Hey #TLIMMsquad hope y'all doing great. Well here goes the next chapter. I hope you'll love it. Stay beautiful lovelies 😘❤
#TLIMMsquad
#TLIMM A huge shout out goes to (@nirdini) for being the first commenter on the previous chapter. I appreciate you hun. 😘
Btw I'm sorry about the previous chapter as it didn't turn out as most of you expected but i want you to know that this story is moving gradually, baby steps. No need to rush things as none of us is in rush i am sure. We can't move on with Malik's feelings if Amal doesn't make decisions, as he said he'll give her all the time she needed. So guys please, bear with me and don't be disappointed cos there's more story to tell.
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"I think that would be all for today,you may leave".
Malik dismissed her not glancing at her direction. She stood for some seconds in silence thinking whether to talk to him about it or not.
Still not looking at the spot she was rooted on,he sensed that she was still in his office. He looked up and his eyes met hers for the first time,fighting the urge not to smile,his face gave a confused expression as he questioned spoke.
"That's all Amal,you can go back to your office".
"I want to talk to you,please". She said expectantly.
"Now's not the time Amal,i have a meeting to attend to in a few minutes."
"Maybe later? Or tomorrow? Or any other day". He finished as he began to adjust his suit jacket getting ready for his meeting.
Amal's face fell in disappointment as she didn't only feel stupid but partially rejected. She didn't utter a word again as she turned on her heels and made her way back to her office.
Exasperated and disappointed, she sat in the chair and loosen her scarf a little as she felt suffocated at the moment. It's just unexplainable to her how someone would admit their feelings to you someday,and then treat you like crap the other day which got her in to thinking and pondering over Malik's feelings to her. Does he truly love her as he said back in Vegas? Or he wasn't sure and he just found out that he doesn't that's why he has been giving her the cold shoulder for the past few weeks. Her head suddenly became occupied with full of thoughts and imaginations that she almost forgot about the work she was supposed to do.
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At her office,Zain did her best to meet up with the deadline of her project. With the effort she put into it,she finally made it and it got all done today. To say she was happy was an understatement as not only that her work was done but she has got her boss appreciating and commending every effort she put into that work and the end result of it. Her first instinct was to call Malik and share the good news with him,he congratulated her and told her he will call back later as he was in a meeting at the time she called. She met up with Munira at her office anf shared the good news with her too.
"Yaay congrats honeybunch,your hardwork is not and will never be in vain. I wanna be like you when i grow up". Munira exclaimed giving Zain a tight hug.
"So you're not all grown up now ". Zain replied her between laughs.
"Yeah yeah... " . They both laughed.
"So I've been thinking of asking you to accompany me to Naim's wedding, it's coming up next week. You in?"
"Woah.. your brother in law? " Munira questioned mouth agape.
"There you are answering my question with a question,yes my brother in law duh". Zain rolled her eyes at her.
"Okay fine,I'm in. You know how i love weddings... It's gonna be lit OMG". Munira exclaimed giggling.
It's a week to Naim's wedding and Zain has been nervous about it. She had wanted her sister Aaliyah to accompany her but unfortunately Aaliyah is back at school. Malik's family has been nothing more than a family to her,they've treated her like a child of their own for the past two years of their marriage,even before their marriage they've always been kind and welcoming to her. But there's only one person she's been dreading to meet that's why she's been trying to persuade Munira to go with her which she succeeded at. Aunty Razia,ofcourse Malik's favourite Aunty. Ever since there first encounter,she disliked the vibes the woman gave her. Not that she is not kind,or being mean to Zain but she tends to do everything in even the smallest ways possible to show Zain that she comes from somewhere else,that this is her husband's family not her own family. And she hasn't forgotten how she had been asking about when Zain conceives,Zain feels absolutely off about Aunty Razia because it's not her fault that she hasn't conceived yet. Gifts like birth are things that the Almighty gives a person at the designated time and no matter how eager one is to have it,he won't be able to until he is chosen.
"Spill.... spill it out Zain everything. Now!"
Zain felt Munira tappinh her by the shoulders,realizing that she has zoned out she smiled lazily and spoke.
"It's nothing Munni,yayyy we gon have fun at Naim's wedding". She fist pump the air in a fake attempt to show how enthusiastic and eager she was about the upcoming wedding.
Munira just gawked at her knowing clearly that her friend got something cooking down her mind which explains why she was needing someone's company to go to Naim's wedding. She didn't want to pressure her into asking about her marital life or what the challenges are,but she would really want to know what's up with Zain. She knows it's not about Malik as Zain has never complained about Malik treating her in some kind of undesirable way,and his mother too. Infact even Munira can testify that Malik's mom takes Zain like her own daughter. Her mind was more inclined towards someone in the household ,maybe one of Malik's siblings,or his Aunties. Munira gave a defeated deep sigh and didn't press Zain into telling her again.
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Malik got out of the meeting and immidiately called Zain as he promised to call her back earlier.
"Hello beautiful how's your day going".
"It's great. I'm just so happy to be done with this darn project thing. How was your meeting my love?".
"Just got out now. On my way back to the office to handle other things".
He passed by Amal's office without sparing a glance at the direction. He's doing everything he can to keep away from her,not because she alone needed time but he sure needed his own time too as he still had no idea what he was trying to get himself into.
Amal saw Malik passing from the tail of her eyes. She tried not to stare in his direction but to no avail. She's just tired of the sick games,the hide and seek they've been playing with each other for weeks now. Deciding that she will end the games for good or for bad today and right now,she stood up from her seat,adjusted her scarf and made her way to his office.
Back in his office,Malik was still on phone with Zain,she was telling him about her day and he was all up for it.
"Well on the bright side, you will shop for Naim's wedding and make last minute arrangements in one week right... "
"Yeah that reminds me,i have asked Munira to come with me on that day."
"No problem love,it's your brother's wedding too,it's just normal to invite someone,i guess you ladies will do your shopping together".
"Yeah we'll go together maybe this weekend ".
"Sure then weekend it is,...."
He was too engrossed on the phone call that he didn't hear when she made her way into his office. All he saw was her,standing in front of the big table with a determined look on her face,calm but not ready to give up on anything. He resisted the urge to smile at her,determination with a dose of furiousness looked good on her. He rounded up the call with Zain hang up,it has escaped his mind that she wanted to talk about something a little while ago before he went in for meeting. He felt silly for forgetting.
"You can't just admit your love to someone and brush them off just like that Malik, it's not the way out". Amal retorted with a sharp look on her face.
"You said you wanted to talk before i left for meeting. What is it Amal?". He cocked his eyebrow looking all calm and cool,not bothered in the slightest.
"Yes,this is what i wanted to talk about. You can't just ignore my existence just like that,what do you take me for? A freaking joke?!"
He gathered his full attention and faced her,folded his arms to his chest and didn't say a word as she kept on.
"All these games,i am tired of the sick games Malik. Let's just get over it. I get it you made a mistake by professing that you even love me because clearly you don't. I don't even know what got into head that time. I get it all amd it's all good, what happened in Vegas stays in Vegas yeah. Trust me i will never bring it up again either. From now on it's just going to be extremely formal between us,or atleast i will try to be civil with you. No informality whatsoever,i am so done with all this childish bullshit so get over it too".
"That's what i wanted to talk about".
He stared at her and spoke for the first time.
"Anything else you want me to know ?".
"No nothing else sir ". She answered trying to be as formal as possible.
"Are you sure Amal?" He pressee again.
"Yes i am". She answered again,this time with a little discomfort.
"I was giving you all the time you needed,i am sorry if it passed off as me ignoring your existence Amal. It wasn't meant to at all. I didn't want to pressure you with my presence,thats why you barely see me these days not because i wanted to play games with you. I would never profess my love to you when clearly i don't because you don't deserve such Amal,you don't. The last thing i want is to hurt your feelings and unfortunately i just did. I am really sorry and i respect the decision you've made. From now on it's going to be strictly formal between us,no informality whatsoever. I respect that and it's going to be that way Allah's willing. Thank you for taking your time to think over what i told you in Vegas,i appreciate it."
He finished calmly.
She suddenly felt guilty, and stupid and her eyes immidiately softened. She never realised how bad her decision is going to affect her until now that she saw him give in without any protest. Knowing clearly that she got something else he needed to know,she didn't turn to leave,she stayed rooted to her spot.
"But Malik,the time was just way too much... You got me thinking in some kind of direction. You got me thinking about you all through my days and nights, at work or at home. I couldn't deal and your prolong silence and trying to avoid me seeing you didn't help in any way. Atleast let mw be seeing you to know that you're still there,that i am not alone in this. It all crushed me,you just don't understand how bad i have fallen for....."
She immidiately stopped herself realizing what she was about to do. She averted her gaze to the floor because she felt like crawling into a hole and living there forever at the moment. Malik's eyes widened like saucers hearing all that Amal said and the unfinished sentence she fought hard to not finish. So he asked her.
"Fallen for what?. What made you stop midsentence Amal? Go on i am listening".
He questioned trying hard to supress the smile forming on his lips.
"No one... errrmm nothing ". She stuttered.
"Are you sure there's nothing else i need to know. Who or what exactly have you fallen for? You said i don't understand, now make me see things your way Amal".
"It's nothing really, i just... forget it Malik".
"No way i will forget it. And looks like we're not going anywhere until you finish your sentence".
He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt as he finished.
She was still standing feeling shy like never before. She couldn't even look up to meet his gaze because she knew he knows what she was about to say,but all he needed now was to hear her say which she didn't have the confidence of doing so.
"You feel the same way too Amal? You've fallen for me just the way i saw myself falling in to you?."
The questions caught her offguard and she raised her eyes to see his gaze fixed at her eyes searching for answers.
Just like she said,it's time to cut the crap and quit playing any games. This is the moment of truth, it's time to face it all. So she answered him more like a whisper due to how heavy the words felt on her tongue.
"Yes Malik. I am afraid yes i have. Don't know when or why or even what i am getting myself into. I'm scared".
"There's nothing to be scared of Amal,life's all about facing our greatest fears and even if we can't conquer them,atleats we've faced them rather than run away from them. You're one brave fierce lady,and i love that".
She felt so much lighter to hear that Malik is scared as much as she is,but that never made him back out.
"Well you should've atleast come in with some flowers since you came in to tell me how you feel". He said sarcastically.
"Flowers ehh.. Don't make me break your vase again". She spoke a little shyly.
He threw his head in laughter.
"We don't want any of that to happen again and trust me i won't be helping you detangle your skirt from the table too".
She laughed too remembering the whole incident clearly in her head.
They were so caught up in the moment when Amal remembered that she's got some files to deliver to Malik.
"Oops i got some files for you. They were to be delivered to you but i forgot completely. My bad"
She face palmed herself.
"So I've already started making you oblivious of your surroundings Miss Mehmoud ?" He asked with a smirk.
"Get over yourself Mr Ahmad" . She rolled her eyes making him laugh out more.
"How are we ever going to work now,with things changing between us?"
She questioned knitting her brows with an attempt not to smile which she failed at.
"We'll find a way like we always do".
He answered with full confidence. And that's what she loves about him,his confidence in himself. It's so contiguous that she felt confident herself too. Here we are now,she thought to herself as she turned to go get him his stuff with her mind clean and happy. It's a good day full of love more than she could ever asked of.
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