THE COLOSSAL BLUNDER

Chapter 5

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It was that time of the year when Nabeel would visit every department of the organization just to see the progress, he does that every newyear after he does that he makes a report and emails it to everyone on the board of directors. He decided that was when he would confront his feelings for Aneesa. He called his assistant and asked him to make a call and ask Aneesa to meet him in his office in the next 10 minutes.

When Mr Jonathan called their office and asked for Aneesa’s presence in Mr Uwais’s office, she felt her heart flip several times and had numerous thoughts running through her mind.

After having pushed away weird thoughts out of her head, she made her way to Nabeel’s office. She landed a gentle knock on his huge one way glass door and waited for his response.

He looked at the door and saw the lady he was very slowly but definitely falling in love with. He walked over and opened the door making Aneesa’s heart flip again. He ushered her in and asked her to sit before completed what he was doing on his laptop.

After what felt like eternity to Aneesa which was only a few minutes, he raised his head up and said “sorry for keeping you waiting. I was preparing an important presentation, I had all I wanted to say in my mind. If I had opened my mouth and uttered a word I am sure I would have forgotten everything I wanted to write.” He said in an explaining tone. She could only nod and smile at him because of how nervous she was.

He decided to speak up again to explain why he asked her to come to his office wondering if that was what was making her look so nervous. “ Uhmm miss Maleek I asked for you so you could help me with something. Can I trust you to that for me?” he said calmly earning a genuine smile and a nod from her. Satisfied with that he smiled back and continued. “I want you to come with me to all the departments. I am taking rounds to see the progress they have all made and include it as part of my presentation. I have heard about how well you get along with everyone in almost all the departments. So I thought there is no other person than you to help me get acquainted as well.” She smiled and said “When you said you needed help I thought it was something very serious. And it is not almost all departments it is every department in this company sir.” She said confidently making Nabeel let out a hearty laugh. “And as a way to say thank you, I would like to ask you to dinner tonight. Please don’t say no.” He said with pleading eyes making Aneesa’s tummy butterflies cheer loudly in her belly. She smiled very loudly and said “ Am I allowed to go home and change? I hate what I am wearing” making Nabeel laugh loudly and she joined him and let out a hearty laughter as well.

After Nabeel finished with what he was doing he told Aneesa he was ready to go.

They made their way to the first department the manufacturing department with Nabeel’s assistant few steps behind them. Nabeel had asked him to follow them so he could write down the observations he made.

Soon they had visited almost all the departments it was only three departments that was remaining including hers. Nabeel had noted all he wanted to for his presenatation.

They went to the accounting department and Nabeel asked Aneesa to do the presentation on behalf of the accounts department causing everyone to get shocked. Ever since they walked in Bahijja has been winking at Aneesa making her shift from her spot.

They finished making rounds around the office and noting the progress and regress of each department. Coincidently the accounting and finance departments had made the most progress scoring Asim another point being the head of that particular department.

Nabeel told Aneesa to go home and get ready for their dinner he would pick her up at 8.

She drove home excitedly looking forward to their little dinner thing. She got home and the maid told them that everyone was out so she didn’t have to explain where she was going or with who she was going out. She made a mental note to call Ammi and tell her she was going out with a friend.

Meanwhile, Nabeel called Ammi and told her about this date thing he will be having today. He promised to tell her everything she would want to know when he gets back home

Aneesa slept off by 5 and set an alarm to wake up by magrhib so she won’t get dressed too early or too late.

Nabeel decided to finish up the presentation making all the necessary corrections before deciding to take his bath, pray and get dressed. He picked up his things and asked the driver to start the car. They head and he decided to meet up with a friend seeing that it was not time to pick Aneesa up they had like an hour and a half before picking her up.

Aneesa also woke up and within 1 and a half hour she got took her bath, prayed, got dressed in one of her favorite dresses she bought from SHEIN and wore little makeup so she won’t look dull without it.

After she got dressed she contemplated on whether to message or call him or not. Meanwhile he was already on his way to pick her up While she was debating with herself her phone dinged and it was a message from asking her if she was ready or not. She replied almost immediately and said she was ready. She had already given him the directions to the house and seeing that her house was in the heart of town, he didn’t find it hard to find her house. He called her told her he was outside and she stood in the mirror to get a clear direction of herself. Something then reminded her to call Ammmi and tell her that she was going out with a friend.

She stepped out after informing Ammi she was going to be a little late. She saw this sleek black car sitting beautifully in their parking space and knew that was definitely Nabeel so she walked over to the car and landed a knock on the tinted windows. He asked his driver to unlock the doors and when he unlocked the door and she heard it make a click sound which made her open the door she saw a person that was not Nabeel and when Nabeel saw her confused face he chuckled and said I am here making her look right at him. He moved and opened the door for her, when she entered and sat beside him the first thing that hit her was his cologne, she almost fainted. She sat down properly and closed the door after her to avoid embarrassing herself. She turned to look at him to talk in the voice she mustered because her insides was already churning and said “ Salamualaikum and A very good evening to you Nabeel” making him look at her surprisingly because that was the first time she ever called him by his name. Smiling widely he replied “waalaikumus salam and good evening to you too Aneesa. How are you doing?” “Hungry because I didn’t eat at home so that when we are seated to eat you won’t say I am disrespecting you.” She said to him. He laughed at her and kept silent.

The rest of the drive was spent in comfortable silence with just the low sound of the radio and the both of them drowned in their own thoughts.

They arrived at the restaurant and they both walked in side by side. She noticed nobody was in the restaurant and it was usually a busy place. She looked at Nabeel and said “Why isn’t anyone here? It’s usually filled up with people especially in the night.” Voicing out her curious thoughts. He gave her the clueless look as well not knowing that Nabeel had rented out the place when he asked Bahijja about Aneesa and she told him that Aneesa hated being in people’s company.

A waiter showed them to their seats and they sat down waiting for the menu. That was when Nabeel looked at her carefully noticing how she kept looking at an empty space in other not to make awkward eye contact with him.

He cleared his throat making her turn her attention back at him. She smiled at him and he was about to talk when the waiter came with their menus. They selected from the variety they had and gave the waiter back the menus. “You look very beautiful” He said almost abruptly. She opened her mouth in attempt to say something but nothing came out, she managed and uttered a thank you.

He had decided he was going to tell her he liked her before their dinner ended but seeing how awkwardly things were going he decided to take it a little bit slow.

Their orders came and they started eating, this time around she decided to talk and said “what do you do in your free time?” he looked up at her and replied “Nothing apart from watching football and British game shows or playing golf or playing polo.” “Wow! That’s really not usual but it is unique. I like it.” She said making him smile.

They ate the rest of their food in peaceful silence and soon they got up to leave.

When in the car he fished his phone out and said he was going to text her. He texted her which said “I have something to tell.” She immediately replied “What is it!” he decided to go all out and said “I THINK I AM FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU” and without thinking twice he hit the sent button.

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