Episode 25

"Hey what are you doing?" Joey asked joining Elnaz's on her way up to to her cabin.

"What? I am going to look join Marketing team to know what ideas they are approaching for campaign." She answered him.

"Ohh. Campaign is also taking place. I didn't knew that." He commented as the elevator came to halt and they got out.

"Yeah they decided that today only. In fact they are hiring a team of digital marketers to promote the product on social media too." She informed him collecting her notepad and pen from her desk.

"That's a Healthy competition the CEO is throwing I see." He concluded.

"Yes. He is always up to date with latest ways of marketing or technology you see. Although it was marketing teams approach but he had idea of this way before." Elnaz said quiet impressed which didn't go unnoticed by him. He felt jealous upon seeing that she appreciated him.

"Are you free today?" He asked.

"Hmm. No I am working right now." She said.

"Ohh. I was thinking that if we could have coffee in evening and go to library." He nervously said.

"Ohh. We could have coffee here in the cafeteria." She told him walking out of her cabin.

"No I wanted to go out you know. I was bored at home." He told her following her behind.

"Hmm.. sorry Joey today Rafay wanted to show me around. He said he would be showing me Some good places here." She told him softly.

"Ohh." He stopped walking hearing the sentence. It was the same thing which he dreaded he would hear. That she would choose Rafay over him. Here she was today telling him that she had an outing planned with him.

"I will see you around then." He quickly covered up to which she nodded her head and left him.

'Am I being too friendly that she is friend zoning me?' He thought.

'Should I directly approach her?'

'What if she denies me?'

'What if she breaks our friendship?'

'Will she accept me?'

'Does she has feelings for Rafay?'

All such random thoughts started cumulating in his mind. He was afraid and nervous at the same time. He didn't wanted to loose Elnaz but he couldn't keep quiet and let Rafay take her away. She was the real thing that happened to him in so many years. Someone who pulled him to ground and dealt with him in reality and didn't expected anything from him. She was true and honest girl and he wanted her in his life.

*****

"I hope you are ready for today's ride?" Rafay asked as he started the engine of his car. Elnaz sat on the passenger seat beside him.

"You are going to drive?" She questioned.

"Yes. I qualify enough to drive Madam. Fasten your seat belts please." He grinned revealing his charming smile which she had never seen on him. She stared at him as he started driving the car.

"Where are we going?" She asked moving her gaze to look ahead.

"You will find out in time but first we are going to my favourite restaurant they make this delicious panini I bet you will love it." He prompted.

"Okay. I want to see them."

He parked the car on a dim light street and got out. He quickly jogged to her side and held her door open for her to come. He now and then looked here and there yet she couldn't find a restaurant.

"Are we there?" She asked looking here and there.

"We will have to walk few steps and then we will reach." He informed her and both of them started walking.

After twenty steps they reached a small and noisy counter where this special tasty panini board hung on the top. It was a mini bus actually which sell panini. It had few tables in front of it. Not many people stopped by whoever stopped surely was a regular customer.

"Hey Jacob. How are you?" Rafay smiled.

"Hey Rafa. I am fine. What about you? King time no see." Jacob partially yelled from inside.

"I am fine. Just had time to see you today." Rafay replied sitting on his usual chair. Both of them exchanged some words when Jacob noticed Elnaz.

"Who is this lady? Girlfriend?" He asked looking at Elnaz.

"No. She is family friend." Rafay cleared.

"Everyone says so but later I find out otherwise." Jacob added to which Rafay shook his head.

"So what should I get you? Same as usual?" He asleep Rafay.

"Yeah but this time two of them." Rafay added as Elnaz sat next to him.

"How do you know about this place?" Elnaz asked.

"Well during my college days I happen to come across this eatery. I liked what they cooked and offered here so when ever I got time I would come here. Only Firdaus and I know about it." He reminisced.

"You miss her. Don't you?" Elnaz asked seeing how his eyes showed the warmth talking about his younger sister.

"I do. We were the only two children so we depended on each other majorly. We never hid anything with each other. Only thing she ever hid was that psycho guy obsessing over her and I regret to never focus or understand her problem at that time. Thanks to your brother I came to know about him." He said remembering the past.

"Yeah I can only understand what she could have went through. Bhai (brother) was really angry." She said.

"He should be. Heck even I would be if I come to know that my spouse if being blackmailed by some other man. It's insane when it comes to that." He muttered.

"Ohh. I hope that you don't have to face situation like that too." She prayed.

"It wouldn't." He looked at her.

"Inshallah" she whispered looking around.

"Inshallah. Other wise I would break his bones." He mumbled.

Shortly the panini was served to them and they munched on it praising the hands of the cook. She had never thought that she would be toured around by Rafay even in her dreams but here they were. Life can make anything possible. She thought.