It was destiny ✨

Chapter 9

"No! I'm sorry, I can't deal with this bullshit anymore, Azlan,"  Zaina whispered over the call.

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It had been a frenzied week for Azlan. Going to the office every day at 7 am and later coming back after midnight. The workload had drained him of energy.

A few well-known hotels in Kashmir had formed a cartel, so it was becoming tough with each passing day to establish his trade there. He was working day and night to crack the cartel.

Azlan parked his car in the driveway. He leaned back on the driving seat and checked the time on his wristwatch. It was past 1 am. He loosened his tie, and with a light sigh, he raked back his chocolate brown mane.

He stepped out of his car and twisted the handle of the main door of the Yousafzai villa. It opened right away leaving Azlan surprised, as normally it is locked, and he has to open it with the spare keys.

When he entered, the light of the living room was on, and his father was resting on the rocking chair. Ali Yousafzai was responding to the pending emails when he heard the main door opening. He peeked up from the screen and saw Azlan's eyes skimming the living room.

Azlan gave a small smile to his father when he spotted him.

"Assalam u Alaikum, Abba," Azlan greeted his father in a raw voice. Ali greeted him back.

"Why are you awake at this time?" Seeing his father awake at this hour of the night, Azlan wasn't able to hold in his curiosity anymore.

"I was waiting for you. I had something to discuss with you." Ali inhaled and hesitated for a moment before continuing. "But, you're not going to the office tomorrow, right?" 

"Yes," Azlan responded. 

"Hm... come to my room after breakfast, it's quite late now you should go rest," Ali ordered while shutting down his laptop and folding his reading glasses.

Azlan headed back to his room and dozed off instantly, without even changing his clothes.

It was past 10 am when he woke up because of the sunshine lighting up his room. Azlan whined, feeling uneasy in the formal pants he fell asleep in. He bounced up from his bed and rushed into the bathroom.

He was feeling fresh not only because of the long shower but also because of the great 8-hour sleep he had received after an entire week.

After getting out of the bathroom, he went straight to the dining area to grab something to eat. He didn't even bother going through his phone, since he preferred to relax mentally.

Azlan joined the half-sleepy Sana on the dining table, and Tehmina was eating her breakfast while Ali was taking the last sip of his espresso. Ali placed his mug on the dinner table and drifted his attention towards Azlan, who was pouring juice into his glass.

 "Azlan! in my room after you're done," Ali told his finger towards his room, directing Azlan in a stern yet calm statement. Because of this action, Azlan felt it was something urgent or else his father wouldn't insist like this. 

Sana and Tehmina were looking at Azlan with a questioning gaze, but he just shrugged. 

"What is this all about," Tehmina asked Azlan. 

"I don't know, mama. Last night, he just told me he wanted to discuss something."

Azlan finished his juice in quick gulps and got up from his chair nervously. Before he was headed towards his father's room, Sana wished him 'good luck' since his father never talked to Azlan in this tone before.