Dua-e-Khair - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

"Sabs, it's Daniel.... Meeting Room 102" Kristie said as peaked through the half-opened door of Saba's office.
"Right now?" Saba replied.
"Yep right now?" Kristie nodded as she closed the door.
"Allah Miyan, please not this time" Saba mumbled as she got up from her chair and marched towards the meeting room.
As she entered the room, she noticed Daniel was talking to a man who had his back at her. She went closer and said:
"Daniel, you called-" Saba couldn't continue her sentence because the man to whom Daniel was having a chit chat turned around and now faced her directly. Saba's eyes grew wider in utter shock. She froze instantly. It was Ahil, Ahil hussain, yes the same guy who she had met a few days back in front of the coffee shop.
"Yes I called for you Sabs. I wanted to introduce you to your new co-partner Mr. Ahil Hussain, a very successful prosecuting attorney."
"And Mr. Hussain this is our very talented employee, Ms. Saba Lodhi. I am sure you guys would get along-" Daniel was interrupted by Saba.
"Daniel, may I have a word with you alone?" she requested. Both of them stepped aside few meters away from Ahil, who stood there, examining the situation with a calm on his face as if he didn't bother.
"What is it, Sabs?" Daniel spoke reluctantly.
"I should be asking you this, Daniel. I submitted the case few days ago and you approved it yourself, then what's with this co-partner thing?" Saba sounded pissed.
"Sabs, calm down, you're getting it wrong. Mr. Hussain isn't here because you aren't credible enough, you and I both know what you're capable of. I hired him because of his excellent success rate plus the department needs more employees like him, it's for the agency's betterment." Daniel answered in a rather polite tone.
"But Daniel-" Saba wanted to say something but he didn't let her finish off.
"We'll talk later Sabs" Daniel patted Saba's shoulder and marched away.
"So Mr. Hussain, sorry for the interruption, we just agreed that Saba can show you your new office and the firm too, maybe?" Daniel addressed Ahil who now placed his phone in his pocket and then looked at Saba with blank eyes.
"Daniel I think-" Saba tried to speak but Daniel as expected, didn't let her.
"Right Saba? You don't have any problem..... Do you?" Daniel persuaded.
"Y-.... Yes.... I will" Saba murmured under her breath because she understood what her boss was trying to say here.
"Good.... Now, I'll leave you guys to catch up. I'll see you around" Daniel concluded.
"Hmm" Ahil nodded as he shook hands with Daniel. After Daniel left, the two were now alone in silence. As awkward as it could be.
10 years ago:
Lahore, Pakistan
It was 7:30 in the morning. Since the classes used to start from 8:30am onwards so the campus was silent at this hour. Ahil, as usual, was an early bird. After talking the stroll of the campus, he used to come to his class at 7:35 am sharp. The class had 4 doors in total, two at the back and two at the front. Ahil entered the class from the back door and to his surprise someone was already there.
A the girl laid her head on the desk in front of her. Ahil couldn't see her face but he could depict that the girl was none other than Saba Lodhi. Ahil left the door opened after him.
(Saba in her own zone)
He went closer to his desk with stomping foot steps because he thought it would be creepy if he remained silent. The girl didn't move. It was weird. The next moment Ahil dropped his water bottle on the floor deliberately. Saba startled and looked back terrifyingly.
"Umm.... Sorry I didn't mean to disturb you" Ahil said politely.
"It's okay.... I.... I just dozed off" Saba replied and looked down at the ground.
Another few seconds passed away, she got up and went to the rest room. She knew that she had to look a bit put together before the class starts. After 10-15 minutes had gone by, Saba came back to the class room. Ahil was writing something in his notebook. She stood near his desk and said:
"Tum hamesha parhte rehte ho?" (Are you always studying?) Ahil stopped writing and looked at her. Few of her hair strands were wet, she would've splashed water on her face in order to look live. But her eyes said something else. They seemed tired. She looked worn out and sleep deprived. Ahil continued to observe her when he finally said:
"Nahi.... Hamesha toh nahi parhta hun" (No.... Not everytime) He continued writing.
"Acha?.... But I've always seen you studying" Saba tried to peek into his notebook when he shut it off and placed it in his bag.
"You misunderstood" Ahil now faced her again.
"I guess I did" Saba let out a small smile. To continue to conversation she proceeded with another question.
"Tum roz itni jaldi atay ho?" (Do you always come this early?)
"Hmm" Ahil nodded as he kept the eye contact with her.
"Woah.... I could never" Saba laughed.
"But today you did.... right?" Ahil countered.
Saba's laugh faded into a blank expression instantly.
"Hmm.... Aaj.... Unexpectedly yes" she spoke as she unknowingly started to move her fingers over the chair she held on to.
"More like expectedly" (But your face portraits something else) Ahil replied.
"Hmm?" (My face....What does it says) Saba didn't want to give the slightest hint of the havoc amplifying inside of her.
"I said you didn't come here 'unexpectedly' afterall" He said.
"Umm....You're right though.... Why would someone come here at this hour without their will, haina?.... Tum bhi toh aye ho na" She countered him in a casual way.
"Agar kahin rehna mushkil ho jaye toh insan wahan sy bhagny keh rastay dhondta he hai.... 'Will' plays no part in it" (When it's difficult for someone to stay at a certain place, they would find ways to escape from it.... Will plays no part in it) Ahil turned back to his desk.
Saba kept her gazes on the boy who was now flipping through the pages of the book he was holding. She couldn't say anything because whatever he said was enough for both of them to know why exactly they both were there an hour before their class. Eventually she came back to her desk and started reading her notes until her friends came.
Few days Later:
"Yeh solve karny ata hai tumhein?"(Do you know how to solve this?) Saba spoke reluctantly as she positioned the book right in the middle of Ahil's book.
It wasn't a polite request but everyone knew how Saba was, always straight to the point. Ahil wasn't startled at all rather after processing for a few seconds he looked at her with solid glance.
"Ata hai keh nahi? Or should I ask someone else?" Saba's impatient self spoke.
Ahil scanned the question and nodded in response.
"Great.... Let's get started then" Saba said as she grabbed a chair, placing it beside him.
He started solving the question and she observed with complete attention. She noticed how smoothly he was penning down the steps as if he had done that all his life. She couldn't help noticing how beautiful his hands were and then eventually her gaze went up at his face, she found him extremely handsome in that very moment. His hair were falling on his forehead, just above his brown eyes, his sleek nose stood firm and jaw seemed to be a perfect fit for his face. Before getting way too distracted she instantly got hold of herself.
(Ahil serving his effortless looks)
"Should I explain yah samajh agaye hai?" (Should I explain or did you get it?) Ahil asked once he was done.
"Haan got it.... Thanks" Saba said politely.
Ahil slightly nodded in response.
"Also, what are your plans about the group project? I heard you're going solo this time" Saba questioned.
"Haan.... I am.... why what happened?" he asked.
"Nahi.... Aisay he pocha hai.... You always team up with Uzair and company that is why I asked" she responded.
"Yes I do.... But this time Uzair already had his project sorted out, thanks to a senior.... but I-.... I wanted to do my own thing" Ahil justified.
"I see.... Big brains after all" Saba remarked.
"Mere saath project karo gy?" (Will you do the project with me?) she returned with another appeal.
Ahil studied her face for a second or two and then said:
"Kiyoun?" he asked.
"Aisay he.... Max limit of people in a group is 3.... Shiza and other's are okay with themselves.... Plus I also didn't want to team up with them some how.... Way too many cat fights you know" Saba explained. Her reply was companied by a strange silence afterwards.
"Chill karo.... It's fine if you don't want to.... I know I am not that brainy anyways" Saba broke the awkward silence in between them. She got up and gathered her belongings. Just when she was about to leave the premises, Ahil said:
"Mujhe masla nahi hai.... I think it will be alright" Ahil spoke in a clear voice so she can hear him. Saba turned around on her toes and looked at him. He had now retrieved back to his book when she said:
"Okayyyy.... Wow.... I was expecting a no for answer but you surprise me every time Mr. Big brains" Saba chuckled.
"Likewise" Ahil replied. Both exchanged a brief smile and Saba finally left him alone with his books.