SHATTERED HEARTS

Ch.7.Going back home...!

Dedicated to my sister and best friend and my awesome "would be" brother in law for being an amazing inspiration for my story ;)

Working days are immensely tiring especially for folks in Mumbai. What with the exhaustive travelling and crowded streets accompanied by long working hours!
IT sectors are comparatively much more fortunate for their work is mostly confined to air conditioned rooms and that too on computer screens.Yet it is extremely frustrating for the brain especially if it is preoccupied.

People here generally look forward to head home at the earliest or atleast try to socialise with others to keep themselves entertained and to be relaxed from being overworked.However there are always exceptions.There are some who put all of their mind and potential into their tasks ; ignoring nearly everything else. They do it because either they have to achieve something from it or they simply don't want to do anything else in life!

Afzal Shaykh ; was sitting in his cabin immensely engrossed in his task . His eyebrows were furrowed as he gazed thoughtfully at the computer screen before him. He thought for a while and then resumed to type on the keyboard. His long fingers moved speedily along the keyboard as his stern face focused entirely on the screen.

He was completely drowned in his work not even pausing for a while to rest his fingers or relax his strained mind . It was like there was nothing else he wanted to do. Ever since the time he would enter the office he would be confined in his cabin onto the screen as if the entire world was meaningless to him. It would only be him and his screen !

He only stopped when it was the time for the obligatory prayers and to receive his mother's call which would often come in the noon to remind him of having lunch.

The stern, young corporate glanced at the clock once he was done and sighed in exasperation.
Being an IT engineer wasn't an easy job . Especially for a hard working and dedicated engineer who didn't even bother to think about anything else.Well, what was there for him to think about in the first place?

Afzal shut down his computer and stood up grabbing his bag from the table. He took one last look at the table and proceeded to head out as his working hours were over.

Afzal dashed out of his cabin with a blank face not bothering to greet or acknowledge anyone on his way. No one even tried to talk to him knowing it was pointless as he hardly waited to talk except only when it concerned work. The cool and fresh evening breeze greeted him as soon as he stepped out of the office.

He halted a bit to breathe in some fresh air exhausted from the long day at work. After a few moments he resumed walking towards his Red swift that was parked in the parking lot.

Afzal drove to his favourite cafe which was a little far from his office.He would often go there to take some time for himself and rid his mind of all the thoughts.

Parking his car , Afzal got out and locked the door. He stood for a moment scrutinising the area. He was dressed in his formal office wear and the sleeves of his button down shirt were rolled up to his elbows. His slightly brown silky hair were disheveled a bit as he would often run his fingers through them.

Afzal sighed and walked in with his hands shoved casually in his pant pockets. He entered the cafe which wasn't too crowded, that day being a working day. Afzal took his usual seat in the corner by the window from where he was able to see the serene beach and majestic waves that dashed on the shore. The cafe he went to was just a little distance from the beach.

Afzal ordered his coffee and glanced out the window at the sea. A few strands of his silky hair fell on his forehead as the wind rushed to greet him through the window. He shook his head a bit and ran a hand through his messy hair. Looking at the waves brought a sense of peace to his heart; his heart which was no longer intact but shattered to a million pieces !