waves

chapter 19

“Asslamo alaikum” he greeted her first. “walaikum assalam”  she tried to spoke words which she newly learned. “what are you reading?” he tried to start a conversation. “its translation of Quran” she replied. “well I thought it’s a peaceful place to complete my office work” he tried to continue.
“well it is” she replied. “anything new?” he asked. “well you’re already here, I wanted to talk about something” last night’s thought provoked her. “what is it?” he asked curiously.  “well last time when I didn’t accepted Islam, you proposed me” she didn’t realize whether it was a statement or question. “then?” he wanted her to speak it. “I want to ask if it’s still available?” she said without lifting her face up, confusingly. “I’m sorry Stella, but it’s not possible now” he tried to be honest. In shock, she immediately look him straight in his eyes which were showing his regret. “I wish you had did it before back then, I would have been glad and would have accepted you, but now I’m engaged” he said in a apologizing way. Stella couldn’t stand it anymore, she got hurt badly but she had ask. “when did you got engaged?” she asked in disappointment. “well last time you saw, when guests arrived at our home, they were for engagement” he said disclosing.  She remembered when she saw a girl with henna on her hands, outside his house. But to her surprise, she was thinking that why Fatima didn’t mention it? She stood up and put the book in shelf and picked up her bag. Mustafa’s eyes following her actions, she walked towards the exit.
As she reached home heartbroken, she laid in bed and took some sleeping pills to forget her pain. She don’t remember for how many hours she slept. But when she woke up it was 4pm. She went to the kitchen and made herself pasta. And then while watching TV she ate it. She realized that her head was aching and she cannot attend today’s class anymore.
Next day, she went for shopping and bought herself clothes. As last night she received emails from two  companies who want to interview her. She bought long skirts, with lose blouses which cannot reveal her shape. And some lose shirts with jeans for casual days. Then she went to the hijab shop and bought matching hijabs as per her dresses.
In evening, after her Islamic classes, she was watching TV when she received a email. She immediately opened her laptop. And she was surprised to see that it was from McKasson company. It said that they want to hire her for general manager post, offering double salary. Her heart wanted her to accept the job but her mind was not accepting to work under Steven Joseph. She closed the laptop and went to sleep.
In morning, she went to university to say farewell to her friends and collect her results and documents. She went into the office to receive her documents but her professor told her that someone is waiting for her. “hi I’m from McKasson company, General manager to be exact ex” a girl with attractive brown face, looking in her early 30s, stood up from the chair and leaned forward to introduce herself to Stella in a friendly way. Stella got surprised that last night they send her email, and now her representative is already here to meet her. “hello, I imagine what brings you here to me” she asked in curiosity.
“Well, getting straight to the point, I’ve got to know that you have scored second position in this university in business management. As McKasson is the highest ranking company of the state, we would like to hire a fresh but talented candidate for this post. And I have resigned from this post, so now it’s my responsibility to allot my rank to a deserving person who can do justice to my post and understand it” she explained herself.
Stella didn’t had the solid reason at the moment to deny the offer. “ well I need time to think” she replied hesitantly. “well you shouldn’t miss the chance Stella, it’s a great offer” her professor interrupted her. “well no problem, take your time, here it’s my card, do contact me as you made up your mind” she handed over the card.
Stella thought hard but couldn’t help decide that whether she should accept the offer or not. She tried to explain to her mind, that business management department is not with his office, and if she accepts she will just have to complete her task, receive her salary and come back. There’s no way she will face Steven Joseph. Her little mind agreed and she got ready for her new adventure as she replied to the email that she’s interested  for the job. Instantly they replied her to come for interview tomorrow. .