As enormous as an iceberg, the sheer glass building stood proud amidst bustling side of the Karachi city right under the angry sun of summer.

On the top most floor it was only the sound of tapping keyboard, elevator pings, clicking heels and shoes and interval blaring of phone around with no humanly noise. The entire classic floor was too quite , reserved for only necessary employees on greater position that needs to be by the Owner side.

Roshan was too focused working on his laptop, his specs tugged on his round nose. Its been two days already him joining the office and he already have pile loads of work. After all its not easy to work right under CFO as his team member.

"Tring! Tring!"

The phone on his side table blared loudly tearing the professional silence of the room. He sighed typing the last extract away before grabbing it to answer.

"Hello!"

"Mr Siddiqui?" It was the lady from reception desk of their floor.

"Yes?" He responded politely.

"There's a phone call for you by a girl Libah.." Roshan tired face immediately bloomed with a big smile.

"Connect me!" His response was immediate.

Finally after a week she gathered the courage and got time to call him for the first time. He couldn't be happier; he has waited so long to hear from her. It was the office number he gave to her before leaving.

He patiently waited biting his lips for the telecom to connect.

"Assalam Walaikum!" A soft meek voice reached his ears.

She was sounding nervous and shy. He smiled over the phone.

"Walaikum Assalam! Akhir tumhe phone karne ka time mil hi gaya?"

(Finally you got time to call?)

"mmm...mainu..dar si.."

(I..I..was...)

"Wait..." He quickly interrupted. "Kya ham urdu use kar sakte hai?" He asked warily. " Mera matlab hai ye mera office hai or vaise bhi tumhe yaha mere sath hi rehna hai kuch mahino me to adat daal lo!" He teased by mentioning about their marriage.

(Can we use urdu please? ) (I mean its my office moreover you should get used to it soon. After all you will be here in few months.)

"Changa!" She blushed at the mention taking a moment before replying.

(Okay!)

"So kya kehne wali thi?" He asked huskily leaning on his desk with a smile.

(So you were saying?)

"Vo.. vo..main dar..dar rahi thi..." She bite her lip nervously replying.

(I..Was scared ..)

"Acha?" He smiled at her innocence "Vo kis liye?"

(Really?) (Why?)

"Awayin!" she replied not knowing what to answer. She was just nervous and scared to go to the only tele booth in the village.

(Just..)

"Tuwadda daftar kivam ha?" She asked after she fell quite nervously.

(How's your office?)

"Libbo.." He trailed clicking his tongue. "Urdu..urdu!"

"Oh..maafi!" She apologized cringing on her stupidity.

(Oh Sorry!)

"Koi baat nahi..or office bhi bohot acha hai or main bhi. Aap sunae kya haal hai hamare bina?" He flirted leaning back on his chair.

(It's okay. And yes my office is really great so am I but how are you doing there without me?)

"Bs..ja..jabse gae hai.. aap ka..in..intezaar hi kar rahi hu.." She replied shyly, her cheeks looking similar to the dupatta she is toying with.

(Just waiting for you to come back.)

He chuckled silently feeling overjoyed by her reply.

"Ab bas intezaar yaha mera pass aane ka karo.." He answered dreamily couldn't able to control his running imagination.

(Now wait to reach me here instead.)

Meanwhile on other side Libah also going through the same situation. She couldn't wait to be by his side for the rest of their life. Her heart beat started racing hearing him say that.

"Insh'Allah!" She breathed in anticipation closing her eyes.

(Hopefully!)

"Acha libbo..." His voice suddenly turned serious.

(Well Libbo!)

"Ji?"

(Yes?)

"Mera number configure hone me ek week or lag jaega.. Company ki kuch linked policies hai islie. "

(It will take one more week for my number to be configured due to some security policy of the company.)

"Ohh..." her face fell in disappointment.

"Pr tum mujhe isi number pr hi call karna tabtak thik hai?" He asked for assurance.

(But please contact me through this number until then.)

"Changa!" She nodded shyly.

(Fine!)

"Acha libbo.." Roshan immediately spoke when he saw the woman clad in jeans and pink kurti knocking on the glass door with a smile. "mujhe abhi kaam hai.." He gestured the woman to wait "toh wapis fir kab call karogi?" He asked hopefully already upset by the thought of hanging up but he can't ignore the work anymore.

(Well Libbo) (I am busy right now..) (So when am I suppose to hear from you next time?)

Libah bright face turned gloomy on the mention of disconnecting it but she understands that he can't be a slacker if he is there working hard to secure both of their future.

"Agle hafte.." She sighed. A week sound already to far.

(Next week)

"Agle hafte kyu?" He frowned.

(Why?)

"Ab roz roz thodi booth aaungi..gaon me sabko shaq ho jaega.." He groaned throwing his head back.

(Now I can't go to telephone booth everyday. Everyone will suspect!)

"Aahh..main kaise bhul gaya tumhare pas to phone hi nahi hai!" He slapped his head and Libah giggled on his frustration.

(Aah! How could I forget you don't have phone!)

"Don't worry pehli salary se tumhare liye phone!" Libah eyes grew big in shock. She gasped palming her mouth.

(a phone for you will be the first thing I buy from my salary.)

"I Love you!" He smiled and hung up the phone before getting up from his chair to see the girl standing outside waiting for him.

"What's wrong Sarah?"He asked rolling his eyes on his colleague and his first friend in the office he found.

"Mr workaholic look at your watch. Its already lunch time!" She reminded tapping his wrist watch while glaring him.

"Oh I didn't realize. So lets move?" He asked rubbing his nape sheepishly.

"Sure!" Sarah smiled walking beside him while they chatted all the way to cafeteria.

Meanwhile on other side Libah cheeks were red as strawberry. She smiled shyly to herself after putting the receiver of the old looking vintage phone. His confession still ringing like a melody in her ears. She absently leaned on the dented booth looking dazed by the effect of the sweet phone call.

She feels so lucky! A man like Roshan; so educated and good looking and now successful loves someone like Libah.

"Oh ji Madam? Tuwadda ho giya ?" A knock on the dirty blurred glass pulled her out of her thoughts.

(Oh hello madam? Are you done ?)

She nodded timidly before handing him the money and left for her home.

************

Every wise words going into the ears to disappear similarly to those white rings of smoke leisurely evaporating in the air on every puff dragged from that poisonous bud tugged between the bow shaped lips of the ignorant owner .

Fearless as a king, sitting nonchalantly leaning on the push green recliner of his dark room surrounded by rich grey walls and lavish charcoal furniture, his cold cobalt eyes familiar to the angry old man sitting across him; fixed on the crescent moon.

"Dad relax..." He sighed rolling his eyes lazily "Or else your BP will shoot again." He pressed the bud in ashtray after the last puff of poison, the light from the window flashed Japanese verses inked on his forearm.

"My BP always shoots because of you!" The old man's anger was equally contradictory to the young male's calm.

"Even at this age I am worried about you, Azlaan shame on you! Shame!"

"Well I don't get you why!"

"Are you even for real?" His sarcasm burned Hussain like a cool wood in winter night. "I am funding upcoming elections campaign this year. I want you to be on your best behaviour because I don't want media to make a scandal out of anything you do!"

Hussain have been labelled as the most calm business man for dealing even the most complicated situation in the coolest way but his own son have made him doubt the tag numerous times since they shifted in Pakistan.

Azlaan's nonchalance and reckless behaviour worries him more than it should. Sometimes he doubts the way he had brought up his son like a true prince, never denying anything he wanted ever in his life but now he regrets rather he should have brought him up a little more disciplined and strict.

Azlaan isn't normal and not your regular type. He is always craving for thrills and adventure; to feel that adrenaline rush. New things excite him like the heights to a mountaineer. He loves doing experiments and most of the time those end up him in ugly scandals.

"Dad its political parties in need of our money not us." He was still unbothered typing away on his phone with a smirk, chatting with the girl he met last night at the club making plans to meet somewhere.

"Azlaan!" Hussain yelled enraged.

"Come on Dad!" Azlaan huffed groaning. "Don't be a kid."

"You don't understand, do you? I am investing money in the parties for our own benefit. I don't want them to draw back the agreement just because of your reckless behaviour." He gritted out. His face red in anger like he was choked on breath.

"Dad I have been dealing with the business just fine, right?" He got up from the recliner casually with a smile.

Hussain's wrinkled eyes calculating, narrowed on his son, his chest puffed out and hand tucked in his suit's pant.

"So please trust me to deal with these pimps you call politician, alright?" His devilishly handsome face brighten up with a dark assuring smile.

Moon light from the window illuminating his side profile, highlighting every curve and arc of his toned chest. Every square of his abs glistening under the dim light like dew drop on a new leaf under the morning sun rays in February.

"Hmmm.." Hussain stared his son in consideration.

"Cool?" Azlaan attitude towards his father was to one to a stubborn kid he is bribing.

He is wicked and manipulative that way.

"By the way Chaudhary's offered marriage proposal before election. I want you to meet the girl as soon as possible." Hussain dropped the bomb with a wicked smile forecasting Azlaan's reaction.

"Is she beautiful?" Azlaan darkly chuckled lighting up another cigarette.

Hussain eyes rounded in surprise, the reaction was the one he didn't expected.

"Azlaan Hussain Mir!" Hussain warned understanding where his son is going with this before turning around on his expensive black leather shoes leaving his room.

Always an opportunist hunting advantages even in most complex situation.

"Aww Dad a date won't hurt!" He yelled after his father playfully, his loud laughter echoed.

Hussain shook his head giving up to his son for the umpteenth time that day.

***********

"Libbo oh Libbo! Sannu dawai kadde rakh di?"

(Libbo! Libbo! Where are my medicines?)

Libah who was busy looking after the store suddenly got startled by her father's coughing voice calling her. She quickly filled the poly of wheat flour in hurry before ramming the drawer to give customer the change, so that she could go attend her father who has been a little more sick lately.

"Abba tuwahdi mez naal hi to rakhya si maine..." Libah yelled back rushing to his father side before grabbing the tablet.

(Father its on the side table.)

" aye ki hai?" She showed the medicine while glaring her father who looked away sheepishly.

(What's this?)

"Acha Abba.." She said offering the glass of water. He nodded swallowing the tablets. "Mainu thod jruri kaam laiyan bahir jana hai, jaddo tak se khayal rakhna."

(Well father) (I have some urgent errands to run so please take care until then.)

Her father stared her for a moment in question before he nodded complying. She smiled covering her father's body with a sheet making him sleep before she turned to leave for the booth.

Libah smiled shyly, looking excited to talk to Roshan again finally after two weeks. Libah has been too busy looking after the store and her father who has fallen more weak and sick these days keeping Libah on edge all the time not giving her enough time to even think about going to the booth.

Today finally she managed to make time and hopefully he must have got his number working too; meaning a little less trouble regarding work and office hours.

Libah's heart started beating loudly when she reached the worn out booth, blush creeping her creamy cheeks like vermilion in milk. She breathed deeply before grabbing the broken handle and get inside with a grinning smile not ready to leave her face.

She huffed opening the tied knot on the corner of her yellow dupatta grabbing the small paper that has number written on it and grabbed the phone receiver while dialing the number.

Here goes nothing!