Dua-e-Khair - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Ahil was the first one to leave the meeting room after Daniel. Saba followed him assuming that they were going for the tour of the company but umhm Ahil had other plans.
"We have to go this way" Saba finally said when she saw Ahil pressing the lift button.
Hands in his pocket, he turned around and for a second or two looked at her and then proceeded:
"No need for that.... I know quite enough for now" He said sternly, turned around as the lift opened.
"But-" Saba wanted to say something but it was too late, he was already in the lift, standing midway, eyes still on her but showed no emotion what so ever, the door closed on her face. She stood there, seemed a bit pissed on what did just happen.
"Here we go.... Playing Bitter exes" Saba sighed as she proceeded towards her office.
"So.... how did things go with Mr. Hussain the other day?" The next Daniel asked Saba in the hallway.
"Umm... Fine.... Actually it went good" Saba lied. She didn't have the energy to explain the deal with Ahil so she thought it would be convenient if she lied.
"That's great.... Now you two should start working together on the very first case that I assigned to you this morning." Daniel proposed.
"Me and Ahil together?.... On one case?.... Are you freaking kidding me?" Saba seemed frustrated.
"You seem to have a problem with that I presume" He replied.
"Well....Not really....But it's just so.... early I guess.... I mean he just came yesterday....Don't you think you are rushing things Daniel?" Saba gave her input.
"Thanks for the suggestion Sabs" He mocked.
"And no.... I don't think so that I am rushing things.... This is probably one of the trickiest case to solve which may be sensitive too.... So to avoid any inconvenience I need all hands on board" Daniel explained.
"I see.... What is this case about anyways?" She asked in utter confusion.
"FBI.... now you'll get what I am referring to" He said as he raised one of his eyebrows.
"Hmm..." She nodded.
"Kristie will send you and Mr. Hussain the details, Just go through it and we will have a meeting soon to discuss it further" Daniel summarized.
"Alright" Saba agreed and both went their separate ways.
At the meeting, lawyers, prosecutors and inspectors were present in order to solve the case about a deceitful agent who was suspicious of numerous charges against him. Saba and Ahil were appointed as the leading lawyers to manage the case.
"I would recommend that you guys should visit the sites of suspicion as soon as possible" Daniel suggested Saba and Ahil as the meeting came to an end.
"You're right we don't have that much time anyway" Saba agreed.
They all got up in order to leave to their respective duties, just when Saba confronted Ahil and said:
"So should we start from Queen Street today?"
"Hmm?..." Ahil acted as if he didn't know that she was addressing him.
Saba had to repeat her question with a subtle mock.
"Hmm...." Ahil hummed, one hand in his pocket while the other one was busy typing on the phone. After few seconds he looked up at her, whose facial expression were a blend of resentment and confusion.
"Alright" he continued.
Saba instantly got hold of her things and rushed out of the room. Ahil followed her downstairs towards the parking.
(Mr. Hussain not coming slow)
(Queen Sabs herself)
"I am sure you must be having Google Maps but just in case you don't, you can follow me, I'll lead us there" Saba spoke the words in one breath and without waiting for a response she drove away.
Once they reached the Queen Street, they parked their cars and entered a bar where the suspect was recently reported to be seen.
"He comes here every other day for a drink or too" A prosecutor said.
"Today doesn't seem like it though" He continued.
"You never know" Ahil raised a brow at him.
To collect evidence and proofs, one has to keep an eye on every move of the suspect in order to grab as much information as one can to support their case. So keeping this in mind, they decided to wait for sometime at the bar just in case he comes. Saba, Ahil and 2 other people were there as a team. After waiting few minutes, Ahil got up and went near the bartender who was busy serving others their drinks. He sat on the stool with his back facing the other three.
Saba was looking at him from afar, still trying to judge what Ahil was saying to the bartender. As the bartender placed a drink in front of him, Saba hurriedly got up from her chair and moved towards the bar. She peaked through Ahil's shoulder when he caught her sight and laughed ironically.
"I still don't drink.... It's pina colada" He said as he looked back towards his glass, holding it with both of his hands.
"I....I didn't mean to intrude" Saba let out an awkward smile.
"So.... How have you been?" she said while pulling a stool for herself. She had a bunch of questions piled up but she thought it's better to start with this one.
He looked at her face with a dull expression and said:
"Great" He smiled.
"Good" She replied.
"When did you come to Canada?" She shot another one.
"Few months back" Ahil shifted his gaze back at his glass.
"Nice...." Saba nodded.
"Did you-" she could only spoke a few words until she was interrupted.
"Look Saba.... Just drop the small talk.... Neither do you want to know about how have I been nor do I wanna tell.... Let's be professional here.... alright?" He spoke calmly.
"Who said I don't want know about how you've been?.... Come on Ahil.... We've met after 10 years.... Of course I wanna know" Saba explained. Even they had a past but Saba wasn't the one to hold grudges. She wanted to get things normal between them so that they could work in cooperation.
"I think we should go.... We have had enough of the chit chat plus he's not coming today" Ahil got up, pushed his stool back and collected his things from the counter. He heard his name from her mouth for the first time in years, yes it left an impact.
"Ahil are you still mad at me?" Saba looked at his tall figure.
"HAHA.... Mad?.... At you?.... Exactly for what reasons?" he asked as he narrowed his eyes forming a grin on his face.
"Whatever happened 10 years ago-" She said.
"Seriously?.... It's been 10 years Saba.... Almost a decade.... I left 'us' the very next second you flew out.... Trust me I have had better things to do since then.... So you don't need to worry" Ahil composedly said as he stood in front of her.
Saba got up and blocked his way.
"Then why are you acting as if we don't know each other?.... It's awkward and quite hurtful" She gave a disapproving gaze.
"We really don't know each other Saba.... What's the lie in that?" He asked her with a questionable stare.
She was out of words. He made her speechless.
Ahil shoved the stool backwards with his foot so that he could get himself out of there. As he moved passed her, he stopped and said over his shoulder:
"And for the record, you don't get to decide what's hurtful and what's not" He said firmly and moved out of the bar.
She stood there and then, just like a statue. He didn't have to do much in order to take her peace away. A few liners were sufficient enough to do the job.
"Ms. Saba is everything alright?" One of the prosecutor asked.
"Y-yes.... I think we all should leave as well" She picked up her coat and other belonging and walked away.
(Bar aesthetic)
10 years ago
Lahore, Pakistan
"Hey Jumbo dumbo.... Khirki mein aao" Ahil said as soon as Saba attended his call.
"Wait.... What?.... Tum idher kia kar rahay ho?" Saba spoke as she peeked out from the curtains of her room. Ahil stood right in front of her house gate with his cycle.
"Cycling karte hain.... Ajao neeche" he said, gesturing her to come down.
"Ahil yaar" Saba seemed annoyed.
"Exams ended Saba.... Bas kar do.... I'm waiting right here.... You have less than 10 minutes" After saying this he ended the call.
After 11 minutes, Saba came with her bicycle, dressed in sweats and sweatshirt with a cute little pony tail, she looked effortlessly pretty.
"You're late Ms. Lodhi" He taunted.
"Toh why did you wait for me Mr. Punctual?... Chale jate na?" She countered while shutting the gate from behind.
"Aap ko liyey beghair kaisay chala jata?" He smiled.
"Someone's quite in a mood.... Acha Mama said zaida door nahi jana and I have 30 minutes just so you know" Saba informed. Her parents were well aware of the fact that she had mixed friend groups and they trusted her with her friendships. They never had to sneak through her phone because Saba being the only child had the habit to spill the tea to her mom. Both of her parents and her Nano had met Ahil few of the times at school and at other instances so all was good. And Ahil turned out to be Nano's student's son so it was more like family.
They both raced around the streets for quite some time until Saba ran out of breath. They stopped near a tennis court to take a break.
"Bas thak gaye?.... What a shame" Ahil said to her as he teased her.
"Insan hun after all.... Not a robot like you" she replied while sitting down on a bench.
"Yeh lo" he gestured a water bottle towards her.
"Haha thanks....Tum toh poori tiyari keh saath aye ho" she took the bottle from him.
"Dekho I know I was going on ride with a 9 year old so tiyari toh karni he thi mein ny" he said to her as he waited for her reaction.
"Oh I see.... 9 Year old.... Bohat zaida nahi hai yeh bhi?" She jested.
"Nahi it's perfect for you" he responded, now looking away.
"Ab batao kia howa? Why did you bring me here?" Though it had only been months since they came to know each other yet it felt as if they always have been together because it doesn't matter how long you've known a person, the only thing that matters is how well enough you have known the person himself and Saba knew him just quite well.
"Nothing serious.... I was getting bored socha tum sy mil loun" He replied.
"Hmm.... Acha kiya tum ny.... It was fun indeed.... Laikin" She put her hands on either side on bench and looked at the sky.
"Laikin what?" He asked her as he gazed her face seeking for answers.
"Laikin mujhe adat ho jaye gi.... Mera dil chahay ga mein dobara tumhare saath aise he cycling karoun.... Aur I don't want that" She explained.
Ahil let out a huge laugh while Saba stared at the man sitting right beside her, whose face was beaming under the light of the lamp post but it was his big smile that stole the show.
He then paused, got a grip on himself and looked at the sky saying:
"Tum kehti ho 'tumhein adat ho jaye gi'.... Can't you see mujhe tumhari adat ho gaye hai" He looked at her now.
"You weren't something I planned on Jumbo Dumbo.... And you know that I always pre plan things but I lost on this one" He kept looking at her with such pure, soft eyes that she never wanted to look away from those brown eyes.
"At least you lost on something" Saba laughed hard.
"Sari baatoun mein sy yehi baat pakri hai tum ny.... I'm amazed once again" he said teasingly.
"I'm Saba Lodhi" she answered.
After a few minutes of silence, Ahil spoke:
"So what's next?" he faced her, hoping for a reply that he wanted to hear.
"What do you mean 'what's next'?.... Unless you have someone else in mind to go cycling with" She blushed while running towards her bike.
Ahil smiled at her words and followed her lead. He never wanted her company this much yet here he was asking her to be with him because no one got him like the way she did. It was always meant to be Ms. Saba Lodhi.