Episode 12

There was a change in his behaviour which she surely never missed and she could only blame the out burst he had on her on that night. It was out of guilt he was acting in such a polite way she thought. Honestly she never made friends with people if they were acting on guilt. It seemed to her that they had a reason or they had to find a reason to befriend her. So she decided that she wouldn't approve his indirect friendship approach with her and keep everything like in its very way. She would only respond to him when he would approach her.

'Good day to you too.' Was all she replied and walked away.

Knock -knock

Hearing the knock Rafay replied with a come in. The door opened and Janet came in with a worried look on her face.

"Mr. Mallick there's a bad news." She said tensely standing in front of him.

"What is it?" Rafay asked her keeping his pen aside.

"Mr. Mallick there has been fire break out in our factory at San Jose." She informed.

"What? Get me online with the senior engineer of the factory." He ordered her while she quickly typed some numbers on her iPad and the call got transferred.

"How did the fire break out?" He barked at the engineer.

"Sir we are extremely sorry the pipe of the gas tank leaked and the watchman failed to check it. It was little late but still we managed to seal the pipe or it would have lead to explosion." His senior engineer replied.

"Are you serious? Is it the watchman's duty to look after the structure and the pipes. What do we pay you for. And EXPLOSION! aren't the pipes having automatic reading alarm which stops the passing of leakage. In what world are we living Josh?" He yelled upon the lame explanation given by the engineer. He very well knew that his factory was up to date with all latest technology required for production and this man was lying on his face.

"Sir..r-

"Save it Josh I am coming to San. Be ready for your explanations." He slammed the phone back on the table.

He had to leave for San immediately and look into the matter. Instructing Janet he called Richard and asked him to make arrangements for the trip. Never had such carelessness happened and today it happened. Such carelessness could defame his company. Anger was the small word he felt right now.

With in fifteen minutes he left for San Jose. He called his father and informed about this accident at factory. His father however assured him calmly that he believed his son that he would handle it wisely. Talking to his father he calmed down a bit.

After an hour...

She knocked his office door for the second time now but there was no reply.

'Is he testing my patience now?' She thought irritated.

She has to show him the process file she had prepared on cost reduction and saving.

"Ms. Sufiyan may I help you with anything?" Janet asked her as she came out of office.

"No. I wanted to see Mr. Mallick." She said wanting to go in.

"I am sorry to inform you Ms. Sufiyan but Mr. Mallick is not present in the office."

"Ohh. When will he be back?" She asked.

"Well I can't say anything in that matter Ms. Sufiyan. He left already. Is there anything you want I can help you in his absence." Janet said bored from talking to Elnaz. It didn't went unnoticed from Elnaz.

"Nothing." She left.

'He left early.' She thought.

At 5 pm she packed her bag and grabbed her purse to leave. Reaching below she saw that Richard was also not present in the parking area. She decided that today she would have to perhaps catch a subway.

'At least he could have informed me that he would be not be giving me a ride to home.' She thought.

'He wasn't obliged either.' Her subconscious chided.

Shaking her head she plugged her earphones in her ear and caught a onetime subway. Sitting on the seat she calmly looked out of window and enjoyed the scenario.

After an hour she reached home and got in her room to freshen up. It was only after and three hours she came down to the dining hall for having dinner. Uncle and aunty where already present at the table but Rafay was no where to be seen. She quietly sat on the chair and greeted both of them. They replied to her warmly. Then all of them started eating silently. It was way to silent and she felt odd at times. Her eyes would wander to Rafay's chair and she would quickly turn her head.

'Am I missing him?' She thought and shrugged it away thinking she was being idiotic.

Rehan uncle got a call to which he just listened and then asked on the maid to switch on the tv. He swept through channels and stopped on one of the news channel. She resumed eating as she wasn't in the mood for hearing any news.

'How did it happened Mr. Rafay Mallick?'

'We heard that there are casualties? What do you have to say about it?"

"What were the irregularities in handling the process?'

Upon hearing Rafay's name her head bobbed up and she turned towards TV. There he was. In between reporters. Many questions where being thrown at him like football. His bodyguards pushed all the reporters aside allowing him to walk away. He was tired. He had loosened his tie and had rolled his sleeves up to his elbow. Reaching his car her turned to the media and replied that a press conference would be held soon where he would answer all the question and later he drove off.

She saw how worried his mother looked she was almost tears as she gazed at the TV. While uncle was still calm and patted his wife's back trying to soothe her.

"Our son is brave and wise. He will handle the pressure positively." He said.

"Inshallah. He looked so tired. Had he eaten something?" She asked him.

"Call him after an hour or so." He said.

"Don't worry aunty. He will be fine. Inshallah."

She nodded her head as she pushed her plate away and got up. Both uncle and Elnaz told her eat but her aunts heart was filled with worry for her son that she wasn't ready to eat anything.

Therefore Elnaz decided to message him.