Umeed's degree was over, which meant that both Pasha sahab and Farjaad were after her, nagging her about "doing something productive". If student life was infuriating, she didn't even want to know what the post-graduation phase was about to bring. Can a girl not rest and free her mind for a few weeks? At this point she was considering joining as a sales person in the nearest store to get these two men off her back. AND IT WAS ONLY TWO WEEKS SINCE GRADUATION.
It wasn't that she didn't want to work. Of course she did. She wanted to work really hard. In fact, she had already planned it all out - start a job, start earning her own money, save for her cafe, and open it a few months down the road. She had even applied for entry level positions at a couple of places. But these two men just wouldn't stop.
Farjaad had proposed a simple solution - work as an intern at his company for the period while she was looking for a job, and then leave it when she gets one. He thought it would give her a taste of how the practical world worked and help her when she starts her real job. She was up for it. It made sense too.
There was only one problem - how could she possibly focus on work while Farjaad was right there? Not only could she not take her eyes off of him, but also she would fumble and screw things up in her efforts to impress him.
Umeed let out a sigh. This man brought out a crazy little teenager in her.
But she would be lying if she said that a part of her didn't want to witness Farjaad at work. As much as she trolled him for it, she found him the most attractive when he was focused on his work.
In his work attire.
"Acha Umeed bas! Itna bhi acha nahi hai wo ab!"
She reminded herself out loud as she blushed at the thought of getting to see Farjaad daily.
She was going to accept his offer. Of course she was!
~ A few days later ~
It was her first day at Farjaad's office today. To say she was nervous would be an understatement. She couldn't sleep all night. And then she couldn't even complete her chai out of the anxiety she was feeling. After trying on three different outfits, she finally settled on a navy blue two piece solid. Of course after asking Haya for reassurance some fifteen times. Farjaad said he'd pick her up for the first day at least, and she couldn't stop pacing around the room while waiting for him.
Farjaad wasn't coping up any better either. For someone who had been doing this same routine on loop for years, he was really losing his composure at the thought of Umeed being there, observing him all day. Just the thought of this girl sends his whole life into a whirlwind, and he wouldn't have it any other way. Throwing away the third tie he tried, he facepalmed himself.
Him? Getting late because he couldn't find an impressive enough outfit? "Uff Umeed!"
Mimi came into his room, concerned.
"Bhai, aap niklay nahi hein abhi tak? Dair nahi ho rahi aap ko? Tabyat theek hai?"
"Mimi, batao, tie konsi sahi jaye gi is ke saath?"
"Bhaiii? Oh wait, Umeed ne aaj se aana hai office?"
Mimi bit back a smile as she raised her eyebrow at her brother. This was new. And fascinating. Farjaad opened his mouth to come up with a response, but then shut it right away. There was nothing he could say. Mimi chuckled and handed him a dark grey tie to go with his navy blue suit and sky blue shirt. Quickly putting it on and running a hand through his hair, he rushed out.
Mimi stood there smiling at her brother. She knew Umeed would be a good influence in her brother's life, and she loved to see the impact.
***********************
Driving as fast as he could, Farjaad was now waiting for Umeed outside her house. Leaning next to his car, his sunglasses on, trying to hide his nervousness under the guise of cool. That quickly went away the moment he saw Umeed walk out. Looking fully corporate and a new kind of confident. Slowly straightening up, Farjaad took his sunglasses off and gave the girl in front of him a good look from head to toe. Only when Umeed snapped her fingers in front of him did he get out of his fazed phase.
"Itni dair laga di Umeed. Hum late ho rahay hein"
He tried to cover up as he opened the door for her, and quickly moving to his own side, avoiding any eye contact with her. Umeed smirked at the impact she had on him. Guess she wasn't the only nervous one.
However, the Farjaad that was being a man in love outside the car completely changed gears as soon as he got in. He was all business throughout the ride. Telling Umeed about the work, the office protocols, the expectations from her and what not to do.
The last thing he said to her as he parked the car was,
"Aur Umeed, aik aakhri baat, hum saath kaam kar rahay hein par mein chahta hoon ke office ki premises mein hum strictly professionally deal karein aik doosray ke saath. Idhar udhar ki koi baat nahi. Tumhara aur mera jo rishta hai wo office se baahir hai. Okay?"
A part of her felt dejected, but she knew he was right. Obviously, they had to be professional in the office. Especially him, he was the boss after all. So she just nodded.
"Good. Phir chalein, Ms. Umeed Pasha. Welcome to the office."
As he was about to walk out, Umeed suddenly held his arm. He looked around to find a mischievous smile on her face, as she leaned in closer, making Farjaad's breath hitch. What was she doing?
"Abhi to hum office ki premises mein nahi hein, to aik baat kahoon?"
Farjaad kept looking between the hand on his arm and her eyes that were fixated on his face. Unable to speak a word. This proximity was driving him mad. He gulped and managed to nod.
"Achay lag rahein hein aaj aap."
She said in a mere whisper and then jumped out of the car. She knew the impact she had on him and she loved making full use of it. Farjaad took a couple of deep breaths to calm his pacing heartbeat and got out.
What has he gotten himself into?
The lift ride was tense to say the least. Both of them were thinking about the last time they were here together. The day they both feared they'd lose each other forever. The day Farjaad thought he had gotten late to the most important meeting of his life, and the guilt was about to eat him alive. Now looking at this woman in front of him, same place, completely different situation, he said a silent prayer of gratitude. A sudden wave of emotions overtook him. The lift was still five floors behind.
He grabbed Umeed by her arm and turned her around to face him. She looked at him confused. Wasn't he just saying something else two minutes back? Farjaad looked deep into her widened eyes, and smiled with endearment. He really did get lucky. Still holding her arm with one of his hands, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with the other hand and leaned down. He lips inches away from her ear. Umeed could feel his warm breath on her skin, sending shivers down her whole body.
What was he doing?
"Tum bhi buhat achi lag rahi ho. Balkay buhat hi achi lag rahi ho."
He whispered. Then just as he was about to move away, he stopped, and said in the huskiest voice Umeed had ever heard,
"I love you."
Just then the lift stopped and Farjaad walked out completely calm and composed, like nothing just happened. Umeed took a couple of breaths, calmed herself down and walked out. She knew the blush on her cheeks was visible, but what could be done now.
Almost everyone in the office was clearly aware of the relationship between Umeed and Farjaad. Gossip spread quick anyway. But all the eyes on her as she walked behind Farjaad were making her conscious. Why did she agree to this again?
She was going to be working with the HR department. After introducing her to a few members of the team, Farjaad pointed towards a desk, and said,
"Enjoy your work, Ms. Pasha"
Umeed looked at the table and then turned around to look at the Door of Farjaad's office. It was so far.
"Mein yahan kaam karoon gi? Yahan se to mujhe aap nazar bhi nahi aayein gay!"
She blurted out and then suddenly remembered what Farjaad had just told her in the car, making her bite her lip out of embarrassment, fidgeting her fingers. Farjaad ran a hand over his forehead, looked around to see the few people that were around, trying to hide their grins.
He glared at Umeed, and whispered.
"Umeed! Ye mera office hai. Please."
Umeed silently apologised, to which Farjaad gave her a small shake of the head and then turned around to leave, although Umeed could bet she saw a small smile on his face.
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. Umeed learned the work and what she had to do, barely seeing Farjaad a couple of times. He did, however, drop her a couple of messages to ask her how everything was going. It was only the first day and Umeed had already decided that there was no way she was working a 9-5 corporate job all her life. The motivation for her chai cafe became even stronger.
The end of the day was what made her the most annoyed though. Farjaad was adamant that he will drop her back as well. But now he was stuck in a meeting with Majid sahab. It was almost 6:30 now. Almost everyone had already left. Umeed had already called both Mimi and Haya to rant about Farjaad's never ending meetings. She was about to make yet another call to Haya when the door of Farjaad's office finally opened.
"Finally! Mujhe to laga tha subah idhar hi ho gi."
She thought to herself as she jumped up and walked towards Farjaad, who was seeing Majid off. Majid's gaze fell on Umeed just as he was about to leave, he pointed towards her, looking at Farjaad with a questioning look. Farjaad couldn't help but smile in return and simply shurgged, while Umeed glared at him. Gosh she did not like the man one bit.
Just as the elevator door was about to close, Umeed purposely slid her hand into Farjaad's and gave Majid a smirk with a wave. Farjaad kept looking at her bemused. She really was one of a kind. He was, however, brought back to reality as soon as the lift door closed. She took her hand back and used it to smack his arm.
"Oww, is tashadud ki wajah?
"Thori aur lambi meeting kar leni thi! Aap ko andaza hai mein kab se wait kar rahi hoon yahan? Faarigh beth beth ke mujhe rona aana wala tha. Mujhe to laga yahan se directly kal phir mein desk pe hi ja ke bethoon gi. Aik to mene subah se kuch khaya bhi nahi hai, magar aap hein ke aap ko to mera koi khyaal hai nahi. Bas meeting pe meeting kara le koi aap se - "
"Umeed Umeed Umeed! Abhi bhi chalna hai ke idhar hi raat guzarnay ka iraada hai?"
Umeed narrowed her eyes at him.
"Haan khud mujhe ghenta wait karaya, ab mere do jumlon ki wajah se hum late ho rahay hein."
She made a face and walked towards the stairs.
"Mujhe nahi aap ke saath lift mein jana, mein serhiyon se jaaon gi. Aap aa jeyin khudi lift mein."
She was half expecting him to follow her through the stairs, and when he didn't she grew even angrier, climbing down even faster.
"Pata nahi kya samajhta hai khud ko. Wese to buhat waqt ka paband banta hai, par kisi ko itni dair intezaar karanay pe majaal hai jo koi sharmindgi ho."
As she finished the last set of stairs, her legs wobbling, she saw him leaning against the staircase, sleeves rolled up, amusement on his face. Umeed made a face and walked past him.
"Kisi ne aap ko bataya hai ke aap ghussay mein kitni haseen lagti hein."
"Nahi, magar shayad kisi ne aap ko bhi ye nahi bataya ke mein ghussay mein aa ke qatal tak kar sakti hoon."
Farjaad chuckled lightly, quickening his pace to catch up to her.
"Aap ke hathon qatal honay pe mujhe bilkul dukh nahi ho ga."
Umeed drew in a sharp breath. This man was really testing her patience. She didn't wait for him as she pulled the car door open, sat in and slammed it shut. Farjaad got in, and turned around to stare at her. He couldn't get enough of her somehow.
"Chala lein warna bata dein mein taxi karwa loon."
That was Farjaad's cue. He knew what would set her mood. As he began driving on the streets of Karachi, he was kind of glad they came out later. The majority of the traffic had cleared up by now. He slyly turned the radio on, and as expected, they were playing love songs. The only time Farjaad was glad about the song selection of VJs was this exact moment.
Tum naraaz ho
Mere kitnay paas ho
Ohhh naazuk naazuk si, pyaari pyaari si
Mere jeenay ki aas ho
Farjaad began humming along, making Umeed furiously change the channel.
Kya hai kuch bhi nahi hai agar
Honthon pe hai khamoshi magar
Baatein kar rahi hein
Nazar chupke chupke
Farjaad looked at Umeed from the corner of his eye. She caught the look and it transferred her back to the night at the police station. The first time they both completely let down their guards in front of each other. Unspoken, yet all feelings expressed, communicated and received. She could feel her anger slowly drifting away, but no, she had to maintain a cold exterior.
Farjaad pulled over at a chai dhaaba, making Umeed do a double take. Farjaad? At a dhaaba.
"Yahan kyun aaye hein hum?"
"Mene socha aap ko zara chai pilatay hein, shayad aap ke mizaaj mein kuch bethari aaye."
"Mera paara na pehle hi kaafi high hai, chai pi ke mazeed high ho ga"
"To ... nahi peeni chai? Gaari waapis morr loon?"
Umeed gave him a sheepish look. God knew how badly she needed chai.
"Do cup piyon gi mein."
Farjaad chuckled and lowered his window to give the order.
"Ye kya kar rahay hein?"
"Order de raha hoon."
"Ab hum yahan tak aaye hein to hum wahan, dhaabay pe beth ke chai piyein gay."
"Umeed, yaheen gaari mein pi letay hein na"
But she was having none of it. She was already out of the car. Sighing, he turned the car off and followed her. He should've seen it coming.
Umeed felt all her annoyance and fatigue wave off when she sae Farjaad constantly waving his hand to keep the flies away, and sanitise his hands over and over again, forcing her to finally take the sanitizer bottle from his hand. Though it was when the tea arrived that her actual fun began. She took her sip instantly, but Farjaad picked up his cup, brought it close to his face and began observing how dirty it was. Umeed watched this unfold in front of her with amusement.
"Insaan hi peetay hein in se, kuch nahi ho ga aap ko. Trust me"
"Ye dekho, ye nishaan hein Umeed. Mujhe nahi lagta ye bartan saaf hein, aisa kartay hein chaltay hein idhar se."
"Chup kar ke bethe rahein. Chai buhat achi hai. Mein nahi ja rahi kaheen. Aap jitna sochein gay, utnay bemaar honay ke chances zyada hein. Bismillah kar ke pi lein."
Farjaad wasn't convinced.
"Acha aisa karein, ye aap mera cup le lein, aur issay bghair dekhay pi jayein, aur mujhe apna cup de dein."
They switched cups, and Farjaad turned it around to bring the part where Umeed took her sip from, right in front of his lips. He gave her the most flirtatious look he had ever given her, and he placed his lips right on top of where Umeed's were a while back, her lipstick stain slightly visible on the cup. Farjaad didn't break eye contact and he took a gulp of the drink. Umeed, on the other hand, was frozen in place and couldn't move at this. The cup in her hand forgotten.
"Jaldi piyo Umeed, ghar bhi jana hai. Pasha sahab se puri raat ki baat nahi ki mene."
They finished their tea, enjoying the weather and the wind that kept pushing Umeed's hair to her face. In between that they talked about how Umeed's day was, what she wants to do moving ahead and how is she going to plan out her career now. In the middle there was some flirting here and there. In repsonse to which Umeed had jokingly said,
"Mere abhi buhat plans hein, shaadi waadi nahi kar sakti abhi mein. Delay kar detay hein ussay."
Farjaad had made a mental note to take revenge for it.
As they drove back to her home, Umeed couldn't wait for the day this became her daily routine - discussing her day with this man, driving home with him, discussing life, sharing chai and more.
It was a life she couldn't wait to live.
~ A few days later ~
Umeed was sitting on her office desk, typing away the final words to an email she was asked to send. This was boring stuff. How did people do this for a living again? She had been procrastinating for so long and when she finally got around to doing it, she was so focused, she didn't realise that almost everyone left for lunch break. She could not, however, ignore the scent of his stronng perfume. Looking up, Umeed saw him stqring down at her.
"Lagta hai aaj buhat kaam hai janaab ko?"
"Jee, buhat kaam hai. Aap faarigh hein kya aaj?"
Umeed had eventually grown professional, and wouldn't engage in any extra discussion with Farjaad in the office premises.
"Faarigh nahi hoon, bas aik larki ki buhat yaad aa rahi thi, raha nahi gaya"
Umeed looked up to see if there was actually no one around. How was he being this expressive? There were only a few people sitting a little far away.
"Maazrat magar larki abhi aap se baat karnay ke mood mein nahi hai."
"Larki boss ki baat taal ke to dekhaye!"
He suddenly said in a very suggestive, authoritative tone making Umeed do a double take. What had gotten into him?
"Chalo, tumhein lunch kara ke laata hoon, is se pehle ke tum chirchiri ho ke mujh pe hamlay karo."
Right at that moment, a couple of women walked past Umeed's table.
"Mr. Farjaad, please, ye mera office hai. Yahan aap thora professionalism dekhayein."
She finally took her revenge and smirked. Farjaad who was already a little flustered seeing people coming back to their desks merely shook his head at Umeed and walked back to his office.
A little while later, while Umeed was sitting idle as she had no work to do, her supervisor came up to her,
"Sir bula rahay hein aap ko apnay office mein."
"Farjaad, I mean Mr. Farjaad mujhe apnay office mein bula rahay hein?"
She nodded.
"Wese mein aisi baatein office mein karti nahi hoon, but you two look really nice together."
Umeed grinned like a fool and thanked her, as she got up and walked to his office. She had been here for almost two weeks now, he has never called her to his office. What was with him today?
She lightly knocked and entered in. He was standing in front of his window, staring outside. His coat hanging on the coat holder, sleeves rolled up, hands in his pockets.
"Umeed darwaza band kar dena aatay hue."
"Kya lock bhi karna hai?"
He turned around to face her, a smirk making its way up his face. He began taking slow, yet long steps towards her.
"Marzi hai, karna hai lock to kar lo."
Umeed couldn't help but take slow steps back seeing him moving towards her. Her back now against the office door, while Farjaad was just inches away from her. His hands still in his pockets as he looked down upon her. His eyes gleaming with a certain mischief Umeed had never seen in them.
Slowly, Farjaad took one hand out of his pocket, reaching for the lock right next to Umeed's waist, and turned it around, locking the door.
"Ye lo, kar diya lock."
He didn't take his arm back. It now blocked Umeed's way. She was very conveniently trapped between the door and him now, having only a little room to escape.
Her breathing became uneven and she could not mantain eye contact with Farjaad, who just could not seem to look away.
He took a further step ahaed, closing off almost all distance between them. No part of their bodies was touching, yet Umeed felt her entire body burning, simply by the proximity and heat of the moment.
Farjaad raised his other hand and brought it to Umeed's hair. She had tied her hair using a little hair catcher. Farjaad's hand reached out for it, and took it off, making Umeed's hair frame her face. She silently stood there, letting Farjaad do whatever he felt like doing, partly because she was unable to think straight, and partly because she wanted to see what he had going on in his mind. He then began playing with a few strands of her hair, wrapping them around his finger and tugging on them.
He leaned down, his face now inches away from Umeed's, who had almost stopped breathing at this point. He pushed Umeed's hair back from her shoulder, allowing it to fall freely on her back. His finger, which was previosuly playing with her hair, now rested on her collarbone. eyes still steamily staring into Umeed's. She couldn't manage to look at him anymore, and began looking towards her feet. The heat in Farjaad's eyes was getting too much for her to handle.
Farjaad slowly moved his finger from her collarbone, through her neck and then below her chin, lifting her face and making her look back at him.
He was enjoying seeing her so affected by his presence, his actions and the proximity. His smirk deepened.
He slowly leaned down to her ear level, letting his breath fall on her collarbones first, before he whispered,
"Phir mein Pasha sahab se kab baat karnay aaon ke shadi delay kar dein?"
Umeed felt a current jolt through her, and she turned her face to look at him.
"DELAY?"
It was once she blurted it out that she realised that it was him trying to get back on her for what she had said the other day at the dhaaba. She also realised just how close their faces were. Their noses slightly touching.
Seeing her reaction, Farjaad merely smirked and backed off. He had gotten his answer, and his revenge.
"Aaj waapsi pe mein tumhein drop karoon ga, raastay mein jeweller to tumhari ring ka size bhi dena hai."
With that he went back to sit on his seat and turned his laptop on. Umeed glared at him, unable to believe she fell for his prank, as she walked out of his office.
"Ufff! Gharyaal kaheen ka!"
She was loud enough, and so was the laugh Farjaad let out in response.
Yeah, life was going to be fun for sure.