Dusk At the End Please

Bickering

PoV Akhtar's

My success in bringing Mom and introducing her to everyone is an incredible achievement for me. Happiness began to come back to me at this moment, the presence of Mother gave me an incredible positive energy. At least I have a place to go now.

My engagement to Raina was nothing more than an obligation, as compensation I had to pay for all the facilities I had obtained all this time. I have to pay a lot for that by pawning my own love and feelings.

The girl who had always been in my heart and mind, I had to leave it with others because I myself was shackled by the arranged marriage arranged by my father and mother. I can't do much to fight for my love, my choice is quite difficult. The opportunity to be with my real mother was also at stake.

I was forced to accept Dad's offer, get engaged to Raina and be able to meet my real mother or refuse an arranged marriage and not have the chance to be with my real mother.

I know very well mother is my weakness, for mother I will do anything. If I was given the choice between accepting an arranged marriage or leaving all the facilities that my father gave me including the position of chairman of the foundation and CEO of the company, I knew I would choose to leave all the facilities provided by him.

Then how much you can give me a very difficult choice. The choice that made me finally had to stop my love struggle for Shanum. Accepting an arranged marriage with Raina means I have to let Shanum go. I know dad can do anything with his current standing.

To be honest, releasing Shanum was a tough decision for me, until now I have not been able to erase everything about Shanum. The second precious woman after my mother is her. I have always kept my heart for him.

But I was relieved, at least releasing Shanum with the right person. Even though maybe we will meet more often because Ahsan is my cousin, it means that Shanum will also be my brother. It's not important to see Shanum happy, to make sure he's always okay. Doesn't love not always have to be?

I do not doubt the loyalty and responsibility of an Ahsan. Someone once said that the earnestness of a man is seen from his responsibility and loyalty. All this time I had never heard of or seen my cousin in a relationship with another woman after Suraya's departure, and it was only fitting that she was struggling to get Shanum. A simple woman with a million charms. Me and Ahsan are interested in the same woman. I believe Ahsan can make Shanum happy.

But what happened tonight really made me angry. Angry at his anger, if we were not in the event attended by many people I would like to curse and hit Ahsan. I'm upset because it turns out he's not done with his past and it's certainly very painful for Shanum.

Very suddenly, Suraya, a woman from Ahsan's past, comes and confesses in front of everyone if she comes home to Ahsan and claims to be his future wife. Especially when she did not know her embarrassment, she hugged Ahsan without hesitation. So sucks. I was furious with his behavior, it felt like I wanted to turn off all the lights in the hall so that Shanum did not hear and see the incident.

In my mind instantly just about Shanum, I can imagine his current feelings. I saw him from where I was. His gaze was fixed on the table where we were, I'm sure Shanum saw clearly as Suraya hugged Ahsan. I was about to approach Shanum, but Ahsan's movements surprised us who were sitting at his desk. She brushed aside Suraya's embrace violently, we all jumped in shock at her treatment of the girl.

I saw then Ahsan passed towards Shanum's desk without caring for Suraya who showed a face of displeasure to receive Ahsan's treatment to her. But he soon caught up with Ahsan.

I could only see them from where I was, I actually wanted to go to Shanum and take him away from this place. But my movement was blocked by the presence of Raina and her friends who invited us to take pictures together. The guests did not seem to be affected by this incident. I could only sigh deeply, hoping that Shanum could get through all of this well, I knew she was a strong woman.

I followed all the wishes of Raina, various styles according to the direction of the photographer I participated but my view did not escape to where Shanum was. I saw that he seemed to be nervous with Ahsan and Suraya present before him. I don't know what they're talking about, which obviously must have been all their talking to get Shanum hurt.

The night is getting late, but the party has no sign of ending yet. The guests who arrived were still seen filling the hall. I felt like I wanted to just leave, look for Ahsan who was already invisible in the hall and ask him for an explanation. Ever since her conversation with Shanum ended, I saw her go with Suraya somewhere.

While Shanum I saw him back with his friends. Completing the job that became his duty, he seemed to look better than before. I don't know what the woman's heart is made of, she's always been able to put herself into her role. I knew his heart was so hurt.

***

Twelve o'clock the show ends. Without waiting any longer Akhtar immediately headed for Ahsan official house. He tried to refrain from reacting to seeing the incident.

Without caring about Raina who kept calling out to him, Akhtar continued to step foot in to meet Ahsan. While their parents had already left the hall earlier.

Arriving at the official house that Ahsan lives in, the situation looks lonely. Akhtar knocked on the door of the house many times, until he finally concluded that the house was uninhabited. Akhtar decided to wait for Ahsan on the porch of the house. He was sure Ahsan would come home.

His mind glared at what Ahsan was doing with Suraya, the last time he saw Ahsan and Suraya leaving. His mind then turned to Shanum, imagining how hurt he was today.

Twenty minutes later, Akhtar saw a black Civic stopped and parked right in the courtyard of Ahsan's official house. Someone came out of the car with a lethargic face, he was Ahsan who had been waiting for Akhtar.

Ahsan scrunched his forehead when he saw Akhtar was standing on his porch by putting his hands in his pants pocket.

"Bro," said Ahsan, who was immediately replied with a raw bogem that landed right on his left cheek.

Buggh.....

Even Ahsan could not dodge, everything was so fast. Ahsan did not expect to get a bogeman reception from Akhtar. Ahsan staggered, his body shaken signifying that the punch was quite loud.

Trudged he tried to rebalance his body.

"What the hell is this, crazy you huh?", asked Ahsan with a rising intonation. His changed calls showed he was really angry again.

"You mean what?" Ahsan asked again while holding his sore cheek. He rubbed the corner of his lips that spit out a little blood due to Akhtar.

"I should be the one to you, what do you mean to approach Shanum all this while you still have a relationship with Suraya?", asked Akhtar still with high intonation. He seems to have not mastered his emotions.

"Huh? what's your business with my problem on this one? why should I hit me? why isn't it okay?", Ahsan charged Akhtar with a lot of questions.

"Gue just wants your ingetin, if it turns out you can't solve your problem with Suraya immediately, release Shanum right now. He doesn't deserve to be treated like that by you." explained Akhtar with his breath going up and down, he still looked very angry.

"Without you telling me too, I will definitely make a decision. Shanum was my choice and I had no taste at all for Suraya, I have said many times that me and Surabaya have ended since he prefers to study abroad rather than the same me", replied Ahsan firmly.

"But why did Suraya act like she did?" asked Akhtar in a tone that was starting to return to normal.

"That's exactly what I just finished, I just had a serious four-eye talk with Suraya and explained everything about me and Shanum, I also told him that I have no taste of anything with him, and after your engagement is over then it is my turn to ask Shanum." replied Ahsan.

Degh suddenly something slammed into his heart when he heard Ahsan say that he was going to ask Shanum, Akhtar still hoped that this was all a dream. Akhtar only glared when he heard it.

"Then?" ask Akhtar ambiguously.

"Then what?" Ahsan asked Akhtar again. Now they have sat side by side on the chairs on the terrace blocked by the round table. Ahsan was still holding the corner of his lips which felt sore due to Akhtar's punch earlier.

"Then how did Suraya respond?" Akhtar sanctions if Suraya will accept Ahsan's decision just like that. He knew very well that Suraya would do anything to make his wish come true. Akhtar was worried that Suraya could not accept Ahsan's decision and was determined.

"Well that's it", Ahsan replied hesitantly, "for sure I will fight for Shanum, no matter what happens", Ahsan replied firmly.

Akhtar had guessed, facing Suraya was not an easy thing. Since the girl always forced her will, Akhtar often saw Ahsan who was troubled to fulfill every wish of the girl. As the only child of the family, Suraya always gets what she wants.

"I just don't want Shanum to get hurt again", Akhtar muttered softly, but was still heard by Ahsan.

"What?" ahsan asked in wonder, from where did his cousin know that Shanum had been injured. Ahsan tilted her body towards Akhtar waiting for his answer.

Akhtar sighed, trying to find the right words to reveal the truth that he had been damning himself.

"I've been making Shanum wait, even until I came back he was still waiting and without finding out the truth about the situation I decided to accept this matchmaking until I was stuck with a difficult choice." Akhtar again sighed pausing his words.

Ahsan was still faithfully hearing Akhtar's explanation, she stared intently at her cousin with an expression that was hard to decipher.

"I've wasted Shanum" said Akhtar.

"Ja...di...., the man Shanum had been waiting for was you?" Ahsan asked stammeredly, she still could not believe that the man before her was the one Shanum had been waiting for and came back by giving her disappointment and injuries.

Akhtar only nodded his assent mark, he lowered his head hiding his face holding back the chest-collapse tightness.

Suddenly Ahsan stood up, she swiftly grabbed Akhtar's royal collar and....

One hard punch landed right on Akhtar's cheek. So loud was the blow Ahsan's body also staggered followed Akhtar who had already landed his butt on the floor.

"So you're a stupid guy who's been wasting girls as good as Shanum, huh?" ahsan shouted, he pulled back the collar of Akhtar's shirt with both hands and raised the question in an angry tone.

Buggh....Ahsan again punched Akhtar in the cheek.

Akhtar did not resist, he was silent when Ahsan returned to punch him.

"Stupid you, stupid....stupid..." Ahsan kept shouting at the stupid Akhtar while not holding the collar of Akhtar's shirt and shaking his body.

The quarrel of two friends and cousins was inevitable again. Ahsan lost control of herself when she learned the truth that her cousin was the man Shanum had been waiting for. While Akhtar he was still silent, neither talking nor resisting Ahsan's treatment.

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