20th November, 2018

The morning after was super busy for Shumail for he had directly headed to meet with Mr. Chang and they both had went to the production site. Having just a cup of coffee in the morning breakfast kept him going for the whole day until late in evening when his stomach made a gurgling sound and he took notice that he had skipped lunch. His work was almost done so he excused himself and getting in his car, he had headed back to his hotel suite.

He had grabbed his lunch on his way back so as he sat on a chair in the balcony munching on the fries and burger, he took his cell and opened his chat with Eram, though it was only him who had sent her messages.

It had begun to irritate him that she was continuously ignoring his texts but gulping down his irritation and keeping aside his ego, he decided to text her again. With mouthful of burger and one hand totally messy with the sauce, he typed with his left hand, while munching on his food.

"Hey there! Salam!

How are you doing Eram?

Well I'm not doing good. Have to survive eating fast food *weeps*" He typed making it a little dramatic and pressed sent. Keeping aside his cell as he finished his whole lunch which he was eating nearly in the evening, he really savoured the taste, sighing in content.

Licking his fingers clean as he finished his lunch, he tossed the crumbled box in the bin and again took his cell to check if she had replied. As he opened her chat, he saw she had left him on seen. He had texted her a couple of times since he had been here in Japan and she hadn't replied even a simgle time and when she yet again left him on read this time, he felt hurt and anger right that moment.

"Ms. Azam do you take me for granted?! You've suddenly started behaving so unusual and I'm seriously unable to find out why! Please for Allah's sake tell me the damn matter!" He typed and pressed send in his anger as he roughly tossed his cell somewhere on the couch, gripping his hairs in frustration.

Shumail made a decision that if she doesn't wanted to talk to him then he too wont bother her by texting her. His heart ached on this unusual behaviour of her and not being able to understand the feeling, he brushed her thoughts away.

Two weeks.

He didn't messaged her not let her thoughts have an impact on his mind and thoughts. He avoided her thoughts as if it were some disease. He was already immersed in his work, working until exhaustion, skipping meals and he didn't wanted to add on further stress to his mind.

But he couldn't do that for more than two weeks.

Sat in the conference room alone after his team had left, he loosened the tie around his neck as he placed his head back on the chair, fully exhausted from the day. Taking his cell phone from his jacket, he directly dialled Eram's number, not having enough patience anymore. It kept on ringing but she didn't picked up. Sighing to himself he cut the call, knowing she wont pick it up as he opened her chat to send her a message.

"Please talk to me Eram! I don't know what's bothering you but I'm tired! Please!" He typed and pressed send.

I'm unable to understand what's the matter with you..

He saw she read the message and was still online. He sighed knowing she wont reply this time as well as he shook his head and keeping his cell back in his pocket, he stood up as he hung his jacket on his arm and walked out.

***

Shumail was seated on a chair in his penthouse suite, so lost in deep thoughts that even the ringing of his cellphone couldn't catch his attention. Needless to say, he was disturbed. He had tried to contact and have a chat with Eram in the beginning days of his stay in Japan but she always left him on read.

He wasn't able to understand what was it that was making her react that way. He had raked his mind and had tried to remember any stupidity of his, which could be the reason for her such behaviour but all he could remember was their happy moments of the day before his trip where they had enjoyed in the amusement park.

His gaze travelled back to the screen of his cell phone yet again to see if he had received any reply to his earlier messages but once again his hope crumbled to find there was none. Sometime or the other in these two months of his stay in japan, he would become restless, worried and troubled with her unusual behaviour but everytime it happened he used to brush it off and get his mind focused on work. Since Mr. Chang wasn't able to give much attention to the work due to the family issues in his life, most of the time it was Shumail was had to take care of everything alone leaving him with double work, but he was actually glad because he didn't knew what he would have done otherwise.

His cell phone rang again and he had to wipe his eyes to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. He quickly swiped the call to answer, unable to believe that she called him.

"Salam!" He greeted and she greeted back in a small voice.

"How are you?" He then asked.

"I'm fine. How are you?"

"I'm good." There was silence on both the sides and both didn't know what to say.

"Everything alright Ms. Azam?" He asked, wanting to know her reasons for such unusual behaviour.

"I'm sorry Mr. Ibrahim! I troubled you a lot! I'm really sorry." Her voice shook as she spoke but she composed herself quickly.

"I've been really worried for you Ms. Azam. Are you really fine? Is there any problem? You know you can share with me. Maybe I could be of some help." He spoke, his forehead wrinkled.

"I'm fine Mr. Ibrahim! Don't worry." She answered, her voice sounding low and distant as if she was lost in some thoughts.

"Are you really?" She just hummed in response this time as he too hummed, relieved to know she was fine.

"So When are you coming back?" She asked suddenly, taking him by surprise.

"The work here is almost done. I guess I shall be back in a day ow two." He asnwered suddenly feeling happy to return back to Canada, to his friends and his work, a smile forming on his lips. "Why do you ask though?"

"I've something to tell you." He pulled back his cell phone to actually look at the screen to assure he heard her right because he felt a change in her tone. Shyness?

"What? What..is it?" He asked unsure of her answer.

"I won't be able to tell you on call. You come back then I'll tell you."

"Oh-kay?" He answered, suddenly curious to know what she wanted to say.

***

Two days back as he had cut the call after talking to her, he was kind of surprised. He was glad that she was doing fine but above that he was curious to know what she wanted to say.

In this short period of time where they met due to an accident, they had grown a bit closer and shumail wouldn't deny the fact that he had sort of started to like her. The relationship they shared was more than friendship but both knew it wasn't love. He had a soft spot for her, she being the first girl he befriended and he was eager to return back and to meet her.

The production process of the new mobile was running great and almost on the final stage, so he decided it was better for him to return back and take control of his business in Canada. Work was just a reason, deep down he just wanted to return back so he could see her and talk to her. He had wanted to return way before but his responsibility towards his work had kept him bound. Now that his work was done and he was finally free, he didn't wanted to wait any longer.

He was brought out of his thoughts by the ringing of the doorbell as he ran a hand through his hairs, feeling as if all his energy was drained out. Nonetheless walking to the door he pulled it open and found his secretary at the door.

"It's time for your flight Sir. I tried calling you but you didn't answered so I came myself." She spoke as he gave her a nod and picked up his jacket. The bell boy came forward and taking his luggage, he walked out as Shumail took his cell phone and headed out. His team was already seated in the cars and he too settled to his car and they were headed to the airport.

His flight landed in Canada in the evening and he has directly headed to his house, clearly exhausted from the trip.

He had changed into some casuals after he had freshed up and headed to bed when the doorbell rang, making him hault in his actions. He headed out of his room and climbing the stairs as he headed to open the door, he was instantly taken in a bear hug by arms wrapping around him taking him by surprise as he bend back a little. He ended up chuckling when he realised it was Zaid as he hugged him back and Shahmeer and Aahil joined them both too.

"Aah! My dramaqueen! I missed you so much!" Zaid mumbled, ruffling Shumail's hairs as Shumail's eyes narrowed on Zaid's statement.

"Stop calling me that!" He protested as Shahmeer and Aahil laughed. The boys walked in making themselves comfortable on the couches, chatting and bickering on something or the other.

"I missed you guys so much! It was so boring not having you guys around. These two and a half months were killing me seriously!" Shumail spoke wiping a fake tear as Zaid circled his arm around Shumail's neck holding him in a knockout grip.

"And this is why I call you a dramaqueen!" He laughed as Shumail skillfully wriggled out of his grip and now it was Zaid who was in Shumail's hold, Shahmeer and Aahil taking it a chance to hit Zaid playfully as they laughed.

"How will you live if some day you have to leave us?"

"Naah! That's not happening ever!" Shumail shook his head in negative.

They all had a night out as they chatted and laughed, played xbox and ate loads. Somewhere between the fun they noticed Shumail had fallen asleep. So they made him lie in a comfortable position on the beds that they had set for themselves in the living room and had fallen asleep beside each other.

The next day at office was burdensome for Shumail as the pending work had piled up on his desk. After he had finished with it he had straight headed to meet Eram at her place. It was evening already, stars were starting to shine in the night sky and the moon was a slender crescent. He made a call to her which she picked almost immediately.

"Salam!" Her voice sounded chirpy and he couldn't help but smile to himself too.

"Walaikum Assalam! Wow someone's in a good mood!"

"Uh yeah! How are you?"

"I'm fantastic as always! Where are you by the way?"

"Walking back home! Just about to reach. Why? And when are you returning back?" She asked and he sighted her, walking alone swaying her bag with one hand as she held the cell with the other as soon as he entered her neighbourhood. He parked the car as he got out. "Mr. Ibrahim?" She called out when he didn't answered for some moments.

"Turn around." He spoke in the call and she was quick to snap her head back to look, as she found him walking in her direction. He cut the call when he was just a few steps away as he gave her a bright smile.

As he stood in front of her grinning at her, he saw her eyes getting moist and he panicked.

Assalamualaikum!

How are you guys?

How was the chap? Boring? Made you furious on Eram's behaviour? Fun? Sweet?

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