The Space Between

Chapter 4; A pleasant surprise

As days passed, Sarah's worry increased. When she came back home from the interview, she had been really happy and felt positive. The interviewers seemed to like her and nodded approvingly. In fact, at first she had been slightly cautious but seeing such relaxed attitude directed towards her made her return to her state of confidence and show them the best of her attributes. She didn't want to jinx it but she didn't want to live in false hope either. Aimen had been observing her daughter's behaviour and was starting to worry for her too. Her eating and sleeping habits were being obviously disturbed due to excessive stress. Untill one day finally the change came.
"AHH!" Sarah screamed, standing up from where she was sat at the sofa. Aimen, worried eye came running towards her daughter and started to examine her body and surroundings for some attack her daughter might have received only when she finally looked up did she see that her daughter's eyes were blistering with pure joy which were once filled with worry. And her glow which seemed to disappear was back on her face. "What...what is it?" Aimen asked and heard the most awaited news ever.
"I got the job mama!!" Sarah said hugging her mother and smiled widely at her. Aimen relieved thanked the heavens for listening to her prayers. Excited and full of energy again, Sarah made dinner as it was decided that she would break the news at the dinner table to her father and brother at the same time. After helping her mother around the kitchen, she decided to get ready. Coming out of the shower, she chose simple black shalwar kameez and a blood red scarf as her outfit. She let her hair down and put red lipstick on her full lips. Satisfied with the results, she ran down when heard the door bell rings.
"Assalamualikum" The men greeted entering the house and the father proceeded to walk ahead while the siblings bickered from behind. The parents smiled shaking their heads. Ahmet, her brother, had moved out of the house as soon as his business started to earn decent wage. At first, Shehroz, his father, was hesitant and reluctant to accept this decision of his son but agreed when his son assured him that this was not him moving away rather just being independent. Mian Shah  was worried at first that his son might change but he eased when he saw that not one habit of his was changed in the slightest regarding to his family. He was just as emotionally and spiritually connected to them as always. Maybe even more now that he realized their actual worth by staying apart. "Uh hmm" Sarah cleared her throat and stood up to get everyone's attention. All the eyes turned waiting for her to announce what she intended to.
"I am pleased to announce...." She said with a slight pause in between. "THAT I GOT THE JOB" She finally exclaimed in excitement and both the men of the house stood to pat her head and tell her again and again how proud they were of her. Sarah felt her whole heart warm up and she wanted to freeze time at this exact moment. Her father's gaze that shown with pride, her brother's warm hug that represented his support and her mother looking at all of them as if they were her whole world. It was so wholesome that she almost cried. But before she could shed a river, they moved from dining table to the hall. The conversation shifted from one topic to another. When Shehroz finally came to the important topic of discussion. Ahmet's marriage.
"I still fail to understand the problem.You are as ready as you can be. You are young, have your own house and business that's doing well and also in the age to marry. " Shehroz spoke. Ahmet not wanting to argue tried to explain his point of view.
"But baba I'm not ready yet and the girls you show me don't intrigue me "
Sarah listened to the whole argument silently. She knew, though, the real reason behind her brother's reluctance. She didn't speak nor reveal anything. When her eyes were just about to drop, She excused herself to go up and sleep. While the men stayed behind as they were to talk whole night.

Ryder entered Xavier's office unannounced and Xavier didn't react as he only attended to him after his signature was fully inked on the paper. "To what do I owe this pleasure, father ?"
He said not pleased in the slightest at the sight of the unannounced visitor.
Ryder turned to his son and his tight lips spoke out the words troubling his mind.
"You need to do something about Francis.Stop him from acting out"
"Now where would be the fun in that?" Xavier smiled mockingly and shrugged his shoulders leaning back on his chair.
Ryder was not charmed in the slightest.
"Excuse me. Do you think the problems of my company are a joke?"
Xavier dropped his facade and came straight to the point.
"The problems caused by Fracis are the ones that I am fighting, Father. I am most definitely winning so you don't have to worry about that. I have tried to talk to him but he wouldn't stop until he gets the company. I say we let him drag this out and see how far he can go. And as far as I know him, he isn't going to go far with the weak stomach he possesses. Eventually, he would loose all his interest and energy"
Ryder stared Xavier dead in the eye as he said "You better be right about this. Because I am not loosing my company to anyone" . He walked out.
Walking out, Xavier observed his father's stiff body. Everything about the man from the way he spoke to how he acted was stone cold. Thus the reason why he was also known to be the most ruthless man in said business. Xavier re arranged his eyes back on the documents he was going through. His heart might have been hurt in the past seeing his father treat his company like his precious baby rather than his own blood but he was deprived of feeling anything for the man anymore.