Laazawaal Mohabbat

Chapter 1 : Money Is Everything (?)

“Arrey bhaiyya! Stop!”

Another autorickshaw went by.

Standing on the pavement of one of the busiest roads of Ajmer, dressed in a baby pink knee length frock over chooridaar, a pink dupatta drapped around her shoulders while the air blew her hair, was Zunera. With a file in her hands, she was trying to stop rikshaws for the past ten minutes but in vain.

“My scooty also had to have a puncture today!” - she grumbled. Half frustrated, half panicked.

‘Don't expect first class experience from secondhand things!’ - her brain taunted, irritating her further.

The reason of her panicked state was the interview due by 9 and it was 8:40 AM already! She would be in big trouble if she didn't get this job. And the reason of her frustration was her coughing fit due to the nearby building undergoing construction. The heavy machineries were making so much smoke that the pedestrian looked straight out of a flour factory along with coughing heavily like old cigarette-pals.

“Ya Allah!” - she exclaimed, glaring at the workers of the building.

Having had enough, she took her dupatta and doubling it, wrapped it around her nose and mouth. Securing tightly around her head in a way that only her eyes could be seen.

‘Okay. This is solved. Now... I need to take lift if I want to reach on time.’ - she thought and moved a little closer to the road, stretching out her arm.

She was being ignored for a minute or two before a car slowed down at seeing her asking for lift.

A black Rolls-Royce. Shining in the sunlight.

Even just for a lift, she hesitated to engage herself with someone way above her status. She was just taking a step back when the glass slid down and her breathing hitched.

The driver of the ridiculously expensive car was a boy around her age. He was fair skinned, but the black jacket and black sunglasses were enhancing his skin tone further.

He was handsome. Impossibly so.

A slight smile was gracing his features as he looked at her. It was not one of those indecent smiles she had often dealed with sent her way. It was a humble and kind smile. One of help. Which was a shocker considering his status.

“Where do you want to go ?”

His voice was even kinder. Putting her and her fear of taking lift from a stranger instantly at ease.

“Uh... The Siddiques.” - she told. Her voice a little muffled due to the dupatta. “IF, that's not an inconvenience for you.” - she hastened to add.

His smile widened before he started the car again. Her hopes crushed that he won't drop her there but what he did next shocked her to the core.

He turned the car around, making the passenger seat facing her before stepping down the car. He came around and opened the gate for her.

She blinked. Continuously.

In her 24 years of life, not a single person who belonged to the elite class, had treated her with such respect. And she had made a concept in her mind that all wealthy and affluent people were like that. Treating the inferiors with loath and disdain. But now, this guy was shaking the tree of her ideology with both hands. Threatening to take out the roots.

It was unnerving.

He snapped his fingers infront of her. Grabbing her attention and she realized, time was running.

Putting every thought to the back of her head, she took a deep breath and sat in the car. He closed the door before coming around to take his seat.

And they were off for her desired destination.