24: Bouquet of Deception

"Huh?!" I turned to face Asif, who stood with a smile on his face, holding an umbrella over my head.

I forced a smile back before responding with a "Yeah" that came out as a whisper. It hit me that Khaleel's actions and statements had drained all the energy and excitement I had for meeting Asif.

But Asif didn't seem to mind and proceeded to open the passenger seat for me, thereby getting his white kaftan wet on the left shoulder.

My eyes flicked back to Khaleel's Trail for the last time. He's now completely out of view, stirring a wave of concern in my chest.

I really hope he can manage on his own.

I thanked Asif and entered the car while he shut the door with a subtle bang. He then went around to sit in the driver’s seat after tossing the wet umbrella in the back seat and used a napkin to pat his shoulder dry.

"Good afternoon," I greeted as the vehicle eased into motion.

"Afternoon, Miss Kaleem Omar. And I apologize for keeping you waiting; the sudden rain caused unforeseen traffic," he said, his eyes on the road.

I knew it! And I wish Khaleel were here to hear his negative sentiment being denied.

"It's fine; I hadn't realized time had even passed. The weather's nice, don't you think?" I added to keep the conversation flowing, which is so unlike me.

"How I wish we were going on a date on such a day and not for work." He glanced at me and smiled. And I felt them again, the butterflies fluttering in my stomach, telling me that what I’m feeling for Asif is just right.

"Well..." I started but pressed my lips into a straight line as a strange feeling known as shyness engulfed me, making me clench the strap of my bag before I could finish the sentence. "...We could go on a date some other day like this one."

He couldn't conceal the surprise written on his face; maybe it's because he didn't expect me to reciprocate to his feelings.

"Sounds like a great idea. I actually didn't know how to bring that up in a better way because I didn't want to risk my friendship for something better, so I wouldn't lose both."

I giggled "we weren't friends to begin with"

"I thought we were though!" He exclaimed dramatically.

I shook my head "I never considered you one."

"Wow! So I was in an unrequited friendship? That's not fair Hidaya Kaleem Omar. It was the reason why you were the first and only person I asked for help regarding this confidential and urgent work. Because I thought we were friends.."

"It actually means you have nothing to lose" I interject.

"Well you're right, so it means I have to play it well since I have only one chance" 

I got silent unable to comment.

He turned to see my head down, His lips then crept in a half smile as he returned his attention to the road. "I'll make sure to give you the most memorable experience of your life, I'll put this chance to the best use so I won't regret it later"

And at my age, I understood that a love confession doesn't have to be direct, his words says it all. I love you is now reserved for young boys like Jk.

Why am I even thinking of him during moments like this?.

We reached the company and there's less to no people moving around since it's the weekend. We then settled in Asif's office and he brought the documents with 'Confidential' stamp on them. We immediately started working on them together after he had walked me through, taking only prayer and lunch breaks- that too because he thinks I'm hungry. What a considerate man.

It was a long day and I wasn't even feeling tired when we finished by 8:00pm. Asif later dropped me home telling me that I don't have to come to the office tomorrow but I insisted.

He expressed his gratitude and left leaving me standing by the front door wondering what will be waiting for me inside.

I have texted mummy about the arising situation and I'm sure she has informed daddy but what I'm worried about is meeting Khaleel. 

Did he even made it home safely?.

I let out a sigh and rang the doorbell when the maid in uniform opened the door wide for me almost immediately. I greeted and thanked her before walking inside allowing her to shut the doors behind me.

I arrived just in time because everyone was just having dinner. 

I breathed and subconsciously thanked Allah when I saw Khaleel in perfect shape chatting with Abdulrahman.

So I went ahead to the dining table and sat at the empty space next to Abdulrahman meaning he's the only barrier between me and Khaleel.

"Daya you're back? I was about to go in search of you" he said when I thought he wasn't going to speak to me.

"Yes, the work was a bit much that's why" I quickly answered him even ignoring Aunty Laila's question about the details of the work we did which I obviously can't tell.

But he didn't say anything afterwards and just continued eating and chatting with others, so I left the table after I took a few bites of the food and went to bed early hoping to get my much needed rest before tomorrow.

.....

Monday 

11:07 am

Aman dressed neatly in a white shirt and black pants, a bow tie hugging his neck; led his way to the table that sat a single diner, carrying the tray holding the food she ordered.

"Excuse me Ma'am, your order is ready" he said forcing a professional smile on his lips as he put the tray down on the round table and started setting everything down for her.

"You didn't call" 

He freezes recognising her voice before he slowly turned to face her.

"Nimrah"

"Glad that you recognise me today"she  raised an eyebrow at him.

He quickly looked away realising he had been staring.

"Enjoy your food" he said and put the last thing down before turning to leave.

"This could cost you your job"

He let out a humourless chuckle before turning on his heel to face her again. "You cost me the previous one too, there's nothing I could do this time either because you rich people consider our livelihood as a joke. Making us miserable is an entertainment to you, but there's nothing we can do about it other than seeking justice from the one that is above everyone and everything."

She listened confused as to which rich people he's referring to. "I was talking about a poor customer service. It could cost you your job" she explained in a slightly downturned voice, she's clearly hurt by his judgement.

"You didn't bring me a separate utensil for the noodles" she added her eyes getting moist.

"Oh I'm really sorry, I'll bring it right away"

He rushed to the kitchen and immediately returned with a fork and chopsticks.

"Forgive my manners" he placed them down beside the hot bowl apologetically.

"I will if you listen to what I have to say. Then I won't write a bad review "

"Okay I'm listening" 

"Sit down"

"Nimrah, you have to understand that my whole life depends on this, it isn't just a child's play"

"It's the exact reason why I'm insisting, else I wouldn't have bothered. Because on no occasion I would want to be the reason of someone's despair, that too someone who once offered a helping hand. I'm here because of what you said yesterday, I'll like to know what happened that night in order to make things right."

He looked around and none of his co-workers are paying attention to him or maybe they pretend not to because they knew who Nimrah was.

He sat down at the edge of the seat clearly anxious and she felt great sympathy towards him.

"I'm really sorry if I ever caused you pain"

"It was fine. It would've been better if I didn't have a bedridden sister at the time but Allah is the ruler of all affairs, I didn't even know how I managed"

She scoots a bit closer "but except what happens to my family everything went smoothly that night. In fact I waited for your return until the end of the night!" 

He sighed looking at her worried face, he's now feeling bad for blaming her for all that happened to him. But he needed someone to blame in order to have the motivation to keep struggling. He has to blame the rich, and Nimrah is the one that is stuck in his mind over the years.

He swallowed and started narrating the incident as it unfolded. 

"Maybe if you could remember I went back to bring a wet towel for you to clean your smudged makeup"

Nimrah quickly nodded. "I could clearly remember"

"I then decided to bring a cold drink for you to calm you down....

_Flashback_

Amaan waited untill the person setting the dessert station placed the last thing down and left before he sneaked there and quickly grabbed a chilled glass since it's not the time to start distributing them yet. But he doesn't have the patience to seek permission from 10 different superiors before he's able to take a single drink for someone in need. 

He quickly managed to leave before he gets caught and held the tray towards the back of the hall where he left the damsel in distress bawling her eyes.

Even though he's in a hurry, he's sure that his attention is on the path, careful not to bump into someone but that someone thankfully bumped into him, getting his white kaftan stained in the sea green liquid. And the next thing that Asif did was landing a sound slap on Amaan's cheeks them grabbed his collar furiously.

"How dare you!" He barked fuming because he wanted to go and meet Hidaya faking a coincidental scenario after this phone call he received, but he can not go back in there in this mess and make a fool out of himself all due to a waiter's foolishness. while Amaan was too shocked to even apologize.

"Who's your boss you stupid moron" he barked again shaking Amaan by his collar. And the head of the event planning team rushed there apologizing to Asif profusely"

Fortunately that's how Asif got the Idea of bumping into Hidaya the next day and getting his clothes stained by her. 

It's enough to get him her attention.

_End of Flashback_

"... And that's how I lost the job I was paying my sister's medical bill with"

"I'm so, so so sorry, I'm terribly sorry Aman. I seriously have no idea about all this, I'm sorry"

He chuckled "hey don't cry it's fine, I'm fine"

"No it isn't" she dig into her purse for another contact card and placed it in front of him.

"Please call me, I promise I'll get you a job"

"He touched the fabric of his shirt"

"I have a job as you can see"

"Not this kind, I'll get you a proper job with a good pay, as a token of my apology" she stood up before he could refuse.

"Make sure to call me okay. I'll come back if you don't"

"What about your food?" He asked pointing at the untouched dishes.

"I had breakfast before I left home. Please eat on my behalf, bye" she waved and rushed outside checking her wrist watch to see if she could make it to school before her external supervisor leaves.

A week later

2:02pm

"A delivery for miss Hidaya Kaleem Omar."

It takes a second before the name sinks in and I stood up looking at the delivery guy holding a medium red Rose bouquet.

Everyone else's attention turned to me as the delivery guy approached my cabin and handed me the bouquet.

"Your signature here please"

I signed on the device and he turned and left leaving me standing like a fool. A fool holding beautiful flowers because I wasn't sure who it was from, the person I'm expecting is unlikely to give such a gift.

I hadn't even realised that my colleagues were in awe until I came out of my daze, then I found myself blushing and hiding my face behind the fresh flowers sniffing them in the process and they smell amazing.

I noticed a small card attached and I quickly opened it to view the short note scribbled inside.

It reads- 'This smile alone is worth every petal in the world'

And I found myself smiling wider. It's definitely Asif.

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Seemahwrites ✨