“Your face says, I'd rather die than admit it.”
●○●
The Next Day
"Fawad!"
Seeing Fawad entering the office, a colleague of Fawad called him.
"Good Morning!"
Going towards his colleague, Fawad greeted him.
After wishing him back, Zia, his colleague, said,
"Have you heard about the new project?"
"The new project?"
"Yeah. The design of a farmhouse."
"Oh."
Disinterestedly Fawad said. He was already feeling low because of yesterday's argument. He just wanted to go to his cabin but it seemed like his colleague was in no mood to leave him.
"I have heard it's a high-budget project."
Looking here and there, Zia whispered,
"I think someone from our team got selected-"
Zia was interrupted by the peon who came to call Fawad.
"Fawad sir, the boss is calling you in the meeting room."
Saying the peon went away.
"Lucky guy! You got selected for it."
Zia said while lightly slapping Fawad's back.
"I don't think so. Let me go and see what the boss wants to talk about."
Excusing himself, Fawad marched towards the meeting room.
●○●
"Sir? You called me?"
Fawad said while opening the door.
"Yes. Come in."
As soon as Fawad entered the room, the boss asked,
"You must have heard about the new project, right?"
"Vaguely."
"It's a farmhouse. In the western part. It's a big high-budget project. Normally I would have given it to your senior, Mr. Tarun but as he's on vacation so I want you to handle this project. Just so you know, there's no room for even a slight mistake."
Fawad's boss explained.
"I got it, sir."
Fawad said.
"May I know whom we are dealing with?"
"It's the-"
His boss was interrupted by a voice.
"I'm sorry for being late. There was huge traffic at the intersection. Hope I didn't miss much."
Entering the room, Imraan said.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Quraish. It's ok. I understand. And no. We just started."
Going towards Imraan, the boss said while forwarding his hand.
"Nice to meet you too."
Shaking hands, imraan replied when his eyes fell on Fawad.
"Hey! Good to see you. I didn't know it was your office."
Imraan said in surprise.
"What a surprise!"
Fawad said while formally shaking hands with Imraan.
"You guys know each other?"
The boss looked at them.
"Yeah. He's… family."
Imraan replied.
Noticing his boss's questionable look, Fawad elaborated.
"I'm his cousin's husband."
"Oh. That's great. Then there's no need for introduction. Mr. Quraish, Fawad will deal with your project. So any specific questions or suggestions you have feel free to share it with him."
The boss said before stepping out of the room leaving the two men alone.
"Want to discuss the project over a cup of coffee?"
Imraan asked. Usually, he starts his day with a cup of doppio but because it was late today he couldn't have it before getting out of the house.
"Sure. Let me order-"
Fawad was about to call the peon through the intercom when Imraan interrupted him.
"If you don't mind then can we have coffee in the cafe across the office?"
Imraan suggested.
"Um… Sure."
Reluctantly Fawad agreed.
●○●
"Let's sit there."
Once they entered the cafe, Imraan said.
Nodding Fawad was about to sit down when his eyes fell on a familiar figure who was sipping her coffee while listening to the other person talking.
It was Ayana. (Ayyan's sister) Across her was an unfamiliar man.
Fawad was thinking of going towards her to greet her when Ayana abruptly stood up and threw her coffee all over the unknown man's face earning a couple of gasps from the other customers. Without saying anything else, she put a bunch of cash on the table and left away almost in tears.
"Seems like a lover's quarrel."
Fawad heard Imraan saying from the side.
"I don't think so."
Fawad murmured while looking at Ayana's retiring figure.
"What?"
Imraan asked.
"Nothing. Let's order the coffee then start discussing."
Fawad said.
"Okay."
Imraan nodded before ordering his drink.
2 hours later
Fawad let out a sigh. At last, the meeting was over. He has never come across such a choosy person like Imraan. Now he gets why other companies didn't want to take this project.
"At last it's done. So tiring!"
Imraan said tiredly, making Fawad roll his eyes internally.
Without wasting any time, he started to pack his laptop when he felt a heated gaze. Looking up, he saw Imraan looking at him intently.
"What?"
He asked while uncomfortably shifting in his seat.
"So…"
Imraan dragged.
"So?"
Fawad prayed that Imraan doesn't ask anything about yesterday and to his luck Imraan didn't.
"How are you and Zee?"
Imraan asked, trying to start a conversation. Normally he wouldn't but his car was late so having nothing to do he thought to start a conversation with his sole companion for now, Fawad.
"Didn't you talk with her yesterday? Then why are you asking as if you haven't talked with her for a long time?"
Instead of replying, Fawad taunted.
"No need to be jealous. We-"
Before Imraan could complete, Fawad interrupted.
"Jealous?! Hah! Who's jealous?"
Fawad fake snorted.
"You."
Imraan stated the obvious.
"No. I'm not."
Fawad instantly denied it.
"Yes. You are."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"I said NO!!"
Fawad semi yelled while glaring at Imraan.
Seeing Fawad's fuming face. Imraan couldn't help but chuckle. His face was comical.
"Why are you laughing? Am I funny?"
Still glaring, Fawad asked. He was starting to get annoyed.
"Yes."
Controlling him from cracking up, Imraan said,
"Your face is really funny right now. Your face says, ''I'd rather die than admit it."
"Yes. That's right."
Gritting his teeth, Fawad said.
"Because I'm not jealous in the first place so admitting it is out of the question. And why will I be jealous? That too with you? I mean what's there to be jealous of you?"
"Why won't you be? I mean look at me. I'm filthy rich, incredibly handsome and not to forget I'm even taller than you."
Teasingly he said while comparing Fawad's 5'11 with his 6'1 height.
"You-"
Fawad was almost on the verge of cursing him aloud.
"But you shouldn't get jealous of me. Because no matter how much perfect I'm, she'll always choose you."
Looking away, Imraan added the last part painfully.
"You're really confident about your looks and money, aren't you?"
Ignoring his last sentence, Fawad retorted.
"I'm not wrong, am I?"
Regaining his arrogance, Imraan uttered.
Fawad looked at him in disbelief,
"I really don't like cocky people like you. I hope we never get to see each other again."
"Too bad because tomorrow you'll have to come with you for sightseeing."
Raising his eyebrows, Imraan reminded him.
"Anyways, my car's here. I would love to talk with you more but I need to go now. Allah Hafiz. It was nice chatting with you."
Standing up Imraan forwarded his hand.
Looking at his hand, Fawad gave him a sarcastic smile.
"Good because it was NOT nice chatting with you. Allah Hafiz."
"You are so childish!"
Shaking his head at Fawad's childishness, Imraan got up from his seat.
"You are child-"
Before Fawad could say complete, his phone rang.
"Hello?"
Without seeing the call, he received it whereas Imraan left the cafe.
"I'm in your office."
Fawad heard Azeen's call from the other side.
"What? Why? Hello?"
Without saying anything else, Azeen cut the call.
"Gosh!"
He let out a frustrating sigh then dashed out of the cafe.
Getting inside the car, Imraan sighed with closed eyes.
"Sir, are you alright?"
Looking at Imraan through the rearview mirror, the secretary asked.
"I don't know. Maybe it'll take a bit more to overcome the heartbreak."
Without opening his eyes, Imraan said.
"Is he Azeen ma'am's husband?"
The secretary asked while looking at Fawad's retiring back.
"Yeah. He's the one."
"One-sided love always hurts. It's even worse when you get rejected."
The secretary spoke from his experience. Then looking back at imraan he added,
"I always thought you and Azeen ma'am would be together. I mean you are so good-looking…"
He let out a sad sigh.
"I guess ma'am didn't care about looks."
He completed making Imraan open his eyes.
"Actually, no. Fawad… her husband I mean… is also good looking."
Imraan said.
"Maybe she didn't choose me because my face is too delicately handsome."
Imraan said seriously while checking his face on the phone.
"Ugh! It's not like I choose to be born this way."
Giving him a weird look, the secretary started the car not before mumbling,
"Or maybe it's because you are so full of yourself."
●○●
"Why are you here?"
Fawad asked once he entered his cabin.
"You forgot the lunch box. So Mumma sent me with it."
Azeen said while exploring his cabin.
"I would have eaten from outside."
"Say that to Mumma."
Azeen said.
"Nice office."
"Thanks."
Fawad thanked before asking,
"How did you come? Don't tell me you drove here?"
"Uber."
Rolling her eyes, she answered in one word.
Fawad simply nodded. It was awkward.
"You had lunch?"
He asked, trying to remove the awkwardness.
"Will have after going home."
She replied curtly. She was still upset about yesterday's incident.
"Oooh."
A few seconds later Azeen took her handbag.
"Ok then. You have your lunch. I'll go now."
"Okay."
Fawad said and then stood up.
"No need to see me out."
Azeen said.
"Who said I was going to see you off?"
Fawad lied with a straight face.
"Of course why will you! Inconsiderate human!"
She muttered under her breath.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. Bye."
Saying she went out followed by him.
As Azeen started to walk away, she felt Fawad following her.
Looking back she narrowed down her eyes.
"Why are you following me?"
"Stop being delusional. I'm not following you. I need to go in that direction."
He said while walking behind her.
"Really? Then why don't you walk ahead of me?"
"I don't want to."
Frowning at his reply, she started to walk fast. Fawad also increased his pace.
Almost running she entered into the lift and quickly pressed the close button to get rid of Fawad. Just when the lift door was about to close Fawad put his hand between the doors and then entered.
"Why the hell are you following me?"
As the lift door closed, Azeen glared at him.
"I'm not. I just need to go downstairs. For work."
He lied.
"Why didn't you use the stairs?"
She was so annoyed at him.
"My office, my wish. I can use anything. If you have a problem then you go and use the stairs."
Shrugging he said.
"You- Ugh!!"
Being frustrating, Azeen stomped her feet on the lift making Fawad hide his smile.
'It felt so good to annoy her.'
"Why is this damn elevator so sl-"
Azeen's eyes fell on the elevator's panel screen.
"W-why is the l-lift not moving?"
"What?"
Fawad looked at the screen to see that they were on the same level. He pressed the button several times but the elevator didn't move.
It was stuck.
Fawad immediately called the security in charge. Thankfully there was still a connection in his phone.
"What happened to the elevator? Why is it not moving?"
" … "
"What?! Why was I not informed about it?! I don't care, just open the elevator!"
Saying he hung up the call.
"Damn it! There were some technical issues so they stopped the it to-"
He stopped as his eyes fell on her pale face.
Azeen was sweating profusely. Her hands were shaking in an odd trembling rhythm as she started breathing loudly.
"Azeen! What happened?"
"I… I can't… I can't b-breath!"
Azeen somehow managed to say. She was feeling dizzy.
'Shit! She is claustrophobic.'
Fawad immediately held her shaky arms.
"Hey! Relax ok! Everything is fine. We'll be out of this elevator soon."
Azeen was all deaf ears. She started shivering.
"Do… do so-something. I… I can't…"
Her legs collapsed as she sat on the ground with Fawad.
"Hey. Just look at me. Breathe. It's ok. You're ok. I'm here. Come on! Breathe slowly."
He tried to calm her down while placing her head on his chest.
He took out his phone to call the security in charge but alas there was no connection.
Praying to let the lift door open he looked down at her and patted her cheeks. She was on the verge of losing her consciousness.
'I need to divert her mind.'
Fawad thought.
"Azeen, hey! Come on, keep on opening your eyes. Come on!"
Fawad said while patting her cheeks.
"You- you better listen to me carefully, okay? I won't repeat myself- so you better listen to me."
Fawad spoke while trying to divert her mind.
"About yesterday night… I'm sorry, ok? I shouldn't have- reacted so harshly. I'm sorry for that. Hey! Are you listening? I said sorry. You better remember it!"
Fawad stroked her hair softly as he continued.
"I- I was locked up… in jail. It felt terrible… being punished… for something I didn't do. I… They… didn't believe me. Instead, they used… money and power… to make sure I suffer in jail… for a lifetime. You know… it wasn't my fault. I just… wanted to help. But they… he… used me as a scapegoat. I can never… forget the way I was treated there. In jail. The way people… used to give me looks… those nasty… ugly… looks."
Fawad remembered those miserable days he spent in prison. It was the first time he was opening up about that incident.
Azeen breathing stabilized a bit as she continued to hear him.
"I can never forget those days. And yesterday's incident just triggered me… my awful memories. I shouldn't have shouted at you. But you were also wrong, you know. Money and power aren't everything. We both were wrong, you get it."
"Hey! You're listening, right?! You are not supposed to get sick, okay? I'm not done with you. We'll argue more about this topic, okay? So don't get sick. Don't close your eyes."
Fawad said as he tightened his hold on her.
Just then they heard noises from outside. A few seconds later the lift was opened by the mechanic. Without glancing at anyone, Fawad quickly picked up an almost unconscious Azeen and got out of the lift.
●○●
Salaam! Hey! 👋
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