Widow

11. FIRST DAY AT JOB!

Zain turned to go inside. Moona was still standing by the window.
"Come on, phupho! Everything will be alright. Dont get upset." Humna said, coming to stand by her side.
"Nothing is going to be alright, Humna. Just let everything be where it is." She replied turning from the window.
"They have no idea of what just happened." Humna said as she caught Moona looking at the women in the lounge.
"That's a good thing. They dont need to worry about this." Moona replied and went to the sofas. Just then Zain entered followed by Khalil.
"Zain!! When did you come?" Salma asked reaching him.
"Just about a minute." He replied, giving everybody a smile. His eyes were then fixed upon Shanzay.
"Where is Hashim bhai?" Yumna asked.
"He left." Zain told her, eyes still fixed upon Shanzay who was a little confused now by his gaze.
"Left?? But why?" Salma asked with anger in her voice.
"I don't know. Apparently he is not doing anything wrong." Zain said and turned to Moona.
"Who is she?" He asked her.
"Uhh.. she is Shanzay. Hashim brought her with him." Salma told him.
"What do I do now?" Shanzay asked.
"Relax dear. It's okay. Hashim leaves like this A LOT!!!" Moona said.
"I think I have seen you somewhere." She asked her. Moona looked towards Zain who just sighed and sat on a sofa.
"We met two days ago. In the lift. Remember?" Moona told her.
"Aapa! I am hungry." Zain said to Salma who noded and went to the kitchen.
"Oh yes!! I do. So you got the job?" Shanzay asked.
"Yes."
"We are colleagues now." Shanzay exclaimed. "And also you know Hashim."
"Yeah. We are friends. Good friends."
"That's great!!" She was excited.
"Oh yeah! That IS great.!" Moona said sarcastically and then stood up.
"Let me help aapa in the kitchen." She said looking to Zain who just noded.
"So umm.." Shanzay stopped while looking at Zain as she didn't know his name.
"Zain." He said.
"Are you Hashim's brother?" She asked.
"No. Just a friend." Zain corrected.
"And this is your home."
"No. It's not."
"It's my house and we are Family." Khalil said. Shanzay noded. Just then Yumna came in.
"Everybody! Let's move to the dining table. Dinner is ready." She said. They all stood up.
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After dinner Zain asked Humna to made him some coffee and went to the balcony. When Humna reached there she saw him standing there looking out in the space.
"Here." She said giving him the mug of coffee.
"Thank you." Zain smiled at her.
"So how was your day?" Humna asked, crossing her arms around her chest.
"Same as always." Zain replied. "Yours?"
"Mine was busy, preparing for dinner and all that."
"It's good." Zain said taking a sip of his coffee. Humna just noded.
"I have a question for you?" Humna asked.
"Hmmm??" Zain said while drinking coffee.
"Why did Hashim bhai left tonight?" She asked suddenly.
"I don't wanna tell you that." Zain said.
"But we are family, aren't we?" Humna replied. Zain just sighed.
"Alright." He said and turned towards her.
"We had a fight."
"But you two were..."
"I know. But we had a fight. This time a real one."
"Why?"
"You will find out eventually." He said now smiling. "Where's Moona?"
"She is feeding Hania." Humna replied. Not happy from Zain's reply.
"Do tell me when she is free. I need to talk to her."
"Okay." Humna noded and went inside. After finishing his coffee Zain also went inside. Voices of laughter were coming from the lounge downstairs. Apparently Shanzay had made herself very much at home. Zain entered the lounge. The girls were talking there. Khalil was just listening and smiling.
"I should leave now." Zain said. "And Moona you should learn something from Humna. She made a very good coffee." Moona looked at Humna who immediately looked away.
"She made coffee for you?" She asked.
"Yes!" Zain replied, putting the mug on the table.
"Well. She really is good at making coffee." Moona smiled and Humna looked at her in surprise.
"I think I should leave too." Shanzay said standing up.
"Do you have your own car?" Moona asked.
"No. I came with Hashim. But dont worry I will call taxi." She said taking out her phone.
"Zain," Khalil said.
"Yes bhai?"
"Will you drop her? It's almost midnight" He said.
"No. No. I can go by taxi." Shanzay tried to stop him.
"You came here with Hashim and he left you here and bieng his family, you are our responsibility now." Khalil said, leaving her speechless.
"Moona, Humna, will you come with me?" Zain asked.
"At this time?" Humna asked.
"Humna, do as he is saynig." Khalil told her.
"Yes, baba." And soon they were off to drop Shanzay.
"I am so sorry. You guys have to come with me." She said in a nervous tone.
"Not a problem at all, dear." Moona smiled, looking at her in the back view mirror, as she was sitting in the passenger seat. When they had dropped Shanzay, Zain said.
"So where do we go now?"
"What do you mean? We go to home." Moona said.
"I need to talk to you." Zain said.
"Talk what you want. But here in the car. We are not going anywhere. Children will wake up."
"Saud is so innocent. He will never bother Salma appa." He said.
"Yeah, He will never. But that Hania she definitely will." Humna chuckled.
"Yes, she will be crying by now." Moona said.
"Okay. Next time inshallah!" Zain said stopping car infront of Khalil villa.
"Thank you." Moona said getting out of the car. Humna had already left.
"I will call you later." She said bending on the window.
"I will be waiting." Zain replied and moved the car forward. He definitely needed some rest.
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Moona entered her office. She was dressed up in simple black trousers and hood. A white mufler around her neck. She had applied a little makeup. She looked around her office.It was a small room with a table and chair in the centre. A coffee maker and water dispenser in the left corner and a book shelf in the right corner. There was also a door with a bookshelf.
"This is your office." Hashim said as he was the one leading her today.
"That door. Where does that go?" Moona asked.
"That is the door to Aasim's office. You should use this." Hashim told him and then turned to him. "And hey, although Aasim is a great guy but he ever try to hurt you, just tell me. Okay?!!"
"Thank you, Hashim. Your presence in this office is a great support." Moona noded.
"Okay then, let me inform Aasim." Hashim said and left.
Moona went to her chair behind the table. As she had sat down she saw a paper placed beneath the paperweight on the table. She pulled it towards her and started to read. It was the daily routine chart of Aasim. She sighed, 'Oh Zain where have you sent me to!!' The bell rang and she jerked up. Composing herself she went to the mid-door that led to Aasim's office.
"Sir?" She knocked and popped her head inside.
"Yes, come in." Aasim said, closing the file infront of him. Moona came in. Aasim looked at her. He was quite good looking. A man beyond his thirties. He had brown eyes and fair complexion. He was wearing a black suit.
"Please have a seat, Miss Maimoona." He motioned to the chair. Moona sat down. There was something in Aasim's personality that even a confident women like Moona got confused.
"So Miss Maimoona, you are my secretary now!" He said.
"Yes, sir." She said, avoiding his eyes.
"And you know the responsibilities of a secretary."
"Yes, sir." She noded.
"I hear that you are a single mother." He said writting something on a page. Moona looked at him in shock. How did he know?
"Don't look at me like that! How can I not know some basic information about Khalil's sister." He chuckled. She just stared at him.
"I am sorry for your loss." Moona noded, tears forming in her eyes but she remained composed.
"How did he die, by the way?" He asked now looking directly at her.
"It was an accident." She replied.
"Oh! I see." He noded and then leaned back in his chair.
"I think I need a coffee." He said clossing his eyes.
"Yes, sir." Moona said and rushed out of the room. She took some deep breaths before making his coffee. She need to talk to Zain today. She was sure!
         .............................
Nothing special happened that day. Moona was tired from the whole day of work. She was going towards the lift when she heard someone calling her from behind. She turned around to see Shanzay coming towards her with a bright smile on her face.
"You look great." She said reaching her.
"Thank you." Moona smiled.
"How was your first day?"
"I enjoyed. But you know since it was the first day so I got tired."
"Let's have a cup of coffee then." Shanzay smiled, moving towards the lift.
"Shanzay, I appreciate this, I really do. But I have to go home. Hania and Saud must be waiting. Maybe some other time as we are colleagues now." Moona said, rubbing her forearm in a friendly way.
"Well then, see you tomorrow." Shanzay replied, giving her a quick hug and left. Moona smiled and moved towards the lift. In the lift she took her mobile phone out.
"I need to meet you at dinner." She texted Zain.
"Okay, I will be at the villa tonight." The reply came when she was starting her car. She sighed and ignited the engine.
              ........................
They had eaten their dinner when Zain asked Humna for a cup of coffee and went outside in the balcony. Moona followed him.
"You know what happened today?" She said crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.
"What?" Zain asked.
"Aasim knows everything about me." She said, still scowling.
"Like?"
"About Taimoor, and that I am sister of Khalil bhai."
"Ofcourse he does!!" Zain exclaimed. Moona's jaw dropped.
"He does???" She asked, eyes wide open.
"Moona, you are a genious. He has been Khalil bhai's partener for like five years. FIVE YEARS." He said raising his five fingers.
"Then why did you send me there?" Moona yelled.
"Because I wanted to get you a job there. So that Hashim can do his job." Zain said, his voice calm now.
"What job?"
"He is a spy." Zain said rubbing his temple.
"I thought I was a spy!" Moona yelled. Just then Humna came inside. They both turned to her.
"Your coffee." She gave the cup to Zain.
"Thankyou." Zain noded.
"Is everything okay?" She asked.
"Yeah. We were just talking about her job." Zain replied.
"Okay." Humna noded with confusion and turned back.
"Now all you have to do is to distract Aasim from Hashim. He will think that Khalil bhai has sent you. But instead it's Hashim who's been sent." Zain explained.
"How will he think that?"
"It totally depends on your acting skills." Zain smilled.
"Zain, it's too difficult."
"You can do this. I know."
"And what about Shanzay?"
"Let her be. I asked Hashim to stay away from her but you both can't. It's impossible and will raise suspicions about you both." Zain said sipping from his coffee.
"She really makes good coffee." He smiled. Moona just noded and went inside.
             ......................
Zain woke up in his bed the next morning. He turned to other side and saw Hashim sleeping there. He smiled. It happened a lot as they both had the keys of both apartments. He looked at the wall clock. It was about 7 am. He got up and went to the washroom for a bath. When he came out he saw Hashim still sleeping.
"Hashim get up. It's morning." Hashim mumbled and turned his side. Zain smiled and came towards him.
"Hey, wake up. Take a bath. I will cook breakfast." Hashim looked at him with sleepy eyes.
"What about breakfast at villa?" He asked.
"I will call them that I am not coming today." He said folding the blankets. Hashim noded and got up from bed. Zain went to the kitchen. After about fifteen minutes Hashim came out wearing a blue shirt on his jeans.
"You found something to wear." Zain smilled.
"Yeah, mine was rough from sleeping." He said.
"Did you find something?"
"I came here to tell you something I found out yesterday but you were asleep so I didn't wake you up." Hashim said holding a chair out for himself to sit.
"We will talk about that while having breakfast." Zain said turning the side of the fried egg.
"You should get married now." Hashim said looking at him. Zain's hands stopped for a moment then he smiled suspiciously,
"Oh I will definitely!" He said...
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