Ravaged souls

Fired before hired ?

Zahra's POV

As usual, I woke up to the pleasant sound of azaan. Instead of the routine sluggishness in the morning, I had excitement running through my body right now. Clearing up the morning routine, I performed wadu to pray fajr, which was then followed by reading Quran. Even if I have one of the most important agendas for the day, I wasn't going to miss reading it.

And like always, I got lost between the words of Surah Yusuf. No matter the infinite number of times I have read this story, it always mesmerizes me with the meaning I decode with every reading. Yes, the story of Yusuf and how he is betrayed by his own blood, let alone the strange world which makes him bleed later on. It inspires me so much, that even if the whole world is against you, plant your feet on the ground like Yusuf and never lose your path of honesty and truth. If true love really exists, then all we need is courage and patience, because no one can change what the Almighty has written for us.

Losing track of time due to Surah Yusuf is my speciality. So it didn't suprise me when the most familiar voice called out, "Zahra, come down before my sandal finds its way to your room." Well, you guessed it. That's my super savage mom, who can roast me better than half of the YouTubers.

Packing up, I went downstairs for breakfast. "Assalamualikum," I greeted my small family (my loving family of mom, dad and my big brother) waiting for breakfast at the table.

"Walikumsalam beta," Dad replied, sneaking out from corner of his newspaper. "My girl is shining today, what's up ?" 

"You forgot, didn't you?" I asked, putting on a poker face as I proceeded to pick up a slice of toast from the plate.

"I don't... oh yes, it's your first day at work today!" Thank Allah he remembers. Two days ago I received my confirmation email from a well known company for my internship; so technically today will be my first day as an intern.

"All the best my love, I'm sure you're gonna rock!" he chuckled softly. I smiled at his wishing words. He wasn't just my dad, he was my best friend, my superhero; defending me from mom's wrath and complaints, even though he is the one who spoiled me.

"Just don't screw up or stare at good-looking men on the first day, ok?" My brother smirked as he sipped on his tea. I nudged him hard on the back by my elbow, causing him to gag on his drink. "Hey!" he exclaimed.
"You started it," I huffed out.

I took the elevator and stepped out of the building, where I was greeted by not-so fresh air and the chaotic noise of vehicles passing by. I waited patiently on the streets for a cab today. Imran (my brother) was exceptionally busy in his wedding preparations which was due next month, so I missed the comfort of him dropping me off to college or now, work. Suddenly, the corner of my eyes caught hold of the blue shimmer in the light. 'Oh no, not him again, not today' I groaned internally.

As expected, the car screeched to a halt in front of me and a tall, slender man with light stubble on his jaw stepped out. "Hey Zahra, going somewhere? I can drop you," he grinned cheekily. Uh Allah, I hate him. This is Abdul Rehman, my most annoying cousin. I don't know what's worse about him : the fact that he stays just around the corner of the street so he won't miss his daily routine of harassing me (not actual harassment, but I mentally feel so), or the fact that he smokes cigarettes even after knowing he is going to go to his grave early because of them. Sometimes I think that this was the sperm who won, but why? Like seriously, he disgusts me.

Fake smiling, I replied, "No thank you for the offer, but I am independent enough to go by myself. Also I have no interest in inhaling cigarette smoke early morning." He parted his lips to say something but before he could spill more shit on my special day, I hurried myself into a cab which fortunately arrived at the moment.

After a twenty minute long ride, I finally stood before the ginormous grey building with 'AYDIN INDUSTRIES LTD' written in big, bold font on the top. I took a deep breath and made my way inside the building with my head down, hoping everything goes well on the first day. But my hopes crashed as I bumped into a hard wall in the middle of nowhere. A pair of arms emerging out of the wall held me firmly on the sides. WAIT, SINCE WHEN DID WALLS HAVE ARMS?

I looked up to see another pair of eyes staring down at me, making me realise it was a human, not the wall I dreamt of. Surprisingly, the wall had a sharp jawline and broad shoulders. 'Aztagfirullah' my alter ego shouted. Shit, my brother was right all along. As I kept staring, I flinched at the sudden shout from behind. "You crazy woman, you ruined his shirt!" I immediately backed off to properly view the two men together. The wall who held me had his shirt damped in coffee. Shit.

"All this was completely unintentional, so sorry for this," I said, looking at the grumpy face with brown orbs with my puppy eyes.

"It's okay ma'am, the shirt isn't that expensive," the wall consoled me as he smiled. Sighing, I apologized once more and walked towards the receptionist table.
"Miss Hassan," I turned on hearing the voice, and bumped into the man with brown eyes holding up my CV. When will I stop being clumsy and keep bumping into people?

"Miss Hassan, as you ruined my assistant's shirt now, he won't be able to attend an important meeting, so you will be coming with me," he asserted in a serious tone. Huh, what?

"Listen mister, give me my CV back so that I can be on my way. You are nobody to give me orders," I shot back. If my superhero dad taught me something, it was to stand up firmly again toxic masculinity. And I was glad to do it right now. The man's lips thinned into a line on hearing me.

"Excuse me ma'am, he isn't a nobody," the wall (why does my mind keep calling him that?) came up to me and told me softly, "he is the CEO of the company, Mr. Walid Ahmed Khan." Shit. And there goes my expectations of a good first day at work.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't knowing-"

The CEO cut me off, "Listen miss, I don't have time to waste, considering you already wasted some of it. So you may better come with me to the conference room or you're fired before you're hired."

GREAT