chapter 11

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Athar's pov

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"That's way too oily, I can't have it" Izhaan complained looking at the parantha on the dining table

"It's absolutely fine, eat it" maa scolded him, he made a sour face

"Like I have any other choice" he picked up a parantha and wiped off the excess oil with the tissue and started eating

"What time are you leaving?" Izhaan asked me

"Now" I said finishing off my last bite, then I wiped my mouth with a napkin.

"Athar bhai coffee!" hayat came shouting

"Huh?" I asked, she put the mug in front of me, and dropped next to Izhaan

"What huh? She has made coffee for you" Izhaan smirked, I rolled my eyes

"I don't want it" I shook my head

"I made it with so much love for you and you are saying no. I am heartbroken" Hayat pouted, I could see her suppressing an evil smile

I knew so well that both of them were just trying to annoy me.

"Give it to Izhaan" I said

"But buddy it's for you" Izhaan gave me a toothy grin

"What's the matter with you Athar? You are always asking for a cup of coffee, and now when she has made it without asking you are not having it" dadi asked

"He's just scared that I had put chilly powder in it" Hayat spoke and broke into laughter, Izhaan joined her

"Chilly powder?" Dadi frowned

"To hell with both of you" I said and got up. "I'm going now, I'm getting late" I was about to walk away when a voice annoyed me

"You better hurry, you really don't want to write "I will never come late" 1000 times" Izhaan spoke. Ignoring them and their stupid laughter I walked off muttering Allah hafiz to dadi and maa.

Ayesha Siddiqui you are gone now.

****

I parked my car in the parking lot of the office's building and made my way towards the elevator.

I checked the time, it was 8:58 am. I was sure that she would come late to the office. She will pay a heavy price for it now.

The way she ran off yesterday it was pretty clear that she was embarrassed, I am quite certain she must be feeling bad about talking nonsense to my family about me. But the damage has been done, I will not forgive her, she has made me a laughing stock in front of my siblings, no matter how many times she apologizes now, I won't make it easy for her.

The elevator stopped at the tenth floor, the gate opened, two men from the accounts department were about to enter, but when they saw me they stopped.

"Sorry Sir" they spoke, I just nodded in response

Nobody would dare to enter the elevator if I was already there. Nobody had the guts to step in my personal space, I would never allow that.

Finally I arrived at my floor, the elevator door opened and I saw the receptionist talking on phone with a big smile on her face, i went near her, she didn't notice my presence, I cleared my throat, she turned to look at me, the phone dropped from her hands when she saw me, her smile disappeared, she looked scared.

"I am extremely sorry sir" she said, I turned around and left from there

My staff was not allowed to answer personal calls in the office hours. It was a rule.

As I walked towards my office, everyone got in the attention position and greeted me. With a hard face I continued walking without answering back.

I knew all of my employees were scared of me, and I was happy with that. I am their boss, they have to respect me and show honour.

I saw Ayesha's cubicle, it was empty. Even the files were scattered just like they were yesterday, I looked at the time, it was 9:10 am, as expected she was late.

I went towards my personal secretary, she stood up from her seat when she saw me

"Good morning sir" she said

"When Ms Ayesha Siddiqui comes, you tell her to go to each and every single person in this building to tell that she will not come late" I said

"But sir" she was speaking but stopped immediately when I glared at her

"You only talk when I ask you to" I said to her crossing my arms at my chest. "Call her University and transfer the call to my number, I would like to have a word to the principal about her" I said

"That won't be necessary Mr Khan" the door of my cabin opened and Ayesha came out. "I'm here already" she smirked.

I looked in her eyes, there was no shame, no guilt, no embarrassment, in fact she looked extraordinarily arrogant today. I clenched my fist to control my anger.

"Ms Rose" I yelled, she jumped in fear

"Ye.. yes sir"

"Nobody is allowed in my cabin without my permission, make this clear to everyone" I spoke in a high tone, then I went inside the room without even glancing at Ayesha.

"Why did you shout on Rose? If you have a problem with me you should tell me instead of screaming at other people" she came after me and spoke. I turned to face her, I gave her my deadliest glare, to scare her. But instead of fearing me she put her hands on her hips and spoke smugly

"Just because you are late today that means you will take out your frustration on everyone. It's ok, you are a human, you can also make mistakes" she shrugged

Is she for real? The way I was glaring at her right now, if I was like this with anyone else the person would have pissed his pants, and here she is talking so coolly.

"Are you done looking at me?" She asked making me realise that I have been staring at her for quite a long time. I quickly averted my gaze and sat on my chair.

"If your breathovomit is fixed, complete making notes of the files I have given you yesterday in three hours" I said, her expression changed, she walked towards the table

"But Mr Khan three hours are too few" she defended

"Two hours" I replied putting my elbows on the table

"But.."

"One hour" I raised my chin up and said

"Fineeee" she sighed, the defeat in her eyes satisfied my ego.

Good! See your place Ms Ayesha Siddiqui. I can ruin your career in a snap of a finger if I want. Fear me.

"But I will do it in four hours, three hours are too less" she rolled her eyes

I grinded my jaw in anger. This girl makes me go crazy.

"I said thre...." I was about to speak but she cut me off

"I heard what you said, no need to repeat it" she huffed, "now let me get to work" she turned on her heel and left the room

What the hell does she think of herself? Nobody talks like that with me. She will regret messing with me.

*****

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Reem's POV

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I sat on the chair and rested my head on the table.

"Ow my head hurts" I whimpered

"Are you ok ma'am?" Prajakta entered the room, with a cup of tea, she put the cup in front of me.

"Yeah I'm ok" I sat up straight and nodded.

"I'm sorry for calling you at the last moment, but..."

"It's fine" I smiled

I was twenty when I opened the NGO, Sheena Aunty helped me through it, I had just had funds in my hand with no plan, no degree, nothing.

Helping people has become my passion. My grandfather left me a fortune it was of no use to me so I decided to spend it on someone who might need it more.

My emptiness led me to the orphanage, and I found a home with all the kids there. Whenever I saw someone smiling because of me, I felt so much content. So I decided to pursue my time in this only

Then with the help of Sheena aunty I opened the NGO, and life went on.

Only Ayesha knows about all this, nobody else. I am not really keeping it a secret, but this is something very close to my heart, and I never could open my heart to anyone.

I would have shared with dadi and maa, they both are extremely close and special for me, but I cannot deny the fact that they are izhaan's family, it just put some distance between us. Although I know they love me like their own blood, but still.

"Ma'am" prajakta called, I looked at her.

"Hmm?"

"This is the file of all the development, and here is the criteria, please go through it, Mr Udyog will come in an hour" she passed me a file, I took it from her hand and went through it.

"Ok. I will read this." I said flipping the pages.

She was about to speak, but my phone's ringtone stopped her.

"Wait" I said and took out my phone from my bag, my eyes widened in surprise when I saw "Jackass" flashing on my phone, it's only 9:30 in the morning, what does he want with me.

"Give me a moment, I need to answer this call" I said and got up from there, I came outside to answer his call.

"What?" I answered

"Where are you?" He asked

"Excuse me!"

"It's just a simple question, where are you?"

"What do you want?" I rolled my eyes

"Answer, to my question"

"Ughhh fine! I'm at home" i replied

"Great! I am reaching in an hour, be ready"

"Ready for what?" I frowned in confusion

"I have to take you somewhere"

"And what made you think that I will come with you" I said arrogantly then I heard him sighing

"I will reach your house in an hour and wait for you for five minutes, and if you won't come, I will come inside and drag you with me, think what you want to tell your parents"

"Izhaan" I shouted in anger but the line went silent.

"What the heck is this now?" I groaned in frustration, "bloody jackass"

I went into the room again. And quickly started gathering my stuff.

"I have to go somewhere. It's urgent" I said

"But ma'am the meeting with Mr Udyog is very important"

"I know, please reschedule it for 1pm"

"I don't think it's a good idea" she shook her head, I picked up the file

"I really have to go" I said and left.

I will not forgive you Izhaan for this, I had to chase this man for a month for a meeting and finally when I got it I had to run because of you, if anything goes wrong it's on you.

This is the reason why I hate Izhaan so much, he forces things on me, puts me in a situation where there is no escape. He behaves as if he owns me. Jackass.

I sat in my car and quickly made my way home. My headache was worsening. I pushed my feet on the accelerator, I must reach before him.

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Izhaan's POV

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It was around 10:30 when I reached Reem's house. I quickly messaged her to let her know of my arrival.

Soon she came, I got out of my car when I saw her coming.

"Are you mad or what? What do you think of yourself? You will give me a call whenever you want and I will come running to you, is that what you think?" She screamed

"Yes. That's exactly what I think" I replied casually, she narrowed her eyes at me. She was so angry that she was literally panting.

"Stay in your limits, Jackass" she snapped at me. I flinched at the word she chose.

"Now do I have to teach you to treat people with respect also?" I scolded her.

"I treat people how they deserve to be treated."

"Look Ree...." I was cut off by her

"Why have you called me here? I left something so important!" She shook her head in irritation, I chuckled sarcastically

"What's important? Must be some mall visit for shopping or hanging out with your useless friends" she folded her arms at her chest

"What do you want?" She was seething, I sighed

"Go bring your graduation degree, and marksheet also" I told her, she frowned

"Why?"

"Because we are going to get your admission for post graduation" I said, her jaw dropped on the floor

"Excuse me! Did you just say what I heard?" She asked, I rolled my eyes

"You heard it right. I have decided that you will get your post graduation degree now. You have wasted enough time, it's time to get a little busy in something which is actually productive" by the time I was done she looked raged

"You have decided? Seriously? Who are you? My father? Who do you think you are to decide for me?" She yelled

"You really want me to tell you who I am? And no problem, if you want your father to decide, I will talk to him. Is he home?" I turned to walk inside the house, but she held my hand to stop me

"Why are you doing this, Izhaan?" She asked

"Because I'm done letting you make a fool of me, you have brought shame to me by your deeds, till now only a few of people I know have seen you behaving all reckless, before anyone else finds out I will put an end to it" I said trying to suppress my anger

"Aisa bhi kya kar diya maine? (What have I done to deserve this?)"

"Oh the list is endless. Where should I start from? From dancing in the club in between all drunk men, to going on the pathetic protest, to the illegal race"

"You are really keeping a record" she taunted

"Kya karu apni izzat k khatir kar raha hoon (what to do! I'm doing it for the sake of my respect)" I said, she scoffed

"You almost got arrested twice, I found you in the gent's washroom with a guy in the middle of the night. So befo...."

"I was not with him"

"Whatever! Before anything like that happens again, I will get you so busy that you will not have time for anything else" I spoke, she sighed deeply

"Give me some time, let me decide about post graduation"

"There is nothing left to decide. I have made the decision" I shrugged, she stomped her foot like a child

"Izhaan you..."

"Are you going to bring your documents or should I go get them myself?"

"I don't want to do post graduation" she stood stubbornly

"I'll talk to your father then, let me see how much he would have been willing to spend for your bail" I said, she looked at me in frustration, annoyance, anger, helplessness, all together

"I hope you know I really really hate you"

"I don't care. Now documents" I cocked my head at the entrance of the house

"I don't have them"

"Stop it Reem. You are getting us late"

"I seriously don't have it! I never collected" she shrugged

"Your convocation is still pending?"

"It happened, but I didn't go for it"

"Why?"

"I didn't feel like it" she said so coolly that it was hard to believe. How can someone be so careless.

"So we'll go some other day" she said with a smile

"Get in the car right now" I ordered

"But I don't hav.."

"We are going to get your degree and marksheet from your college right now"

"No way" she shook her head, a wave of anger ran in my vein

"Enough!" I screamed, "now you listen to me quietly or else be ready for the consequences" I was done being nice to her, she breathed out

"Ok! I will do what you want me to, but not right now. I really have to be somewhere, it's very important" she said, I held her hand and brought her to my car, I opened the door and put her down on the passenger seat, "Izhaan please"

"Your shopping can wait" I said.

I sat on the driving seat and began driving completely ignoring her constant protesting.

How can someone not collect the marksheet and degree?

Marks honge us layak to laye bhi, socha hoga kya fayda aisi degree ka jispe third division likha ho (one would only get if the marks are good, she must have thought what is the point of getting the degree which has a third division imprinted on it)

For post graduation she needed to have at least 50%, but I was pretty sure that she must have got awful grades, that is why I already spoke with the dean of the university I was taking her to, luckily he was a brother of one of my clients, so he agreed to help me.

I know what I did was wrong, but I was desperate to get her admission done, and with her grades she would never get.

I stopped outside her college and waited for her to go, she got out of the car and closed the door with such a loud bang, then she walked into the college.

Oh lord please help me! I begged.

After around fifteen minutes she returned with some papers in her hand. She got inside the car and slammed the papers on my lap. It made me angry

"Jab tameez bat rahi thi to kahan thi tum ( where were you when manners were being distributed?)" I said in anger, she gave me a toothy sarcastic grin

"Club mei dance kar rahi thi (I was dancing in a club)"

Seriously this girl doesn't even deserve a minute of mine, but my bad fortune got me stuck with her.

I checked the papers, my eyes went impossibly wide when I looked "first division" imprinted on her degree, I quickly checked her marksheet. I was shocked when I saw all the numbers in straight 80s or 90s

"Whose marksheet have you brought?" I asked not really believing

"Are you blind? Can't you see my name on it?"

I was busy reading her marksheet when her phone rang

"I'll be back" she said and opened the car's door, "yes prajakta?" She spoke and then she was out of the car

How has she gotten such good grades? Did she cheat? I don't know how she got these but right now I'm in total awe of what is in front of me.

"Can we go to the university tomorrow? I have to be somewhere really really important please" she pleaded, her eyes were genuine, i couldn't say no to her.

"Ok" i nodded, she smiled widely

"Thanks" she buckled up her seat belt then she looked at me asking me to drive.

It was the first time in forever when she smiled at me like this.

Till now I was just requesting the dean because I had a different image of her grades in my head, but now I don't need it anymore, her grades are highly impressive. So I can throw my weight around.

I looked at her through my peripheral vision, she was constantly rubbing her forehead, it got me a little worried

"Are you ok?" I asked

"I have a headache" she replied, it must be really bothering her because there was not even a slightest hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"Can I get something for you?"

"Just get me home please"  she looked at me, pain was evident on her face, it did something to my heart

"Let me take you to the doctor" I said in a soft voice

"Just take me to home idiot" she snapped at me. The small feeling I felt for her left instantly and filled my heart with wrath again, I wrapped my fingers tightly around the steering wheel stopping myself from saying something mean to her.

We reached the house, I stopped at the driveway, she stormed out of the car and left without even looking back at me.

Mannerless!!

****

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Ayesha's pov

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I rolled my eyes when the phone rang again,  I picked up the receiver and pressed on my ear

"Yes Mr Khan?" I said

"Ms Ayesha, come to my cabin right now"

"How will I complete my work on time if you keep on disturbing me?" I asked angrily, he was silent for a few seconds then he spoke

"My cabin, Ms Ayesha" he said and hung up

"Aaaahhhh moron" I groaned in annoyance and got up from my seat. Without even asking for permission I entered the room

"Now what?" I asked, he looked at me in anger

"Go outside, seek permission, and only enter if I give you my permission"

"Excuse me! You called me here"

"I didn't tell you to barge in my room" he leaned back on his chair, I rolled my eyes

"What do you want?" I asked

"I just told you"

"Why have you called me here?"  I asked emphasizing on each word

"Ms Ayesha! Go out"  he stayed adamant, but I was losing time in his stupidity, unwillingly I did what he wanted me to. I knocked on the door

"Come in" he said, i entered and saw him sitting on the chair, with a disgusting smirk on his face, my eyes went to the inkpot placed on his table. Should I throw it on him?

Ugh! Control Ayesha!

"Now?" I asked

"Have you finished your work? It's been more than three hours already!"

"How will I finish my work if you keep on calling me every fifteen minutes?" He totally ignored my question and handed me a file

"After you are done, study this file and make a rough sketch according to what you think the client imagines"

I took the file and turned to leave but he spoke again

"And you better hurry up with your work! It's giving me a very negative impression of you regarding work"

"So let me do it peacefully. Stop calling me" I said in annoyance, his lips formed a small pout and he glared at me.

"Leave" he said

I left without any further argument. I returned to my cubicle and drowned myself in work again.

I could feel my stomach grumbling, I was starving but I had no time to have food, so I quickened my speed.

Finally I was done with my work, it took me four hours and twenty five minutes to finish it. I was feeling so hungry now.

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