Traveling without a phone in a Sri Lankan bus is an absolute pain because now I have no option but to listen to the crappy bus songs for the entire journey, and bus songs suck! If you know, you know!

Besides, I can't even talk to Sameer like the other days. So, that's affecting my mood too, I guess.

Actually, I moved our chats to Facebook for the time being until I sort out a new phone because I can go online only via the laptop now. So yeah, after I sent him a message informing that last night I haven't checked anything yet.

I planned to write a beautiful wish about our one month completion but my mood was totally spoilt after the phone breaking that I went straight to bed last night, crying myself to sleep. I must send him one as soon I reach office.

It's 8:29 am and I'm already here at office. Just a minute early but this is huge for me! One day without the phone and I'm being punctual. Maybe like mom says it's my phone that's making me lazy.

James is here too. He looks up as I walk by his cabin and does that nod-with-a-smile as if to greet me. I smile too and get to my seat. Saad is not here yet.

Generally, I run to the washroom as soon I get to work to make sure my face looks okay and not sweaty because of traveling by bus. But not today. I have to message Sameer first. I haven't texted him for the past 8 hours and it doesn't feel right.

So, I turn on my laptop and open Facebook. I've got two messages from Sameer and this is what the first one reads,
"Happy one month to us baby! I never thought I will ever fall in love like this again. One month is no biggie but it's a huge deal when it's with you. You are the best thing that has happened to me in my life. I thought my life was over after my breakup but then you showed me that even broken hearts could have a fresh start. Maybe the time I've spent knowing you is very short compared to my previous relationship, but trust me Ilhaam you mean more than anyone or anything right now. You have added new meaning to my life. I love you so much and I miss you. Let's celebrate when I come back ♥️"

Such a beautiful wish. Not even I could've written one like this. I read it over and over again. 15 lines of text — a paragraph of emotions written for this plain-faced girl! Sameer is a real gem.

I don't know why but I'm tearing as I read it. None of the rude comments I got at the wedding yesterday even affects me anymore.

I finally have someone who loves me for who I am and it looks like he loves me a little too much. It's like a movie love story. I hope this happiness lasts forever.

As I am about to type my reply, my eyes go to the second message from him,
"How much money have you got?"

What the hell? Is Sameer expecting some money from me? Is that why he sugarcoated his wish so much? Eww!

Two days back, he did tell me about working additional shifts and trying to make some extra bucks in order to pay off his dad's debts but I thought he was sharing it with me only to get a few consoling words, because who doesn't like being consoled, right? But looks like he was expecting money from me the whole time! Eww! This is disgusting!

Okay, now I read the first message again and this time it does not make me happy anymore. I feel like he is trying to manipulate me with sweet talk only to borrow some money.

I know I'm not supposed to think of it like this because he is my boyfriend and I should help him in any way possible. But I don't have much either and he knows it already. How can I give him when I myself am struggling?

Besides, my respect for him will decrease drastically if I have to lend him money at this point. It's been just a month after all!

I can feel all my negative thoughts come back crawling in. A girl like me can never find a movie love story. All those sweet words which I thought were real feelings were just flattery. Ugh!

Maybe I should just pretend that I did not see the second message. So, I send a reply, "Love you too babe. Happy one month." I can't even get myself to add an emoji to the message because I am upset.

I keep staring at the screen when I hear Naomi say, "Darling, are you alright? Why are you crying?" and that's when I realize I am tearing. Oh crap! This is bad. I can't tell her about the money story. It will be embarrassing.

So, I lie to her, "My phone broke last night and I don't think I will be able to buy one until I get my salary." Naomi gives me a look as if she really understands my pain and says, "Why don't you ask your boss to get you one? You handle social media noh. So tell him you can't do your work without it."

Good idea, Naomi, but not a practical one. They won't buy phones for juniors like me. I sigh and before I could reply, I get a call from James' landline and he asks me to come.

I hate it when you get a runny nose after crying. Even though I wiped my tears, I am sniffling in front of James now. He is asking me to prepare a set of reports for his meeting with the boomers in the evening. I hate making reports. The most boring part of my job I would say! Maybe I should get Saad to do these also.

As I keep making notes of the report names, James suddenly stops and asks me, "What's wrong Ilhaam? You look distracted."

Seriously, why and how does James always find out when I'm upset? How the hell am I supposed to tell him that I'm sad because my so-called boyfriend only writes sweet messages to me expecting money from me?

Maybe I should give a try to what Naomi suggested. I might end up with a little bit of embarrassment when James says "no" but other than that there's nothing to lose. So I ask, "Is it possible to get me a phone for office use?"

Surprisingly James says, "Sure, that can be done." Wow, so even juniors like me get phones in this company? How come I didn't know this? I guess they do it only when you ask for it. Thanks to Naomi — phone problem solved! No more bus songs!

Before I could thank him, he adds, "but only in the next quarter though. I've already used this quarter's quota for Saad."

What the hell? I mean, I know there's this one-device-per-quarter thing in the company budget for each team. But why would Saad get a phone without even asking for one and that too before me? Isn't he a more junior employee than me? Plus, he already has an iPhone.

Maybe I wasn't being just paranoid at the beginning. Maybe everyone here likes Saad more than they like me. Ouch!

"But Saad just joined a few weeks back. Shouldn't I be prioritized?" I ask him feeling frustrated. James laughs and says, "Salespeople need phones more than marketers, isn't it?"

Wait, what? Maybe it's true or maybe it's not, but it doesn't really make sense in our case. "But we both are into marketing not sales, aren't we?" I ask, looking confused and he replies, "Actually, I am going to make Saad try out Sales a bit. I feel like the guy will do well in it."

Seriously? Is Saad getting a promotion or something? Is he outperforming me already? "Why sales for Saad? You have never asked me to do that. Is it because I am a girl?" I ask.

James smiles and says, "Never knew you wanted to do Sales. Saad expressed an interest so I am giving him a chance. Anyway don't worry, I'd need him to that just few hours for a week, not full-time."

Okay, first of all, why would I worry about that? Second of all, no, I don't want to do Sales. Because the Sales team dudes are just big-mouthed fools without much brains and they do a lot of cold-calling. I hate talking to people over the phone so no, Sales is not for me!

I'm only mad because Saad is about to become a multitasker, which means my value in the company will go down and soon I will be replaced!

As I return to my seat, I find Saad seated there, looking all sunshiny, and it annoys me. Stupid guy trying to steal my job!

"Good morning! How are you?" he asks. I don't respond because if I do I'm going to say something rude. I just ignore him and sit and he asks, "Is everything alright? Are you mad at me for something?"

I don't respond again and this time he shakes my chair saying, "tell me, tell me!" Okay this guy is asking for it.

So, I frown at him and say, "Because I heard you are going to do Sales and you are going to be given a company phone and in no time you will replace me completely in this office and I hate you for that. The only thing I had in my life was work and you are going to steal even that from me. Job stealer — that is what you are!"

Well, that was harsh but it's okay. This guy needs to know his limits!

Saad starts laughing, thinking that I am only joking, then he realizes I am really angry and finally says, "That's not true. Why would I want to steal your job?" with a confused look.

"I don't know. Ask yourself! Now let me be in peace!" I say. He rolls his eyes and says with a smile, "Okay, I guess it's that time of the month for you. So I'm going to just keep my mouth shut."

Ugh! Saad loves to talk to the females in this office about their period mood swings and make it look like he is a man who understands them. Attention-seeking idiot! I would love to snap at him one more time saying that I am not on my period but I don't have the energy to do it. So, we continue to work without talking to each other.

After a while, I get a message on Facebook from Sameer. For the first time I am not excited to open it because what if it's about the money topic again?

Anyway I click on it to find this,
"Babe tell me how much money you've got. I can try and transfer the rest for you to buy a phone today itself. I don't have much but I can send maybe Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000 to get something sorted for now ☺️"

Wait. So, he was inquiring about my savings because he wanted to help me? I overthought as usual and even ignored his message in fear of having to lend him money. What a sweet boy he is and what a bitch I am? Ugh!

I can't stop feeling bad about myself as I type, "No, I will sort something here. You don't have to lend me money." There is no way I am borrowing money from my boyfriend. That's cheap!

Sameer replies the next second,
"You can't deny it because it's a gift from me. I anyway wanted to buy you something. Glad to contribute for the phone 😀♥️ Just give me your bank account details. I will pass it to Abdul and get the transfer done ASAP."

Okay, what? It's not even lending. He is selflessly giving away money when I didn't even ask for it.

He is a beautiful soul and maybe I don't deserve him or his love.

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Do y'all still hate Sameer? 👀🤭

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