Chapter Eight

"You're getting married and didn't even inform me?" Mahira barged into her elder sister's room and accused her angrily. She was in school during that time and was very angry when she found out the news.

Mawra gave her an annoyed look, "who said that I'm getting married? They just came to see me. That's all."

"Oh? But Ahil was telling me something else. He was sure that you're going to marry jeeju." Mahira wondered loudly.

"First of all, he's not your jeeju. Second of all, I'm going to kill that donkey. Where is he?" Mawra threw a pillow at her younger sister and strided out of her bedroom with annoyance. Why are her siblings so annoying? She thought with a frown.

"Ammi, Mawra is hitting me." Mahira yelled dramatically, as she ran downstairs.

"Mawra. Stop hitting your sister." came Rashidha's equally dramatic reply.

"It was a pillow for god sake. Stop overreacting, you drama queen." Mawra yelled from Ahil's bedroom whilst glaring at her younger brother.

"What do you want? I'm busy, Mawra." Ahil asked as he played GTA on his mobile. She cringed at his messy room, her eyes couldn't stand the sight any longer. But continued glaring at him, "why are you spreading false news to Mahi?"

"I was telling the truth, anyway. You're going to marry him." Ahil replied whilst continuing to play. He was only twenty three years old, just an year younger than her and they both were pretty close as they grew up.

"How can you be so sure?" Mawra asked with a sigh, as she joined him on his messy bed, in the left over space.

"Marrying a known person is way better than marrying a stranger, isn't it?" She didn't see it that way though.

"But I've only known him as my boss. I know nothing else about him." Mawra was befuddled with this whole marriage thing now, till the afternoon she was sure that she'd reject the guy with some or the other reason but after seeing him, she couldn't find any valid reason. Nor did she feel like rejecting the proposal too.

"Its still better than marrying a complete stranger, you at least know him as a boss, for two years might I add." this is why she loved her brother more. He was such an angel in disguise when in times of need.

"Did you see him chatting with any women or having any girlfriends while you worked for him?" she shook her head in no, almost instantly. Ibrahim would always stay two feet away from the female species, for god knows what reason and she admired that most about him.

"There you go, good solid reasons to say yes. Also, as per my background research he hiked his father's company when they all lost hopes, single handedly. Very hardworking, I must say." Ahil added with an impressed look on his face.

"Still confused?"

Mawra nodded her head whilst fighting a yawn, "I better go and sleep."

"Hey, close the door and leave." she heard his yelling but ran away from there with an evil smile, deliberately pretending to not hear.

***

Mawra was never the nervous type, but as she got ready for the office her heart was beating in an unusual speed once again. Selecting the outfit of the day seemed so difficult but she ended picking a white jeggings paired with a blue color full sleeved t-shirt. Along with a golden pendant. A small smile appeared on her face as she took a look at herself. She loved getting dressed up and going to work. But somehow today was different.

"We're here, Ma'am." the driver's voice snapped her out of the daze once again, without saying anything, she got down from the car and started at the huge building in front of her and hevaed a sigh.

Its alright. Act normal.

Stay cool.

You'll be fine.

Its okay. He won't eat you.

Talking with herself, she walked past the reception while staring at her legs which made her to bump into a hard figure, and the familiar pair of hands caught her before she could fall down and embarrass herself in front of everyone, "ouch." wincing in slight pain, she looked up to him and her eyes widened in shock once again.

"I'm so sorry." Mawra mumbled with a terrified look, as Ibrahim stared at her with an intense look on his face, his hands still held hers, which she pulled away instantly when realization hits her.

"Watch where you're going, Ms. Hussain." came his husky voice and she stood there dumbfounded, as he walked into the elevator.

He actually left without any yellings or scoldings. That's a first.

"I thought he was going to fire you or something." came the receptionist's voice from behind, who watched everything keenly. Mawra wouldn't lie, she thought that too.

Exactly a month ago, the same type of incident occurred with a different person, too bad Ibrahim was in a very bad mood and he ended up firing that poor girl.

"Lucky me." she mumbled to herself and walked away from there as quick as she could. Not realizing the fact that this was going to be the base of an upcoming drama, which will shake her in the future.

"May I come in, sir?" knocking at his door, she asked for his permission, "yes." came the reply.

Mawra walked in with his usual coffee in her hands, and found him busy with his laptop. Silently, she placed the coffee mug on his table and took out her mini pocket diary to look at his schedule.

"You hav-" her voice got stuck in between when he paused his work and looked up at her which caused her heart to skip a beat. This has never happened before. Him, stopping his work just to pay attention to her that is.

"Why'd you stop?" Ibrahim raised his brows, amused at the effect he's already having on her. She gulped nervously, "I was saying, you have a meeting with Raheja's this noon and then a couple interviews."

"Cool. Why are you so nervous, Ms. Hussain?" came his teasing question and she controlled the urge to not roll her eyes. As if you don't know. She thought with a scowl.

"I'm not nervous, sir."

"Good, I like it when you're confident like this, it suits you better." heat raised onto her cheeks as she blushed furiously. Damn him, he already has so much effect on her.

"Look into the Raheja's contract and check if there are any loopholes and submit it by ten a.m." she nodded her head, trying hard to act normal. But it looked very impossible after what happened yesterday.

How can he be so cool and nonchalant? She wondered curiously.

"Sure, sir." with a nod of her head, Mawra left his office as fast as she could, leaving behind a very amused Ibrahim.

Married life could surprisingly be fun, if she agreed that is. He thought with a smile as he stared at the door. And that's how, Ibrahim Qureshi found himself getting impatient for her response.