Protection

Losing my job

"That's what all of them say," he said still engulfed in his computer not seeming to care even a bit.

"N-no you don't understand" my voice broke down in the middle of my statement. He slightly looked up from the computer from the corner of his eyes.

"I promise I will behave; I will never give you a chance to complain" I wiped my tears with the back of my hand sniffing with my suddenly stuffy nose.

"You think I haven't heard that before; I meet hundreds of girls who do the same act, don't think for a minute that I will fall for your fake tears," he said with a motionless face.

More tears fell from my eyes, he thinks they sare fake why are you crying Zahra stop it, but it didn't stop instead more tears fell as the taste of the salty water touched my lips.

"N-no you don't understand, you don't understand," I said looking down at my lap, each drop of tear fell on my white shirt making a pattern of tears on it.

"I am going to become homeless," I said ending my sentence with a hick-up. I hate to share my problems with people and feel their pitiful gaze, but I had to put aside my ego for my survival.

I looked up at him to see any reaction, but his face was still motionless as always. His eyes bored into my soul for a good hot minute making me feel uncomfortable and shift in my seat. I hate eye contact, but this man couldn't seem to get enough of it.

After a long minute of silence, I gave up. I stood up leaving my computer on his table ready to leave this dream of a job I only realized this was when I lost the job.

"Tomorrow if you don't behave it will be your last day, mark my words, Ms. Khan," he said. I turned my head not believing my ears, a warm feeling of happiness spreading throughout my whole body.

"I won't disappoint you" I assured him as I wiped away my tears. The corner of my lips slightly twitched upwards in relief. My shoulders felt a lot lighter now that I didn't have to become homeless, raped, or honor killed by my uncle.

"Go and wash your face and come back here" I quickly nodded standing up ready to head out of his office to go to the employee common restroom.

"You can use my restroom" he pointed at a door at the corner of his office.

I opened the door and got mesmerized by the beautiful restroom. The restroom consisted of a blue and white interior just like the building from the outside.

He even had a shower and what seemed like a closet here. Does he live here perhaps?

What shocked me the most was his fancy toilet with a bidet. I couldn't help but feel excited to pee for the first time with this fancy technical lota as the dry tears tightened on my face with a grin forming on my face.

I sat on the toilet and pressed a random button on the little remote control behind the toilet. Sudden hot boiling water splashed on my bum, and I gasped in shock and pain. Immediately after I pressed another button as ice-cold water sprang out soothing my burning bum at first but then my skin down there ended up getting numb with coldness. I will just stick to my lota.

I stood up to wash my hands with the little gold bowl that was supposed to be a sink. How does one even wash their foot in it?

I looked at myself in the mirror, and I looked like a mess, my waterproof mascara still stood there strong as always, but my lenses glided down my eyes and were nearly all dried up on my cheeks. No wonder he told me to wash my face.

The realization of having to walk around with my bare snake-looking eyes for the whole day hit me. Could this day get any worse, first I was about to lose my job, then my vagina cooks in warm water and now my lenses are gone.

I washed my face with the handsoap and went out to meet the living nightmare of a boss.

He looked at me and didn't look away, I knew what he was thinking. He probably thinks I look like a witch with my snake-looking eyes.

I sat down on the leather sofa in front of him, the fact that I had to beg this man in front of me to keep this job crumbled my ego into pieces. I couldn't even meet his eyes with all the embarrassment I felt.

"Every morning I want my coffee here at 8 am sharp along with my schedule understand, I won't call to inform you anymore" I nodded playing with the ring on my finger.

"Look at me when I am talking to you" I looked up and he just held eye contact in silence for a long minute with his expressionless face. I felt so uncomfortable I started to shift in my seat again having the urge to run away from his gaze, what a creep. That's why I wore lenses people stare when I don't, and it is so uncomfortable that I just want to rip my eyes out or just kill myself altogether. He shook his face for a second looking back at his computer.

"I want you to read all my emails and forward me the important ones"

"You also have to attend all the meetings with me and do all my paperwork"

I nodded realizing I will have no life from now on.

"Also, you have the responsibility for my lunch and dinner, every dish has to be different every day, at least 25 grams of protein and 2000 calories altogether in every meal"

What do calories even mean? 25g of protein do you weigh the food with a scale?

"If you do this every single day along with other things I tell you to do without any questions, I might consider not firing you on the spot"

The simple word fire made all the hairs on my neck stand up in awareness. With wide eyes, I looked up at him and he wasn't joking, his face emotionless like always.

Suddenly someone slapped the glass door making me jump in my seat, I held my jumping heart. I looked behind me and saw a smiling Hassan walking into the office as he owned it.

"What are you two lovebirds talking about," he said sitting behind me nearly covering the whole sofa with his big legs. Lovebirds my foot, I find animals more attractive than Zayyan.

"You okay Zahra? You seemed like you just saw a ghost omg are those your real eyes!"

"Y-yes" I awkwardly answered.

"You have beautiful eyes!"

"Beautiful?" I said shocked, no one had ever told me that, I could feel my cheeks heat up in embarrassment. I looked down playing with the ring in my fingers again as a warm feeling ran down my whole body.

"Beautiful in a sisterly way of course" Hassan suddenly said while smirking at Zayyan.

"Thank you," I said giving him a real smile.

Hassan was such a good and kind person meanwhile Zayyan is, I have no words for him. At least he didn't fire me which I am thankful for. How he and Hassan are friends is beyond my understanding.

Translation:

- "Mujhe chor ke mat jaana Bashir, mein tum se behadd pyar karti ho": Please don't leave me Bashir, I love you so much.

- "Meri ammi nehi man rahi Lubna": My mom is not agreeing with our relationship Lubna.

- lota: A little pot of water people in Asia use to wash their ass.

Authors note: You guys, it is not hard to vote or comment. I came here to share my story but it literally feels like I am sharing my story to a wall.