Hikayat ✔

Chap. 27

Vania didn't know what her hand was typing as she worked. She had no sense whatsoever of her surroundings, so lost was she in her head. Maniha Khala was enough for stressing her out, now Waqas had to jump into the picture.

"Haan uss waley ko dekh liya hai maine.."

"New presentation kaa template kya rakhna?"

"Hashir apna inbox check kar len please."

The voices bounced around her, desk to desk, as everyone worked and conversed.

She didn't want to talk to Waqas. Didn't want to know what he had to say. Because she knew. She knew his intentions and she didn't want to face them.

The worst part of it was that she had her answer for him as well. But she didn't want to be the one to tell him.

If only she could make him understand without having to say it.

If only...

'Zimmm...' the printer printed pages and the lap tops went 'tap tap tap'.

"Ufff Allah..." She squeezed her eyes and massaged her forehead.

"Tum theek ho?" Harris couldn't stop himself from leaning to her side and asking.

Vania, who didn't realize she spoke out loud, instantly straightened up, and swallowing her frustration, schooled her features into a blank mask.

"Hmm, theek hun. Don't worry about me." She replied dryly, not looking back into his concerned filled eyes.

Harris frowned at her reaction and added that to things he wanted to talk about.

'Stop hiding from me Vania!' He wanted to tell her.

But he had to be patient.

'Khatam bhi ho jaye ab yeh din! Aaj ka din toh chaltaaa hi jaa raha hai.'
He grumbled in his head.

Harris tried to keep on working then sighed and turned to Vania again, "Vania suno—" he began but was cut off.

"Ibrahim! Um.. Can you please check your inbox. I wanted your suggestions on the file I sent." Farah called him and he nodded, mouthing, 'Sure'.

The next time he tried to call Vania Anoushey did it first and he slumped in his seat, dejectedly.

And so it seemed that today was the day of interruptions as the moment he'd open his mouth to beckon her, he himself or Vania got summoned by another person.

***

People shuffled in out all day till the shadows grew tall, and the light disappeared from behind the window shades.

It was 6:30 in the evening when Farah got up from her seat and frowned.

"Vania?" She called softly.

"Hmm?" Vania raised her head as if jolted back to reality.

"Jana nhi hai tumne?" Farah asked with a smile.

Vania didn't return it, instead her mouth dropped open in an 'O' and she gazed down at her watch.

'Allah!! 6:30 hogaye?!'

That was when she realized that only a few people other than herself were left in the room. And among those Farah was already leaving which would leave only her and Waqas.

As Zeeshan was not coming to pick her up due to his academy class, she was to go home by herself. She didn't even call an Uber yet!

'Uffff aaj kyaa hogaya hai mujhe!!'