Chapter 14: Longing. 

*

"With such thoughts, 

her heart shattered. 

The words died at her lips, 

buried in the graveyard 

that lied there. 

She silently prayed, 

Oh Allah, 

Please let me survive"

-2am-

*

Yahyah was not sure what he was doing when he handed her the white shirt of his. He knew it would not fit Nahal, but he gave it to her anyway. Nahal was thin compared to his buff build yet he gave it to her.

And he now, he regretted it.

She stood in front of the podium with a bright smile and his shirt, which was covered with her blazer and she looked really good.

Stop staring at her like that, please Yahyah.

Yahyah diverted his gaze to the project proposal in front of him. The pen in between his fingers swirled from one point to the other and he bit the insides of his cheeks to not smile at her present. She was perfect.

"And with that, we conclude that this design suits best the project proposal stated by Ibrahim and Corp" Yahyah looked up to see her smiling brightly at the audience who were clapping for her.

She finished? Just how long was I ogling at the girl and not paying attention? I seriously should start lowering my gaze. Seriously.

"Yahyah?" he looked over to see Yazdan calling out to him.

"Yeah?"

"You have something to say?" He then realized that the people around the table were looking at him.

Well. This is what you get for not paying attention.

He cleared his throat and stood up, pulling onto his suit jacket to straighten it. Yazdan saw right through it and realized his best friend was nervous as hell because he was not paying attention and did not know what to say. So he took the lead.

"Ladies and gentlemen, before the CEO speaks and we have the marketing team come up, why don't we take a break?" said Yazdan and the people at the table looked relieved. Yahyah gave him a smile and took his seat. Iqraam Ibrahim, who was silent throughout the presentation nodded at his staff to leave. The niqabi beside him stayed however.

"Ah, why don't we go have something before continuing this?" questioned Yahyah and Iqraam smiled brightly. His smile is ever so bright.

"You lost track of what was happening, didn't you?" he questioned Yahyah and Yahyah let out a small laugh.

"Actually no. I heard it so many times, I am sure I can repeat word by word. I was just thinking when they asked me to speak" he said, speaking partial truth.

"Of course." Iqraam Ibrahim said, but Yahyah did not miss the glint in his eyes. Something told him it was not the usual one.

"Ah Miss. Sadaf" he said, turning to Nahal who had walked into the conference room. Two ladies and a gentleman followed her beverages. Yahyah smiled at the servers as they placed the three trolley of snacks and drinks in front of them. They nodded at their CEO and walked out.

-

"As salaam alaikum, Mr. and Mrs. Ibrahim" smiled Nahal to them. The two replied with their salutations before Iqraam turned to his PA with a smirk that said, people knew. Ruqayyah, his PA and his wife scowled at him behind her niqab. He knew she felt uncomfortable with people's scrutinizing gazes, to this day. His smirk dropped and he let out a grin before shifting beside her and taking her hand in his, real discreetly, while he talked to Yahyah very casually.

Nahal watched the entire exchange with a small smile. She saw how Ruqayyah leaned into her husband's comfort and conversation, the latter being a bonus.

Ah. Such beautiful relationships only exist in books. Yet, here they are.

She felt a presence beside her and turned to see Yazdan smiling at her.

"Good work" he told her and she raised her eyebrows and let out a smile.

Rare words from an even rare person. Ahhaha. I am hilarious.

Okay stop, Nahal.

"Thank you" she replied.

"I see you were observing them as I was" he said and Nahal let out a small laugh, covering her mouth with her hands in the process.

So he saw.

"Of course not. I was admiring" she said and he scoffed.

"Longing" he corrected her before tilting his head to his best friend.

Of course Yazdan Rashad would notice everything. He was Yahyah's brother, after all. Jeez. Yahyah.

She touched the soft fabric of the shirt she was wearing and let out a small smile.

"Shall we begin the next part of the presentation?"

The presentation went well, for Nahal anyway. Iqraam Ibrahim had liked their project and had asked for the contract signing to be as soon as possible. With the dinner with the Ibrahim's postponed to the following afternoon, Yazdan was staying back with Yahyah to work on some accounts and Nahal opted to stay back to put final touches to the project models. Yahyah was in his cabin, calling up the lawyer while Yazdan was in the other office, trying to finish of the accounts. 

-

"Why doesn't this thing add up?! Is anything in this office even organized?!" Yazdan muttered to himself, slamming the accounts book shut. There was some entries missing and he needed them to balance out the accounts. What exactly are the accountants doing here?

He laid his head on the soft couch and closed his eyes. He barely got sleep recently. It was like he was working more than Yahyah for Yahyah's business.

"Tired?" His head snapped up to see Aanabia standing by the door.

What?

As if she heard his unasked question, she spoke.

"I came to go home with Nahal." Yazdan nodded at her before sitting up straight and going over the accounts.

"You alright?" she questioned him, still standing by the door. Yazdan nodded, without looking up to her. He knew her gaze was on him. Like always.

"You hungry?" Yazdan shrugged, flipping the pages. He didn't expect her to leave any time soon. He knew she would pester him.

"Since you are not hungry, I guess the donuts would go-" Yazdan's eyes snapped up to see her holding out a box of Micheal's Cupcakes. He raised an eyebrow at her and she grinned.

"I knew you didn't have food so I got something. Uh..... for everyone that is" she muttered and Yazdan let out a small smile. She is uncomfortable.

"Jazak Allah Khair" he said, getting up and walking towards her. She held out the box and nodded.

"All good" he took the box and opened it with a small smile. The smile fell when he realized they were all chocolate glazed. He looked up to her and she was still looking at him, as if expecting a feedback. 

Maybe I should eat it? 

And what? Die?

The rational part of him was sarcastic. 

"Uh. I am sorry but I cannot eat this" he said, holding out the box. Her smile fell. See, what you did to her? He was not sure why his inner voice was so concerned about her.

"Why?"

"It is chocolate. I cannot take sugar"

"Oh. It's just one donut" she muttered and he shook his head. He was no way sharing his personal information with this human.

"Yes. And that one donut can kill me. So thank you for the offer. Give it to Yahyah, he would be delighted" he said, before handing it out to her. She took it and stared after him. He felt her gaze.

"Why can't you take sugar?" Yazdan halted on his tracks and tensed. Should I just tell her? No.

"Nothing I can disclose to people" he replied and began his long strides to the couch. He took a seat and opened the accounts books, going back to work.

He looked up to the doorway, a while later to see her gone. He then heaved a deep sigh.

There are things you don't know, Aanabia. And it is best you don't. 

****

BTS COMEBACK!!! Was amazing. As usual. 

If you didn't see it, STREAM!!! And also stream DNA. (I feel so guilty doing this but- ITS BTS!!!) haha. 

Thank you so much for the comments in the previous chapter. 

Sorry for the multiple POV's of this chapter. Next time, I would try to tone it down to at least two. haha. 

| R - C - V |

xx, 

-aalihha.