Episode 3

"Assalamualaikum Rehan uncle. How are you?" She greeted as she saw Rehan uncles chauffer pull her luggage towards the car.

"Walaikumasalam Elnaz. I am fine. Allhamdulilla. How was the journey?" Rehan asked as they both walked towards the car.

"It was tiring uncle. I guess you might have the better idea how it is to fly from India to California." She muttered while sitting in the car.

They both randomly chatted about their life and perspectives about matters. It was after twenty minutes that they reached the said mansion.

*****

"And finally this is your room." Said Umera( Rafay's mom).

"Thank you aunty and the room is beautiful." Elnaz gratified entering the room.

"Ohh come on beta (child)! Don't thank me. Just freshen up and take some rest. I will call you when the dinner is ready." Saying that Umera left leaving Elnaz in her room.

Rafay's POV:

"Mom i am very hungry. Whats for the dinner?" Rafay asked as he sat on his chair while he saw his mother and other servants arranging dishes on dinning table. Quickly he opened few lids of the bowls to see various non-veg dishes.

"Whats special today?" He asked curious while his mother started pouring the curry in one of the bowls for him.

"Don't tell me you don't know. Elnaz is here." His father reminded him while sitting on his chair.

Elnaz. So she is here. 'How could he forgot the little mischievous girl' he sarcastically thought. Being older then Elnaz he had seen her born and growing up infront of him. Although he adored her but he always maintained a safe distance from her as being a child Elnaz had a habit of going in to troubles and drawing others in it to. It was not that he never protected her , he actually did always but he never liked to show it. After they grew up he never witnessed how she would be. They have met on few occasions but always ignored talking to each other. It never went unnoticed from him how she use to feel uneasy infront him and he knew that it was his aura and dominating personality that scared her.

Rather giving much of a thought to the subject he decided to dwell in his food. While he was taking his portion of rice from the bowl he heard a sleek voice of a girl greeting his father. For a moment his hand stopped midway as he focused on her voice.

'What is wrong with me?' He admonished himself but he was well aware of her presence around him.

"Assalamualaikum." Elnaz greeted him as she sat on her chair opposite him. His eyes snapped at her's taking a glimpse of her to which she quickly averted her eyes.

"Walaikumasalam." He replied.

He always made her squirm in his presence. It was not ignorable how his presence dominated her. Even he knew of it.

The dinner was quite full of conversation. But he remained quite just like her he answered when asked.

"Rafa why don't you take Elnaz to office tomorrow. I will be coming in the second half by then you introduce her to work. Alright?" His father asked him to which his eyes snapped back at Elnaz whose posture stiffened upon that.

"Sure." Rafa said as he winded up his dinner and left for his room.

Elnaz POV:

'Ya allah. I have to go with him to the office. Alone."

It would be a luck if i survive the ride till i reach office without a heart attack. There was no denying that she felt nervous in front of him. She has never seen his expression soften in front of her. Its as if he always maintains a cold-stone expression. It is quite difficult to decipher what goes through his mind.

Anyways thats none of my concern. Right now i am concerned about the following day. I hope i manage it properly rather then getting into trouble. Glancing at my family photo i feel saddened. If you guys must have been here. With the last thought in her mind her brain shut off her worries and dissolved in to the black night.

Next following morning....

Adjusting his cuff links he watched his reflection in the mirror. Like always he has been a morning person. Always getting his agenda done through on time. Today he wore a black Armani suit. Picking up his suit-jacket he exited his bedroom.

"Assalamualaikum mom." He greeted making himself comfortable on the chair while his mother replied and brought his black coffee and toasted bread sandwich. While eating his breakfast he went through the newspaper like every normal mornings.

"Son you do remember you have to take Elnaz with you right?" His mother asked while pouring water for him.

"Hmm." He nodded.

'How can he forget that.'

After he was done he checked his watch. It was already his time to leave but there was no trace of her.

'Where is she?'

'Does she remembers that she has to come with me?'

"Mom where is-" he was cutt off as he heard sound of footstep behind him.

"Assalamualikum aunty." She greeted.

"Walaikumasalam. Come have breakfast." His mother said.

"No aunty i am already late. Can you just lend me some safety pins?" She asked standing behind him.

"Yeah sure be here. I will bring it on. Till then have some breakfast." Saying that his mother left them alone.

She stood rooted where she stood waiting for his mom. While he browsed through his phone for mails. His mother arrived with the pins. She moved to get the pins while at the same time he got up and pushed his chair which struck at her feet and caught her off balance causing her fall while she shrieked he quickly out of reflex caught her in his arms.

Her stole fell from her head giving in her wet hairs which fell on her face. He watched her face, suddenly it became his subject of interest. The brown of her eyes glinted in the light giving out its light shade. She had grew up. Her face structure resembled that of a young women. He never stared at her to take note of briefs.

"Are you alright Elnaz?" His mother asked coming to them.

He left her after she steadied to her feets. Shaking his head and collected his suit jacket.

"I would be in the parking. Have breakfast and see me there." He told her to which she responded by nodding her head.