Inevitable Destiny- Mayi Ri

(25)

"Yes... right now we just need to complete the orders of two parties." Fakhir was talking with the manager of his office

"Ji Khawar sahab, and I hope that you would have informed everyone in the office and the delivery agents that from tomorrow till New Years it will be off for everyone, umm, yes... for 3 days only"

He was holding his mobile with one hand and trying to fix his collar from the other... which obviously was not going well, when he felt a touch on his hand and next moment saw Aini... making him turn towards her and took the task from him.

Aini had come to the room to call Fakhir for breakfast, but saw him miserably failing at his multitasking.

She went towards him and made him stand facing her so that she can fix his collar and because of the height difference between them, she tip-toed a little and then put her hands around his neck to do her work.

"J... Ji, Khawar sahab... I am listening. Yeah, hmm... we'll discuss about that when I reach office. Yeah... Okay, Allah Hafiz." And with that he finished the call.

Fakhir couldn't help but watch Aini... balancing herself and fixing his collar. He could feel the soft brushes of her hand on his nape when she took hold of the material from the back, the khanak of her bangles ringing in his ears because of the movement and that hand slide on his shoulders which she did to remove the creases... sent a shiver down his spine.

He could feel her presence so strongly around him, enveloping him in it... and for a fleeting moment, he struggled with the whirlwind of emotions surging within him.

Her face contorted with concentration, the cold breeze teasing the loose strands of her hair and cheeks slightly flushed. He noticed remnants of flour clinging to her cardigan, a subtle testament about her everyday breakfast duty in the kitchen.

These ordinary details becoming extraordinary and making him get caught in a web of conflicting sensations and feelings.

Aini smoothed the shirt, set his collar right and buttoned up the sleeves of his shirt... just the way he does every day; which she might have taken notice of... a new habit which got developed without her knowledge.

When she was satisfied with her work, she looked up and saw Fakhir gazing at her with a very intense, searching look... and it made her feel all fuzzy from inside.

She gulped and took a step back... but Fakhir instinctively unconsciously moved closer, as though an invisible magnetic pull between them... and he covered the distance which Aini had tried to create. 

Fakhir doesn't seem to be in his senses when he took that step... first step towards Aini from his side... and saw Aini's changing demeanor. He was about to say something... or maybe... when Aini spoke up...

"Fa... Fakhir" moving back at great speed "b... breakfast is ready. J... jaldi ajao, sab wait kar rahe hai." And with that she was out of the room in the blink of his eyes.

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The aroma of freshly ground beans wafted through the air as Fakhir settled into a corner booth of a coffee shop, his files open, and a steaming cup of coffee warming his hands; as he waited for the impending client meeting.

This was the last important meeting before the year winds up and the client himself had arranged all of it. Fakhir had arrived almost fifteen minutes early than the allotted time, and was now waiting and enjoying the warmth of the coffee shop which contrasted with the chilly December breeze outside.

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"Khuda ka wasta hai, please stop now" Fakhir heard a voice from his adjacent booth, but thought to ignore it.