15th August, 2018

Shumail sat by the window of the coffee shop as he looked out at the white velvety carpet that covered the entire place in the form of snow as he held a hot mug of coffee tightly in his hands. The steam could be seen coming out of the mug and the warmth of the mug helped his hands to get some warmth as well.

His nose had turned red due to the cold and his face had turned pale white. The fur coat that he wore kept him warm and cozy in the chilly wheather outside but he needed a strong hot coffee to get his day started.

He sipped on his drink enjoying the strong taste of it and licked his lips to wipe off the small of a mustache formed on his upper lips as he placed the mug down again and gazed outside. The window had a thin layer of moisture formed on it and he proceeded to wipe the window with the palm of his hand to clear the glass. He saw children playing in the nearby park, some having a snow fight and some busy making snow birds as he smiled looking at their innocence.

As he sipped the last of his coffee, he placed the mug down and keeping a $10 at the table, he took his fur coat and wore it and getting all his belongings, he made his way out. He pulled the hood of his fur coat over his head to cover himself from the heavy snowfall and made a jog for his car parked at a distance from the shop.

It was early morning and people were running around to get to their workplaces, cars moving in all directions. He could hear chattering of people on their cellphones as they talked work. He saw the signal for pedestrians wanting to cross the road was about to turn red and he didn't wanted to keep waiting for it to turn green again so he walked as quickly as he could but by the time he reached around the corner, the signal had already turned red.

He huffed out loud and looked around to see he was the only one standing. Slapping his hand on his forhead, he waited for the signal to turn green again. He was standing at the side walk when someone suddenly collided with him throwing him off balance. He somehow managed himself from falling and turned around, ready to shout at the person but he couldn't get a word out of his lips.

Bent on the floor was a girl as she hurried to collect her stuffs which had fallen on the floor due to their collision. As she was done collecting her stuffs, she stood up swinging her bag on her arms and turned around to face Shumail making him surprised to see the girl he had hit with his car. Shumail had tried to search for her after he was told that she had left but he couldn't get to her and eventually he had given up his search.

But now seeing her standing in front of him after a week to that incident he was quite happy that he could get to apologise to her.

"I'm sorry." She spoke as she looked at him. "Actually I lost my balance due to my fractured leg and while trying to steady myself I bumped into you. I'm really sorry." She smiled politely.

Shumail looked down at her feet and felt guilty for her condition as he looked back up at her face with apologetic eyes. "I'm sorry." He voiced his thoughts.

"Oh please don't be. It's a small fracture." She said as she waved her hand in front of her.

"No I mean I'm sorry for it was me who is responsible for this condition of yours." Shumail spoke making her look at him through scrunched eyebrows. "I'm so sorry I couldn't get to apologise to you that day. I was in a little hurry but believe me I had returned to meet you and apologise to you but you were gone by that time."

"So you mean you were the one who had hit me that day with your car?" She asked raising her eyebrows at him.

"Yeah." Shumail spoke clearly embarrassed. "Believe me I tried to search for you but I knew nothing about you so couldn't find you but I'm glad that you met me today. Atleast now I can apologise to you for my awful behaviour. I'm really very sorry."

The snowfall was getting heavy making it difficult for them to speak and they were standing in the middle of the walkway. He couldn't leave before she had accepted his apology so he stood there impatiently as he stuffed his hands in his coat pocket to keep them from freezing. She looked at him with absolutely no emotion and he looked at her face eagerly for any signs of it but got none.

"It's alright. You realise your fault that's much more important." She spoke and he finally took in a deep breath of relief as he smiled at her.

"Please tell me how can I compensate for it? I'm really embarrassed on my behaviour."

"Oh no please! You apologised that's fine. No need to do anything else."

"No please tell me. I feel so horrible already. First I hit you and then I left you at the hospital just like that. You have your leg fractured because of me." Shumail requested in a polite tone.

"No seriously it's no problem. I'm fine." She tried denying in her best polite tone but on his continuous requests, she let out a sigh and gave up. "A coffee will do." She finally said making Shumail smile widely.

"Sure. This way please." He spoke as he guided her to the coffee shop walking beside her.

"It really isn't needed." She spoke as she shook her head at him.

He pulled open the door and held it for her and stepped in after her. They sat by a table in the middle after removing their coats as they hung them on the arms of the chair and he passed a menu card towards her. She gave him a smile and read the menu card. He then placed their orders for two cappuccino.

"Sorry I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Shumail Ibrahim." He said looking at her with a smile.

"Nice name Ma Sha Allah. I'm Eram." She had a smile platered on her lips too as she spoke.

"Eram?"

"Eram Azam."

"Ma Sha Allah you have a nice name too." He complemented as she smiled shyly at him. "So what do you do?" He asked her after sometime to break the awkward silence between them.

"I work part time at a day care."

"Day care hmm! Love being around children?"

"Yeah! They are such adorable munchkins." Their conversation ended as their orders arrived and though Shumail had just had a cup of coffee minutes back, he decided it won't hurt to have another cup and besides it was snowing heavily.

They drank their coffee in silence and after they were done Shumail placed the amount of their bill on the table and they both got up taking their coats along with them as they headed out.

"I'm sorry once again. I hope you forgive me." Shumail said as he stuffed his hands in his coat.

"You really don't have to say sorry over and over again."

"Ohk then. I'll take your leave. Have to head to office. Allah hafiz."

"Allah hafiz."

With a last smile directed her way, Shumail turned around and headed to where his car was parked. Getting in the car he started the engine and headed to his workplace.

As he reached The Ibrahim Estate. and got out of the car, he directly headed to his office for he was already quite late.

But who to report!

One of the many perks of being the boss!!

His secretary greeted him as soon as he stepped on his floor and greeting her back he headed to his office, his secretary following behind him telling him the schedule of the day. As he listened to it carefully nodding his head once in a while, he took a seat on the armchair placing his arms flat against the desk in front.

"Thank you Ms. Rose. And can you please get me the Shipyard project file? I want to go through it once in case of any changes that are needed to be done before we seal the deal!"

"Right away Sir and about that Mr. Sullivan had given a date for the next month for the Shipyard and he requests your presence. Should I send him an approval letter?"

"Sure do that. Next month will be fine with me." He said and pressed his lips in a thin line.

"Sure Sir." She said and walked out. A few minutes later she walked back with the requested files and placed them on his desk as he thanked her and she turned around to leave.

"Umm Ms. Rose?" His voice made her stop as she turned to him again with an angelic smile. "Umm before that I want you to send all types of toys, cookies and chocolates to this day care centre. The kids will be happy to receive them though they stay there just for the day but they'll be overjoyed to get new toys and goodies." His lips were curled up in a bright smile inching from ear to ear as he imagined the happiness of the kids.

"Day care?"

"Yeah! Send every type of toy and all types of goodies. Kids will get happy." He spoke and he looked at her with a smile.

"Sure Sir. I will!" She nodded her head at him and turned to leave but then turned to face him again. "Sorry Sir but which Day care?"

Shumail bit his lips as he smacked his forhead mentally for not knowing the name of the Day care centre. He looked up at her with a sheepish look and saw her still waiting for him to answer. He cleared his throat and sat back straight.

"How many Day care centres will be there in the town?" He asked.

"10-12 Approx."

"Ohk. To all of them." He said shrugging his shoulders.

"All of them?" His secretary asked in disbelief with raised eyebrows as she looked at him with a surprised look plastered on her face.

"I believe I spoke in clear English." He spoke.

"Sorry Sir. I'll get it done right away."

"And yeah I want you to deliver a box to a girl at one of the day care centres. Her name is Ms. Eram Azam but she works in which day care centre is for you to find out." He ordered and the facial expressions on her face changed from one of energetic to one of bored and nonchalant. She nodded her head at him and headed out.

He immediately placed a call to one of his friend who was the owner of a designer boutique and placed an ordered of what he had in mind as an apology gift for her and he hoped she would like it too. The order he had placed arrived shortly as his secretary walked in along with it and handed it to him.

"Ah it's here! Thank you Ms. Rose. You may please continue with your work." He gave her a smile. After she had left, he took hold of the box and opened the lid carefully. He was happy to see the box full of hijabs of every colour and instantly a smile appeared on his lips. He wanted to add his own touch to the gift so he pulled a paper and a pen and wrote a small letter for her.

Salam!
I know you said you forgave me for the accident but I still felt bad for my behaviour.
So this is just a small gift for you as an apology from me.
I hope you'll like them.

Shumail :)

He placed the note above the pile of hijabs and closed the lid of the gift wrapped box back. He called his secretary and handed the box to her.

"Make sure you deliver this box to Ms. Eram Azam only!" He ordered in a no-nonsense tone making her gulp in fear. She nodded her head at him quickly and taking hold of the box, walked out.

I hope you like them Ms. Eram!

With that thought in mind he finally brought his focus back on his work and began to work, smile still edged on his lips.

Salam guys

A very Happy Independence Day to All my readers
Aazaadi ke 72nd saal mubarak
Saare Jahan se acha Hindustan hamara
Hum bulbule hai iske
Yeh gulistan hamara...hamara

And Happy Independence Day to all my Pakistani readers as well :)

Coming back to chap...how was it?
Do tell me in the comment section :-*