— H O O R —. . .“...It is I who will qualify you,” I mimic him in the worst possible way to annoy him as I enter the room and find him working on his laptop. He is sitting on the couch, and his legs are spread before him. On his lap, there is his second wife sitting — the laptop. His entire attention was on it unless I entered the room and got all his attention. Looking up from the screen, he cocks his brow at me sexily. I see his lips spreading in a small and very attractive smirk.I close the door behind me, leaning against it uttering, “Ab aise kya dekh rahe ho?”(Now why are you staring at me like that?)“Maine galat kya kaha?” He asks, staying in that position but his head raises as he acknowledges me fully. (What's wrong did I say?)“Of course, you can do as you please blah, blah, blah...” I walk towards him but not to sit beside him. No, no, no, I am not taking that risk anymore. If I go under his clutch, he will do something very seductive! “But you listen to me, oh, M
— H O O R —. . .“We heard that you want to work with Zahir, Hoor,” Dad begins with a soft smile, chewing on his favorite dish. His soft eyes land on me. Right, everybody got to know about it and I know they do not wish to stop me from doing it. As much as I have known the Matthews, I know they are kind and generous. Just my husband is cruel and does things that make me feel like either punching him in the face or strangling him on the bed. “Ah... yes, Dad. But I don't want to do it now,” I say, having my food. The sound of a spoon hitting the plate stops when my brother-in-law glances at me. “You’re letting go of that idea? Why, Hoor?” He asks me gently. “Zahir wants me to be his secretary and I'm not eligible for it,” I reason him correctly and he nods to it. I know he just agreed. “Zahir, can’t you help her with something else?” He turns to Zahir who is busy chewing on his food. His eyes are down but I know his ears are well opened. This clever man listens to each word befo
— Z A H I R —. . .Now she is trying her best to get away from me. Or does she enjoy tormenting me? — To whom should I give special attention among these two? Which reason is better to accept?To be honest, I do not want to pay any attention to assumptions in the first place. It is more cruel. It would not hurt my heart at all to look at the other assumption — the second one. I am ready if she is doing all this to torment me because all this has nothing to do with her feelings, right?She can care about me yet do this all and I will take it all happily. But if she is really willing to go away, it is going to kill me while I am still alive. Hoor and I have gotten closer and I like us together, to be honest. Whatever days we have left, can't we both spend them well and happily?But Hoor has to fight with me every time. I run my fingers through my hair as I get up and sit upright on the bed. She is still in the living room and I do not know what is so important left that needs her at
— H O O R —. . . He did as he said. He wanted me to join him, I am joining him from today. He wanted me to work with him, I have no other way than to get ready for it. He wanted me to come with him, of course, I am going with him. He gets what he wants. However, my heart is still wondering secretly why he is so eager and desperate to have me by his side even when he is working. Days have passed since the night when he came closer to me and I literally cried when we kissed. It is not like he makes me uncomfortable. It was never about it. Around Zahir, I am not uncomfortable. When he comes closer, my body gives in. I know it's the relation between us. The time I have spent with him was always sweet. Just like I said that night, I do not blame him for anything. My emotions too were involved in everything that happened between us. As sweet and pleasant is the feeling of having Zahir close to me is — when we are happy and surely enjoy each other's presence — as bitter is the truth
— H O O R —. . . We reach his office. This is the second time I have visited the place. We get out of the car and the driver takes it away to park it. I grab my bag and stare blankly at the building standing before my eyes. Tall and wonderfully designed. The glass walls were reflecting bright lights falling from above. I unconsciously held tightly onto the strap of my bag. Zahir came and stood beside me. I could feel the sweet warmth that radiated off him. He held my hand gently, intertwining our fingers. My heart skipped a beat at the pleasant touch. I am getting used to it. Like an addicting drug, now it is running through my veins. I wonder if I would ever be able to forget it. I do not think so.I raise my head to look at him. Bright blue eyes smilingly look down at me. His head saves my face from falling under the bright sun rays that are brightening the environment. “Chalein?” He asks me in his soft voice. Soft yet deep and attractive. (Shall we move now?)“Ha zaroor,”
— H O O R — . . . I watch the woman closely whom I found to be my husband's personal secretary. Zahir revealed it very casually, announcing her. I am sure she was informed already, keeping in mind that there is a professional way of announcing such news but still, he said it. Somewhere I feel that Zahir did it to make me realize. I did not know who she was, after all — speaking professionally, because I was not even interested in knowing her name or anything else. She swallows, holding her hands and squeezing them tight. I can't help but notice her small actions but I know Zahir too might have noticed that. The girl is a bit clumsy. Well, a bit?“Yes, sir. I was informed,” she says, nodding her head frantically. Zahir's eyes remain on her. Narrowed they are along with being sharp. I have met that side of Zahir for the first time. He looks very different. Very different than the man who lives with me. “Good.” He stands up, rounding the desk as he comes closer to me. He stands a
— H O O R —. . .Siya explains me everything and I grasp the information as much as possible. Not only Siya but before joining, Zahir also did his part which helped me a lot. Siya leaves soon and after that, I am left alone. I grab my seat and start working then. Before leaving, she told me that every morning, bringing a cup of coffee was also her work but the demand was not regular. Zahir asked for a cup of coffee whenever he needed it. I got it. After Siya leaves, I am indulged in work. Zahir has a lot to handle. After becoming his secretary, I learned that he is indeed a busy man. Like, really busy. Today he is not very busy. He only has to handle the work from his office. He is sitting in the room next to mine and I can't really see him. But he can. It feels awkward to have this realization in mind that he can look at me and as the hour begins, I need to make myself understand that he might be busy and that he won't waste his time keeping an eye on me. But after I got busy
— H O O R —. . .The world should be nice and a place where peace and happiness rule. Where people do not get jealous of each other but join each other in their happiness. People should be soft-hearted. It could be nice but the idea alone seems like a fantasy. It is a utopia. And unfortunately, the world is filled with evil powers that dominate human emotions and thoughts. Even if I wanted my focus to stay on Zahir, it could not remain so on the way. I could catch women staring at him. The emotions in their eyes were speaking something else. I felt this all pricking my heart. I did not like that. Why should they stare at him? Zahir's nature is stoic towards everyone in his office. He does not really acknowledge anyone with softness. He just worries about his work and he has told me already that he does not mind being called selfish. Zahir does not even have to impress any of them. But they?How could I even close their eyes? They whisper into each other's ears and among them, I