“I want you to do something for me” Amir said through the screen of my laptop.

“What?” I asked filing my nails as I laid back on the chaise lounge.

“I should be there to attend a meeting but you know how things are now” he sat in front of the screen as he buttoned his shirt.

“So you want me to attend this meeting?” I blinked with a face.

“Yes habibti”

“What is the meeting about?”

It had been nine days since he left. The day he left, I had wept for a while after his departure. Amir and I had come to a conclusion that I spend the time he would be away in the manor. Nani who was elated had volunteered to come and pick me up from home. She had crushed me into a hug, sat with me for a while before we were driven to the manor by a driver who brought her. The past few days had not been easy without him like the way it always felt. The feeling was different without a heart break or ache. I knew he was there and he would come back. He promised me that.

During those nine days, there was something I did. I visited Mi Jin’s mother and Mi Jin’s last resting place. I had stood there for long recalling every moment with her. There was something I realised. Mi Jin was a friend, someone I met by chance and created great memories with. She might not be there anymore but she would forever be engraved in my heart so also my mother. People shall come and go. They would leave memories with us, something we would always grasp unto. Among them are those who will leave the best of the best memories behind.

“Nothing much. You are not going there to say a thing. You just represent me then sign a contract for me. You read it if you can. You have nothing to worry about. Shane will be there since Vincent is here with me, and a lawyer will represent our lawyer who is here and few other delegates will be present. You are just there to represent the CEO who is absent”

“That’s all?”

“Yes” he smiled.

“So when is this thing happening?”

“Tomorrow”

“I have school”

“When are you going to be through with school?”

“By noon”

“The meeting is by three in the afternoon”

“Wait” I picked a notebook from the table where my laptop was to check my schedule stealing a sip from my hot chocolate. “You are lucky” I said with a finger on my lip. “My class ends by two”

“Good. Nani will get someone to provide you something to wear. The cars would be ready and those who would follow you will be there to pick you up from the manor. It is going to take place in a conference room in one of our hotels. So changing of clothes won’t be an issue. They will pick you up from school”

“So how long is this meeting going to take?”

“An hour with a buffet at the end”

“Alright, consider it done” I beamed.

“I knew you would be the perfect one for it”

“I miss you so bad” I whined sitting up to look at him. “Nine days and it is just hell without you”

“You should be enjoying your stay there”

“I do but the bed is empty and cold”

“Late night calls with me should do something Noor”

“It is harder when your number is unreachable and seeing you in person is different from hearing your voice Mr Hussein” he uttered nothing and just blinked with his eyes on me. “I know I am pretty and let’s say irresistible” I flipped my imaginary hair “But say something Amir” He laughed, a deep laughter that had always been beautiful.

“You want me to say I miss you too? That the nights are lonely? That there are times I reach out for you to know you are not there? That I miss your embrace and the warmness of your body”

“When did you become so good with words?”

“When I met you” the left corner of his lip moved up.

“What a line?” I laughed throwing my head back.

“You got what I sent to you?”

“Oh the flowers” I looked over my shoulder to the flowers in a corner of the room. “Pretty as always. Thanks but how did you do that? You are away from here”

“That’s a secret”

“And a red rose every single day. You got a romantic heart Mr Hussein” I grinned. “I got my hot on you. Right now, you are sexy” I winked.

“You are not an exception either Mrs Hussein”

“Oh” I cooed. “You are flirting back”

“It is something we do all the time” I laughed out hard.

“I love that. I hope you did not forget the lesson I taught you on how to know when a woman flirts with you”

“Noor” he groaned slamming his palms over his face.

“I was serious Amir. Women will always come. They won’t mind if you are married”

“This is so like you Noor”

“Please don’t fall for their pawn. I love you so much and remember that kiss I gave you. The possessive one” I winked.

“I do” his lips curved up.

“That should always remind you of me” I said pleased with myself.

“Not when I miss you more”

“I love your eyes” I said like one of those fan girls.

“You have never said that”

“But I just said it. Please come soon. I miss you more”

“I shall be there soon In Sha Allah. As much as I want to talk longer with you, I have to go. I have a meeting in less than an hour”

“So the call comes to an end here?”

“Yes” he nodded his head. I pouted.

“Can’t you make your trip shorter?” I whined.

“It was something I tried to do but I can’t. Bear with me my love and miss me more” He ended the call.

“What a way to end a call?” I muttered under my breath. No flying kisses and I love you. I exhaled then relaxed back into the seat.

No one had ever said business meetings were boring. To seat around a round table and listen to boring terms and conditions was no fun. I had yawned a number of times. It was an honour to be there but it was an indirect torture. I had tried to daydream and tried anything to fritter away time. It would be rude to use my phone. After that, some papers were given to me to read? I said no to Shane. He could read it with the lawyer and get back to me. They took it away and brought it back for my signature which I had not hesitated to put down as fast as my hand moved. The buffet was great not when my stomach was screaming at me to eat and the acidic juice kept alerting me. I ate and interacted with people in the business world. It was nice, the respect, hospitality and event.

I had gone straight to the room when I arrived back at the manor without entering the living room. I can do the whole acknowledgements later. What I needed was a shower and good sleep. My head was pounding. It ought to after enduring two hours of boring words. My brain ached and I knew I needed to rest. School was a bit stressful not when I was trying to catch up what I missed. While I undressed, I dialled Amir’s number through Skype. I hope he picks up.

“You are lucky that I am free” I heard his voice as I stripped out of my clothes. I got a robe and wore it before settling in front of the laptop.

“How are you?” I asked removing my jewelleries.

“Great and you?”

“Terrible” I rolled my eyes and leaned back into the settee. “The meeting was boring Amir. You have never say a thing about how boring business meetings can be”

“They are not hayati” From the background, I could tell he was leaning on the wall with his phone to his face. He was suited up, sexy like always with his hair groomed to perfection.

“Not the one I attended. My head aches” I complained.

“It could be from stress”

“No, the meeting gave me this” I stood up to get makeup wipes to wipe my makeup.

“Sorry” his voice resonated through the room.

“Thanks” I sat back running a wipe over my lips. “It was a nice experience though. You have never said anything about how they treat you with respect” I gave a soft smile then laughed tenderly.

“It is like that to be a CEO. Have you eaten?”

“I should ask you that?”

“I have eaten and you?”

“Yes at the buffet. So” I leaned closer to the screen. “You would be going to Bangkok today?”

“In less than thirty minutes, I will board the plane”

“I called to inform you that I am back and what experience it was”

“Good to know you enjoyed it even though you hated the meeting”

“I did not enjoy it. I just endured it” He smiled “I need to bath and sleep. Take care and I love you”

“I love you too” he said over a laughter.

“Have a nice day” I kissed two of my fingers and pressed them to the screen.

“If it was possible to take those fingers through this. I would to plant kisses on them”

“Just go away” I laughed and ended the call.

When I arose from sleep, the headache had reduced but something else came. I had to use the toilet thrice within an hour. My stomach turned and it needed to be empty. Was it due to the food I ate at the buffet? Going down for dinner was hard. I stayed back in bed waiting for the time to rush into toilet as a fart that stunk awfully kept releasing and the tumbling of my stomach that felt like the inner walls were been squeezed continued. It made me weak. Nani came in later with nearly everyone. They had come to check on me. I was too embarrassed to say what was happening to me but I said it. They showed their care and thought the hospital was the best place to visit. I had refused saying I would be fine.

The following morning, I woke up with a burning body temperature which was far above normal. The painful feeling was still present in my head. This time worse than the day before. Cold rippled through my hot body with the thick duvet over my body doing nothing to stop it. I raised my throbbing eyes but dropped them again. My stomach rumbled. Eliminating waste for nearly the entire night was not good at all. Every energy I had was gone that moving in bed was challenging. I needed to pray but just felt too weak to walk or sit up. I had a long talk with Amir pretending to be alright. I knew he would be worried and might fly back as soon as he can if I say anything about being sick. For a moment, I had thought about telling him I was sick maybe he would really come back and forget his trip to Bangkok.

I managed to get out of bed with shivering limbs. The nightie I had on did not help to conceal the chills. The cold dawn made it worse. It had stopped raining few minutes back. The wall and objects in the room became a support for my feeble body. I stripped and had a cold shower to cool down my temperature. I soaked my head hoping it would help. It had been long since I felt that way. Having fever was something I hated. It was worse when my throat becomes bitter and everything I ate had no taste. The shower gave me a little bit strength and I collapsed in bed tangled with the satin sheet before drifting into slumber.

“Bhabi” a voice called. I tried to open my heavy eyes but it dropped again. “Noorie bhabi” it was softer, distant but I could still hear. “Wake up bhabi” it requested and I felt the slight tap on my shoulder. I burned in the sheet trying to pull out of the deep slumber. “Bhabi” it became louder. I flinched to the voice which irritated my ear that sounded like spoilt speakers. It was normal whenever I have a fever.

“Noor” Another voice demanded. The bed sank on my left. “She is burning” it was urgent and panicked. “Noorie” someone shook me. I sensed the cold palm on my searing forehead. “Ya Allah” it said. I strained my eyes opened. They opened into slit but I could see two faces close to mine.

“Sahibah bhabi” I droned, my throat dried like sand paper. I swallowed my saliva to moisten my throat which became sticky.

“Noor” I was able to lift my heavy eyelids. My eyes aches as the throbbing in my head grew worse. It felt like I had smashed my head hard against something “We need to take you to the hospital” she yanked the sheet from my body. I curled like a foetus at the sudden gush of icy air that caressed my scorching skin.

“Bhabi” I recognised the second voice to belong to Reshma.

“Reshma” Sahibah bhabi stood over me. “Inform a butler to get a driver ready. We have to leave for the hospital now” she ordered. I heard the door open then close to a loud bang. I winced at the noise. My ears become too sensitive whenever I felt that way. I hated noise any time I was sick. “Noor” bhabi turned me over. “We have to go to the hospital. Where are your clothes?”

“The closet” I managed to say with a little rise of my hand to where the closet was. There was a quick shuffle in the room here and there and I arched into the bed. I thought the shower would help but it did nothing. I held my aching head in my shivering palms.

I heard the room door fly back then hit the wall with a bang. The sounds of footsteps followed. This time, it was not just one person but it was like a group of people.

“Noorie” Ayat mami’s voice rumbled through the quiet room. “Oh dear” there was an urgent walk then a sink next to me.

“Here are her clothes” Sahibah bhabi said.

“What’s wrong with her?” Nani voice followed next.

“She is sick. She has a high temperature and we need to leave for the hospital”

“Aaryan, inform the butler to get the car as quick as possible” Aaliyah Khala’s voice was next. Their noise did nothing but just made me worse.

“Get up” Ayat mami said.

With her help, I sat in bed. My heavy eyes darted around me. A group stood around with worried eyes on me.

“You will be fine” she assured which brought tears to my eyes. My scattered hair was pulled back into a loose bun.

“My head aches” I spoke, my voice tiny. A dress was forced through my head and a scarf hanged loosely on my head. Ayat mami adjusted it then helped me out of bed. I held her for support while I slipped my feet into the slippers next to the bed.

The time at the hospital took longer than we expected. Nani, Sahibah bhabi and Reshma took me there. Nani had insisted she wanted to go so Khala had to back out. I had met the doctor who suggested I take some test. It was confirmed I had malaria fever. Some drugs were administered to me with injections. I hated drugs. I preferred injections to them but drugs makes me want to puke. We returned home where I drank custard that barely went down my throat, took my drugs then tucked into bed with Nani by my side. She held my hand, rubbed and recited duas on me before I slept off.

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