Anaa - a tale of ego and love

Chapter 3

Izza's POV

As Izza stepped into Altamash's office, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves mixed with a tinge of excitement. It was strange, really. After all, this was the same man who had once tossed her to security guards like a piece of unwanted mail. Yet here she was, feeling her heart race at the mere sight of him. Maybe it was the way he seemed to command respect, or perhaps it was the months of hearing nothing but praises for him from every corner of the school. Had she misjudged him that day, or was it just the weight of all the misunderstandings between them that now made her pulse quicken in his presence? She didn't know.

Altamash had dutifully carried some of the assignments for her, he placed them on the desk and signalled her to take a seat. She took the chair opposite him and waited for him to start the conversation.

"Apologies for cutting your meeting short with Mr Kabir."

It took her a moment to realise he was apologising for bringing her to his office. She wasn't really in a meeting with Kabir, they were just marking their respective students' work and for some strange reason beyond her comprehension she felt the sudden need to clarify that.

"Oh you didn't interrupt anything, Kabir and I were just discussing assignments and marking home-works."

He nodded in acknowledgment, "Miss Izza, I will cut to the chase, Anya showed me the report that you created tracking the students' progress and it was impressive."

Izza liked his direct approach, she felt a surge of pride in her chest, though she maintained her composure on the outside.

"I would also like to apologise to you for our earlier misunderstandings, I believe I underestimated your abilities."

Altamash Mukhtar can apologise. Wow. And she was alive to witness it.

"I - thank you, Mr Mukhtar I am honoured- "

"Altamash"

There it was again, his need to make her use his given name. Izza didn't know why but she felt odd that he kept insisting on it.

"Thank you Altamash, I feel honoured working in this school." She managed eventually. Though she wanted to ask why he insisted on being called by his name, but refrained from asking.

Maybe he was able to read her hesitancy, because in the next moment he shared something personal with her.

"I understand that you're trying to be professional, but I prefer Altamash. I don't like being called by my surname because it belongs to my late father," he ran a hand through his perfectly set hair, "he is, was, a great man and I don't feel comfortable responding to that name just yet."

Altamash probably didn't know but this little piece of information about him made Izza see him in a different light altogether. To think that a man as successful as him could be grappling with such identity issues due to stepping into his father's shoes, humanised him in her eyes. She had learned from her colleagues that he had been orphaned at a young age too. And that he had to raise his sister Anya in many ways. It made sense that someone who understood the anguish of parental absence would go on to fund an orphanage and a school.

"You don't need to say any further, I will make sure to address you by your first name."

Izza hoped she conveyed her sincerity.

"Thank you. Now on to the important stuff, I would really like to offer you a permanent role. And before you accept I must come clean about one more thing."

Izza leaned forward to listen intently.

"Miss Izza, I did breach our initial agreement, I asked professor Ali to keep an eye on you. As in he was asked to report anything unusual to me in terms of your teaching methods."