I worked till midnight. Then the office car dropped me at my home. Thank God, I had a spare key to the main door or else I would have to spend the whole night outside.

I was exhausted, so I didn't bother to change my clothes and slept without having dinner.

The next morning, when I opened my eyes and looked at the clock, it was already nine. Oh, God! I am late for the office.

I immediately ran to the bathroom to get ready. I didn't have time to prepare breakfast for myself. And I don't expect that my stepmother or half-sister will make breakfast for me. I don't want them to do it. What if they mixed poison in it?

I reached the office at ten. I noticed that on my way to the desk, everyone was giving me an amused look. Was something wrong with my appearance? I was wearing a yellow shirt with a long black skirt. I paired my outfit with a black hijab. In the name of make-up, I only applied Kohl to my eyes.

I directly entered Mr Kaiser's cabin, to show him the schedule, for which I sacrificed my valuable sleep.

"Sir, the schedule is ready," I said as I entered and began walking to his table.

"Go back." His order halted my steps. Without asking anything I went back to the door.

"Knock." He ordered.
Oh! I forgot to knock.

I knocked at the door.
"May I come in, sir?"

"You're already in, but still come in, Miss Nawaz."

I again walked to his table with an embarrassing yet amused look. I noticed, Mr Kaiser was also amused. But he hid the amusement behind a hard expression.

"I hope the schedule is ready."
That's why I am here, Mr Dumb Kaiser.

"Yes, sir. Please check it once." I handed him the file.

He checked the file just like a teacher who was trying to find a mistake in it. But he didn't find any mistake. I sacrificed my sleep for this stupid schedule, how could I be reckless while preparing it.

"Hmm, it's fine. You may go now."

I nodded and went to my desk.

"Wow! I worked the whole night over this schedule and he said, hmm, it's fine." I mimicked his tone.

After cursing my rude boss for few more moments, I engrossed myself in work again. Around lunchtime, someone came to my desk.
"Excuse me."

I looked at the person and it was Jashn.
"Good Afternoon, sir. How can I help you?"

He first smiled but then frowned. He was looking at my pale face.
"You haven't slept properly, right? He asked.

"Yeah, due to overtime at the office."

"If I am not wrong, yesterday was your first day at the office, right?"
I nodded.

"And you did overtime? Haaye Rabba!Now I understood why Taha's employees call him Devil."

Does he know it!?

"By the way, when the last time you ate something? You look weak."

"I think yesterday during lunchtime."

"Seriously!? You haven't eaten anything for the last twenty-four hours?"

"Maybe. Due to overtime, I was exhausted so I directly went to sleep. In the morning I was late for the office so I skipped breakfast. And now I am busy with work. Plus, I don't have an appetite."

"But that's not fair. Being a doctor, it's my responsibility to make you understand that you should not skip your meals."

He is a doctor? He looks more like a supermodel.

"Now come with me. You have to eat food in front of my eyes."

Well, he was right. My stomach was feeling that burning sensation, carving to be filled with food.

I politely nodded and began walking towards the canteen. But in the middle of the way, I heard Jashn's laughter. I turned back to look at him.

"What happened?" I asked him.

"Look at your shoes." He said amidst his laughter.

I looked downwards and Oh no! I wore two different shoes. One is black and another is white.

Now I understood why everyone was giving me an amused look. It means Mr Kaiser would have also seen my shoes. Nobody told me about it. How mean!

"Jashn, I am not going anywhere like this."

"Ok, let's go to Taha's cabin. We'll eat lunch there."

"With him?"

"Obviously."

"But he is my boss."

"Don't worry, he is not going to eat you. Come on."

Both of us went to Mr Kaiser's cabin. I was a little hesitant. After all, Mr Kaiser was my boss, not my friend.

"Taha, order the lunch," Jashn commanded.

"Command accepted."
He looked at me.
"Miss Nawaz, what are you doing here?"

"I invited her. I want her to eat in front of my eyes. She is skipping her meals." Jashn explained.

"Oh, I forgot my friend is also a doctor."

Three of us sat on couches placed near a wall-length window made up of blue glass, from where we could see the busy roads of the city.

"So what will you guys like to eat?" asked Mr Kaiser.

"I'll have a Masala Dosa with Sambhar," said Jashn.

"And Miss Nawaz?"

"Anything." I was busy looking at the view of the city.

"Ok, a "Salman Khan" for you," said Mr Kaiser.

"What?" I asked wide-eyed.

"You said naa, anything."
This man is a psycho.

"Pav Bhaji," I said.

"Good. I'll have Dal Makhni," he said.

He ordered the food. Both of them began chatting about random topics like politics, cricket, Kapil Sharma, etc. While I was enjoying the view of the city.

"Aqsa, tell us something about yourself." It was Jashn.

"What do you want to know about myself?"

"Ahh...your Mom."

What would I tell him, even I don't know anything about her.

"I don't know. She died just after my birth." I said emotionlessly.

Both of them went silent and serious. I looked at Mr Kaiser, I could see the sadness in his eyes.

Maybe they were shocked. I said it without showing any emotion.
Honestly, I don't know what a mother's love is like.

The atmosphere filled with an awkward silence.

At the same time, we heard a knock at the door. The peon had brought the lunch. He served it and left.

We began eating. I and Mr. Kaiser were eating quietly, while Jashn was continuously talking during lunch. It caused him to cough.

First, he was lecturing me about not skipping the meals. Now he was talking while eating.

"Oh Dr Dumb, eat quietly. Or else I'll spread the rumour that you are gay." Mr Kaiser gave him a fake threat.

"Then I'll say I am in love with you. And you are also a gay." Jashn gave him an equal comeback.

"First playboy, now gay. People are so eager to ruin my reputation." Mr Kaiser sighed.

"Understand, yaar. People are obsessed with you."

Jashn sneakily ate a spoonful of Mr Kaiser's Dal Makhni.
"That's my Dal Makhni." He smacked Jashn at the shoulder.

"I don't see your name over it."

Mr Kaiser spilt a glass of water over him. Then Jashn did the same with Mr Kaiser.

I couldn't control it and began laughing over them. Whenever they are together, they behave like little kids. So adorable they are.

A few moments later Jashn spilt water over me too. This action only increased my laughter.

We all ended up laughing for the whole lunchtime.

We were done with lunch, again we heard a knock. This time it was a lady, who was holding a shopping bag.

"Thanks for bringing it," said Mr Kaiser.
The lady left.

He looked at me.
"For you, Miss Nawaz." He forwarded the bag in my direction.

"What's this?"

"See for yourself."

I opened the bag. There was a box inside it. In that box, there was a pair of sandals.

"But I don't want them."
I meant I can't afford them.

"Okay, you don't "want" them, but right now you "need" them."
He pointed towards the two different shoes on my feet.

Yes, I needed these sandals. I quickly wore them and these were surprisingly perfect on my feet.

"I'll return them tomorrow."

"I don't wear ladies' sandals."
This man always gives me a witty answer. Can't he just say, "you can keep them?"

"You can keep them, as a payment of your overtime." He said politely.

Now I can keep these sandals. I deserve them for that exhausting overtime.

"And can you do another overtime?" He requested.

He requested, didn't ordered like the previous time. I didn't want to do it, but it's my job.

"Okay, what I have to do tonight?"

"You'll go with me to a party."

"Why?"
I don't like parties.

"Because you are my Secretary."

"But I don't have clothes for a party."

"I'll arrange them."

"Makeup?"

"I'll take you to a parlour before going to the party."

"I have some conditions too."

"Speak."

"I am not going to dance with anyone."

"Done."

"Nobody should touch me."

"Done."

"You'll not drink."

"Don- not done! Why won't I drink?" He frowned.

"Because it's forbidden. If you even touched alcohol I swear I'll leave the party immediately."

He thought for few moments. Frustration was clearly written on his face.

"Okay, I will not drink."

Suddenly we heard a snore. We looked at the source of the sound. Jashn was laying on a long sofa placed at the side of the door. He was snoring lightly. His jaw was wide open. He was sleeping peacefully just like a little kid.

I think he got bored due to our boring talks.

I, Aqsa Nawaz, is supposed to go to a party with my psycho devil boss, who is rumoured to be a playboy.

But don't worry. If he tried to do something wrong, I swear I'll kick him at such a part that he'll not be able to sit properly for months.

Mr Devil Kaiser, be careful.

☆☆☆
This is the longest chapter till now.
Tell me, if you liked it.
And very important, who is your favourite among all the protagonists?
Taha, the devil
Aqsa, the angel
Or
Jashn, the clown