Shayba's P.O.V.

"Quick Shayba! The class is going to start!"
"Just one minute! Let me wrap my hijab."
"You don't want to get late in your first class of this year, do you?"
"No I don't!"

After another minute of hustle and bustle, I and Nadia came out of our room running towards our new classroom. That betrayer Farhana has left earlier today so that she can occupy a nice place in the back to sit on.

As soon as I reached the room, I could see students responding to the roll call already. I halted before the door and asked loudly, breathing hard,"May I come in Sir?" I shifted my eyes to the teacher with a pleading look when they burst into horror seeing a way too familiar face instead.

ZAWAD BHAI!?!?!

WHAT THE........!!! WHAT IS HE DOING HERE???

"No. You're late. Stand outside."he calmly uttered.

"WHATTTTT????"I couldn't abstain from yelling.

He turned to the class,"Let me be clear on my first day. I want each of you to be present here in the class before me. I may allow you for ten minutes more but that's it. You'll then have to stand by the window and note down the lecture from there. Do you two get that?"he calmly said with a stern look at us.

Wait a minute. Why is he acting like this??? He is the teacher??????
HOWWWW?!?
Hey! Is this some kind of drama going on???? Why did he tell me to stand outside? He is expelling me on the first day?!? ME?? Who prayed for him all along these days?!? How cruel!!

I couldn't move a muscle being flabbergasted as hundreds of questions appeared in my head. My jaw was hurting by now for dropping about a feet. But then suddenly a pull on my back by Nadia broke my thoughts. She was trying to make me move to the window. I kept staring at him with my eyes dilated but his attention was back to the class already as he began to write something on the board.
I quickly shifted my position beside Nadia and gradually happiness flooded me.

Now came the turn of my laughter in hysterics. I have got insane for sure. My heart filled with an unuttered and unusual happiness for him leaving my eyes automatically glistened. I looked at Nadia as she gave me a glare,"Why are you so happy for standing out? I got late for you too. God! You were so shy when you first came here."

"Nads, he became our teacher!! The Lecturer! Oh my goodness! Can you imagine this?!"I was grinning like crazy by now.

"Why wouldn't I? This year they took four faculty members anyway. Two permanent and two temporary. He is a temporary one."

"Seriously? Why didn't I hear that before? I heard they'll take two in total!"

"Nope. You are always busy searching for your groom and then rejecting them. How would you know what's going on in the campus?"

"Hey! First of all, that's my mom's job! And secondly, you......."

"If you two keep talking like this, I may have to suspend you for a week." Zawad bhai, oops my bad, Zawad Sir suddenly stated. Haha! Sir! Even this word swirls me up! How will we call him Sir? He is our brother!

"Sorry." we both uttered, but with different emotions, Nadia with guilt, and I, don't know why, but with shameless mirth. Even seeing the way of his talking as a lecturer made my heart jump in exhilaration. Alhumdulillah! His dream came true. And Masha-Allah he is looking sooo... Astagfirullah! What am I even thinking?!

Stop it Shayba. You don't want to get involved in any Haram activities , do you? I scolded myself.

It was forty minutes later when the class finally finished. My excitement had been befuddled by now that turned into boredom for standing outside till now. He took his notes and pen from the table and came out.

"Zawad bhai!"I couldn't help but call him aloud regardless my hesitation.
He turned back, but with an indifferent look as if he didn't even know me. As if I were a new student to him whom he knew only today morning for her lack of punctuality and carelessness. "Yes?"his grumpy reply came.

Suddenly I was subdued. Why is he acting like this to me? I quickly collected myself and said,"Sorry. Zawad, eh Sir. Congratulations!"

He nodded coldly, with no smile on his disposition,"Thanks."saying he walked away making my heart clench in disbelief. What is with that attitude?!

Well, he should act like a teacher to you now for creating a serious impression so that students don't go overboard treating him like before, right? He is justly doing his duty. Why are you being sad about that? Aren't you one of his students too?
My conscience reminded me. But my mind couldn't just get along with that explanation so easily.

At once I felt another pull on my abaya as Nadia dragged me inside the classroom evidently annoyed with my careless behavior. I gave up on her tugging and sought after a nice place to sit trying to accept all those issues happened in the morning, but a duel started between my brain and my heart.

-There is nothing wrong with his behaviour Shayba.
-But at least he could have told me!
-Why would he tell YOU in the whole universe? Who are you?
-Because I sincerely prayed for him!
-So what? Who are you to deserve an explanation?
This time heart went silent.
No one, I guess.....

I sat pouting and sulking among my friends for no reason.

Zawad's P.O.V.

I returned to the office room and took my seat beside my new colleagues who were my teachers up till the last year.

"Heeyy!! Look who's here!" Shahriar Sir said, "How was the first class?"

"Pretty well sir. Better than I expected. Though I don't know how I'll manage to make them treat me as their teacher and not some senior bhai." I replied laughingly.

"Hahhahaha!! It's ok. They will eventually call you Sir. No need to worry. But hey.....!"he stopped with a lopsided grin,"Remember, be careful of the girls and avoid them as much as possible. You are handsome anyway SubhanAllah. Who knows when they fall for your charms?"he cracked up.

"Thanks for your concern sir."

"You're welcome, SIR."he started laughing again.

Sitting on the study table, having no work at hand, my brain went on giving me a flashback.

It wasn't easy to convince my mother. The employment email itself wasn't enough to melt the ice in her.

"Dear Mr. Zawad Abir Khan,
University of Engineering congratulates you on your gracious results and cordially invites you to join as a Lecturer from the next month for a one year period. You are requested to contact the authority as early as possible to ensure your employment temporarily. Your posting can be permanent based on your one year's performance.
Thank you."

Those were the words. With my marksheet on the top and the name of the Vice Chancellor at the bottom. Words that gave me a mini heart attack.

I knew mom didn't want that. But she didn't utter a word seeing me extremely ecstatic at that moment. She clearly knew what my heart wanted too. So despite being all alone by herself, she just nodded and gave her consent silently.

"Promise me you will come back JUST after a year?"

"I promise mom. Just one year. I'll not make it permanent."I hastily replied with excitement.

"Fine,"she kissed on my forehead and said,"Go."

That night, mom seemed to be aged another decade. Her gloominess was evidently shown on her face. She was worried. She was completely alone. But she still accorded to my wish. Seeing her, I couldn't make my heart comply to call and inform everyone my freaking good news, well, good only for me maybe.

I promise you ma. I'll be straight back to you after one year quitting my job. Just let me do what I have always wanted. I promise I'll never make you wait again if Allah wills.

Then there was a knock on my door.
"Yes, come in."
Mahmud bhai entered. "So? I heard you are going?"
"Yes, Mahmud bhai."
"Will you keep my request to give it a second thought?"
"I fear I won't."

He sighed. "Abir. You know H2O is going under thousands of new problems each day. It is difficult for me and your mother as well to manage when the heir himself is not present. Your absence makes us weak Abir. And you know this too that your mother hardly endure all this gnashing her teeth only in one hope, that you'll come back. She counted each day for you to come back and get everything back to its normal place. And here you are leaving?? Seriously, I wonder how she could give you her permission Abir."

"Why wouldn't she?"I said but with less force and determination I had before. I couldn't deny his one single word. Damn!

"She is very lonely Abir."

Enough! I tried hard to keep my chin up and so surreptitiously changed the subject, "What did the detective say? Could he find out anything at all?"

He huffed with vexation and took time to answer my question,"Well, at least nothing big stolen since then. But the previous money has not been recovered. He says he needs more clues. But I believe he would have toiled hard if you were here observing. We are paying him for nothing. You should rule him out."

"Hmm," I turned my concentration on the backpack where I was packing my stuffs. "I'm going for a year and till then continue to take care of everything." I replied stiffly as I knew I would lose in such a debate.

"Fine. I will." he exhaled his breath again, "You take care of yourself too." saying so, he ushered out.

"UGGGHHH!!!!!" My whole life is a mess! I kicked the basketball beside me onto the wall at full force essaying in vain to release my frustration. Will I ever get peace somewhere?? EVER!??!!?

Everything seemed so perplexing around me that I stopped pondering on my career anymore. I'm going to Dhaka and that's final. No matter what happens here. Mom's face still jabbed me, but at least for once in my life, I want to listen to what my heart says, not my conscience.

After that I returned to Dhaka soon for attending my convocation. Though I assumed it before but it really hurt me when no one from my family was there for me on this very special day of my life. Right at that point, I was supposed to be on the seventh sky of happiness celebrating my new job and graduation. Mom was meant to be here taking pictures with me while kissing my forehead like others' moms did. So it broke me down into million pieces when I took my certificate alone and came out of the crowd without being noticed.

I have hurt my mom. And it was the last thing I ever wanted to do in my life. She waited five years for me to complete my graduation and then return to her, but I didn't take that into account. I came back to Dhaka for a job, my dream job. So there is no turning back now. Anyhow I have to fulfil my desire and then permanently go back to the ancestral business as planned. Mom can't be kept waiting anymore.

But that was not the end. Now, there was another problem waiting here that I hadn't thought about before.
The girl I fell for.
Who still continued to call me her "BHAI".
Whose parents are seeking a perfect groom for her every day.
Who gives me thrills every time I see her.

I don't know but for some reason it was being difficult for me to treat her as my student. I wasn't prepared to face her in the class. I made her stand outside only to avoid those eyes as though I was scared to get caught of my feelings. I knew my eyes would involuntarily find hers again and again in the class. And I didn't want by any chance to give anyone the opportunity to read out my mind and broadcast it all over the campus.

No matter what the circumstances are, currently there are two bright sides to be happy about. Number one, my job. And number two, a brand new apartment in the teachers' quarter.

Well yes, it's neither branded, nor new, but the fact is I am going to live there from now on. I received another email yesterday which announced the retirement of one of our senior teachers who left his flat only this month and lucky me! Eventually I got the golden opportunity to slid into it. Only the first three students of my class got our apartments to stay as soon as we joined leaving the last one still in wait.

"Zawad?"

"Huh?" I shook up from my trance and found my fellow colleague Iftekhar standing behind me. "What?"

"Where are you lost? Let's go have lunch."

"Yeah sure." I got up.

We hardly had reached the canteen when students from all sides besieged us for treats. And for the first time in the day I shook off my uneasiness and joined in revelry to victual these hungry souls. A job where I was comfortable since always and also one hundred percent confident of the fact that Shayba won't be here among this mixed gathering. So I can easily care the least and enjoy to my fullest. My jowls hurt for laughing after such a long time.

But on my way to the office with Iftekhar, I walked past her 'all girls gang', without looking back or ceasing for a second. I know she turned back. I can guarantee that. With surprise in her eyeballs and a slightly opened mouth beyond that veil.

To be honest, I am feeling quite peccant for avoiding her and probably hurting her like this. Because if I were at her place, I would have felt a pang in my chest for such attitude towards me. But does she even feel anything for me? No, I guess. I wonder if she now began to consider me a selfish guy for forgetting her as soon as I got the job, still I couldn't help myself but doing so. Maybe, just maybe, all the misunderstandings will volatalize into the air if I appear before her parents with the marriage proposal by the will of Allah. Who knows?

It was next week when I again went to take second year's class on structural acoustics. But this time I was bolder, stronger and more confident than ever. I called on the rolls and then started to give my lecture.

"By the way, any CR present here?" I asked when I recalled of a presentation needed to be made for a grand event coming soon. All four hands erected up. Great! I forgot she was one of them. The one in the front.

"Meet me after class, you four."

"Okay, sir."all of them nodded.

And eventually they came in my office after class. "Assalamu Alaikum sir. You called us?" I looked up as a boy greeted. I couldn't remember any of their names. Except Shayba's obviously.

I greeted in reply and made sure to know all of their names and proceed with my work. Shayba kept staring at the floor, Allah knows thinking what and what, when I didn't ask her name but focused on the work instead.

"You know there's a function coming on the arrival of the renowned Japanese architect Ban Akihiko, don't you?"

"Yes sir."

"Now. The final year students are going to organize this whole thing. Decorations, catering, publishing all other works are distributed. Now for you...." I brought out a paper where everything was written down in point, "As you are juniors, you'll have to give a presentation with a brief on our department, university, it's history, activities etc. and above all, our country. You get my point?"

"Yes, sir." They nodded.

"The newbies from first year don't know anything about this varsity yet. So it's up to you, alright? Make sure to make it captivating with the significant information. And yes! Decide among you four who is to present this whole thing in front of Mr. Ban and the other guests. Some ministers will be coming too. Our Vice Chancellor, Dean,... everyone will be present there, okay?"

At once, all of them slanted their eyes at Shayba. "She will present this."

Seriously? I turned to Shayba giving her a look of doubt.

Her eyes immediately jumped onto her forehead as she cried attempting in vain to keep her voice low in my office. "WHAT? Are you guys kidding me?!"

"Sshhh. You can do this. Trust me."her fellow classmate as well as CR Nirza stated and then turned to me,"Sir, don't worry. We will manage."

"Good. You can go now."

"Thank you sir. Assalamu Alaikum."

"Walaikumus Salam."

A smile made its form on my face as they went away. I will eagerly wait if really she presents the slides.

"What are you doing baba?" Mom gave me a call at the time of my coming out of the office.

"Alhumdulillah, great ma. Just got out of the office. I will have to shift the cartons from my hostel to the officer's quarter now." I laughed.

"Shifting? Oh I completely forgot that! How can you do this alone?! Wait I'll come in the weekend."

"Er um.. to be honest I really need your help ma."I chuckled, "I seriously have no idea how I'll fill this new apartment with the few things from my hostel. I mean I used to live with two more persons in a single room! I have very few accessories."

I heard her laughing quite loudly on the other end, "Does that mean you want to get married? Your wife will make everything complete!"

"Ok I didn't know where this was leading. But obviously I never meant that!"

"Oh and when you two have kids! Ah! The whole apartment will be blooming with their chirps!"she started daydreaming. Urgh!

"Ma! Stop that. I'm neither in the situation nor in mood to get married now."

"Really? Let me guess my grandchild's name. Ok, if it is a boy, then umm Zaeef? What do you think? It's good. Oh Shayan seems great!! Now you may guess where that Shay came from!"saying this she cracked up in loud laughter.

YES OBVIOUSLY I DO!

"For God's sake, stop being so obvious about her being my wife ma!!! I didn't even propose to her! She may get married to someone else anytime! And what are you doing? Planning on our kids' names???" I shouted aloud not caring about where I am and who may listen to my tantrums.

"Yeah yeah whatever. I'll be coming Ing Sha Allah in the weekend. Don't buy anything yet. I'll come and go to shopping for your new place."she said,"If possible, then with my future daughter in law." saying this, she burst into laughter.
Again! Argh!

I huffed, "Do it with whoever you want. Just remember to bring my car here. I'm having transportation problems."

"Oookay Mister. Anything you command." I chuckled. To be honest, thanks a million to Allah for bringing mother back to her usual self.

The next week passed in a blink. Mom had come and embellished my whole apartment with new furniture. My car was in the garage now with other professors' vehicles.

Luckily enough, mom could not get to meet Shayba by the grace of the Almighty. Only Allah knows what she would have done if she saw her.

But the best part is, I had nothing to worry about my lunch or dinner as long as she was here. But now, it seems so difficult to live on my own! Sometimes I wish to barge into my hostel and live my life like a student again. To be true to myself, it feels really lonely to be here. No parent, no friend, no wife, not even a helping hand. I come here late at night to sleep only. Even the dinner is taken out in a nearby restaurant every single day. This is being freaking annoying. I'm already tired of eating junk food from outside. How long will I tolerate this? Now I feel nostalgic even for that tasteless, unpalatable hostel supper. If this goes on for another month, I may start learning how to cook. I can't spend my whole salary on outside junk food.

Quite typically, this lack of culinary skills again enticed me to get hitched in near future. But to whom? That girl started calling me 'Sir' so easily that even I felt awkward. Argh!

Should I propose to her now? Am I honestly prepared enough? How will she react? She will probably be seized with shock, or start screaming. Her friends will blame her too, won't they? She has already heard a lot for just being with me. If she accepts me, those vile people will probably shun her off their team saying she mesmerized me intentionally.

God! What am I gonna do????

And at once the tune of my phone shook me up from the unreasonable stupid trance I was having alone till now.

SHAYBAAA???!?!

Girl, I was just thinking about you! You will live long!
Okay, that's just a stupid superstition. But I won't mind if you do though.

I cleared my throat at once and picked up the call waiting for three more seconds so that she doesn't get to know that I got excited about her call. "Yes?"I said in a chest voice.

"Assalamu Alaikum sir. It's me Shayba."her melodious reply came causing me to smile.

"Walaikumus Salam." I know very well who you are!

"Sir, are you busy?"

Stop saying sir in every line. It annoys me.

"Nope. Why?" I coldly replied.

"Sir, for the presentation. How much time is allotted for us actually?"

"Er.. um 7 to 8 minutes max I guess." I sharpened my professional tone as much as I could.

"Oh okay. JazakAllahu Khairan. Have a good night."she went on to hang up but I quickly stopped her, "Ah Shayba listen!"

"Huh? Yes sir?"

Ugh! I hate when she calls me that. Even bhai was better.
But now what? No, there is no way I can ask her if she is upset with me or not. Am I even thinking sane? She'll immediately get a hold of my thoughts. Why did I even stop her in the end?

"Ah umm,"I took time to process my next sentence,"Who is going to present the slides on the stage?" I heaved a sigh of relief and lauded myself for making out a reasonable question in time.

"Oh! It will be me."she chuckled, "Everyone forced me actually, praising my English accent for no reason. The fact is, Nirza will be attending her sister's wedding, so she can't come that day. Shahir says he is scared for coming from a remote district and people will laugh at his pronunciation. But these are only excuses. They could do it if they wanted. But to be honest, I will love this!" I heard her soft laugh.

"Oh okay, be well prepared."

"Yes Ing Sha Allah. You don't have to worry sir. You know, I've been making slides since you told us last week! And I am so excited about this!! If Allah wills, it will be a blast for sure. Pray for me sir."

Stop saying sir over and over, you idiot!

"Yeah okay. Bye!"

"Allah Hafiz."

"Huh?"I again stuttered,"Oh yeah. Allah Hafiz." Hanging up, a heavy gasp left out of my chest.

I don't know when you'll be cognizant that you create a havoc in my heart. But when you get on the stage Shayba, I'll definitely be there secretly cheering for you. Give your best shot that day!

_______________________________________

Assalamu Alaikum.

Loooong Chapter, right??

I hope you all are well Alhumdulillah. Yes I am too. :) How are you enjoying this Spring?🌼🌸🌻

Who could guess what that email was about??😉

Talking about my condition, exams are not politely knocking at my door anymore. They are banging on it hard shouting to open the door right this instant, otherwise they will break it and barge in. Haha!😂
Sorry if you don't find it funny. Because sometimes I laugh at my own joke and think how hilarious I am.😝😂 But I better warn you that the next updates will come slow. Solly again.😳

So Allah knows when I'll get enough time to write another chapter, proof read and publish. Till then, stay well and cozy and VOTE!🌟

Another thing, Please comment more and more cupcakes. I loooooveee to read your opinions. Good ones will inspire me a great deal and ill ones will judge me to write better I believe. I'll try to think more before writing then. So please do me some mercy and bless me with constructive criticism!

Love.❤