(I res'd this spot for this chapter a few days now and every time I start to write my computer goes all wonky. So apologies for making you guys wait!) 😳
________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 3
As Asad accelerated the gas, he wondered why on earth he was decked out and heading to the address on this invitation card to a wedding function of his assistant and the woman he was attracted to. Was he stupid? Quite possibly. He hadn't been himself in the weeks since she joined his company and one look at her turned his world on it's axis.She had no idea though and he planned to keep it that way. His plan to fire her hadn't been implemented yet. He had to wait for the right time. It was all about timing with delicate matters such as this. He had been calling in favors and working out another great position for her at his friend's company. Thankfully not a rival. His friend owned a marketing firm. He just had to find the right moment and if things went his way. He would be calling her into his office on Monday morning and getting it over with.
So why again was he driving to her wedding function? Right, because when he had tried weaseling his way out of it with a sad excuse on his part, the look on her face, the disappointment made him accept. He sighed. This woman was developing a hold on him and she didn't even know it. And again, she would never if he had his way. He was not the type of person that went around stealing other people's betrothed. No this was him pleading temporary insanity. He had psyched himself up. Seeing her tonight, he would not let it affect him. That would also bode well for when he let her go.
Asad pulled into the driveway of a very plush mansion, apparently the groom's house and sighed again for may well be the hundredth time. He just wanted to show his face and leave really. He had no desire to be in the company of people he didn't know and who did not know him, introducing himself over and over throughout the night. He just wanted Miss Farooqui to see he had come and linger for maybe fifteen to twenty minutes then slip out discreetly.
As he entered he was greeted by an older woman. He greeted her and entered slipping off as to stay incognito. He heard laughter and female voices and a horde of females surrounded Miss Farooqui as she entered the hall. Asad's breath caught in his throat. So much for staying unaffected. She looked radiant in a sunshine yellow lengha that set of her complexion completely and she was smiling so much that the dimple in her left cheek was more pronounced than he'd ever seen it before. As everyone started greeting her, he figured this was his opportunity to show her that he came and then he could leave because really, one had to be really masochistic to want to stick around and see the wedding festivities of the woman he was not only attracted to immensely but his employee that he was planning to fire.
He stepped up to her next, turned and realized he was the last one in the line to greet her and she looked up at him with widened eyes, "Congratulations Miss Farooqui." He drawled huskily. She saw her gulp and then a shy smile eased over her features, "Thank you sir." she said softly. He nodded and then turned to walk off where he could stay out of sight until probably the next ten minutes then slink off back to his house or maybe he'd check on his ammi first and see if she needed anything. As he mused his plans for the rest of the evening, he felt a hand jerk him to a halt.
Asad's brow furrowed and he titled his head around to see Miss Farooqui standing behind him. He looked down at her small hand holding his fist and then back up to her with questioning eyes. Self-consciously she let his hand drop from hers. "I-I'm sorry. I was calling after you but you didn't seem to hear me so I-" she gestured to his hand as if to say "that's why I grabbed your hand." "Is something wrong?" He asked and she shook her head, "No, actually I wanted to introduced you to my appi and jeeju. I told them how much I love my new job and that my boss was coming and they wanted to meet you." Asad internally grimaced. Meeting her family was not what he planned. He'd be the most hated person when he fired her so meeting her family was not what he had in mind. The guilt was not something he wanted to deal with.
"Uh, actually I just got a message from home so-" He started then he saw disappointment fill her face and his heart clenched uncomfortably in his chest. "I-" He sighed. "I guess I can spare five minutes." The smile that lit her face was worth it and she clasped his hand his hers pulling him through the crowd when realization must have hit and she let go with a barely audible sorry. Her appi and jeeju were very polite, very kind and they were very interested in Miss Farooqui's work. Asad conversed with them for a while until they excused themselves to see to some other guests and Asad saw this as his cue to leave.
"You're leaving?" He heard Miss Farooqui ask and he swallowed hard. "Yes, I have to go." He said still looking away from her. "Thank you for coming. I know the ritual itself hasn't happened yet but thank you for coming still." She said and he could hear the sincerity in her voice so he turned and gave her a small smile. They were at the rear entrance, Asad wanting to make a discreet exit and all. "No problem." He said and then he turned to leave but heard her scream. He turned around so fast that he didn't get any time to react before Miss Farooqui threw herself into his arms holding on tightly. "Uh-Miss Farooqui, what happened?" He swallowed hard his eyes closing. "Are you okay?"
"Spider!!!" She yelped and squeezed closer as if they could be pressed any tighter together. Did she say spider? Really? "Uh, I don't see a spider." He said and then looked around unsuccessfully because she was starting to cut of circulation to his mid-section. Then he saw the small little black spider, completely harmless and scurrying away from them. He almost laughed but he didn't think she'd appreciate him doing so. He put his arms on her shoulders, "It's gone Miss Farooqui." She was still hugging him tightly and just for a few forbidden seconds he let himself enjoy her arms around him and forgot that this shouldn't be happening. His hands on her shoulders drifted down and rested against her back rubbing soothing circles to calm her. "It's okay. The spider is gone." He whispered, his hand reaching up to brush her hair and she looked up, her doe eyes shining with tears. It would be funny if they way she looked at him didn't break his heart. His lifted his hand and brushed her hair off her forehead. He heard her inhale deeply and then step back from him releasing him completely. He felt the loss of the contact deeply. "I'm sorry." she said then she bolted and ran back to the function.
____________________________________________________________________
Bright and early Monday morning, Asad sat in his office twiddling his thumbs and waiting for his assistant to come. It was the moment of truth. Today was the day. The last day. He had found himself in the time between leaving the function and this morning, he could think of nothing but her and the way she grabbed onto him not letting go until the dream ended with her doing precisely that and running away from him. He sighed in frustration. He had been doing that a lot lately too.
When he saw her come in, he rang the phone at her desk and asked her to come in. She came in but she didn't look like herself. She looked tired and worn out and she looked...sad. Asad forced himself not to acknowledge it and to move ahead with his plan. Yes he was being selfish but it had to be done. He could not go on like this. And if she knew the truth, she'd agree this was the best course of action too."Good morning Miss Farooqui." He said politely. She rattled off a half-baked good morning and his brow furrowed. Against his better judgement he asked, "Are you okay Miss Farooqui?" She looked up at him with her wide-set eyes and burst into tears. Asad was so startled that he was rendered speechless. He just sat there and watched her cry inconsolably and then in keeping with his bad decisions when it came to her, he got up and pulled her into a standing position and tipped her chin up with a finger, "Why are you crying?" As if that was some kind of invitation, he found himself in the same position he was in on Saturday evening.
She slipped into his arms as if she was made to be right there and hugged him tightly, spoiling his suit no doubt and sobbing incoherently. And he, he did not know what to do with his hands this time. Hug her back? Push her away and tell her this was inappropriate, he was her boss not her teddy bear? He'd be a hypocrite telling her off for being inappropriate when he had very inappropriate thoughts about her all the time.
So he slowly let his hand close in and he hugged her back. One hand at her spine and the other lifted to pull her head back. She looked up at him with sad, defeated eyes and he still didn't know what she was so upset about and he figured he was better off not knowing. He brushed her hair off her face. How could he fire her now when she looked like this and looked at him like he was her only source of comfort? Dammit! His plan to fire her today was completely crushed and ya Allah, would she stop looking at him with those sad little puppy dog eyes she was giving him right now?
He cleared his throat and figured he'd have to do something here and so he eased himself out from her arms and held her shoulders applying a little pressure that she sank down into the seat across from him. "I can tell you are distressed so take the day off. Go home. Rest. I'll see you tomorrow." He said and the sank into his chair ignoring her when she started to protest. "Thank you." She whispered and then said, "I'm so sorry."
Asad waited until she was gone before he dropped the nonchalance and leaned back into his chair, his eyes falling close as he groaned in frustration. This situation was getting harder and harder by the day!
__________________________________________________________________
END OF UPDATE
DON'T FORGET TO DROP A COMMENT! 😳
Edited by cclove - 11 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
46