Chapter 24: Threats

The next day at the office, she was busy with her work when Hannan came to her office. Knocking on the door, he asked for permission, "May I enter?"

Sheharzaad was reading a file that had been given to her by Mr. Ijaz. She looked up at Hannan and passed him a tight-lipped smile.

"Yes, please," Sheharzaad responded, closing the file. She indicated he could sit in the chair.

"How are you?" Hannan asked her.

"I am good. What about you?"

"I am fine as well. I hope everything is alright," Hannan said.

"Why? What happened? Everything is fine." Sheharzaad suddenly became defensive. She did not want him or anyone else to know what proposition Shehryaar had put in front of her for the loan.

"You've got dark circles..."

"Oh, that." Sheharzaad stroked her under-eyes with her forefingers. "It's because I didn't sleep last night."

"That's why I asked you, is everything alright, Sheharzaad?"

"Yes. It's just that I was stressed about Amna. That did not let me sleep."

"Did you get the loan from Sir Shehryaar?" he asked. And this was the question she had been fearing.

"I... I couldn't muster up the courage, Hannan," she answered.

"Has something happened?" he asked again. He noticed the gloominess on her face.

"No. Trust me. Nothing has happened."

"You sound so off and quiet to me."

"As I told you, it is just stress."

"I have two hundred thousand in my savings. And I really want to help you," Hannan said, taking out a packet from his pocket and handing it over to her.

Her eyes widened as she looked at him.

"What?" she asked, surprised.

"Yes, it's for you."

"No, Hannan, thank you. I don't need this."

"I would love to help you."

"Thank you, Hannan. But no."

"I have saved this for my younger brother's wedding, but I feel like you need it more than me and—"

"No. Thank you so much. Please keep it for the purpose you saved this money for." She denied. It was crushing her already diminished dignity more, and just two hundred thousand wouldn't help her.

"There is no need to keep this cash anymore. My brother died long ago," Hannan said, taking Sheharzaad by surprise. Suddenly, she felt a weird feeling in her heart as soon as he mentioned his brother. A sad feeling encompassed her.

"I... I didn't know that. I'm sorry for your—"

"There is no need for that," Hannan cut her off. For a moment, she noticed the distance and the stony look in his eyes.

"Please keep this. I don't want it," she persisted.

"You are a stubborn piece."

"No need, Hannan. It would make me feel more humiliated in my own eyes, and maybe I'll manage to get a loan from the company because I need more than just two lacs and that too by next week. Even if I get two lacs from you, a significant amount would still be left. Thank you so much for your help, but keep it."

"Okay. That's fine." Hannan retrieved the packet back and took his leave before exiting her office.

By evening, she had done some research and decided to apply for a loan from a bank. After calling all the banks on her radar, she again sighed with helplessness. The amount was large. It would take a few weeks for her to get the loan. The paperwork was extensive, and she didn't have anything she could offer the bank as assurance. Her house wasn't that valuable and was a disputed property as well, where they lived.

Leaning against her chair, she looked up to the sky as if waiting for a miracle.

"What should I do?" she said more to herself before closing her eyes.

She didn't know when her lashes became drenched with the water that came out of her eyes as Shehryaar's words again engulfed her mind. Her eyes were closed, her mind submerged in thoughts, and silence surrounded her. She didn't know when she drifted to sleep.

Her lashes fluttered open as she struggled to open her eyes. With one fully open and the other half-open, she checked the time and was shocked to see it was already 9 p.m. Darkness and silence surrounded her. She moved her hand around with her dizzy mind and got hold of a glass of water, gulping it down. As soon as her vision cleared, her eyes snapped open.

He was sitting there.

Right in front of her.

His cold eyes were staring at her as if he had been observing her sleeping form for a while. When he noticed she had woken up, a small smile spread across his lips.

He looked psychotic to her.

"What do you... you want?" She stood up from her chair.

"You," he stated bluntly, "and I don't like to wait for what I want." He stood up, and she got alarmed.

"Why... why me?" she managed to ask. "There is nothing so special in me, then why me?"

"I don't know," his quiet voice came, "and I just came here to inform you, my offer stands intact until tomorrow." He began to move closer to her, making her take quick steps back toward the wall.

"By tomorrow, if you don't give me your answer, then you won't be getting any money," he took quick steps toward her as she backed away. "And I will make sure no bank will lend you anything. It is in my knowledge how many attempts you've made to secure a loan," he uttered, "and if your answer is no, then you will certainly not get your money." He cornered her against the wall. Boring his eyes into hers, he grasped her chin.

"But remember this: if I lay my eyes on something, I know how to get it." he whispered, dreadfully. His grey eyes alone sent shivers down her spine.

"Now you better know what your answer must be," he finished, retreated his steps back while looking into her trepidatious eyes, turned around, and left.