Chapter 15

    "So there you are," Sikander said seeing Taimur enter his study.  

         Taimur sat on a chair kept on the other side of the desk where Sikander was seated.

         "Come along, it's been a long time since we boys had a chat". Sikander lit his cigar and offered one to Taimur, which he respectfully declined.

       "Still, don't smoke, do you, "  Sikander asked looking at Taimur's face very carefully.

      Taimur sensed there was something different in his manner today, "He knows," Taimur said to himself and started preparing for what was to come next.

     "So how is the business," Sikander asked Taimur after a long silence, staring at him constantly.

      Sikander was the only person in this whole world, in whose presence Taimur felt intimidated. Sikander held an air of authority and a no-nonsense attitude.          "Good as usual". Taimur replied.

     Sikander watched closely as Taimur got restless due to his constant gazing. Taimur wanted his father to just get over with it. But Taimur knew very well Sikander was like a lion constantly playing with his prey, till he made his last kill.

       Sikander was constantly reading Taimur's changing expressions.

       Sikander was an ambitious man from a very young age. He always wanted to be, "The King" like his father. But after the sudden death of his father in a car accident his elder brother Waleed was chosen as the King.

       It was not that Waleed was not a good man. But it was just that Sikander wanted to rule Azmaayir. He was a few years younger than Waleed. Sikander was still in his university when Waleed was crowned as the King of Azmaayir.

     The only thing that gave Waleed an edge over Sikander in the eyes of the council was Waleed's age. Sikander couldn't change his age and nor could he kill his brother for the throne. Sikander loved Waleed but he couldn't change the fact that it was Waleed who robbed him of his throne.

      Waleed had known how much Sikander wanted to be the King since childhood. Waleed was a very affectionate person. He loved all his siblings very much. Sikander and Waleed shared a special bond since childhood. And because of the guilt, he had that his younger brother was not chosen to be the King because of him.

        To rule was a duty for Waleed and Sikander thought it was his birthright. Destiny had played a joke on Sikander, and he was not going to let it get away with it.

       Sikander had acquired control over all the oil reserves in Azmaayir very carefully manipulating Waleed who was in the guilt of hurting his loving younger brother and obliged to everything Sikander asked for.

        Sikander had very easily established his refineries on the oil reserves. The money he saved from the profits after the expenditure of the Monarchy was huge, the oil business was booming in those days.  Sikander started expanding his business, in other sectors as well in Azmaayir. Understanding that the Monarchy can take back control of the oil refineries anytime from him. He built himself a business empire in Azmaayir.

      His brother might have been the King but it was Sikander who ran the country. He made sure that Waleed was completely under his influence. And no decision was taken by Waleed without prior discussion with Sikander.

        Sikander was on the Royal council along with his other 8 siblings. The King in Azmaayir was free to make any decisions but it was necessary to take the approval of the  Royal council before they were implemented. And Malik Sikander Jahaan was the most influential member of the council.

       The members of the Royal council consisted of siblings of the former and the present King. They remained on the council until their death.

       When Taimur was born, Sikander had decided he would write the destiny of his son himself. What joke destiny had played with Sikander he won't let that happen to Taimur. Sikander had planned Taimur's whole future when Taimur was still in his cradle. Sikander's wife Tayyaba was his first cousin. He had always manipulated Tayyaba into doing what Sikander desired.

        He had betrothed Taimur to Sehar when Taimur was just 10 yrs old and Sehar was merely 5. Sehar was the daughter of his sister, another member of the Royal Council.

       Sikander wanted when the time came to choose the next ruler his sister would favor Taimur if he was her son-in-law. His sister was also an ambitious woman and to get her on his side was by marrying her daughter to Taimur.

        But this betrothal proved to be his biggest mistake. Taimur fell so hopelessly in love with Sehar that all he cared about in the world was to get married to her and start a family.

       Taimur excelled in studies since childhood. His grades got him admission into the best schools around the world. Sikander wanted Taimur to get a degree in finance in Business Administration. But Taimur wanted to be a lawyer.

       It had taken a lot of time for Sikander to convince Taimur to get a degree in law but give up practicing law. Sehar had proven very beneficial to Sikander in this phase of Taimur's life. It was she who had convinced him to give up practicing law and pursue a degree in finance.

       Well, she was not as useless as Sikander thought her to be. But she still had to exit from her son's life. She was the reason Sikander was not able to burn the fire of ambition in Taimur.

       Sikander had very meticulously planned how he was going to eliminate Sehar from Taimur's life. He had appointed a girl to gain Sehar's trust and start brainwashing her.        

     It was easier than Sikander had thought. Sehar proved to be as dumb as he had expected her. It took a few months of brainwashing from his employee to make Sehar regret her betrothal with Taimur and pursue Yousuf instead.

     When Sikander got the news of Sehar's pregnancy, which Sehar had so happily broken to his hired girl. He started acting on his plan.

      Sikander raised hell in an urgent council meeting. Making his other 7 siblings sympathize with Taimur. He made sure Sehar was married off to Yousuf. The only person whom he was not able to convince with his act was his sister Salma, Sehar's mother.

       As Sikander had expected, Taimur reacted to this betrayal from Sehar by wanting to make Sehar regret her decision for marrying Yousuf expecting to be a Queen someday.

      The fire of ambition that Sikander was not able to ignite in Taimur for years now, Sehar was able to do it just with a flick of betrayal.

      Taimur had gone into a frenzy with one conquest after another. In the beginning, Sikander doubted if in the present state of mind in which Taimur was, would he be able to make rational decisions.

       But Taimur had proved him wrong, the fire of vengeance that was burning in Taimur was taking him in the same direction as Sikander had planned.

        But Sikander didn't think Taimur would take that betrayal so seriously that he won't ever want to be in a relationship with a woman. Still, he was sure Taimur would come back to his right mind after he had conquered the world and settled down.

      Everything was going as planned up until now till this girl showed up. Sikander was glad at least his son was taking interest in a woman but he half expected him to get so serious as to want to marry her.

     When earlier Talal told him about the conversation between Taimur and the rest of his family Sikander was filled with rage. His son was again ready to toss everything aside for a woman. Sikander couldn't let that happen. He had to stop Taimur at all costs.

     " Any plans for the future?" He asked Taimur. Dropping off the ash from the cigar in the ashtray before him on the desk.

     "Nothing special as of now, " Taimur said. Sikander felt Taimur was enjoying this cat and mouse game.

       "Good, " Sikander exclaimed and continued "Because I have chosen a girl for you to get married".

      The cat was finally out of the bag. Sikander saw  Taimur taking a deep breath.

      " You had also chosen a girl not long back, and we both know well what happened". Taimur couldn't control the anger in his voice.

      "It was an awry decision, not a big deal. Look what you are now because of it, aye. The most powerful and richest man in Azmaayir, " he said without any iota of guilt.                    

      Sikander never thought he had done any wrong to Taimur. He always believed what he had planned was the best for his son.

      " What I am is a man with trust issues, and nothing else. These material conquests have no importance in my eyes". Taimur said bitterly. 

     " But they are important in the eyes of the council. Important in the eyes of the people of Azmaayir" he said with a little inclination of his head.

    "I don't give a damn about others". Taimur defied him.

     "But I do, and I will not let you toss everything for a mere girl, " Sikander said, staring at him.

     " I will marry Eva, at all costs, " Taimur said, emphasizing each word.

     "Who told you not to marry her, " Sikander asked, acting surprised. He sensed Taimur was a little startled at his declaration.

     "Marry the girl you like, But you will also marry the girl I have chosen. And that will keep your claim on the throne intact," Sikander saw the expression of shock on Taimur's face.  

      "I will take only the woman I love as my wife and not anyone else," Taimur said enraged looking in Sikander's eyes.

      "So my cub has grown up," Sikander thought with amusement.

      "Okay, " Sikander said.

      Sikander thought it was not wise to provoke Taimur into taking any drastic step. "Let him play with his new toy for some more time, he will get tired of her after some time and toss her aside. It won't do any immediate harm, ". He thought to himself.

      Taimur didn't believe what Sikander said. Sikander saw him looking at him with astonishment.

     "Do you mean it?" Taimur asked with disbelief.

     "Of course nothing matters to me more than your happiness. But I don't want you to rush into anything. Take your time to know her well before you take your relationship to the next level, I don't want you to get hurt again. Promise me you will make no haste into making any decision, " Sikander rose from his seat and came around the table to Taimur's side. He was saying the words while he placed his hands on Taimur's shoulder. He was pressing his hand on his shoulder to reassure him.

     "I promise I won't do anything in haste so that I or any member of our family get hurt by my decision, " Taimur kept his hand on Sikander's hand placed on his shoulder and pressed it with assurance.

    Sikander noticed how relieved his son looked after his assurance. "Fool, " Sikander thought bitterly.