Sandal's POV:

They were right ... Sir send Ali and Hamna at lunch and attend the meeting with me. But I don't understand why I was there when he was doing everything by himself. The things I do was taking short naps or count how many times Sir open and clenching his hands during presentations. He always does that during presentations.

After three shorts naps, the meeting finally ended. I ask for his permission to go home but he refused and right now I am with him, in his car, sitting uncomfortably beside him on the passenger seat, going to an unknown destination.

Its always like this, no matter how hard I tried, I don't feel comfortable when he is around ...

Normally I ignore if someone made me uncomfortable ... but I am not able to ignore him... I felt being read, whenever he is around. Like he is watching me without looking at me and if I lower my guard a little he will see through my soul...Somehow he made me feel conscious of him.

Spinning my thumb ring, I took a glance of him. He was looking at the windscreen and driving with one hand while the other hand was resting on the car window. Wearing a charcoal colour suit, he really looks like a real movie star.

Well, if rich people like him don't look like a movie star then who else????

I sighed and started looking out of the window. Suddenly Sir's phone rang and I felt something dropped on my lap. I look at it and it was Sir's phone.

"Answer the call and tell him that we are on our way." He ordered but I kept looking at him.

Is he asking me to use his personal phone...?

"Answer the call Sandal. What are you looking at...?" He yelled and I abruptly attend the call.

"Hello! Assalam o Alaikum?"

"Ahaaa! Wallaikum Assalam. Let me guess... this lovely voice belong to Benish. Right?"

"Eh?" I looked at Sir but he wasn't looking my way. "No... I am-"

"Sandal!... I know." He cut me in middle. "So tell me, dear ... how are you?" He asked me frankly.

Who is he???

"I... I am fine... but do I know you?" I heard a fake gasp from the other side.

"Oh, my! Sweetheart ... I didn't introduce myself?"

Okay! This is enough...

"Stop calling me dear." I said angrily and Sir's head snapped towards me.

"Okay, how about I call you hon-" Before he could complete the sentence Sir snatched the phone from me.

"It's me... we are coming in ten minutes." He said and hung up.

"Can't you do anything right? And don't be so easy on men..." He shouted and speed up the car.

What was that???

After five to seven minutes the car stops in front of a huge house. It was a mansion rather than a house.

"Come." He said getting out from the car. I copied his movements and got out of the car and followed him as he enters the mansion. Instantly we were greeted by a voice.

"Oh My! Sandal... you're finally here." Said a tall man in his early thirties coming towards us. I practically jump from shock hearing my name from his mouth.

"Assalam o Alaikum sweetheart." He came close and lean down to my face. Startled by his boldness, I took a step back and Sir came between me and him.

"Stop it, Rasheed." Sir said in a thick voice.

"Fine! Whatever you say, big boss." He sighed taking a step back.

"Why you called me?" Sir asked that Rasheed guy.

"I have, what you have been looking for." He answered Sir.

"What are talking about."

"A brown file, that went missing twenty years ago."

"You're lying."

"Why would I be... I am an honest businessman." He winked at me, before spinning around on his heels and ask us to follow.

He looks like a drunk man.

Sir started to follow him and I followed Sir. We both entered a room that looks like an office. That Rasheed guy walks to the table and took a brown file from it. He handed it over to Sir and walk out of the room. I heard the door shut and keys moving sound.

Did he has locked us here????

I rushed to the door and try to open it, but failed.

Ya Allah ... he really locked us.

I looked back at Sir but he was busy reading the file. I panicked and slammed the door and suddenly all the lights got off. It was total dark in the room and I heard the sound of file dropping on the floor.

Quickly I took out my phone from the bag and turn on the flashlight. I walk to Sir and found him squeezing his eyes shut. His face was all sweaty and breathing was laboured. I called his name several times but he didn't answer and started to shiver. Looking him like this I quickly pick the file from the floor and hit it on his face with full force. He lost his balance and fell.

"Aaah! What the hell Sandal." he shouted holding his nose as he slowly got up.

Oh no...

"I...I ... am sorry." I stutter and all light turns on again.

The door swings open and Rasheed walked in with a serious face. As Sir saw him, he rushed to him and punch him in the face.

Ya Allah...

"Awoo! That hurts man." Rasheed whined.

"You should've expected this after doing it."

"No hard feelings man! I told you I am a businessman. I was just confirming things." He smiled wickedly.

What's going on???

"Let's go, Sandal." Sir order and start walking outside. I silently followed him, as we about to leave the mansion Rasheed yelled from behind. "Our deal ends here Ahmed Wali."

Sir didn't bother to answer him or looking back, but I did and found him staring at me. I fastened my steps to reach Sir but he was already in the car. Almost running towards the car and sat inside. Then saw him, his nose was still red and it's bleeding.

"Sir ... your nose." I shrieked.

He looked at me then touched his nose. Frowning, he glares at me but didn't say anything and wipe the blood. The car started and we drove to the hospital. Until we reach his nose start to bleed again.

I hit him too hard...

After giving him first aid and formal check-up he was released from the hospital. Feeling guilty I kept my head low and avoid eye contact with him as we walk towards the car. Suddenly I bumped into something, I look up and found Sir glaring at me.

"Why did you hit me?" He asked leaning closer.

I abruptly took several steps back and hit my head on a... pole????

Ouch! Where ...did that come from...?

"Tch!... watch it." I heard Sir's annoyed voice.

My hand sneak back to my head unconsciously

Ssss...! It hurts.

I tried to move but failed, as my net scarf was stuck with something on the pole.

"What happen?" Sir asks taking a step forward.

"My scarf... it is stuck in something." I answered, still struggling to untangled my scarf.

"Let me help." With that, he reached to me and without my permission, he started to untangle my scarf.

My body froze as his both hands go around my head to reach the back of the scarf. He was so close that I could smell his expensive cologne.

"What the hell?" He muttered and took another step closer to get a clear look of the scarf.

No, no, no...

Too close ... too close.

"W-wait! I will do it." I yelled with full force and pushed him away.

I looked at Sir, he was staring at me in shock.

"I- I am sorry ... but I can do it." Without waiting for his answer I untie my scarf and took it off. Hurriedly I turn to that stupid pole and untangle my scarf. All the time I can feel his eyes on me. It is embarrassing... so embarrassing taking off my scarf like this, but its better than him being standing so close.

I assured myself and tie my scarf again. Sir silently step aside walk away and sat in the car and so does I.

The ride was silent until Sir speak, "You didn't answer my question."

"Which... question?"

"Why.did.you.hit.me." He said emphasizing every word.

"Eh... umm... Sir yo-"

"Say it properly." He snapped at me.

"You are afraid of dark, right? If I didn't hit you that time you might have loosened your consciousness or something worse could happen to you."

The car came to a sudden halt and his head turn towards me.

"Who told you that?" His voice was deadly serious.

"N-no one. I just figured it out."

"You are kidding me? You just figured it out?... you think I would believe that?" He almost shouted and I flinched at his loud voice.

Few moments passed and both of us said nothing. Sir starts the car and drove me to my home.

"Allah Hafiz!" I said as I about to step outside the car.

"Sandal."

"Hm?"

"I didn't want to shout at you." He said without looking at me.

"... it's okay ... and ...I was telling the truth. One could easily tell by observing... you have so many lights in your house, in your room, in your office... You never turn off car lights ... you avoid going to places with dim lights... Even during any presentations, you kept your focus on the screen so that darkness doesn't bother you... it was a simple guess, which is confirmed now." I tried to be careful with my words as much as I can, so he won't be offended. It is clear as day that he kept it a secret from all and now his secret is known to a stranger, it might not feel very uncomfortable.

I raised my head to look at him and found him staring at me intensely. His gaze held so many emotions that it startled me. Not knowing what to do, I abruptly step outside saying 'Allah Hafiz' and walk to my apartment without looking back.

~*~

Ahmed's POV:

I sit there dumbfounded, watching her going into her apartment. Even when she disappeared from my sight I kept staring into empty space.

There are only three types of people in my world. Me, my family and everyone else. But now she is becoming the fourth.

For the first time in life, I feel someone sneaking quietly into the walls I have built around me and allowed no one to enter. But she is making her way in and I couldn't do anything except letting her in.

'One could easily tell by observing'

Her words echo in my mind.

"Silly girl, no one could easily tell ..."

I start my car and drove back to my house.

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