Twin Rivalry Unleashed

Chapter 7: Her journey to redemption

Aleena sat at the chair offered to her, her eyes fixed on the two men before her as the car drove away. She felt a surge of emotions, unable to stop the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. It seemed as though love was elusive for her, a cruel trick played by fate. How could things like this keep happening to her? She questioned herself, feeling a wave of self-doubt wash over her. She gently tapped her forehead, trying to quiet the storm of thoughts raging within her.

Lost in her own contemplation, she didn't notice the man standing nearby, engrossed in his phone until he spoke up, his voice filled with genuine concern. "Hey, what's wrong? Is it about the man who pushed you?" he asked, his eyes filled with empathy. Aleena lifted her gaze, a mixture of surprise and gratitude coloring her expression. "It's nothing, really. It's all in the past. I apologize for distracting you," she replied, her voice trying to maintain her usual calm. The man simply nodded and returned his attention to his phone.

As she walked towards the university gate, her steps faltered, her body and mind not in sync. She felt weak and drained, but she pushed herself to stay strong, to keep going. The only reason she hadn't turned back home was because of her meeting with Dr. Nawas, her project supervisor. Despite the horrible treatment she had received from him, she knew she couldn't afford to miss this appointment. Panic coursed through her veins, and her mind raced with worries.

Suddenly, she sensed a presence behind her, and a voice called out, desperately trying to get her attention. She turned around and saw the man from before, the one who had given her his seat in the car. His smile was warm and inviting, and she couldn't resist staying a moment longer. He hurried towards her, his steps filled with purpose, and stood before her, a friendly grin on his face as he playfully ruffled his hair.

"I wanted to apologize for what happened in the car earlier. I didn't mean to inconvenience you," he said sincerely, hoping to ease her distress. Aleena looked at him, her eyes filled with curiosity, trying to discern his motives for stopping her. He smiled back at her, wiping his face with his palm. "Please, may I have your name and, if possible, your phone number?" he asked, his voice filled with a hint of longing.

She regarded him with a mixture of mild amusement and kindness. Although she wasn't fond of men approaching her on the street, she felt compelled to grant him this small favor. "My name is Aleena, but I don't see any reason to give you my phone number," she replied, pausing as she noticed a young man passing by. Curious, she approached him and inquired about the directions to her intended destination.

With a nod of gratitude, Aleena turned back to the man standing before her. "It seems I've arrived at my destination. This is where our paths part ways. Thank you again, and I apologize once more," she said, her words flowing with a certain finality. Without giving him a chance to respond, she watched him as she approached the office door.

"Please come in," a voice from within the office beckoned. Aleena opened the door and entered, offering a respectful greeting. Two men were present in the room - the man she didn't recognize, sitting behind the desk, and Dr. Nawas, her project supervisor, surrounded by scattered papers, engrossed in his phone.

She greeted them both with utmost respect, though she couldn't help but notice that Dr. Nawas seemed absent-minded, his attention clearly divided. She stood there for a few minutes, waiting for a response, but as the silence stretched on, she mustered the courage to speak up, not allowing her annoyance to show.

"Sir, I'm here regarding the project," she said, her voice carrying a sense of confidence. Dr. Nawas finally lifted his gaze from his phone and glanced at her, his expression blank. Without giving him a chance to speak, she continued, "I don't believe I'm late. I called you ten minutes ago, which means I was still at the new campus at 1 o'clock. You know the distance between there and here. If I hadn't been fortunate enough to find a ride in a car that was already full, I might still be at the new campus by now."

He let out a frustrated sigh before raising his eyes to meet hers. "Please, Aleena, stop lying to me. I saw you with your boyfriend earlier, chatting away. Perhaps you were at this campus when you called. Do you think I have nothing better to do than wait around for you while you indulge in such nonsense?" he retorted, his voice tinged with annoyance.

Aleena attempted to interject, but he abruptly cut her off. "You may leave!" he exclaimed, his anger evident. She sighed, apologizing and thanking him before swiftly walking out of the office. Dr. Bashir, who had been observing the interaction, couldn't help but intervene.

"What have you done? Why did you send her away? You know very well she wasn't late. I don't want to take her side, but your actions were unfair," Dr. Bashir admonished, his voice filled with disapproval. Dr. Nawas licked his lips and raised an eyebrow, looking away, unwilling to entertain Dr. Bashir's observation.

"Are you suggesting that I'm in love with her? Don't be absurd," he replied, his voice filled with a mix of defensiveness and amusement. Dr. Bashir burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room. He laughed heartily, a few tears forming at the corners of his eyes. "I didn't say you love her. I know you have your own woman. Don't mind my words," he said, still chuckling.

Dr. Nawas clenched his jaw, picking up his car keys from under the table. "You have quite the imagination. I must be on my way," he stated curtly, his irritation palpable. Aleena, on the other hand, found solace in the simplicity of sitting under a tree on a student chair. She allowed her mind to wander, consumed by thoughts of how she could mend her relationship with the man she loved.

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through her reverie. "What happened? Did something happen at the office?" the voice asked, pulling her back from her thoughts. It was the man from before. Aleena sighed, her weariness apparent. "It's nothing. I'm just waiting for my driver," she replied, looking away.

"Can I keep you company?" he offered, his gaze sincere. She mustered a half-hearted smile. "No, not really," she replied, rising to her feet and shouldering her bag. The man, undeterred, followed her. "Please, may I have your number?" he pleaded, raising his voice so she could hear.

Realizing she needed to take action to deter him, she decided to be frank. "As I mentioned before, I don't see any reason to give you my number," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "The men in my life are already important to me. I have a brother, a father, and my friends. And most importantly, there's the man I love and want to spend my life with," she explained, determined to make her point. With that, she turned and walked away, leaving the man with no opportunity to respond. He watched her for a moment before realizing he had no choice but to leave.

Aleena continued walking, her mind consumed by thoughts of her supervisor and the nameless man. Unbeknownst to her, Dr. Nawas's car suddenly pulled up before her, startling her to a halt. He rolled down the window and called out to her, "Come in, let me drop you off."

She shook her head, declining his offer. "No, sir. Thank you, but my driver will be here soon," she replied, determined to maintain her independence. Dr. Nawas let out an exasperated sigh and glanced at the man she had spoken to earlier, pointing at him with a nod. "Is it because of him?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

Aleena looked back briefly and then turned her gaze back to Dr. Nawas. "He's not my boyfriend," she clarified before briskly walking away. The car lingered for a moment before Dr. Nawas, frustrated, drove off. The man, feeling dismissed, had no choice but to follow suit.

Returning home, Aleena found herself devoid of energy, unable to muster the motivation to do anything, not even her usual ritual of taking a bath. She slumped onto her bed, consumed by thoughts of how to make amends with the man she loved. Although she had no appetite, her stomach betrayed her, emitting loud growls. Resigned to her predicament, she prepared a simple cup of tea to appease her hunger.

As she sat on her bed, sipping her tea, her mind wandered to the events of the past day in the library and her encounter earlier. She contemplated the significance of her actions and the consequences they might have on her relationship. Despite her exhaustion, she held onto the hope that she could rectify the situation and regain his forgiveness, for she cherished the dream of a future spent with the man she loved.