chapter 14

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Athar's POV

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I parked my car in the basement parking lot. And looked at my father who was sitting next to me.

"Papa I don't think you are required, I will manage" I said to papa as we exited the car

"Of course beta, I know you can manage, I just want to be there, Ahil is an old friend of mine, and if he is bringing a project to you I'm definitely interested in seeing it"

"You think I can't handle it" I asked

"You have handled a much bigger project on your own."

"So, why did you insist on coming?"

"I want to be a part of it, if that's not a problem. If you don't want me I will go back" he sighed dramatically, I smiled shaking my head

"You are more than welcome my drama dad" I said putting my arm over his shoulder, he chuckled

We both entered the elevator. When I joined the company, papa retired, it's been years since he has said goodbye to work, but once in a while he pays a visit to the office.

I don't fear my father, but I highly respect him. His way of work and mine is different. he is a very jovial person, and wants me to walk in his footsteps, which is really not my style.

The lift opened at the ground floor, there stood two men. They were about to enter the lift, but stopped when they saw me

"Sorry sir" they said in unison

"Why are you sorry son? Get inside" papa said to them with a big smile on his face, they looked at me, I narrowed my eyes at them

"No thank you" they said and quickly ran off from there

"Huh? What was that?" Papa asked

"Forget it" I said

I wonder if Ayesha is here yet, I wonder what punishment I can give her for coming late today.

The elevator stopped at the 25th floor and I exited the elevator along with papa. He was cheerfully greeting everyone with a big smile on his face, whereas I was quietly following him.

My eyes went to Ayesha's desk in search of her, a satisfied smirk made its way on my lips when I found her sitting there. She learnt to come on time.

I took papa towards my cabin, he stopped to talk with Rose. I went into the room.

After a minute papa walked in

"You didn't stop to greet your secretary" he scowled at me

"Oh come on it's not a big deal"

"You should make your staff feel good and happy, be nice and friendly with them" he said sternly.

"Ok"

He sat on the chair and picked up a magazine, he got busy reading it. I made a call to Rose and informed her to prepare the conference room for the meeting.

Afham Imam was coming for a meeting with me in half an hour. Imams are a big name in the business world. Afham is building a house for his parents, to give them, for their fortieth anniversary, but since his father is good friends with papa, he was adamant to be in the meeting.

There was a knock on the door, I gave my permission, the door opened and the person entered, it was Ayesha.

"Good morning" she smiled at papa and then looked at me, "conference room is ready and the guests will arrive in fifteen minutes" she said with a blank face

"You may go now Ms Ayesha" i said to her, papa suddenly got excited

"Ayesha? Are you Reem's Ayesha?" He asked her

"Yes! I am" she replied

"I am Naeem Khan, Athar's father"

"I know you sir"

"If you do, then please call me uncle" papa said, and I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes, "how are you?"

"very well" she replied in a voice dipped in sugar

"So, it's been a while since you are here with us, hope you are learning well" he asked, she looked at me, her eyes looked sarcastic

"Yes! I have learnt to make coffee" she taunted, papa chuckled

"Nice sense of humour you've got there kid" he said presuming she was joking, but I could hear the sarcasm in her voice

"Have you made friends yet?" He asked

"A few" she replied

Why is papa even talking to her?

"Let's go, they should be here any minute now" i said getting up from my chair

"Yeah! We must go. Let's go Ayesha" he motioned her to walk with him

"She doesn't need to be there" I shook my head

"Of course she does, she'll get some exposure, afterall she is here to learn, right beta?" He asked Ayesha, she nodded vigorously. I was getting really annoyed

"Let her be, I'm sure she has other important things to do" I glared at her, a smirk grew on her face

"Don't worry Mr Khan, I can twiddle my thumbs later, I'll attend the meeting now" she said and walked ahead with papa

She turned and gave me a look of victory, i clenched my fist to control my growing anger.

"Sorry sir! But I need your signature on these papers urgently" Jyoti stood next to me.

I took papers from her hand and quickly scanned them, once I found them ok, I signed them

"Thank you" she said and dispersed quickly, I turned to look at papa, but he was gone.

I went to the elevator and pressed the 8th floor to reach the conference room.

When I arrived, I found Ayesha already seated, before I could tell her to get lost, the Imams arrived, and I had no option left, than to let her stay.

The father son duo greeted all of us, then we sat to begin the meeting. I was trying hard to stay focused, but for some unknown reason my attention was drawn to Ayesha.

I was so annoyed by her presence here, that it was impossible for me to stop looking at her. She was really not needed there

She had her eyes narrowed in slits, she was looking from the senior imam to the junior imam, while listening to them attentively.

Her back was straightened, she was sitting in a good posture, her face held seriousness, like she was trying to memorise whatever she was hearing.

I noticed she was scribbling something in the notepad from time to time. I tried to have a look, but since she was sitting at some good amount of distance, I couldn't see what she was writing

"So, what do you think, Athar?" I was caught off guard by Mr Ahil Imam, I was so lost in Ayesha that I couldn't keep my attention on anything else

"Tell him beta" papa said, what should I tell him, I did not even hear his question?

"Aaa ummm" I was fumbling to find something right to say.

"I think you should go for central Delhi" Ayesha spoke and all of us looked at her, i felt angry at her for opening her mouth

"Nobody asked you to speak" I glared at her

"Let her talk" Mr Ahil spoke

"With all due respect she's just here temporarily, an internship to get a de..." I was speaking, but Papa cut me off

"Athar, let her speak" he said

"But pa.." i spoke again, but shut my mouth quickly when papa glared at me

"Why do you say that, Miss..??" Afham asked her

"Ayesha. And in my opinion it will be beneficial if you give your parents their own space, but still stay near them. Building a house in the outskirts of Delhi will just isolate them" she spoke

Suddenly everyone turned very serious in what Ayesha believed, she was non stop speaking and everyone was listening to her without blinking their eyes

I couldn't register a single word she said, I was just looking around feeling irritated because of everyone's undivided attention on her

After she was done talking, everyone appreciated her views and thoughts.

"Wow! The way you just explained, it felt like you saw the project through my eyes. This is exactly how I picture it" Afham looked at her in awe. Ayesha gave me a smug smile, I grinded my jaw in frustration.

"This meeting is coming to an end now, you may leave now, Ms Ayesha" I got up from my chair, papa held my hand and pulled me down.

"Athar! No need to send her, the discussion is still happening, the meeting is not ending." Papa spoke sternly, then he bent and asked me softly, "Are you feeling alright beta?"

"Yes" I nodded

"I will email all the details to you, i have three locations in central Delhi, I leave it on Ayesha to choose the best place" Afham said

"Ayesha Ayesha Ayesha" i muttered under my breath, "what is wrong with everyone?"

"Sure sir, would love to" Ayesha beamed at Afham, he stared at her for too long, I hated to see him gawking at her, I tried not to get affected, by something in me was not letting me to look away

He was shamelessly checking her out, like he was studying all her features and she sat there smiling like a stupid, totally oblivious of how that pervert was staring at her. I stood up

"We will wait for your e-mail. Thank you for your time" I walked towards Ayesha, held her hand and brought her outside with me

"Mr Khan, what are you doing? Leave my hand" she spoke getting frustrated, I didn't stop and took her in the elevator, I pressed number 25 in the lift

"What the hell are you doing?" She shouted

"What the hell am I doing? What do you have to say about yourself?" I retorted

"What is there to say?"

"You shouldn't have come to the meeting, and how dare you to open your mouth? You think you are very intelligent?"

"Your father invited me to the meeting. And I think you are just jealous that Afham liked my ideas, while you just sat there mute" she snapped at me, hearing her taking Afham's name so casually made me mad, I grabbed her arms and pulled her close to me

"Don't talk to me like that" I said emphasizing each word, I gripped her arms so tightly I could feel my nails sinking in her flesh, she yelped

"Mr Khan! Leave me" she said, I tightened the grip "aaahh" she winced

"I let many things go, but I'm seriously warning you Ayesha, I don't want you to be a part of this project, do you hear me?" I asked, she continued staring at me with her big eyes

"DO YOU HEAR ME?" I screamed at the top of my lungs, she nodded her head, "and one more thing, don't even take Afham's name ever again"

The elevator suddenly opened and I saw a few people standing at the entrance, I didn't realise when we reached the 25th floor.

I looked at them, who were staring between me and something with wide eyes, I followed their gazes and found Ayesha, I was still holding her close to me, I released her immediately, she ran outside the elevator.

I glared at everyone, they ran off. I went straight to my cabin. I don't care what everyone will talk about me.

After some time papa walked in my cabin, he was pretty upset with me, we still got the project, honestly I was not interested in it anymore.

Papa left after a while. I didn't see Ayesha for the rest of the day. By 6 o'clock I left for home.

Even after reaching home my mood stayed sour, I hardly spoke. I stayed in my room mostly, only went outside for dinner, then returned in my room.

I was lying down on my bed, when the twin door opened and izhaan came in my room.

"What is wrong with you? Why are you being so grumpy?" He dropped on the bed next to me

"I'm not" I sat straight

"Buddy! Don't even try to lie to me"

I sighed deeply and told him everything happened today. He listened carefully, he did not utter even a single word till I was done.

"I don't understand why you are in a bad mood" he frowned, I rolled my eyes

"Did you not hear what I said?"

"I heard everything, but I still couldn't see any upsetting things"

"Ayesha! She is the reason for me to be upset. Just because of her i couldn't concentrate on the meeting"

"Why? What did she do?" He asked, I growled in frustration

"What is wrong with you izhaan? I just told you everything. Firstly she came into the meeting, then just to prove her smartness she spoke, that sly man Afham was staring at her, and she had no realisation. Isn't it enough for me to be upset?"

"Oh! So you were jealous!" He nodded, i scoffed

"Jealous? And me? Huh! Not possible. Why would I be?"

"You should know the answer."

"Shut up! And go from here, I'm not in the mood to hear your crap" I stood up from the bed and went into my closet to change into my night pajamas

"By the way, papa looks very impressed with her. That girl works her charm on everyone" he spoke and I lost it

"Will you stop praising her? I don't know what is wrong with everyone. Why everyone is chanting her name, I find the girl so annoying my head hurts when I think about her" I yelled

"Why does she affect you so much? Why do you think so much about her?"

"I don't think about her at all" I snapped at him

"Who are you lying to? Me or yourself?" He stood next to me, "everything she does, you get affected, she controls your mood, you think a lot about her" he said staring in my eyes, I looked away

"Go from here" I told him

"You have to listen to m ..."

"Izhaan please! I need to sleep, just go" I narrowed my eyes at him, he sighed.

"Fine, but I'm here whenever you want to talk about it" he left leaving me alone.

Everything happening between Reem and him, has messed up his mind, he's seeing things which aren't true. Poor Izhaan.

I switched off the lights and laid in my bed, I closed my eyes and Ayesha's face floated in my head, how she flinched in pain when I held her arms.

I shook my head to clear off my thoughts.

I will find a way to keep her away from Afham, I mean, from the project.

*****

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Izhaan's pov

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I got out of my car and looked around the campus, I was in Reem's University. The dean has requested to meet me, so I had to come, I wonder what that girl has done now.

I went straight to the dean's office. I gave my name to the receptionist and told her that I was called by the dean, hardly two minutes later, I was called in.

I walked towards the room, I knocked on the door to seek permission, once I had it, I entered the room.

"Good morning" he said cheerfully

"Good morning" I replied with a smile

"How are you izhaan?"

"I'm keeping well. I suppose you had something to talk about with me" I said getting impatient, he let out a cold sigh

"Yes I do! It is about Reem"

"What about her?"

I'm pretty sure she must have not been focusing on her studies, she was never interested in studying.

"Reem is a brilliant student, but..." He took a pause and sighed

What is wrong with this man? Why is he sighing so much!

"But what?" I asked

"As you are aware that she has joined late, she was already falling short of attendance and now her regularly skipping college is also not doing her any favour." He shook his head, I frowned

"She's skipping classes?" I asked

"Yes! She has submitted all the assignments, and all the professors talk highly of her work. They see a lot of potential in her, but she has to attend classes, we need a certain percentage of attendance to let the student give an exam, and she is falling short of that. In past two months she must have hardly taken any class"

"Did you talk to her?"

"She doesn't answer her phone, we have tried contacting her numerous times, but she is never available. I called you here so that you can talk to her, she is a gem for our university, I hope you understand"

"I do! Thanks for calling me. I will definitely talk to her. Let me see if she is in university"

"She has not come today."

"Oh ok!" I stood up, he followed my actions. We shook hands. And then I left from there.

Ughh! What should I do with you Reem?

I took out my phone and called her. She didn't answer, I called a again, this time also the call went unanswered, I continued calling her till she didn't answer my call.

"What?" She said in annoyance

"Where are you?" I asked straight getting to the point

"Why?"

"Just tell me" I rolled my eyes

"I'm in class, attending my lecture, but you are not letting me" she said, and I frowned

Really? She is in college! Then why was the dean lying

"Which class?" I asked

"What do you want?"

"Just tell me which class?"

"Accountancy"

"Where is it?"

"Why so you want to know?"

"Just curious"

"309. Now I'm hanging up, ma'am is staring at me" she said and cut the call.

I immediately went to Room number 309, I actually expected her to be there, but to my surprise, the room was completely empty. There was no one.

I took out my phone and called her again, this time she answered immediately

"Will you let me attend my lecture?" She spoke

"I'm in your university, and you are not here, I want to meet you right now. Tell me where are you?" She was silent for a few seconds, then she spoke

"I'll meet you in Starbucks at Khan market in half an hour, ok?" She asked

"I'll be there" I said and she hung up.

I quickly made my way to the parking lot, I took out my car and drove to the market.

When I reached the coffee shop my eyes scanned the area in search of her, but she wasn't there. I took a table and sat while patiently waiting for her.

So her late night rendezvous has not stopped as yet. I thought once she will start coming to the university she will improve, but who am I kidding, it's Reem. It will not be easy to get her on track.

Even though I was feeling angry, I decided I will talk to her as nicely as possible. It's true that we have no attachment or any affection towards each other but I cannot ignore the fact that she is my future, and it is my responsibility to handle her maturely.

I saw her coming towards the cafe, I waved my hand to her, she saw me and came straight to me.

"Hi" I said, she sat on the chair

"Why you wanted to meet me?" She asked

There was no point in beating around the bush, so I got straight to the topic.

"Dean has called me to college" I said and she looked at me with serious eyes, "he was talking about your attendance"

"Oh! So he complained, and now you are here to reprimand me?" She asked

"Not really! He was just saying that your attendance is falling short, and if things go like this you will not be able to sit for exam" I said in as soft and warm tone as possible, she stayed silent, I kept talking

"He was talking so highly about you, that you submit your work on time. But you need to put attention in class also" in requested. I expected her to shout in annoyance, but she did something unexpected, she nodded her head

"Ok"

My eyes widened in shock, she is ready to listen to me? Wow

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes"

It's definitely a progress for me between us.

"You want to eat something" i asked

"I'll just get some coffee"

"I will bring it for you"

"I'll get it myself, I need to give a few instructions"

She got up and walked to the counter to get herself coffee. I looked at her with a smile on my face

Agar baat maan le to itni buri nahi hai (she's not that bad if she listens to me)

Her phone rang, i looked at the caller, it said "Gabbar calling" I chuckled to myself, such a drama these girls are.

Wait, there's no heart with Gabbar, that means she wasn't talking to Ayesha that night, then who was it.

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