Mannat

29 | Qulsum knows the truth

A/N — Since it's been long, I thought to throw a light on previous chapters before starting this one...

Previous Chapters gist

Shiza and Qulsum were at their cousins wedding when they were corned by group of aunties asking for their hand for marriage with their potential sons. Shiza announced about her being engaged to Zayaan and introduces him to all the aunties, leaving Qulsum as a target.
Zayaan pulled Qulsum inside a room and asked her to not to entertain such proposals and directly say no.

Followed by this, when Shiza and Qulsum were standing under the stairs, the waiter dropped a tray full of glasses from upstairs. Right when it was about to harm Shiza and Qulsum, Zayaan came in between and stood in front of Shiza covering her while pulling Qulsum in his arms.
This sowed a seed of doubt in Shiza mind.

Few days later, Qulsum dad ordered her to personally go to Zayaan office and get Zayaan's signature on some important file.

❃  ──────  ❃

Q U L S U M

I push the door open and walk inside the majestic glass double door. I fidgeted with my phone contemplating if I should call Azra and ask her about Zayaan's office or ask the receptionist.

Biting my inner cheek I padded towards the receptionist who by the way didn't look welcoming to me.
"Hello, May I know where is Zayaan Zaidi's office?" I ask placing the file on the counter.

The receptionist stopped typing furiously and hoisted her eyelids to look at me.
"Do you have an appointment?" She questioned.

"No,"  I was about to continue but she cut me off, "I'm sorry. I can't allow you to meet Mr Zaidi, he is busy."

"But I need to deliver this file to him and it's urgent." I pointed at the file.

She gazed at me for good two seconds and then huffed, "Okay fine, you can sit there at the waiting area... Whenever sir is free I'll let him know that you are here to meet him, Ms —" She trailed off.

"Qulsum Irani"

"Fine, You can wait."

I sat in the waiting area scrolling through Instagram feed when suddenly an excited voice pierced my ears.
"Bhabhi? What are you doing here?"

I stand up only to come face to face with Asad, who appeared to be in a hurry and he looked like a mess; as if he has just completed a marathon. His tie was pulled loose, shirt cuffs open and a black blazer thrown over his left shoulder with his shirt tail hanging out and finally his wet hair which glued to his forehead.

"I came here to deliver this file to Zayaan, she asked me to wait here." I pointed at the receptionist who was looking in our direction with curious eyes.

"Oh No no, you can wait at his office. I could have taken you there but I'm in hurry for a meeting and if I don't be there in another two minutes — your husband will rant about punctuality for an hour." He chuckled shaking his head and pulling his tie to set it properly. He took quick strides towards the receptionist and said, "Take her to Mr. Zaidi office."

"But sir she doesn't have app—"

"If he gets to know you made her wait, you'll lose your job dear so better take her to his Office." With that being said he walked back towards me and gave me quick bow and then sprinted towards the elevator.