𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 | 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟎𝟏

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟒𝟒

FAIZAN

“What are you doing here?” I ask Farhan, who is sitting in his office when he should be at home resting.

“Well, if you must know, I also own this company. Therefore, my attendance is needed.” he says and grins.

“You need rest.”

“No, I don’t. I’m fine.”

“Farhan-”

“I can’t stay in the house. The silence is painful.” he confesses.

I release a sigh, “what happened? Don’t try to avoid this topic. You and I both know, your ‘accidents’ aren’t coincidental.”

Farhan drags a hand across his face and sighs, hanging his head between his shoulders, “I lost the lead. Again.”

I pause then say, “You’re getting obsessive with this.”

He lifts his head, frowning at me in disbelief, “are you kidding me? You’re saying that? Would you give up on Arzo?-”

“You’re not listening.” I grit out, “if you keep going on your little adventure over the slightest mistake, you’ll find yourself unable to do anything at all. Do you want that?”

He goes quiet.

“Think through it. Again. You can’t keep losing yourself over a mishap.”

“Fine.” he says, quietly, looking down like a guilty child, “Stop acting like my father.”

“You’re a manchild.”

Farhan makes a face at me, proving my point.

“By the way, did you hear?” he asks. Both of us are aware of what he’s talking about.

The recent news that broke out.

“Yes.”

“You feeling okay?”

“Yes. There isn’t anything to feel about it.”

“Okay. Good, then.”

I nod and turn to leave.

“I’m sorry for yesterday.” he says as I reach the door, “You always clean my mess. I’m grateful for that.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m gonna help you as long as I can.” I say as I open the door, “Keep in mind, I’m not always going to be there.” I exit the room.

The next few hours go by easily. Farhan barges into my office like always to eat the food his bhabhi packed for him and we have lunch together while he talks about Allah knows what.

Farhan and I leave the building around the same time. He goes home while I go to pick up my wife from university. I make sure to get flowers on the way.

I stand outside the university, by my car, for a few minutes before Arzo exits the building.

As soon as our eyes lock, her face breaks into a huge smile and she rushes to me.

I will never get tired of that smile. It brings a whole kind of comfort to me.

“Assalamu Alaikum,” I greet her, handing her the bouquet of lilies.

Her smile widens and she signs, “Wale Kum Assalam,” before pecking my cheeks.

I hold the door for her and wait for her to go in before I round the car to get in the driver’s seat.

I look at Arzo when she taps my shoulder.

“Can we go visit a store nearby? I want to buy few stationeries.” she signs.