Her Encounter | Islamic Story

Chapter 13 ✓

"Thank you, gentlemen," I said and started rummaging through files to distract myself from having to answer any questions they might have.

Maybe having had taken the hint, all the directors began leaving and as soon as everyone was gone, I sighed in relief.

"How did it go, Uncle Statonn?"

"Prefect. Couldn't have guessed it was your first time on a business conference. An air of connoisseur you had presented, really." He applauded dramatically and I laughed despite myself.

I got up from my director seat and looked around the conference room for the millionth time to take in the lavish details. Wooden floor. Intricate wallpaper. Plasma. Beautiful decors.

"Let me show you out. You've had enough for your first day," he suggested.

He got up from his seat of CEO of SAWAN Construction Industry that used to be my Dad's which was going to be mine as soon as I understood the business well enough.

I smiled at him and nodded. I guess I really had had enough; first the tour of some floors and then this meeting with the board of directors. I was exhausted.

He reached the door first and opened it for me, and I exited. As I walked through the hall my heels tapped against the floor but the noise of people talking, carrying files, and working in nearby cabins drowned it out.

"So how was the day for you Ms Ivanlia?" he asked just as we entered the elevator where only a single man, around the age of fifty, stood.

The whole building had a bluish hue to it. The entire building was decorated in blue theme. I loved what I had seen of the building, and not to mention, I had yet to take the tour of ten out of fifteen storeys of the building. ¹

"Refreshing," I replied to him with a big grateful sigh. It really felt great to be out after about two years of isolation. I missed the outside world, which I just realized today.

"Do you by any chance happen to be related to Mr Nathaniel?" The old man standing with us asked. To say I was taken by surprise was an understatement. I turned to face him and so did Uncle.

"I...uhh...yes. His daughter. I mean I'm his daughter," I stumbled at my words. His eyes shone at the answer.

Uncle intervened at my reply. "Denae, this is Mr Marconey. Marconey, this is Denae Ivanlia, daughter of Nathaniel as you already know."

"So good to know. Nathaniel was a gem and to think his daughter is here now! How exciting! Such poor fate that man met," he said and turned from Uncle to look at me. "Though I should say I'm quite bewildered to see you, I thought you too had...passed away."

"Uh..." I was at a loss for words. What did you tell a person when they announced your death?

"Oh no." Uncle laughed it off even though he looked awkward, like he was covering something. I felt uncomfortable and just wanted escape. "She's fine. She was a kid so we couldn't have her here back then. But now it's time..."

The elevator tinged and with a quick goodbye to Mr Marconey, I hurried out, passing the reception on my way out of the building. Uncle caught up with me.

"He's weird," I enunciated.

"He's not. He was just expressing his concern," he said as we walked to the parking lot together.

"Yeah, by killing me along the way." I rolled my eyes.

"Come on girl, you disappeared along with your Dad, so people are bound to think so," he reasoned though not in his usual fatherly manner - rather he looked distracted. Why?

"And that's another problem - why did I disappear with my Dad? Who hid me? And why?"

We had reached my car when I asked. I turned to look at Uncle for answers.

"What matters is, you're alive now and you're here. Forget the past."

"So you're not going to answer?" I asked ignoring his unnecessary, soothing offers.

I opened the door to my car.

He remained silent.

"I'll take that as a no," I said and sat in my car shutting the door at his face.

I was too overwhelmed so rather than dwelling in thoughts that would get me nowhere, I decided to visit the mall because I needed clothes, makeup and whatnot.

After filling my hands with more shopping bags than I could handle, I entered another shop to get myself some more dresses. In the changing room, I observed myself intricately for the first time in a long time, hair damaged, worn out face, bitten nails. In a nutshell, I saw a mess, although I looked way better than yesterday.

I collected the dress from the counter and ran to a parlour. It took them three hours to get me back to my original self.

I got my facial done, manicure pedicure. I loved my new long bob. The fresh light brown streaks looked stunning on my already dark brown hair. I smiled when I saw myself. I felt good. Something I hadn't felt in a long time.

It was quite late when I reached my home. I ate some snacks and went to my bedroom. Pulling out my mobile from the drawer, I switched it on after ages.

I had received hundreds of calls and thousands of messages. I deleted them without reading and threw the mobile away.

Since I had nothing else to do, I got up from the bed, went to the washroom, changed into my blue pyjamas. Then I started roaming around the house while holding a bag of chips and eating from it occasionally.

Mr Statonn really did take good care of this place while I was having my time.

Feeling like I needed some fresh air, I quickened my pace to go to the lawn. In my rush, I collided with Perry, an old maid.

"So sorry Perry!"

"It's okay Ma'am." She smiled.

"Oh no, it's not. I really am so so sorry."

"It really is okay." She smiled wholeheartedly.

"Okie." I smiled back and continued to my destination.

I removed my shoes just as soon as I exited through the main gate and into the lawn. I walked on the smooth grass with naked feet and after ambling for some time started running, looking up at the stars and the slowly forming clouds.

How much I missed running like this...so carefree! Last time I ran like this was when I was with Axan and before that, it was with Venessa and Dad. Oh how much I missed them. I couldn't believe that I was the only one left of my family.

I was a survivor. But unfortunately a girl. Oh, Pascal, what did you do to my already crumbling mind.

But why think of Pascal or anyone else for the matter. I just wanted to run and run and run and enjoy the perks of having a large house with a doubly large lawn while air blew against my face and I felt light as a feather.

I did feel somewhat better but I couldn't ignore the pang in my heart for my dead family. A pang which was always there, even when I had shut myself off for the rest of the world and was drowning in on my pain.

Who did it? Why? Where is that person? Alive or not?

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AssalamuAlikum

¹ To get an idea of the office building see the top right picture of the collage on chapter 'Part 2'.

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