentarily replaced by a mischievous glint. "Oh? So the "Rude Rock actually found you She whispered in Arham ear, don't lie you send him, right? No, " I didn't. Thanks to him,
he took and didn't leave you forthe ghost of Lucknow.she "giggle." Shutup";
Actually, I didn't find a taxi. It was so dark.." Arham started, trying to keep her voice steedy.
"Oh, I know. My brother is a hero, right? Wait until Mom hears Azaan actually did something nice, From behind them, Azaan's voice cut in, cold and clipped." I said to get inside,
not to have a press conference on the lawn.
Daniya laughed, unbothered, and pulled Arham toward the entrance," "untill'
"she was in a dark alley," Azaan intercepted, his voice deep and devoid of emotion. He looked at Daniya- pointedty ignoring Arhamn as if she hadn't just spent thirty minutes in his car.
"keep-your friends on a shorter leash, Daniya. Lucknow isn't a playground at this hour. Arham felt her face flush. A leash? she wasn't a pet! She found her voice just as he started to walk toward the car,
I didn't ask for a rescue, Mr. Hamdani.'
she called out, her black heels clicking defnitely on the marble path. Azaan paused, his back to her. For a second, the air felt heavy, He looked back over his shoulder, his gaze sharp enough to cut through the humid night air.
"You didn't have to ask," he said coolly "Now get insideDaniya made an angry face and said you
really dont know how to talk bro,
let's go, Arham, please don't mind him. She said Arham couldn't help it.
She paused looking back one more time.
Azaan was still there, a solitary silhouette against the glowing mansion. His eyes caught hers. He didn't smile: He didn't nod He just maintained that intense, brooding stare.
"Rock, Rude," she whispered.
If you like this story, let me know, then follow for more🙃
I don't know inkitt that much, that's why my first chap deleted i was shocked, but shukar Allah🙂
It's in draft, so that's why i write again...🫠
