Unwanted Relations

Chapter 19

" so you are finally here." Umer was walking towards his office when someone called him, he stopped turning around. Ahmed came towards him.

" why? Should I not come?" Umer said, he was typing something on his phone.

" of course you should but with preparation ." This time Umer looked at him, irritated.

" You know I don't do anything without preparation." He reminded him.

" oh so do the honor of telling us what are you preparing for." Ahmed was just as irritated as Umer now, he sometimes hated Umer's calmness.

" what are you saying. Say clearly, what is it."

Ahmed sigh. " you said that Jahengir Ahmed won't testify for Sumbul."

" yes. He won't. Besides, it's his benefit in this."

" but he is. He is giving testimony."

Umer looked at him, not typing anymore. He was shocked, for a moment. Then he remembered Sumbul's call.

" what do you mean? I met him, he was not going to even come here." He was confused now.

" I don't know. I just know that Sumbul also met him. The second day after you met him." Umer's confusion ended immediately.

He understood everything but then he thought the day Sumbul called him was the third day after he convinced Jahengir Ahmed. That means when she called him everything was already in her control. She was just pretending.

" okay, I understand. I will manage this." He said to him, assuring him almost and without giving Ahmed a chance to say something be walked away. Leaving him confused and worried.

" I'm stupid that I'm giving him all these details." Ahmed muttered being frustrated now.

                                       *...*...*

He opened the door of his car, and was going to sit inside when his eyes fell on someone coming outside. He stood there for a moment looking at her. Umer closed the door of the car, he removed his sun glasses and walked towards her.

She also seemed to notice him, that's why she came towards him.

" Asalam Alaikum." That same smile, her dimples making it look prettier.

" Walikum Asalam, how are you?" He asked her, the wind blow a few strands of her hair on her face, which she removed by her fingers.

" I'm good. What about you?"

" I'm also fine. By the way, I must say you are a good lawyer." He complimented her, it was an unexpected sentence from an unexpected person.

For a second Sumbul couldn't figure out whether he was mocking her or truly mean it.

" You are saying that?" She asked him, surprised.

" yes. I like having you as a competitor. You are challenging." He confessed.

This time she smiled. " that's good. And believe me I also like having an opponent like you. I promise the day I win this case I will surely thank you." She was joking with him now. The smile of her face, forced Umer to smile too.

" then I will make sure you won't have to thank me."he said with confidence. Sumbul nodded, accepting his challenge. Both of them had no idea of the future but had the efforts to keep it under their control.

                                       *...*...*
It was midnight, she flipped the page of the book, writing things down. Her eyes were heavy, she then read the question, understanding it and then trying to solve.

This was her night routine these days. Noor couldn't help but be anxious about her studies, feeling like if she lose this time, there won't be another chance.

Her hair was wrapped in a catcher, she was completely focused on the books. After a tiring day, especially because of the things phoppo assigned her Noor was exhausted physically.

flipping through pages, writing things down she stopped for a moment. Taking a break, the golden lights of the ceiling were enough to light up the room. She leaned her head against the bed, the pen still in her hand, as she played with it absentmindedly.

She then looks at the notebook in her lap, Noor wrote her name, again her name, she draw a few leaves then flowers.

As she writes her name again this time she writes another name after hers. Umer. She then stops, look at it. Her fingers still holding the pen, she doesn't stop. She writes it again, again with her name. Together. Noor puts the pen aside. Her fingers touch the page, the ink still there. She didn't realize that her cheeks reddened. She gaze down at the names, they looked beautiful together she thought. An unnoticeable smile appeared on her face. While the night sky hover over the haveli and the moon hides under the clouds.

                                        *...*...*
At this time, it was not only Noor who was awake. In the study, the atmosphere was quiet, the books still on their places, untouched.

The light of laptop was making his face visible, the empty cup of coffee was still there. He sigh, tired. Umer leaned on the chair, he pinched the corner of his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. Closing his eyes, as they were feeling heavy from looking at the laptop screen for a long time.

The quietness of the room was interrupted with a small sound. He opened his eyes, his phone's screen blinked on and then off. He picks it, there was a notification.

Umer sits up straight again. He opens the massage, they were photos of a party. He uninterestingly scrolls down. It was the engagement of one of his colleagues, Umer was invited but he cared less about these things. As he views the photos, his fingers stops on one. He doesn't scroll down.

His gazed stuck on one person. She was smiling, her dimples were enough for Umer to recognize her. Wearing her hair down, she was not in formal clothes, her lips curled into a smile. Umer couldn't help but look at her, he smiled. His eyes not leaving hers. He didn't knew for how long he kept looking at the picture, of the girl who was his rival in court. It was Sumbul. Umer never saw any other girl with such attraction. There was something different in her which forced Umer to smile.