Episode 6

Things were going strange for Rafay. He felt his world changing. But the problem was he didn't knew what was changing and why it was changing. For all he knew that such changes was not something he liked. He was against it. His mind concentrated on things which where useless. He felt rage unnecessarily. There was a difference in his happiness. There was a quench and he didn't knew for what it was?

In his dreams he seemed to be running towards something and when he got nearer and nearer he felt the more at ease. Some times he would see himself smiling in his dreams out off happiness. This was something new.

Today was the worst. He saw Elnaz in his dreams in a bridal dress. She was smiling and looking at some one. But he didn't knew who that someone was. The huge blaring of his alarm woke him up from his sudden dream. He seemed bothered by it. What did he saw? Why he saw such a dream ? Were his thoughts.

Shrugging he left to freshen up. Life was playing hard with him or was trying to make him mad. The thing with him was he didn't knew what was happening with him and he was consistently fighting it. On the other hand Elnaz was just perplexed about him.

During breakfast..

Rafay sat on his chair while his mother applied butter and jam on his toast. He was reading newspaper but his inverted brows and creased forehead showed his mother that he was thinking something or something was bothering him.

"Rafay?" His mother called him to which he looked up at her.

"Is something bothering you?" She asked him placing the toast on his plate.

"Hmm. No mom. Why would you think so?" He questioned.

"I am your mother Rafay. A mother knows if there is something bothering her child." She replied smiling at him.

But before the conversation can go any further Elnaz stepped in to the room. Rafay stiffened at her presence which didn't went unoticed from his mother. She greeted his mom and him and sat on the table to have breakfast. The three of them kept quiet not hinting towards the conversation.

It was when his mother left to the kitchen to bring some juice she decided to ask him something which she was very hesitant about.

"Hmm.. Can i ask you something?" She asked nervously at which he folded his paper and kept it back on the table. Sitting comfortably on his chair he looked in to her eyes which made her squirm in her seat.

'Why is he making it difficult for me?' She grimaced.

"Sure." He replied looking at her. He was well aware of her nervousness and it intringued him to know what made her feel so.

"Actually .. i was going to ask you about.. a.a.." she stammered.

"You were?" He prompted her while hiddinh his smile.

"A.. i actually.. nothing." She cowardly subsided the topic at which he just rose his eyebrow.

"Say it or i am leaving." He said while giving her only few seconds to contemplate on the subject. Not waiting he got up and picked up his blazer turning to leave.

"I wanted a half day." Elnaz blabbered all of a sudden.

He stopped walking as he heard her murmur. At first she thought that he would leash out at her but to her surprise she heard him approving her a half day and unpredictably he didn't question her alot as to why she needed a half day. It was that all three of friends and herself had planned her evening out and she was excited for it. Coming to California she hadn't went out to explore it. It was just work and home.

While Rafay had informed his driver about Elnaz hald day as he wanted him to drive her home. Later she joined them for their drive to office. The flashbacks of his dreams kept flashing infront of his face. He was quiet annoyed with the idea though. She could have been anyone's bride. It brought uneccessary thoughts to his mind.

It was later in afternoon that Elnaz informed Rafay of her leave. He just acknowledged rather than looking at her. While she knew that his work was utmost priority to him. He had a meeting with his directors and that was going to consume sometime of his. Company's income and monthly expenses were always discussed so as to maintain a sustainable environment and growth for the company. Various other ideas were discussed at such meetings.

It was around 6pm that their meeting was all winded up and he was quiet drained out. Going to the parking he saw his driver Richard already seated and ready to drive. Looking around he sat in and questioned about Elnaz if she waited for him or she left. On his question his driver reminded him that she had taken a half day. Hearing Richard he hummed and cursed himself for forgetting things.

"So you dropped her home?" He asked him while leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

"No Mr. Mallick. She said that she would be going out accompanied by her friends and one of them had car." He replied glancing through the rear mirror.

"Out? Was her friends from our office?" He asked trying to keep the conversation subtle. Even Richard took a hint of his curiosity but he thought may be he is concerned for his family friend.

"Yes Mr.Mallick. It was Sonya , Ryan and Gavin. The latter owned the car." He replied at which Rafay's eyes shot open. He didn't knew why the idea of her outing with mixed groups disturbed him. May be because of his sisters past or something. He tried to subside the feeling. He was already tired and this type of ideas were frustrating for him.

Going home he took a hot shower bath while his mind insistently brought thoughts of her. He was tired rubbing his damp hair with towel he stood near the balcony. His house was calm. His mother and father had gone to hospital for a daily routine checkup and they were going to be late as they had some other plans too. Deciding to take a nap he lied down on bed where his morning dream came rushing to his. He felt at unease. He blamed it to his overthinking. May be he is just being protective about her like he used to during childhood. Turning on some instrumental music he just lied down. Relaxing himself to sleep.

It was the cold that woke him up from his slumber. Waking up he glanced at the clock on the wall. It was 9pm. Getting up he moved to his balcony to close the door when he saw that it was snowing outside. The winds blew the curtains while everything outside was getting covered with white layer of snow. The black sky complimented the white snow. It was his favourite season and mostly he loved snow from childhood.

He remembered how he Asad, Firdaus and Elnaz played in snows. Asad and Firdaus from childhood used to be together never leaving each others side. He should have known it that they were childhood sweetheard. It was Elnaz who was very small and at times unknowingly felt left out. At times during such snows they would have competition for making snowman. Asad and Firdaus will always group up and make their snowman while Elnaz would try her best with her small chubby hands to collect snow but it didn't help alot and later he would help her in making a snowman. Her eyes would light up with happiness as she woul jump up and down clapping her hands as soon as her own snowman would be ready.

He smiled at the thought. Shaking his head at the memories. It was strange how time changed. How they grew up to be busy ever with work and commitments. Time changed and feelings developed. The childhood was somewhere stuffed in the back of the mind to be remembered forever. Recollecting that it was dinner time he went down. Sitting on his chair he saw the maids bringing in food while no one from the family was present on the table. He asked one the maid.

"Have Mom and Dad returned?"

"No Mr.Mallick. They haven't." The maid replied him. He looked around and up towards Elnaz's room. Deeming her absence he asked her again about Elnaz.

"No sir even she has not returned from morning." She replied polietly and asked if he need anything else to which he replied in negative. He felt disappointed and irritated.

'Why hasn't she returned yet?'

'Is all right with her?'

He grew worried about her and decided to call her number which was switched off. Getting up from his seat he tried it one more times but it was all vain.

'Where are you Elnaz?'

****

Hey lovely reader,

Assalamualaikum,

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Keep voting and be witness to Rafay and Elnaz love story path. Its a journey and travel with them. Like you do.

Love,

TANAZ97