ishq lost & found

42; Snooping

Winter had seemed to come late this year, with the snow not making an appearance well into the month of November. This was Ranya's favourite time of year, the holiday spirit and all the fun events she had planned for her students made it that much better. Then there was all those activities she loved that were centred around snow. With the light fall, she felt true joy for the first time in quite a while.

Organizing some materials for the art project she had planned, her train of thought was interrupted by her phone ringing, again. It had been ringing all day, even at night and always the same number she didn't have saved. She never picked up calls from numbers she didn't recognize, especially because the ominous false threats would have her questioning whether she really did owe somebody a couple hundred dollars.

But this was insane, it had to have been someone who knows her. At first she wondered who it could be, no one in particular crossing her mind, after all, they could just text her. But no, the insisted on harassing her with calls. After what felt like straight minutes of her phone ringing and ringing, vibrating against her desk and driving her crazy.

"Hello?" She spoke, finally giving in and picking up. She couldn't take any more phone calls, not again.

"Hey... it's Salman"

Ranya felt a ringing in her ear, her heart dropping as she went silent, Salman being the last person she expected to hear from. After having seen him, and hearing the way Saad had laid into him, she didn't think he'd try anything again. Yet here he was calling her.

Taking a deep breath, she leaned against her desk for support before asking, "What do you want?" hoping she sounded as careless as possible.

She was angry and confused for sure, but she would rather die than let him get any reaction out of her other than indifference.

"I..." he paused, his throat having gone dry at the fact that she didn't hang up, "I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to see you."

Letting out an airy laugh, something finally causing her to genuinely laugh and find humour again, she told him, "Have you gone mad? I'm not interested in either of those options. Stop calling me."

Hanging up, she turned her phone off placing it in her purse before getting back to doing the task at hand. Organizing white paper and some blue, she took out a basket of scissors so the kids could make snowflakes to put in the hallway while they enjoyed some cocoa she bought.

There was almost nothing that could ruin the genuine joy she felt at the sight of snow. Except for one person maybe, but she hadn't crossed paths with Ranya in some time, and likely wouldn't ever again. Not as long as she could help it. But of course, Saad would make sure she would.

Heading home, Saad couldn't help but stress over whatever had gotten into Ranya. It was eating him alive, the way she had been acting. He thought he could live with silence amongst them, he thought her company was enough. He used to think he'd be fine with just the mere sight of her, having been starved of it for years since he was so far away.

But now, as close as he was to her, he felt even further away than before. He felt like he was drowning in his misery, but he had nobody to hold responsible but himself. He knew what he was getting into when he agreed to marry her. He was well aware she was with Salman, for years, and that the likelihood of her getting over him was slim to none. But for some reason he decided to bet against those odds as if he could sweep her off her feet.

"Saad, leaving already?" Sana asked, approaching him with numerous files in her hands since they had some information to share regarding the huge case Saad had been given.

"Mhm." Saad nodded, throwing on his jacket before brushing past her.

Sana was getting sick and irritated of his childish behaviour, the silent treatment growing more and more annoying by the day. But she wasn't going to give up, it wasn't in her nature. Just because she hadn't had the time to concoct anything with Salman didn't mean she wouldn't take any opportunity she saw.