Akhi

Chapter 1

I Don't take credit for any of then pictures used. They belong to their rightful owner.

"Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad."

― Henry Wadsworth

I've never thought myself to be fortunate or unfortunate, never identified with anything or anyone, never given much thought to myself really. Cause my body is a shell, my existence merely a source and my life.......... merely a purpose.

But at this moment if I could put my feelings in exact words; mild annoyance. Stressing on the word mild. My feelings may seep in from the concrete mass known as my heart but they would never be seen on my face.

At least never in front of a reporter. A reporter who could babble on for hours at hand giving no thought to a person's strict timetable.

"Feminism exists because of people like you Mr. Zackriya Arham. Or should I call you a violator of the American ammendments!?" Does this woman ever stop.

"You can call me Zack, Arham was my father."

Her look which would have melted the coldest iceberg was kind of over shadowed by the snickers produced by her own team. Which ended up making them the recipient of that horrendous glare.

This interview was NOT ending on the time it should have. After travelling halfway through the world and attending several meetings; this was the last thing I wanted to sit through.

"How could you not sympathise with the labourers who are employed under your care in Dubai? Not only that but the women to men ratio in your companies has a huge gap. Where is your humanity in these situations? Do you really think none of this is important?"

Was she really shrieking during a business interview? Hmmm. How unprofessional.

"Dubai is not America Ms. Lillian. My company has met all the conditions necessary for labourers in that country. I simply can't go all over the planet and personally monitor every single company of mine. I have been assessing the issue and my company has made additional resources available for those employs."

A practised close eyed smile for almost 3 seconds. Eyes open. Intense stare right into her eyes. Dead eyed stare and proceed.

"As for the matter of you calling me a chauvinist, please keep in mind that my employs are chosen based on their qualifications and potential only. If more men are chosen it's because in many of the contries my companies are situated in, across South-East Asia, women are not allowed to work. I can not go to those countries and start fighting against those societies just to give you a more satisfying ratio."

Take in the wide eyed stares, the shocked expressions on their faces. And before the woman starts babbling again.....

"If that is all Ms. Lillian I am needed elsewhere for the day."

-------------------------

"I'm so sorry sir. I had no idea that she would start asking such questions!" The incompetent fool cried. "They said that they wanted to interview you about the upcoming project and I th......"

"Jake." His nervous chatter pricking my ear was even more annoying after the long long interview that I had to suffer because of HIM.

"Your fired." Was my tie always this stifling? No amount of adjustment seemed to fix the choking feeling.

"S-Sir... P-Please....I didn't... they said." But just taking it off in the middle of the office building would be highly unprofessional.

Just endure it until you reach the limo.

The relentless grip on my arm was proving to be a huge obstacle though.

"Sir please give me another chance!" The man was really strong.

Despite the security guard holding him back, his grip on my arm was unwavering . Pretty impressive for a graduate in accounts whose only exercise was a result of my coffee addiction.

"Is it really going to take that long for you to escort him to his office and then out?" The furious shaking of the security guard's head was answer enough.

"Good" God, men shouldn't plead.

"Should I hire a PA sir?" The man at my right asked.

"Thats a given."

A few more steps. The echo of so many footsteps is getting to me. The feeling of being followed by this group isn't too great either.

Stop.

"Do twenty men really need to accompany me out of the building?"

"Its your first day in America Sir. We didn't want you to encounter any trouble sir." A pale balding man stepped forward. Sweating profusely all the while.

"Yes well how did that plan turn out?"

"Not too well Sir." The man only managed to sweat even more while adjusting his glasses and cowering under my stare.

"Leave me and my security guards." The command was accompanied by hasty scurrying.

Like rats. Hmmmph.

Running a hand through my hair I closed my eyes. Was the building's Air conditioning system working properly?

Control yourself. Control. You've almost reached the exit.

"Sir!"

Halt.

A brunette came craning down the hallway at full speed. Her stiletto heels aiding in making her look like a calf who tried the worst possible moment to learn tip toeing. Finally she skids to a stop near me.

"You're needed in the meeting room. There has been a huge problem in the contract and our clients are losing their shi..." She abruptly closes her mouth. Pinching it shut. "Composure."

Could this day get any worse?