Won't Let Go

six

Frustrated. It is what Natasha was feeling for the past two weeks. She was frustrated with her parents for choosing Farhan of all people as her to-be husband. She heard that the world was small but realized it only a few days ago. She was frustrated with everyone and every damn thing. She didn't even do her assignments which should be submitted on the day after tomorrow. She, the nerd of their class hasn't finished the assignments; it was shocking for everyone else except her.

"How about this one?" Humera asked excitedly as she showed her a beautiful bridal lehenga, Natasha's eyes twinkled a bit but it didn't intrigue her. So she shook her head in negative. Her cousin glared at her in return. Honestly, she wasn't interested and she did not find anything that beautiful yet.

"Girl... You better choose one soon. We are here for the past one and half hour." the cousin, Humera huffed in annoyance. Natasha turned away looking for that freaking dress that everyone was making a fuss about.

"Api... we are done with our shopping." all the other little cousins who got dispersed in the mall came back with their bags excitedly making Natasha sigh. Great! Except for the bride, everyone has their dresses then.

"We will go to that boutique. It looks cute."Humera sighed as they all walked to the last store in the mall. They've roamed around the whole mall but didn't yet find a dress yet.

"Wow." the words left her mouth before she even realized it.

"Finally. Choose one soon, I'm so tired." Humera sighed, Natasha gave her cousin the look.

"Huma, Why don't you take all our cousins and wait in the car or canteen? I'll take some time." Natasha huffed as if she was waiting for that words Humera left the place almost immediately.

"Good riddance," she mumbled under her breath whilst going through different varieties of dresses.

"What are you doing here?" Natasha heard two different voices at the same time and she snapped her head in confusion.

She did not expect to see Farhan in the store, nor did she expect Arsalaan to be here too. Farhan had that curious look plastered on his face, he was half surprised and half angry. Surprised to find her here and angry that she has been ignoring him ever since their stupid engagement.

Whereas Arsalaan was an entirely different case. He looked quite tired with all the dresses he was carrying in his hands.

"Hi, Arsalaan." she gave him one of her rare smiles and he returned it without any second thoughts. Ignoring Farhan like he never existed, she goes towards Arsalaan.

"What are you doing here?" She curiously asked whilst eyeing the different pair of dresses which he held in his hands.

"Shopping for my sister's birthday." Arsalaan gave her his toothy grin. That sister must be really special to him if he's doing this for her, alone. Without anyone else's help. Natasha couldn't help but smile at him.

"What are you doing here?" He cross-questioned her, upon hearing which the frown on her face reappears. Shopping for my so-called wedding, she wanted to retort with an eye roll but stopped herself realizing Farhan was here too.

"I came here to shop as well." Natasha didn't really like to come to terms that she's getting married now. Sure, she wanted to marry Farhan. She has dreamt of it... But not like this.

Arsalaan nodded at that but his smile widens as he took out his phone and opened the keypad, "I didn't get your number yet. We have a project to finish."

Remembering about the project made her sigh internally, "right. Note it down."

Just when she was about to give away her number, Farhan finally interrupted them.

"Natasha... I guess you forgot something." Snapping her head towards Farhan, she scowled at him. He was taken aback by her reaction. She has never been so distant and angry with him before. They've known each other for years now, never did this happen before.

"What are you doing here?" She finally asked him, who gave her a stern look.

"This boutique is owned by me. Of course, I'd be here." He replied in a duh tone. He eyed his staffs who were helping other customers. His boutique is always filled with ladies and it gets tiring at times.

"Wow, man. You've got a good collection here." Arsalaan complimented him, Farhan didn't like him that much anyway so he couldn't react anything to that.

"Excuse me, come with me." Giving a not so apologetic look to Arsalaan, Farhan dragged her out of there and took her into his office, forcibly.

"What about the number?" Arsalaan yelled at their disappearing figures.

"I have yours. Will text you hi." Natasha yelled back whilst trying to pull away from Farhan, he now held her more firmly.

"What the hell, Farhan?" Natasha shrieked at his actions as they entered his office.

"Exactly, what the hell? What the hell is wrong with you?" Farhan wanted to know why was she avoiding him, not answering his calls nor replying to his texts. He doesn't know who is she anymore. She behaves so differently from her usual self and he missed his best friend, so much.

He was such a hypocrite anyway. Because he did just the same with her months ago and now expecting her to suddenly behave normally was very foolish of him. And she couldn't help but roll her eyes at that. 

"Who was he?"

"My friend from college." She replied nonchalantly.

"You are pursuing masters and did not tell me? How long are you going to university?" Farhan did not like the fact that they've drifted apart so damn much. After knowing that Haya has married someone else, he eventually distanced himself from everyone and lost her in the process.

Distancing surely has cost him a lot. But all he needed was space and when he got that, he has lost so many other things.

"You too did not inform me about this new boutique of yours, did I care?" She snapped at him, he sure was taken aback.

"Did you say no to the marriage?" She asked him straightforwardly without beating around the bush.

"So this was about it? You're avoiding me because I asked you to refuse the wedding?" His eyes flared in anger.

"Honestly... It's you who distanced yourself from me at first. And now I'm avoiding you because you're being such a hypocrite. If you don't want to marry me then you should man up and say that to your mother, rather than asking me to do that. It's very cowardly." Natasha fumed in frustration. Damn, why are everyone hell-bent on pissing her off?

"You're right. I am a coward who can't say no to his mother, then I'd say the same about you too. We are almost the same." Farhan replied with annoyance. She smiled sadly at that and he almost felt bad for being so harsh with his tone.

"I'm a coward too. But I didn't go around demanding my would-be husband to deny the marriage for me, just to please my mother." She smirked at him and was about to leave the stupid office of his, but he caught hold of her hands-on time; preventing her from not leaving.

Their eyes locked. Breathing became hard, she could feel goosebumps all over her skin. Farhan Sheikh always had that freaking effect on her.

"Very well then. We are both cowards to not go against our parents' words but do remember this, always. Don't expect me to be a loving and caring husband, because I will not be." She flinched at his tone. Why the hell was he rude to her? It wasn't her fault that his mother wants him to get married to her. What did she do to deserve that rudeness?

"I'd be a fool to expect such things. Anyways let me go. I'm getting late." Natasha pulled her hands away and left from there as fast as she could. His words hurt her so much. Even if she has expected all of this, it still freaking hurt her a lot.

Farhan watched her disappearing image with a frown on his face and wondered; what happened to them?

They were so close and now so far. Funny how time changes things.

He just needed a little time to himself from everyone to mend his broken heart; so he distanced himself from everyone and in that process, he has lost one of the best of people and realized it only just now.