"You've pushed me away from the start, and I let you. Kept your distance from me and I let you. Now when you've finally come to terms with your feelings, you're letting me go without a fight?!"
Muaaz, a talented yet struggling architect based in Lo...
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I hear Noor calling Sadia's name first thing after Salam as she ascends from the stairs every morning. Giving my hair a last brush, I put the brush away, quickly spritzing my cologne and exit the room.
"Assalamalaikum," I say to the pair of ladies present in the dining area.
Everybody knows how charming I am and so does Sadia who makes a dash for the kitchen after mumbling a quick Walaikumsalam when she sees me smiling at her.
"Walaik--- whoa, whoa,whoa!" Noor does a double takes to my outfit.
I know I kill every outfit but was I looking so dapper today?
"Kidhar chali sawari?" She asks.
"Work, where else?"
"No, no, no, no, no. You're not going to the office today."
"Why?"
"Cuz you're still recovering."
"I am OK." I tell her.
"Yes and you're not doing perfectly fine." Noor counters. "Sadia, toast lekar aao, please!" She yells toward the kitchen.
"C'mon Noor, I've already missed 2 days. Can't miss anymore." I say to her settling on the chair across from her.
"You are on a sick leave, Muaaz. It's not missing workdays."
"Look, I understand your concern, but I feel much better today. I can't just sit at home doing nothing when there's do much work to be done," I insisted, trying to reason with her.
"No, Muaaz, you need to rest properly. You can't push yourself like this," she replied firmly, her expression unwavering.
"But--"
"No if no buts." She cuts me off.
I hear footsteps approaching us and I thank God it is not her father.
"Chachu!" I call, grateful for having someone on my side. "Tell your niece to let me come to work with her."
"Work?" Oh no. "Absolutely not! You're still recovering and need rest."
"Aha!" Noor chuckled, sticking her tongue out at me.
That brat!
"Chachi!" I smile at her. "Tell your husband and niece to let me start work from today."
"First, tell me how you're feeling."
"Better than ever!"
"Maybe, but he's still recovering." Noor argues.
"That doesn't mean I'm staying home."
"Don't exert yourself too much, bete." Chachi says, placing a hand on my cheek.
I sighed, knowing that arguing further might not get me anywhere. "Fine, how about this? I'll go to work, but I'll take it easy. I won't overexert myself, I promise," I proposed, hoping to find a middle ground.
