Once Upon A Time, A Thousand Tears Ago #Wattys2017

Chapter 7: Friend ???

Plz vote, comment and recommend. xxx ,, Sad because Zayn malik has removed 1D from his twitter acc. :(

"What do you want then?" I question.

"Promise me that if you win this competition, you will choose me as your assistant researcher."

Is he mad? He is giving away his dream project in hopes that I will choose him as an assistant and he believes that if he makes me promise I will stick to it later.

"Okay! That's fine with me" I reply honestly "Thank you so much Zaroon. I will never forget this. Thank you again"

"Don't mention please. A friend in need is a friend indeed."

What? Since when did we become friends?

_______________________________________________________

It's a fresh day, a fresh start but I still can't take my mind off from yesterday's events. The flash drive had actually put me into my graveyard for a moment. And then came Zaroon; Saviour for the day. Yes, I never thought that I would take the helping hand of this man. But this toothless smiling freak actually helped me. At least, I should thank him properly today. He gave his own presentation on a plain white board when the instructions were clearly given about delivering the presentations on powerpoint.

I see the smiling freak-not-so-freak coming towards me. I build up all the positive words that I have learnt in my life so that I can put them to use to thank this gentleman.

"Thank you Dr. Zaroon" I think I should have greeted him first. There you go. I am never going to be good at initiating conversations.

"For what Zara? And please the name is Zaroon. Call me Zaroon" Told you he is a freak.

"For lending me your flash drive yesterday. It was a big...."

"Zara" he cuts me "I hope no one is listening to this conversation but you are making me feel weird"

Weird but you are weird, not this conversation.

"No Zaroon. It was really kind of you. I would have.... "

"It was a deal lady, if you have forgotten. Let me remind you that the deal is still on. If you win the competition, you choose me as your assistant." He flashes a cool smile and all my tensed muscles relax a little.

"And what if after winning I deny this proposal of yours. If you have forgotten, the deal is not in ink" I don't know why but I felt like joking with this idiot.

"hahahah. You won't do that Zara. I trust you"

The words that he said at the end just changed the environment. The air between us became thick. My mood twisted to a 180 degrees angle. Why on planet earth would he trust me when I have done nothing but insulted him whenever and wherever I could? He sensed my changed ambience and I think he is regretting his words.

"Umm. I have to check a patient's medication list so I need to go. Thanks again" I say that in a firm, professional tone and move on. Trust, a big word it is.

_________________________________________________________

"Come on Zara be quick. They are going to announce the results. You are going to be late for the event" Dr. Twinkle calls me for the third time explaining me the situation at the big hall. I need to rush. I pick up me purse and cell phone and rush towards the big hall. Taking big steps I am running through the staircase when I hear someone calling from behind, "Don't forget the deal doctor."

Without looking I can tell that Dr Zaroon is running as fast as I can towards the door of the big hall and I reply "Deal? Which deal? I can't remember"

I laugh at myself when I see Zaroon acting as if I have given him a heart attack by saying this. He is not a bad person. It's just he is too friendly to handle.

Entering the hall we take our seats and after five minutes, the director starts his speech.

It takes him at least half an hour to reach to the focal point that who has been selected as the main researcher of this big time government project. Damn, you need a hell lot of patience to deal with these people who waste a lifetime in explaining that time should not be wasted.

"So candidates now I shall not waste anymore of your time" Mr. Director finally understood what I was trying to tell him, in my mind. "But this time the winner will not only get a sponsored research or an exceptional assistant researcher; the winner gets something special also." Everyone starts humming about the "something special" and I just want to hear my name for this venture.

Director continues, "The winner of this event will get a chance to present his work in All Pharmacists and Doctors Association Conference that is going to take place in the coming week and this means there is a chance that the winner gets his research work published in the biggest journal in the field of medical sciences."

Anxiety is building up inside me. I think all my blood has rushed into my ears to listen to the name of the winner. I don't know what will happen if I don't win this competition. I understand that not winning the competition doesn't mean it's the end but at the moment I can't think about not winning. I am desperate to win this time. I have no patience to wait for another year. I want it so badly.

"And the winner is..... Any guesses" I close my eyes because I don't want to shoot the director with my scorching eyes. I want to dig his heart out for making me wait for so long.

"Well, the winner is Dr. Zara Arman with the presentation topic Rational use of medicines in Pediatrics"

Earth has stopped rotating. It was rotating clockwise earlier. Then my name was announced as a winner. Precisely, at that moment earth stopped and then started rotating anticlockwise. As far as I am concerned, I am shell-shocked. Did he really announce my name?

Everyone is coming to congratulate me and I finally gain my consciousness to answer these people. From the corner of my eye I can see someone standing and watching me so intently. When everyone leaves my space, he moves towards me. I am watching him coming towards me and I realize that he actually has a beautiful smile. When he approaches me, his smile brightens and I see the glimpse of a dimple on his right cheek. I instantly remember the time when I wanted to break all his teeth for the mere reason that he was smiling. But why wouldn't he smile when he looks good whilst smiling. OOPS shouldn't have said that.

"Do you know who I am?" Zaroon asks me while displaying his sparkling teeth. I think he has lost his mind since he didn't win. "Who are you Zaroon?" Playful tone. What has happened to me? "I am the assistant researcher to the winner of this event" he announces while pointing his thumb towards himself.

"Hahaha ! In your dreams Zaroon. You won't be my assistant"