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Slowly dragging the hairbrush through her dark brown hair in front of the mirror, Areesha pondered on what her life had become. From the young carefree girl whom everyone loved, she had grown up to be someone who could do anything to get a little love from her loved ones. She craved for a little affection. A little love could add meaning to her dull life.

She stared at herself in the mirror. She wasn't like the other girls of her age. She was a confident girl and thought highly of herself.  But mind you, not the proud kind of thing; she was a very down-to-earth kind of person. She loved helping others and being useful to people.

She just believed in herself, in her looks and didn't need a man to tell her that she was beautiful because she already knew! But sometimes your beautiful looks could not earn you the love or fill that void in your heart. The looks she had gotten from her mother. The emptiness that filled her couldn't be erased for it was given to her by her very own mother.

The same mother who didn't care already out her and was still mourning over her husband's death from 2 years ago.

Her mother had only lost her husband in that car accident, but Areesha had lost both her mother and father. Before her Baba's death, things had been so much different, so much better. They were  a happy family. Her parents were not like other couples who were always fighting; they loved each other and said Areesha completed their life.

Being the only child she was and on top of everything neglected by the most important person in the world-her mother- she tried to find love outside of home.

Everyone wants someone to care for them, love them, to cherish them right? She loved everyone around her but those very people didn't care.

After investing fifteen laborious minutes into wounding her hair in a French tail she looked at herself satisfied. She had to look professional for her interview in the famous F. Ali company as the PA. She didn't use any makeup because she didn't need any. She was beautiful enough without it. She kept the makeup for important occasions in her life not that she had anything important to do in her life. She wasn't living rather she was merely existing.

She just wanted to get married to Aamir, settle down with him and wait for death to come to her. It wasn't like she didn't love Aamir. No, she loved him a lot, more than anything infact. He was the sole reason life was worth living for. She wanted to be happy and to her happiness came only with him. Even when she was studying in university all the boys knew that she was taken. It was a solid fact there and so no one approached her. Aamir was the only light in her dull life. Marriage to him was the only thing her mother had talked to her about enthusiastically. 

Shaking her head to dicard the depressing thoughts she grabbed her purse and the file containing her CV. 

She hurriedly scurried down the stairs not wanting to be late for the interview.

As she entered the kitchen to grab something for breakfast, she saw her mother sitting at the table burying her cereal with sugar absentmindedly.

"Assalam-o-Alaikum Mama!" She said cheerfully. Everyone in the world thought she was a happy girl and she kept that façade. It was easier that way.

"Walikum salam." Her mother replied non-chalantly.

"Ma, so much sugar is not good for your diabetes," she said in an attempt to strike a conversation with her.

"What?"she said distractedly 

Not replying to that she poured herself some mango juice from the carton and hurriedly gulped it down.

"Mama I'm going for the interview. Please pray for me." She said kissing her mother on the cheek.

Her mother didn't even scold her for leaving with an empty stomach she thought like most mothers would. 

Discarding that depressing thought from her brain, she hurried out of the apartment building but not before yelling a cheerful hello to the security guard who waved back at her.

It was already 8:40 she glanced at her wrist watch as she got into her car and threw her purse and CV  on the other seat. And she had to be there at 9:00 sharp.

Igniting the engine with a bismillah, she started driving. She put a nasheed on the radio and started humming along with it too. She didn't listen to music as it was haram. She did know little things about her religion. But she didn't have a strong faith. At times of despair she always forgot that there was one who could help were when all hope was lost.

After many broken signals, repeated honking and over speeding she managed to reach the Company at 8:59. So she had won the race with time.

Smiling at that she parked the car in the parking lot and hurried up the steps and pushed open the glass doors. 

"Hello, I'm Areesha Aftab. I'm here for my interview as the PA." She said smiling to the receptionist.

"Oh good. You're on time. Better hurry to Mr. Ali's office then. He hates late comers!" She replied to me with a bright smile showing her perfect teeth. Areesha couldn't help but smile at her as well. It was as if her smile was contagious.

"And where must the office be?"

"Oh right, sorry. Get into this lift. 14th floor, first office on the right. The nameplate outside says Fawad Ali. Best of luck for your interview!"

"Thanks." With that she hurried to the lift hoping to get the job.

Her father left them enough money for her to complete her studies, but now to keep up with this lifestyle she need to start earning as well.

With those thoughts she went up to the lift and pressed the top floor button. Upon reaching the top floor, she knocked the office to the right.

After someone from inside yelled a 'come in' she went inside.

Entering the office she looked around it. It wasn't very impressive. There was a desk in the middle of the office. The desk was clear and tidy. There was a big glass window at the back that overlooked the busy city. The walls were white but the side walls were dark red. There was a computer on the desk, to the left side.

"Hello. I am Areesha Aftab. I am here for the interview sir." She said nervously to the guy sitting behind the seat.

"Assalam-o-Alaikum Miss Aftab. Please take a seat." Oops. She thought. She  didn't know the guy was a muslim.

"Walaikum Salam." She replied to the greeting sitting on the seat across him.

He was good looking over all but Areesha didnt take much notice. He seems like a nice, respectful guy.

"My CV sir." She said sliding the folder across the table towards him.

"Did I ask for it?" Fawad said with a raised eyebrow.

Ok? What is he going to ask for instead? Is he going to ask what she had for breakfast if he didn't want to see her CV. She snickered at those thoughts. But that didn't go unnoticed by Fawad who was eyeing the girl in front of him curiously.

"Anything funny Miss Aftab?" He asked raising an eyebrow at her.

"No. Should there be anything funny?" She pretended like she wasn't snickering.

"No that's what I thought too. So why do you want this job?" He asked her taking a pen from his desk

"For money duh!" She blurted out without thinking. What sort of question was that even?

"Everyone needs a job for money duh." He replied with an air of mocking her

"No. Not everyone. Some just want a job to gain experience or maybe even make their degreee useful or to keep your mind off things or-"

"Ok I get it. Let me rephrase that. Why do you need to earn money?" He asked cutting her off. The way she had said to 'keep their mind off things' didn't go unnoticed by him. It wasn't someone saying it casually. He was sure there was more to it, but he had no business to pry into someone's personal matters.

"And what makes you think I am going to tell you that? That's personal. And why would you ask that anyway? Just because I am a girl I can't earn? How sexist of you!" She exclaimed but she didn't regret it one bit.

"Woah! Easy there. I didn't mean it like that. I am not against girls doing a job. You could be a criminal trying to get information from my company,  that's why I need to ask." He explained but a small smile managed to spill on his lips.

"And by asking me do you think I would tell you?" She retorted. Here she was already having a heated discussion with her might be boss-to-be. She really needed to keep her temper in check.

"You wouldn't tell me of course, but sometimes actions speak louder than words. So let me ask again: why do you need this job?" He said, a little impressed by the girls straightforward and blunt attitude. Not all girls had that kind of confidence. In fact, the last three people he had interviewed hardly had the guts to speak to him, let alone to others as the job required.

"I need this job to support my mother and myself." She replied with a roll of her eyes and her mind momentarily went back to her mother's depressed state.

"I see. So what about your siblings?"

"I don't have any and I don't see why that is your business." She said through gritted teeth. Well, she had no real siblings anyway, she thought. 

The way she said it, Fawad couldn't help wonder if there was a whole story behind that.

"I hope you know that the job of a personal secretary is quite demanding. You will be called at any time if required. Whether that be 1:00 AM on a normal week day or a Sunday." He said hoping to make it clear to her what she was signing up for.

"I don't mind." She replied quickly, hoping she would get the job.

"And not to mention you might be required to fly with us abroad as well. So make sure that doesn't interfere with your personal life."

"I don't have a personal life." She muttered before she could stop herself

"What?"

"I mean that you don't worry. This job won't clash with my personal life." She said quickly.

"Are you sure about that?" He asked raising an eyebrow at her.

"Of course I am sure. What makes you think that? I almost feel like you don't want to give me this job." She said asked him accusingly 

"No no. You have the job. Congratulations." He said he was not making the wrong decision in haste.

"What? Just like that?" She asked surprised.

"What? Shall I get some cake for you to congratulate you?" He asked sarcastically 

"Oh no. I didn't mean it like that," she said cracking a smile. "I meant that you didn't even look at my CV. For all you know I could have a fake degree."

"So you have a fake degree?" He said but not really meaning it. Did this girl really think that he, the Fawad Ali wouldn't be able to judge someone for a job. Her eyes and actions said it all that she was an honest girl, but there was some sadness lurking in her eyes as well, he thought.

"What? You are really asking me that? My degree is as good as yours." She replied angrily.

"I know that's why I didn't check. One more thing: you are not allowed under any circumstances to have a relationship with any one in this office." He said as his mind went back to the scandal his company had to face because of a guy's girlfriend working in the same department as him.

"What? You can't have friends or cousins working in the same building?" She asked, frowning at the weird rule

"No! I don't mean that. I meant no boyfriends, to put it your way." He said laughing at her stupid question.

"Excuse me? Are you out of your bloody mind? I am a Muslim as you already know. Dating is haram for me even if you date."

"No don't worry. I don't date. I just don't judge people by their appearance. You might be a muslim but I can't judge you by that, can I?"

She smiled sheepishly. At least this guy didn't judge she thought. 

"Oh and cursing isn't allowed either."

It took her a few seconds to realize that she had cursed involuntary. It was a habit she really needed to get rid of.

"Alright then. Be here by 8:00 sharp tomorrow. Tardiness isn't accepted." He said in a warning tone.

"Ok. Thank you. I'll give my best to this job." She said a bit more professionally. 

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How do you like this chapter?

While you are waiting for the next chapter, do check out @hijabiqueen79 books too. She helped me edit the chapter.

Also, please do check out "We Belong Together" by @crazygirl1390.

I am writing that book with @hijabiqueen79 from that account!

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