4

Malek cringed on his voice and unknowingly moved towards Burak’s table. Burak felt angry on seeing another man flirting with her openly. He had the urge to protect her from the world as he saw the fear in her eyes. Her movement towards his table fluttered his heart.

“Mr. John it would be better if you state your business instead of noticing things around here.” Burak said rudely as he stood from her chair. John shivered at his voice and came towards Burak, still peeking at Malek from his eyelashes.

Malek quickly left the office and made a mental note to totally ignore the man if he came across her again. She thanked her God for this job and went smilingly towards the exit.

She was in her won blissful place when she bumped into Izra. Izra who looked like a caked-up model glared at her and shouted,

“What are you doing here?”

“I am here for a job interview.” Malek said politely not wanting to create a scene here.

“I know what your intentions are, you want to steal Burak away from me just like your mother trapped my uncle in her beauty trap.” Izra seethed.

“You keep your freaking accusations to yourself. I don’t want your fucking Burak even if he was the last man on Earth. Just never involve my mother again or it won’t be good for you.” Malek grabbed her arm and spat in her face. Izra was terrified of her for a moment but composed herself, she freed her arm and took fast steps towards Burak’s office. Malek shook her head and went outside, her mood ruined by Izra’s encounter.

**********************************

Malek entered her home with a sour mood but she put on a smile as she saw her mother. She hugged her form behind and kissed her cheek.

“I got the job, Mom.”

Her mother smiled and kissed her forehead.

“May you get successful in the everything you do.” Her mother prayed as she cradled her face in her hands. Malek closed her eyes as she basked in her mother’s warmth.

Malek opened her eyes and kissed the palms of her hands she saw some scratches. She frowned as she looked up at her mother who averted her gaze.

“Who did this?” She asked.

“Its nothing, Malek. I was just cleaning the stairs when I accidently scratched my hands. I applied the ointment so you don’t have to worry about it.” She assured Malek.

“I know who made you do this. Why don’t you take a stand for yourself? I’ve seen the papers and I know we have equal rights at the house just like Izra and her freaking mother. Still, you tire yourself everyday and tend for them.” Malek said angrily.

“What can I do? No one accepts me as your father’s wife. They have only let us live here when we accepted their condition to work here. I don’t even remember my own family. I wish your father was here. At least we didn’t have to suffer like this.” Her mother cried as she remembered the past.

Rosie couldn’t remember her family but with help of Deniz she got back to normal. Both Deniz and Rosie loved Malek deeply and their relation was strengthening as the days passed. Deniz told Rosie that he had a brother back in New York. His mother and father died when he was a teenager and left a mansion for both of the brothers. Deniz brother was a kind man but his wife was cunning who only wanted everything for herself. Deniz talked to her brother and introduced him to Rosie and Malek and he met them joyfully. Deniz promised him that he would bring them back when Malek is older.

Malek would always love her father’s account sheets and would play around with them asking her father each and everything about it. Deiz would laugh and kiss her head as she sat in his lap asking stupid questions.

“Malek will be an accountant one day, right Malek?” Her father would whisper.

Malek used to enthusiastically nod her head even though she didn’t know anything about that term.

“You are making her dry just like you are.” Rosie would complain.

“Wifey, you don’t say that to me when we are in my room.” Deniz would say teasingly as Rosie would blush.

Malek was in high school when they thought of visiting Deniz’s brother.

They reached New York by airplane. His brother was already there as he warmly greeted them and took them to his house. His wife and daughter were a totally different case as they met coldly and didn’t even talk properly.

Malek ignored them as she enjoyed the stay visiting different places. But one fateful day changed everything. Everyone was at home while Deniz and his brother went out to settle some business. Hours later they got the call that they had met an accident and both of them had died. Rosie and Malek were devastated as they heard the news. Malek’s aunt accused Rosie for the misfortune and refused to let her have any share of house. They lived in the quarter and they had to work as maids in the house. Rosie wanted to go back but they refused to pay any money for tickets. And so, they started living there. Malek started studying in a government institution and got scholarships for diplomas. Her only aim was to work for her mother and leave the place.

A loud shout brought them out of the reverie.

“Malek come out now.” Her aunt shouted as Malek rolled her eyes. Rosie looked worriedly at Malek as Malek caressed her hands trying to calm her down. She went outside seeing her aunt fuming as Izra stood with her.

“Who allowed you to do a job at Burak’s company? Izra is going to marry him soon as you are trying to snatch him, aren’t you?” Her aunt screeched as she pulled Malek’s hair.

“No one can stop me from doing the job. I don’t have any intentions for that Burak. I only want to leave this place and make my mother’s life better. Tell your whore daughter to keep him satisfied so that he doesn’t have to look around.” Malek said.

Her aunt slapped her as Malek fell on the floor.

“Leave this place now. I can’t bear you and your mother anymore.” She shouted and Rosie came and joined her hands in front of her.

“Please don’t do this. I promise she won’t say things like this again.”

Malek’s mind went blank as she listened to her mother’s pleadings and her aunt’s disgusting words. She didn’t know how much time it took as her mother dragged her back to her room. She laid on her bed and she cried on her fate. The thing she didn’t know that she had something better in store for her. She just had to wait. After suffering there’s bliss and her bliss was coming sooner than she thought.

just had to wait. After suffering there’s bliss and her bliss was coming sooner than she thought.

*********************************

The next day she woke up early, prepared food for her mother and went to the office bidding good bye. She wore a long frock with flowers made on the sleeves and border. Her hair was up in a bun displaying her swan like neck. She ignored the receptionist as she went to the finance department showing them her acceptance letter. Mr. James the manager introduced her to the other department employees and asked her to come to him in case of any inconvenience. She was happy with the warm welcome.

She was assigned a project as a training and Mr. David escorted her to the cabin assigned to the project’s team. As they entered, a girl fell on the ground with a thud as another girl started laughing hysterically while a boy was working at the laptop and eating simultaneously.

Mr. David cleared his throat as the cabin fell silent. The girl quickly stood up but during this all her files fell down making the pages around. Everyone tried to hide their smile and the girl sheepishly scratched her head.

“So, this is your crazy team right here. This is Laila the clumsiest in our whole organization. God knows how she even manages to be sir’s favorite.” The pretty girl with braided hair and dimpled smile waved her hand as Malek smiled.

“This is Nora. She is your team leader and I can’t really define her. You’ll know why I said it.” Nora flashed her smile as she hugged Malek out of nowhere.

“And this Asher. He is the IT expert and a complete foodie though we are not allowed food during work time.” Mr. David glared at him as he quickly hid the burger under the table and stood up. Malek said hi as he came forward.

“Now I’ll bid you good bye. I assure you are in good hands now. Best of Luck.” Mr. David said as he went outside.”

“Hey, I am Malek. Nice to meet you guys. I hope to have a great time here.” Malek smiled.

Laila came forward to hug her as she slipped on the papers pushing Malek in the process. Asher who was standing behind quickly held her by her waist as Malek grabbed her collar in the fear of falling down.

“What the hell is happening here?”

A loud voice boomed in the room as all of them looked towards the door.