9- Painful Answer

"Here is your cabin, make sure to do everything on time. I won't tolerate any delay." Rayan told Isra sternly, showing her cabin as it was her first day at his hotel as the Event Manager, the only things she was good at.

Giggling, she nodded, "You got me."

"And yeah don't call me by my name."

"Yes, Sir!" She chirped, saluting him as he sighed at her beaming demeanor.

"I am only doing this for Emraz bhai, don't consider yourself an exception." His voice came out icy, annoyed even.

"I never was," She muttered, rolling her eyes, not even noticing the microscopic smirk on his lips. You always were. He thought and showed her around her new workplace,

"This place is lavishing." She said, looking around, "It's a seven-star hotel." He told her.

"Hmm, still. I was talking about the theme, it's royal."

"Yeah, I wanted it to be like this."

"Your choices are always exquisite, from food to people, everything." She complimented, stopping and turning to him.

He smiled, stopping in his tracks, fixing his azure gaze on the ground, responding in a low tone, "I always chose gems."

Gradually turning to her, staring intensely at her with his lips curled upwards, managing the loud heartbeats in the keen moment of nothingness which fascinated him.

Still you are out of my grasp. His mind said and he looked away. "I can see." She smirked.

"What are you wearing at the engagement, Isra?" He asked. "A sapphire lace dress." She told him.

"I see... what's it like?" He asked, turning to her.

She smiled, "Oh, it's off shoulder and the whole front is white and sleeves along with some beads, the jewelry set was silver, even the accessory too; they shine too much and a frock with it, you know the usual bride's type." She told him casually, explaining about her dress.

"I am sure it would suit you. I would recommend you wear a headpiece with it too." He told her, knowing she never acted on his advice on dressing.

"No, I am not going to wear any head piece, although I like the ones hanging from the side." She said, turning to him, gesturing which one.

"You know, starting from here and going to the back," She grinned.

"Sounds nice." He hummed, finishing their tour.

"Okay then, get back to work."

"Yeah, see you later, Rayan." She grinned.

"Hey, it's Sir now."

"Yeah, yeah, later, Sir!" She waved and left for her cabin, working there. He watched her leave, lips curling upwards, speaking the words he wanted to tell her the moment she came.

"Good Luck." He said to himself and went back to his back.

After work, he took his stuff hastily, hoping to see her leave and act as if it's coincidence and be the first one who asked about her day at his hotel, wanting to know whether she was comfortable or not, if the staff was friendly or not.

Now, he can't have any problem reaching her, not when she is working in his place, will he?

Smiling to himself, he took his coat, a single white lily, knowing it's her favourite flower and walked out to the parking lot to give it to her and saw Emraz already there with Isra, giving her a single rose which she tapped on his cheeks, laughing a little.

Like every loving couple, they wallowed in each other's company, talking.

He stopped in his tracks, looking at them from afar, his heart cracked a little, gritting his teeth while crushing the flower he grew himself just because she likes them in his hands, sensing how the moisture spread in his hands as an indication of his future- shattered.

Envy reaching its peak, he could even feel it under his fingernails, growling, he turned his head away, leaving but Emraz saw him and called out.

"Rayan!" He motioned him to come, exhaling, he forced out a smile and walked to them.

She is happy, she is happy, she is happy. Repeating it in his mind he also put up his affectation.

"Hey, Picking your fiancée on her first day, hmm?"

"Yeah.." He hummed, turning to look at Isra.

"How was your day? He didn't tease you, did he?" Emraz asked.

"He is my boss now, I think I can handle it this much." She smirked, looking at him.

Rayan chuckled, "Be prepared for that."

"You too." Clicking her tongue at him, she giggled.

"Okay then, see you guys later. Bye." He waved and left, unable to bear them standing this close to each other anymore which made his heart clench, throwing the crushed flower away when he reached up to his car and cursed under his breath.

Plopping in his car, he left beyond furious, speeding up his car, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. Shaking by the disquiet arousing in his whole being, shaking his head, his car stopped at Sateesha's apartment.

Getting out, he called her number, "Hey-"

"Where are you Eshu?" He asked, getting inside her building, "At home, why?" She asked.

"I am in the lift, open the door for me."

"Wha- What? What are you doing?" She asked in shock. Getting out of the lift, walking up to her apartment.

He said sternly, "Open the door." He said and cut the call.

Sighing she got out of her bed and opened her door, "Where were you for a month? You can't pop out suddenly."

"Isra is getting married." He told her, getting inside, throwing his coat on the couch, loosening his tie, growling continuously.

Licking her lips at his outburst, she quietly closed the door and turned to him, "So what are you going to do now?" She asked, taking his coat and folding it neatly.

"I don't know... I don't know..." He whispered sadly ,shaking his head in dolor, falling on the couch, hiding his face in his hands.

"Are you here to break up with me?" She asked, sitting beside him.

"Eshu we were supposed to be a couple to get her attention which she never gives me and because of you, we had to make this long or else this relationship would have ended in six months." He told her bitter truth.

"But, I love you Rayan even if you don't." She told him sweetly, rubbing his arm to soothe him but he pulled her hand away.

"And you know it's beyond my capabilities... to stop." He hissed, pulling his hairs, angry with himself.

"She is getting married with whom?" She asked innocently.

"Emraz Bhai." He whispered, breathing heavily, gritting his teeth.

"Oh my God, Rayan.." She gasped, sympathizing with him.

"I am lost, I can't do this anymore." He said in a low, depressed tone.

"It's over, Sateehsa. Both us and her." he told her, stopping the tear which dwells in his eye, getting up.

"Is that how we are going to end?" She asked, looking down.

"There's no other way. I can't do this anymore." He sighed, taking his stuff, "Sorry for bothering you."

He was about to leave but she stopped him, "At least stay for tonight, please..." She pleaded in a whisper, holding his arm.

He smiled faintly and removed her arms gently, kissing her forehead.

"Find someone who treats you better, Eshu. I never gave you the attention or love you deserve. Don't mock your worth, be with the person who truly loves you." He smiled, gave her hand a tight squeeze and walked away, knowing she was going to break into thundering sobs and was trying to not do it in front of him.

Exchanging smiles, they both part ways.

She never cared. She never did. I was always a nobody.

After breaking up with Sateesha, he told everyone in his home about it, everyone pitied him, trying to help him but he knows the truth, he knows what pain his heart was feeling. He knows his suffering.

A week after his breakup, Emraz came to provide his brother some equanimity.

"Hey, how are you?" He asked, entering and taking a seat.

"Fine." Rayan smiled, putting his phone down, attentive towards his big brother.

"You must be depressed, Rayan." He said.

"Kind of." He chuckled dryly, looking away while laying on the bed with his arms stretched out.

"I just want to run away, Bhai." He told him the truth that no one could understand the depth of his words and directed to which situation was only known by him.

"Hey don't be like this." Emraz tried to cheer him on.

"You need a refreshing time. Why don't you take a vacation?" He suggested.

"Nah.."

"You are so dull, are you going to be like this at the engagement too?" Emraz said, faking sadness and indirectly telling him.

"What?" He asked, sitting up. "When?!"

"After two weeks." Emraz smirked, telling him about his engagement which only fueled his despondency.

"That's so early."

"Rayan, it's been two months since we sent the proposal and they accepted." He reasoned with a shrug.

"I can't believe it." He breathed out, putting his hand on his chest, blinking.

"Me too." Emraz grinned, walking to and patting his head.

"Now, fix your mood, I don't want you to be like this then." He told him, trying to cheer him up. Holding his hand, but not looking up. He gathered enough courage and said.

"Bhai, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Do you love her?" He asked desperately, breathlessly, looking at Emraz with hopelessness spreading like plague in his eyes, taking him in the depth of devastation, swallowing hard to stay composed but failed miserably, failing to show his fear of 'Yes'

"What happened to you suddenly?" Emraz asked, chuckling at his behavior but he only tightened his grip and asked, "Answer bhai. Do you love her or not?"

A shy smile came to Emraz, looking down, putting his hand over Rayan, responding, "Believe me Rayan, each passing moment, I ask myself this question." Looking up to him, he grinned excitedly.

"I think I am falling for her."

Emraz's reply was deeply contentful for him but to Rayan, it was the most painful answer...