She was running very fast, her long legs making it easy to run and she turned around to see Haashir running behind her, a grin on his handsome face. The ground around them was wet and dead leaves scattered around them, Aida turned and looked around her to regain her bearings and it was then she realized that they were together in a forest. She turned around in confusion and asked him where they were when she collided with something heavy like a tree trunk and minutes later, she heard Haashir calling her name and shaking her.
“Aida, wake up.” He was shaking her. “Aida, get up this second.” He said in a worried voice. Aida wanted to say she was fine but no voice came out of her throat. Before she could answer him, suddenly the scene changed and Haashir’s voice turned into Rameen’s when her brain finally woke up and she realized that she was in her bed in Haashir’s house and she was alright; it was a dream.
“Aida, wake up. Haashir bhai asked me to tell you to get ready and be in the hall in fifteen minutes. He has to leave and he wants you to go with him.” Rameen told her, picked up her books and turned back to Aida again.
“Are you getting up sister?” she asked, looking at Aida who was still lying down with her eyes closed.
“Yes, I am awake. Tell him I will be downstairs in ten minutes.” Aida said and swung her legs over the bed, getting up. She took a quick shower and dressed in a peach dress that looked gorgeous on her fair coloring and made her eyes stand out. She combed her hair, willing it to dry and then pushing a matching hairband on her hair, Aida walked out of the room.
Haashir was impatient. How long will she take? He kept asking himself. She had said ten minutes and it was over fifteen now and if she didn’t come down in three more minutes, he was going after her, he vowed. He counted the minutes on his watch and was getting up from the dining table when he looked at the stairs and froze.
Aida looked beautiful in a peach colored dressed, her hair combed and parted on both sides and a matching hairband kept her hair in place. She looked simple but elegant and Haashir stood rooted to the spot, for he had never seen her this fresh and rested before. All the anger and annoyance went out of him. She smiled at him as she entered the dining room, greeting everybody and sat down at the table, helping herself to her traditional breakfast of toast with butter and some orange juice. Aida was in a very good mood today.
Haashir regained his composure and glared at her, telling her without words that they were getting late but she took her sweet time eating, provoking him all the more. Aida grinned inwards because she could see that Haashir was near to blasting with anger and she wanted to see his breaking point but then her breakfast was over rather quick and she stood up, ready to go.
Five minutes later, seated in his car beside him, Haashir was giving her hell and all Aida could do was smile sweetly at him. She knew she had deliberately pushed him over the edge and she loved knowing that she had such a power over him.
“Don’t give me that smile to bluster your way through it. Ahmar is waiting for us at the office and we are late.” He said.
“Then, move.” She said, grinning.
“Yes, we are now going.” He said, somewhat confused and started the car. All the way, Haashir lectured her on being irresponsible, careless and lazy for not waking up on time. Aida loved it for she could easily see through his bluster and knew that he was worried about her safety.
“So, where are we going?” She asked, trying to change the topic.
“We are going to meet Ahmar, my old friend and colleague. Both of us have been investigating about this accident a long time before I told you and I’m sure he would have some proof up till now.”
