19- Fake Love

Isra turned to put her clothes back again as Rayan spoke up, "Isra, um.. at least take this." He smiled politely, still offering her the gift. "You don't have to wear it, just take it, please." He whispered. She glanced at him over her shoulder and sighed, taking it from him. "Thanks." Turning fully to him, she leaned back and unwrapped the box which contained a pair of platinum anklets, forged into an arresting design, her lips curled upwards but not in a smile at his gift, "I know you love them." He smiled. "Thanks, it's beautiful." She breathed out, closing the box, looking at him for a few seconds. Rayan stared at her face for a while, getting lost in the ocean of her eyes but before he could immerse further, she turned, putting it in the cabinet. Knowing it's no use to stand and disturb her anymore, He moved away and walked out, laying on the couch but her voice came, "Don't sleep on the couch." He opened her one eye, she was not there but not wanting to argue with her about anything he complied with her words. If that's what she wants. He got up, laid on the bed, covering himself with the duvets and closed his eyes. Soon Isra also came out and laid on the couch, covering herself and closing her eyes to fall asleep. She was sound asleep but Rayan couldn't, he shifted to face her, watching her sleeping with a smile on his face, his heartbeat when engraved solace in his heart was beyond his recognition. We are the partners of a distinguished path and look, finally our route collided. He thought, unable to control his smile, urging to come closer and remove the hair on her face but didn't and closed his eyes, rushing the uncontrollable sensations of gratification in his whole being and fell asleep. The next day, he woke up. Isra wasn't in the room but his and her clothes were hung outside the closest. He sat up, smiling madly at her little action as she entered, "Oh, you're awake. Morning." She said in her hollow tone but it was somehow low and gentle. "Why are you smiling so much?" She asked, noticing his smile which faded when she noticed. Blinking he got out, not speaking, "You're also going somewhere?" He asked. "My resignation hasn't been issued yet, I want to continue working." She told him, closing her arms at her chest, "Are you sure? I mean, you never wanted to-" "Rayan, things don't always go the way you want, look at us." She taunted with an empty smile, leaving him speechless. Looking away, he mumbled, "I see." "Besides, I will turn insane if I stay at home. There's nothing to do and overthinking will lead me nowhere." She explained the possible reason for her to run away from there. "I can understand. Let me get ready, then we will leave together." He said, "Thanks." She said and walked out of the room. They were having breakfast with everyone as Rehman spoke up, "Isra." "Hmm?" "I know it's hard for you to accept what happened." He paused, collecting his thoughts before speaking further but Isra faked a smile and replied, "But we have to. I am trying." She assured, giving Rayan instant exhilaration by her words of allusions. "Besides, I apologize for Papa's stubbornness, he loves me a lot and was willing to sacrifice everything for me." "You are such a kind child." Hania praised, patting her head. "Thanks." "I am with you, Isra Api." Hoorain called her Api because Rayan has restricted her to call Isra Bhabhi as she is not in her state of mind to accept this reality in just a day or two. "I know." "If you need anything, just tell me." She grinned. "I will." "I hope you will adjust." Hania said, "I have to." Her retort made everyone shut, they can't blame her for this either, she has the right to act this way. Everyone looked away and continued their breakfast. After breakfast, Rayan and Isra left for work, they stopped outside their workplace and Rayan called her, "Listen, Isra." "Yeah?" "Please.. bear with it if anyone says-" She cut him off, "You don't have to tell me this. I know." She said coldly, getting out and leaving him alone in the car. Taking a deep breath, callusing his features together and placing a perfect facade between them, he also went to work. Isra came, earning strange looks from everyone but ignoring them, she went to her cabin and called her assistant to work on their next project so It could divert her mind from any repulsion. "It's so grand... What's the occasion?" She asked, watching the Mughal theme idea for the upcoming event deeming more importance than others. "You don't know? It's for the golden jubilee of Paradise." She told Isra. Paradise was their hotel's name, considered as the most elegant five-star hotel among all, the deluxe worth praising, attracting filthy rich people instantly. The place from where their Boss Rayan Ahmed operates everything, national and international branches. "I see.." She hummed in response, going through the papers, "It's very special, I guess." She mumbled, putting the stack of paper aside. "Of course, for both of you." She grinned, irking Isra. Frowning, she asked, "Why me?" "You're Boss's wife now. You have to live up to his expectations, don't you?" She chirped, jovial about their pair but Isra was anything but enlivened by this. "As a part of my job; Yes but as his wife, I don't participate in any of this activity." She told him sternly. "You don't seem happy." Jasmine said, "Are you?" She asked exasperatedly, "Yes, of course. You guys looked great together." She smiled. Isra only sighed and held her forehead in disappointment, "Is everything alright?" "Yeah, can you leave me alone Jasmine?" She asked tiredly. "Okay, good luck." She grinned, showing her a thumbs up and left. Only a few members of her team were overjoyed for the spirited event where Isra and Rayan were woven together but she was nowhere elated. It was sickening to her, the more she hears it, the more her heart desires to isolate herself from him and anyone supporting them. Gossips started and went on for a while about her but not paying heed to it, she went there to fresh her mind not to immerse more in these unwanted talks. Besides, they were going to end in a week or so. After spending an awful day, she was about to leave by herself and after reaching the parking lot, she realized she had to leave with Rayan. She waited as he came, "You waited?" He asked, taken aback. "Yeah, can we leave now?" Her irritated voice came. They both sat in the car and drove off without exchanging any words. After stopping at the red signal, Rayan glanced at her for a second and asked, "How was your day?" "What do you expect?" She chuckled dryly, holding her arms. "If... There's any problem, you can tell me." he tried to lighten up the mood but she replied coldly, "I will if there is..." And I know you never will. He thought with a faint smile coming to his lips, looking away. "Everything was just as I anticipated, no need to vex over something trivial." "I see." They went home. Isra entered, minding her own business until her eyes fell upon the silhouette of a painfully familiar face, right in front of her. Her steps halted, breaths converted into a pant, watching Emraz gazing at her with a sorely repentant gaze. A dreadful silence took over the room as Isra stared at his face. A thick tension evoked, the absence of sound increased the intensity of the tribulation. Tears dwell in Isra's eyes, coming closer, losing her breath, letting out low-pitched voices of despair, coming closer, scrutinizing his form, laughing hysterically at him. Emraz stood up and and turned to her, mentally preparing himself for her fury, "The audacity, Emraz. The audacity." She laughed, observing was he truly here or is it an illusion. She laughed dementedly and snickered, "How shamelessly you showed me your damn face!" She shouted, unable to keep the ravage inside her, grabbing his collar as he kept looking down with a guilt-ridden face, not even daring to meet her devastated orbs, "Where was the thought of penitence when you left me, huh?!" She sneered, pulling his face closer to hers, tears streaming down, growling at him while no one dared to interrupt her. "How dare you even show your face-" She was about to continue but Rayan called her impassively, "Isra." "Don't meddle, Rayan." She hissed, not removing her eyes from Emraz, treachery flickered, scowling with tears glistening in her hazel eyes. "How does it feel huh?! How does it feel to break my hopes?... For beckoning me into your gallantry? And whimsical me who thought you are sincere while you are nothing but an insensitive manipulator!" She busted her rage on him, lowering her head, breaking into a sob. "Why did you do this, Emraz?! Why did you leave me at the very end with your Brother?!" She cried, letting out the ache for an incomplete tale- love he disregarded for unknown purpose, quelling her hopes under his feet. "I.. Thought you truly wanted to be with me.. But how wrong I was... Why did you do this?! Why?!" She asked, sobbing her heart out, pouring her heartbreaking emotions into the tears, moving hand down and hitting his chest. She continued her action until Rayan held her arms and pulled her back. "I hate you for doing this to me! I hate you!" She shouted, resting her back on his chest, leaning her head back, sullen her destruction affiliated to her suffocating heartbeats, leading her to the abyss. Closing her eyes, Isra leaned her head back on Rayan's shoulder as he kept holding her arms. "I.. Am your.. culprit..." Emraz's voice came out like a pathetic whimper which outraged Isra, glaring at him, "You are... And I will never forgive you." Straightening herself, she hissed, "I will never forgive you for those deceptive dreams which made me fall for you." pointing her index finger at him in contempt she continued, not holding back, letting out the anguish strained to her heart like plague, "You hear me? NEVER!" "I deserve it.." He whispered, curling his lips upward sadly, "You do." Pushing her hairs behind, Isra turned to him and snarled, "You know what, Emraz? I have never felt aversion for anyone as much as I am feeling for you now." The disdain in her eyes for him which once called to his domain for endearment was no longer present. Resentment at its utmost extent, she let out the agony, without caring why he did this. "And I will never forgive you." Declaring furiously, her steps retreated, considering everything as a disdain, she ran away. Isra doesn't want to see his face anymore as it will be the reminder of her suffering and his fake love...