Chapter Five

                                 ‘An unsuccessful attempt’

  Dear colleague,

It is with great pleasure that we announce the promotion of our colleagues below.

These people are tremendous assets to our company and will continue to work in their respective department/division while being an integral part of the development of Precision Group.

Please join me in congratulating them on their promotion.

Kind regards,

Zayed Bin Al Waleed

Director

**

That was the email that held my future in it, my happiness and my mood for the up-coming two days.I scrolled through the whole page with my heart beating faster than usual and my hands shook a little as I searched for any sign of my name or picture.

My name was nowhere to be found, I looked again, now a little slowly, in case I might have been mistaken but when I heard Noora squeak, realization kicked in, and my jaw fell on the ground. Unbelievable! It’s her they’ve chosen.

“Oh my God! Look, that’s me!” She said agitatedly. “They chose me!” She nearly jumped in her place. That was such an unprofessional act to be honest, made me feel like she was a young kid who’d just been given a candy.

I was tongue tied. I couldn’t believe what was happening so I kept quite when Fatima congratulated her. She was so happy. If it wasn’t for the roof, she would’ve been flying right now.

Then finally, she remembered that I was in the room. So much for being a friend. She looked at me as her smile faded. “I am so sorry Mahra that you didn’t get it.” Even as she spoke, I could see that she didn’t actually mean it. She must be so proud right now.

“It’s okay,” I tried to utter. “Congratulations.” I faked a smile, while inside I was dying.

Right that instant Khalifah walked into the room and looked at us. From the look on his face he seemed to know the news, of course everyone knows!

His eyes flickered from Noorah, who’s face brightened at the sight of him, and then to me as he smiled. Seeing his smile made me feel disgusted because it was filled with sympathy. I hate people sympathizing me.

Noorah was grinning uncontrollably, now more than when she’d first known the news. It’s amazing what a person’s presence can do. Noorah has always had a thing for Khalifah who never seemed to care about her. He and Noorah talked a little where he welcomed her to his ex post and right that moment I realized another fact. Oh No. No. No. I will be working under Noorah now. I’ll be her assistant manager. This could not get any worse!

I didn’t remember what else they said because of my astonishment. I sat there on the chair wishing over and over again that they’ll just call me now and say that I was the one who got it and that there had been a mistake.

“Mahra, I am so sorry.” Fatima’s voice said. I jumped out of my trauma and looked at her. She did look sorry and really sad which made me feel even worse. I looked around and saw neither Noorah nor Khalifah.

“I can’t believe it.” I asserted, hating the fact that my voice shook. “Fatoom they chose her, when it was only yesterday when Mr. Faisal promised that it’s going to be me.” I stood up and started pacing back forth in my cabin.

“I know. I don’t understand it either!” Her confused voice said as she sat on my seat.

“It’s all because of that Zayed.” I announced. “He did this.” I turned to Fatima to see what she had to say about this. She had to agree with me because she knew I was right. It was his decision, he did this to me.

But Fatima was silent, thinking about the crime that I had just accused Mr. Zayed for. Her silence and that considering look annoyed me, what was she thinking? There’s no need to think. It’s crystal clear.

 “Now, what does Noorah have that I don’t? Why when everyone else thought me suitable for this job he had a different opinion?” Tears gushed in my eyes, I hated that whenever I was angry my tears would betray me.

“But you don’t know if it’s him or not.” Fatima defended him, making me even angrier.

“What?” I demanded, looking daggers at her. I noticed her getting uncomfortable under my intense glare. “I know it’s him. His own father had suggested my name and Mr. Faisal made sure I would get it, everyone else in the office thought I deserved it too, but he with his great pride and American degree wants to show off his superiority. I know It’s him.” I took a deep breath and realized that I had been shouting, but who cares!

 “It’s gotta be something personal. What have I done to him? Why does he hate me so much?” I could hear how crazy that sounded. Fatima sensed my absurdity too. I heard her tsk and shake her head in disapproval.

‘Calm down!’ A voice whispered inside my blood. ‘You’re not going to solve the problem like this.’ The sensible part of me spoke again. I sighed and took a seat next to Fatima.

After some moments of silence I said; “Darn, I was planning to buy myself that ‘Hermes’ bag, and I can’t really afford it with my old salary.” Fatima turned and looked at me as if I was utterly insane.

“You’re crazy!” She said, shaking her head as I smiled at her.

****

Should I do it? Just gather up all my confidence and go talk to him? But what am I going to say? Hi, how are you? Why didn’t you select me? That sounds pathetic! And what if he has a sensible reason. He looks like that logical type too, someone who’d shut me up easily. Wait, Did I just confess that someone could actually shut ‘Me’ up?

I was sitting in the restaurant near our office building, having an argument with my brain, it revolved around whether I should go and talk to Mr. Zayed or not. If I did, it’ll be a total professional step but I was more afraid of what was I gonna say to him than anything else.

My fingers traced my coffee cup, as I planned what I was going to say without sounding like a total desperate idiot. My speech needs to sound professional and mature unlike the way I act most of the times.

I placed my empty cup on the table with the money, collecting my car keys I left for the office. Once there, instead of heading to my cabin I headed to his office. I refused to think about anything embarrassing that could happen to me. I’ll take control and handle it!

Taking a quick glance at my watch I saw that lunch time was nearly over. I hope he’s in there. I remembered the times when Mr. Waleed was here, I felt absolutely free to go in and out of his office whenever I wanted to but now, I was hesitant and a little nervous.

I was there, standing at the door and staring at it. With a deep breath I said ‘Bismillah’ and knocked three times, receiving no answer!

I looked around to see if anybody was watching and well of course they were, an Indian guy walked passed me giving me a weird look. Well, thanks that’s exactly what I needed.

Where is Mrs. Miller when you need her?

I shook my head in annoyance and knocked again, this time a little loudly, still no answer. I think he’s not there.

I had to make sure; I couldn’t go back like this. I reached for the door knob and very slowly I opened the door. It almost looked dramatic. I took a little peak inside….and there he was.

Mr. Zayed held his phone in one hand as he listened to what the speaker was saying and his eyes were fixed at the door, waiting for someone to emerge from there. I stepped in the bright office. Sunlight bore into the room from the large glass windows. The view of Dubai city was beautiful from up there.  For a moment I just stood there not knowing what to do.

But he did, he nodded at the sight of me, kind of like he was expecting to see me here. With an elegant gesture of his hand he ushered me to have a seat while still listening to the person on the other end.

I made myself comfortable on the chair opposite him, but my senses were betraying me. I thought of the starting line and it came to me, not one I had more than three, I think. First one was ‘Hello’ which was plain lame, the other one was ‘I have something I wanted to ask.” Which sounded too informal, I had a couple more thoughts which I don’t think I was able to put into words. I was unsure I could even talk rightly. I think I am going to make a fool of myself.

This was a bad idea!

I heard him laugh, and I turned to see if it was on me, but he seemed quite deeply in conversation with someone and so I drifted back to my unsettled thoughts. Looking at the buildings outside the window, I thought of something reasonable to say and for a way to convince him to give me a chance.

“I’ll be waiting for your arrival. Yeah, In sha Allah.” He said as he checked something on his laptop and after a few seconds he ended the conversation with a “Ma’asalama”

My eyes followed his moves as he placed his phone on the table and grabbed the edge of his ‘safra’ and threw it back. He turned his, soulful brown eyes and full attention, to me. I hated to confess it, but I did shudder under his vacant stare.

“Miss. Mahra.” He looked down at me, powerfully. I felt a twinge of uneasiness as he said my name. It just sounded different coming from him. “I was expecting you here.” He did? I hate being predictable!

I tried to put a small smile on my face as I looked at him. I had to speak; he was waiting. But I couldn’t think of something conventional to say.

“I..I am sure you know…why I am here, sir.” I confided as I looked straight in his eyes. He nodded, encouragingly. “Yes, I assume I do.” He said leaning back on the chair. I waited for him to complete but he didn’t so I went on.

“I won’t be questioning your management skills sir,” as I searched for the right words I noticed him narrow his eyes, “but I’d like to know about my inabilities.” I hope he didn’t mind my first sentence. Even if he did, well it’s too late now.

After a moment’s thought he said; “It is too early for me to judge your performance, but from what I’ve heard you seem to have a lot of potential.” I never really liked the word potential, it meant there is still room for improvement or in other words you aren’t good enough.

“Can I please ask sir, what was it that I fell short of?” I heard how desperate I was sounding so I instantly added, “So that in future I would work on them.” I saw him turn away from me, a smirk playing on his lips. He looked like he was laughing at me, oh surely he was. I felt like an utter moron.

“I told you Miss. Mahra your performance had nothing to do with it. My decision was mostly based on your academic expertise.” At first I was just stunned as his words registered, and then it clicked. ‘Academic expertise’ Oh!

“You mean to say I am not qualified enough?” I stammered. He answered with a nod.

I wanted to laugh at myself, at the foolish decision I had once made. Damn that college. I should’ve listened to mom when she told me to finish. Now that I am at the peak of my career, it’ll hold me back.

 “I went through your files, Miss. Mahra,” He began again, “And saw that you had only passed the first year of your college and I hope you realize that that is not how we want our managers to be, they need to be qualified enough.” He explained. “Compared to your peers, you were the only one who lacked it.” I flinched at that. His words were hurting me.

“But Mr. Waleed always judged us on performance basis.” I uttered without thinking. His head shot up. I don’t know why, maybe I surprised him.

“Well,” Another arrogant look appeared on his face, one I hadn’t seen ever since I came here, but I had seen him wear that expression before, on that meeting. “Unfortunately he is not around here anymore.” He remarked with a glint of annoyance in his voice.

“And that’s exactly why I am here,” I asserted, straightforward. “I am sure Mr. Waleed was aware of what degree I held and he still thought of me as suitable for the position, but why do you have a different opinion….sir?” I saw a smirk make its way on his lips. I watched as he gracefully leaned his hands on the table in front of him, his fingers entwined with another. I instantly looked away and stared at my hands in my laps instead. My palms were sweaty and fingers cold.

“I just heard you say that you won’t be questioning my management skills.” He said matter-of-factly. “I told you before and I am telling you again, my decision unlike my father’s was based on your qualifications. Please don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Why doesn’t Mr. Waleed’s judgment be taken under account?”  I challenged, knowing that I had crossed the line.  He frowned very deeply and I knew this wasn’t going to end well. Those cold eyes that I had noticed on that meeting, returned.

“Well, next time I’ll make sure to consult it with you before making another decision.” I grimaced at the pure mockery of that sentence.

Angry I already was at him but now he’d made me speechless too. I turned away, unable to look back in those piercing eyes, which were unbearable. I felt the rage that was building up in my blood. In other circumstances I would’ve been breaking things by now but here, in this mess, I couldn’t dare make a stupid move for the sake of my precious job. Even though I didn’t get the promotion but I shouldn’t let this job get away from me. It’s better than having nothing.

Awkward silence took control over the room as I was planning my escape. I tried to find a way to slip out of here, looking for a way to get away from this place, away from him, away from this embarrassment.

And then it came to me, all by itself. We heard a knock on the door and after Mr. Zayed invited them in, Mrs. Miller walked in, smiling. She failed to hide her surprise when her eyes laid on me. Her green eyes widened, something she does whenever she sees me. I don’t know why.

It was Mr. Zayed’s voice that made her look away from me. “Yes, Mrs. Miller, what is it?” He asked her.

“There’s someone here to see you.”

“Who?” Mr. Zayed inquired with narrowed eyes.

“A lady named ‘Janaan’. She says she is a friend.” Mrs. Miller took a glance at me as if she wasn’t supposed to say this in front of me but why would I care?

“I told her she cannot get in without an appointment so she told me to inform you.” Mrs. Miller went on. Was I also supposed to take an appointment?

“Are you sure she said Miss. Janaan?” Our boss inquired as if he couldn’t believe his ears. He seemed quite happy to know this.

“Yes, I am quite certain, sir.”

“Send her in please.” He said to Mrs. Miller who followed his orders.

I felt my place was wrong here and I needed to get out as soon as I could since a very close ‘friend’ was coming here. I don’t know why but that did make me feel weird about Mr. Zayed all of a sudden.

“So where do I stand, sir?” I pointed my last words at him, making sure that there was no sign of hope.

“I am afraid you stand where you were.” He spoke, his voice dead. With that sentence I surrendered. There was nothing else I could do now. After an uncomfortable moment in which he noticed my resignation he said; “Is there something else I can help you with?”

I shook my head and stood up, “Thank you for your time, sir.” I shot him a haughty look and stormed out of the room.

**

I walked out of the room and saw Mrs. Miller accompanied with a tall women with long blonde hair and a curvaceous body. Obviously she’s not from around here, because she was dressed all western unlike us. Was she that Janaan who is going to go in there? Who got my boss all lightened up? She must be the boss’ friend from abroad.

Looking at her, I noticed that she was pretty, not that I was going to confess that in front of anyone. Even after all that rage that boiled inside of me, she caught my attention, which is saying something here!

I strode past them, making my way to the kitchen because suddenly I felt the need to drink a cold glass of water to put out all that rage in me.

I drank the cold water all in one gulp, “Easy there,” Khalifah’s voice said from behind me making me jerk but then I rolled my eyes, pouring myself another glass of water I sat down at the table, with a sigh of exasperation.

“Who pissed you off?” He snickered with an unbelievably amusing look.

“Oh please, I can’t do this!” I muttered. He grinned at that and came to take a seat in front of me. I remained silent.

“He didn’t know how to pick.” Here he goes again with his sympathetic rant. I knew exactly what he meant but I still acted oblivious. I couldn’t handle people still telling me that I deserved it or that Mr. Zayed made a wrong decision. I mean he might have but please just stop sprinkling salt on my wound.

“Who are you talking about?” I asked giving him a confused look and he bought it.

“Who else would I be talking about? The one who’s responsible for doing this to you.” I looked at his face, his eyes and that long nose.

“What do you mean by ‘this’?” I questioned, I just wanted to make him nervous which wasn’t hard. “What. Has…happened to me?” I said slowly, watching him as he searched for words, his mouth opened and closed without anything coming out of it.

Finally, he gathered himself up in front of me and wrapped both his hands across his chest with that stupid smile still on his face.

“Well, you look like you are going to break something or someone any minute, you enter a room without noticing if someone’s there and then you drink two glasses of water back to back, It must mean something’s up with you.” Now he was playing it. I nodded without saying a word and held my head with both hands because I felt like it was going to be torn apart. It really hurt.

“Don’t say he didn’t know how to pick, and please don’t act like you don’t know who I am referring to.” I warned him to stop playing my own games with me. I heard him chuckle and looked up at him. He seemed to be amused like really really entertained.

“No, I disagree. I still stand by my opinion.” He said smiling. I frowned at him. Why is he trying to make me feel good? I don’t need it.

“Well, he chose you too, so…” Now it was my turn to smile. I had seen his picture too this morning among those who were promoted, “don’t say he didn’t know.” He laughed again.

“Well, that’s the only good thing he’s done ever since he came here,” That made me smile.

We heard the tapping of heels getting closer and looked at the door. It was Noorah, just like Mrs. Miller she failed to hide her surprise too when she saw me, but then she managed to smile.

Khalifah looked away from her and asked if he could get me some coffee or if he could take me for coffee. His words shocked me as soon as they came out of his mouth. I sure was upset but that didn’t mean I’d take a man’s help in calming myself. I hated the fact that he actually dared to ask me this in front of Noorah, who looked like she was going to eat me up any minute.

I stood up and placed my glass in its right place, feeling both their gazes on me. I turned and stared at Khalifah in the eyes. “I think I’ve already had enough caffeine to stay awake tonight.”

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Hey guys, I hope u all liked this chp. Plz do tell us how u feel about it:) Peace up:)

~Edited by; U BH

~Lots of love from the writers; Witty & Witch