FROM NEVER TO HAPPILY EVER!

3.

Suman Malik.

Today has been a hectic day. The mid-day sun is hitting me in the face, and even though my skin care routine is on point, I am afraid the UV radiation might still crack the sunscreen barrier.

I am currently in the Ibadat khana where all the women with issues regarding their paycheck, monthly benefits and other issues regarding their job report to me. Gaddi Nasheen worked too much for women employment in his era and is still on it. As a result, most Khilbi women are financially independent, multi tasking hardworking women adding to the economy.

He built three  textile factories, most employees are women. I slide the accounts register which records all their previous payment slips as the next woman slides into the chair before.

Just then, Sahir gestures me to stop. I scrunch my nose, the heat is already annoying me and now him.

"Ma'am apne ye pichle saal ki account register uthayi hai. Ye rahi is saal ki. Aur mohtarna apna naam bataiye jaldi, Mallika-e-Khilb kafi der se yaha baithi hai. Unhe Zohar ki namaz ke liye bhi nikalna hai. Aur Rahim tum khade kya ho, fans ki speed badhaao. Ma'am ko garmi lag rahi hai", I smile at his cute actions. Sahir is always like that, caring but reserved. Accomodating but professional.

Whenever I have to look over the accounts and stuff, he accompanies me.

"Koi baat nai Sahir, hanji baaji apka naam?", I smile at the elderly woman.

She smiles back, bowing slightly," Salam Mallika-e-Khilb. Mai Sarima hu. Wo meri pichle hafte ki tanqwa se 2 hazar hi katne chahiye the. Magar 4 hazar kat gaye hai."

I read her details, and find out she was supposed to pay off her debt three months ago but she hasn't been able to pay up.

" Sarima baji apka karz to November me chukta ho jana chahiye tha. Pichle hafte ke chaar hazar katne ke baad bhi do hazar ka aur karz abhi reh jata hai."

" Mai samajhti hu Mallika-e-Khilb. Magar shohar ke inteqal ke baad kharche badte hi ja rahe ho jaise. Pichle mahine kam tanqwa ki waja se bete ki school fees nahi bhar payi hu. Is mahine Sahir Bhai se kahiye na kate paise", she pleads.

I look at Sahir, knowing he wouldn't agree easily. He thinks I go too soft on people and he has already told me a lot of times to be professional in such matters. Sahir is a shrewd businessman. Though Gaddi Nasheen funded these factories, Sahir is the Managing Director.

Sahir reads my puppy dog eyes all too well, and exhaled in defeat. He tries to keep his strict demeanour but melts at my expressions. He quickly gets his notepad to jot down her name.

I turn back to the woman, " Agle mahine apki tanqwa se bachi hui raqam kategi aur ha Sarina baji ab apka naam loan ke credits se hata denge. Sahir ek kaam aur karo, inke liye mera recommendation lagao promotion ke liye. Agle mahine jo list niklegi usme mere recommendation category me inka naam ho. Theek?"

Sahir nods promptly, writing that down as well. Sarina looks at me with tear filled eyes, she speaks with sso much gratitude, "Shukriya Mallika-e-Khilb! Ap na hoti Sahir Sahab kabhi meri baat na maante. Apka audha hi nahi apki awaz me bhi wo taqat hai ki Sahir Sahab hi kya har koi apki baat maan jaye. Allah apki jodi salamat rakhe"

I smile at her, and gesture the next lady to come forward with her issue. Just like that I finish my work there and Sahir guides me back to my car,

"Shukriya Sahir, tum hote ho to ye sare kaam jaldi nipat jate hai. Aur ha maine dekha is baar local residents se complain bhi kam ayi hai factory ko lekar. Kafi acha kaam kar rhe ho."

He nods stiffly, bending slightly out of respect. " Ye to mera farz hai Ma'am. Nek kaam to aap karti hai logo ke haq me"

I wave off his praises and settle into my car, relieved I am not too late for my namaz.

In the evening, I am in the mood to read something hot, spicy and romantic. So I walk into the library, looking for th perfect book that I can read right now.

I settle for Colleen Hoover's It ends with us. I love Lily and initially even Ryle seems genuinely nice.

But the turn of events has me at the brink of my sanity. I am interrupted by the door opening and I look up to see Gaddi Nasheen in all his glory. He looks like he just came from his office, because he smells like sweat jinxed with his men's perfume.

Before I take notice, Gaddi Nasheen is seated beside me on the couch and grabs the book in my hand which according to my initial guess was to read it. But he props it on the table without even looking at it.

" Kaisa tha aaj ka din?", he demands in his usual business voice which is never the tone he uses on me. So this must be something serious.

" Acha tha. Kafi logo se baat hogai. Mera target tha 70 se 80 aurton ka. Lekin Sahir the to, sare kaam fast hogai. Mere aane se pehle hi unhone sab organise kar rakha tha. To lag bhag 100 se zyada aurto ke masle sun liye the maine aaj. Kafi productive din tha. Aap batai----" I am cut short when he pulls my arm and I stumble closer to him from my resting position. I had to keep my hand on his chest for support, and my god by the looks of it his muscles are well built.

"Maine pucha tha kaam kaisa tha. Aur tumhe pichli baar bhi kaha tha ki Accounts dekhne jao to kisi aur ko bulana, Sahir ko nhi. Kaha tha na", he says sharply staring at me ruggedly.

I am startled at his tone, "Par Gaddi Nasheen maine to nahi bulaya tha Sahir ko. Wo to khud hi aa---",

"Wo khud aya bhi tha to tum mana kar deti. Mallika-e-Khilb ki farmabardari karne ki himmat kisi me nahi. Mai pichli baar hi samjhaya tha Summi. Aur ye sahi hai, usko naam se bulati ho aur mai do saal baad bhi sirf Gaddi Nasheen."

His breathing is harsh, and due to our close proximity I can feel the blood rushing through my head.

" Magar masla kya hai Gaddi Nasheen? Ap to pichli baar bas itna bataye the ki kisi aur ko sath le jana"

His hold on  my arm tightens, and I can't help but think he is over reacting which is so unlike him. My hand involuntarily trails towards the nape of his neck, trying to calm him by rubbing his neck.

I don't know how to calm him, I have never done that before. But it seems to work, as his wrist drops the hold on my arm and occupied the headrest behind me. At this proximity, I realise now how huge his frame is. He is fully towering me even though we are both sitting and his troubled orbs only seem to attract me harder.

"Kya masla bagair jane tum meri baat nahi maan sakti thi? Log baatein bana rahe hai. Pichle saal me Sahir ne tumhari koi baat nhi tali hai. Aur wo business ke mamle me mujhe bhi takkar de sakta. Aur aurton ne tumhari taraf uski narmi dekhi hai. Toh aaj wahi baat phir mere samne ayi"