Limerence

F O U R

Mahmud Malik reclined in his armchair, staring out at the night skyline. The city lights twinkled like distant stars, but his thoughts were firmly rooted in the events of the evening. The wedding festivities had gone off without a hitch, but it was his conversation with Laila Abdul that left a lingering impression on him. Her laughter, her passion for her work, and the way her eyes sparkled with life—everything about her intrigued him.

As he sipped his herbal tea, a routine that usually calmed him before bed, he found himself smiling at the memory of their banter. There was something about Laila that drew him in, something he couldn’t quite define. And he wasn’t the type to let a good thing slip away.

His phone sat on the table beside him, the screen dark but tempting. He debated for a moment, considering the late hour. But the urge to hear her voice again won out. With a decisive nod, he picked up the phone and dialed her number.

The phone rang only twice before Laila’s soft voice came through. “Hello?”

“Hi, Laila. It’s Mahmud,” he said, trying to keep his tone casual.

“Oh, Mahmud!” There was genuine surprise and a hint of warmth in her voice. “I wasn’t expecting a call from you tonight.”

“Well, I couldn’t stop thinking about our conversation earlier,” Mahmud admitted, leaning back into his chair. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“Not at all,” Laila reassured him, and he could almost hear her smile through the phone. “It’s nice to hear from you. I’ve been thinking about it too.”

Mahmud felt a rush of satisfaction at her words. “You know, I was just sitting here, reflecting on the day, and I realized how much I enjoyed talking to you. It’s not every day you meet someone who’s so passionate about what they do.”

“That’s kind of you to say,” Laila replied, her tone modest. “But I could say the same about you. You’re running a business empire, and yet you made time to talk to an architect about her love for pillow forts.”

Mahmud chuckled. “Well, pillow forts are serious business. I had to make sure you weren’t planning on overthrowing any major construction firms with your childhood skills.”

“Oh, absolutely,” Laila teased. “My secret agenda involves designing fortresses with hidden tunnels and trap doors. But I suppose I should have guessed that a Harvard-educated billionaire might be onto me.”

They laughed together, and the sound was so natural, so unforced, that it caught Mahmud off guard. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed having these kinds of conversations—genuine, light-hearted exchanges that made the world seem a little less serious.

“What are you doing now?” he asked, his voice softening.

“I’m just winding down for the night,” Laila replied. “It’s been a long day, but a good one. I didn’t expect to have such a good time at the wedding.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Mahmud said, smiling to himself. “Weddings can be hit or miss, but this one turned out to be pretty special.”

“Yeah, it did,” Laila agreed. There was a pause, but it wasn’t awkward. It felt like a moment where both were simply content to be in each other’s company, even over the phone.

“What about you?” Laila asked after a moment. “Are you heading to bed soon?”

“Probably,” Mahmud replied. “It’s been a busy day, and tomorrow’s going to be just as hectic. My house is still full of guests, and there’s a lot to handle with the wedding conveyance tomorrow.”

“Ah, I can imagine. But you seem like the type who handles everything with ease,” Laila remarked.

Mahmud chuckled. “I try to, but it’s not always that simple. Running a business is one thing, but dealing with a house full of family? That’s a whole different challenge.”