FATE INSPIRED

Chapter 2

Asad

I had a meeting with the Salihijo group that I couldn't set back anymore. We've canceled three meetings already but because the new project which outcome we were anticipating is launching soon, we needed to conclude the new building. I picked up the folder Mr. Felix left me for the meeting and took off.

I will set everything right.

"Hey, Asad. Welcome." Malik said standing up from his seat and putting the buttons on his suit before we shook hands when he reached the middle.

Malik and I were friends, we met at the football field we played football, played in the same team, and the very next day at the gym, we worked out together. It had been a good three years since we had acquainted each other and finally, for the first time, we decided to work together. Turned out, that my company worked with his company a few years back when I looked at the record and later, we got to realize our fathers worked together and were friends before his father was late.

"Yes, shall we pray first if you haven't, before starting? It's already time." It's a little past Asr time, so we missed the congregation as it was.

It's amusing.

This girl just walked in and had been blabbing out to my dear friend. I raised my head to see her for the first time and from all indications, she's oblivion of my presence. Maybe sitting in the corner was a bad idea too, she probably didn't see there was someone because of the way she was speaking to her brother. My friend. My friend's sister. I shouldn't be listening to this conversation.

My eyes met Malik's and he tried stopping her.

"I know. Tell you what, I'll cook your favorite food for you today. What do you say? You know you can't pass on that." She said while putting her palms under her face. "I'll even sing for you."

Although she asked questions, and she didn't, for once, wait for a response. Didn't look like she wanted one. Instead after every question, she went on and on.

Now should be my queue.

When I spoke, I'd have sworn she stiffened. I debated going forward to shake Malik's hand or not. He huffed in what looked like frustration or embarrassment. I shouldn't do that.

I moved my eyes to her face and gave her a tight-lipped smile. My eyes probably remained on her face for a good five seconds. But I'd tell how flustered she was, her face turned a good shade of pink.

We were already done anyway, were just supposed to go over the details one more time and that's it.

I found myself smiling when I entered the car. She was contrived to charm.

What's wrong with you, Asad?

I was buried in the details of insurance documents for the acquisition Nyako Corp. was pursuing. As we ventured into the motors sector, every detail had to be meticulously reviewed. To help me concentrate, I was absentmindedly scribbling on a white sheet of paper with my right hand, a habit I'd picked up over the years to keep my mind focused.

"Ya Asad," A voice came from the doorway, I glanced up, momentarily distracted. My eyes flicked from the document to the paper, then the figure in the doorway, and back again because something caught my attention. When I looked back at the paper, I saw that I had absentmindedly written "Layla" in Arabic in my handwriting.

For a brief moment, I was stunned at the name standing out against the white paper. I found myself drifting off into thoughts about how Malik's sister babbled on and on during my meeting with Malik, oblivious to my presence. Something was captivating about her non-stop chatter, her enthusiasm filling the room and making it hard for me to focus on anything else. I have caught myself smiling or shaking my head, trying to clear those thoughts. I didn't quite understand why she'd left such an impression on me. Maybe it was true as everyone said, there wasn't any amusement in my life.