Dancing Jodi

Chapter 5: Playing Strangers

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By the time Noori got to the restaurant, she had decided on what to do: she was going to make good on her promise and stay out of Meezaan's way as much as possible. She had important casework to get through, new performances to choreograph, dancers to train, and schedules to adjust. Plus, she had someone who was just as good as she was in training new hires: Meyer. He was a good employee, he learned fast, one of the original employees from when Safar Hayat first opened up the restaurant, and he wasn't a pushover. Also, he didn't hate Noori.

Yet. Noori reminded herself. He could always turn on you when you least expect it.

But, for right now, Meyer was already present in the Lounge, living not too far from the restaurant, and the only worker willing to take Noori's orders without a fight and disgruntled complaint.

Once he got started with the orientation, gathering the group of newbies in the dining area, and doing a round of introductions, Noori took over Meyer's usual post behind the drinks counter. She leaned her elbows on the counter and even though her busy eyes were pouring over the first case file, her eyes kept flicking up. Noori hated the sight of Meezaan but she hated even more how casual he looked standing there, jaw tight, face all serious. Noori scoffed and returned to her notes, but she couldn't focus.

She kept her ears perked, listening to Meyer's spiel. He was being so friendly. She needed him to sound tougher. Working at Naan Butter Dhan Hummus was serious business. She knew the workers laughed at the silly name, but landing a job (and keeping it) was no easy feat, whether it was being a part of the wait staff or one of the dancers.

Noori watched as one of the girls leaned towards Meezaan, saying something too low for her to hear. Meezaan dropped his seriousness and cracked a smile. He responded back to her, earning a giggle from the girl. Noori narrowed her eyes at the pair.

"You know he's engaged, right?"

Noori jumped and averted her gaze. She found Sanam smirking next to her. He had come to stand next to her behind the counter.

His words dawned on Noori and she couldn't help blurting out, "Meezaan's engaged?"

"Ooh, you were checking out the new guy? My bad." Sanam laughed at her. "I was talking about Meyer."

Noori's face flushed. "I wasn't checking anyone out." She sputtered out. She hoped no one had heard their conversation. Noori cursed herself for even having a reaction to Meezaan potentially being engaged. So what?

"What are you even doing here, Hayat? Shouldn't you be upstairs getting your beauty sleep?" Noori turned her attention to Sanam. He leaned against the counter and grabbed a pastry. Noori scowled, ready to scold him for touching them with his filthy fingers.

"Here to watch you scare the new recruits off, of course." He popped one in his mouth and licked his lips. "And check out the new dancer babes."

Noori rolled her eyes. "We're understaffed today. Something tells me it has to do with you and the dancer babes you can't seem to stay away from. So go make yourself useful somewhere else."

"I don't see you doing any work." Sanam snatched her file off the counter and shook it in the air. "I see you punching in early and slacking off to do homework instead."

Noori huffed and reached her arm up to grab the file back from him. Sanam was such a child sometimes and she hated that he made her act like one too. Well, she wasn't going to play along. She shoved past Sanam and around the counter. She strode over to Meyer before she could change her mind.