I know I was going to update earlier. But coming home at 8 and trying to edit chaps, isn't easy 😅
Besides, you know I am a lazy cow/.\
~~~HUSSAIN's POV~~~
The tension kept growing in the conference hall while dad kept throwing daggers at me through his eyes for no reason. Naomi, Shehry's Secretary, kept calling his mobile, while pacing up and down the room, but he was too busy to pick up.
"Is this some kind of a joke?" Dad yelled, frustrated, and got up from his chair. Everyone, including me, stared at him in horror as he punched the pine table.
"Dad, calm down," I tried but, he glared at me, shutting me up instantly. "Tum toh chup hi raho. Aaj Sab barbad ho jayega. Tum dono Bhai ek jaise ho. How irresponsible!"
"He must be stuck somewhere. I am sure he will come on time," I reasoned as I flicked a text to Rabia.
"Time? They will be here any moment! Do you realise that? I think not!" He yelled, "zimmedaari Ka ehsaas hota toh aaj yeh presentation tum Kar rahe hote!"
I looked away from his face, embarrassed and at a loss of words. Suddenly the door opened and Natalie came in.
"Sir, Mr. Abbasi here!" She informed us, looking as worried as we were. Everything was on stake today and Shehry chose to be so irresponsible. How could he do this dad when he was counting on him?
Maybe Madiha could tell me, I wondered and pulled out my phone to text her.
Me: hey! Any idea where Shehry is?
Jaaaaaan 😉❤️: no, why?
Me: he is not picking up his phone. He needs to be here for the meeting.
Jaaaaaan 😉❤️ : oh is he not? Well someone needs to save the day, no?
Me: what?
Jaaaaaan 😉❤️ : I am busy. TTYL.
Frowning at my phone, I kept it on the table. Ajeeb hai! She doesn't even care? My phone beeped again and it was a message from her again.
Jaaaaaan 😉❤️ : go for it Hussain. Make me proud of my hero. 😊
What? Before I could make sense of anything, everyone stood up in the room and I shoved my phone aside. Mr Abbasi walked in with three other men.
"Good morning gentlemen," he greeted as he shook hands with dad.
"Afzal," one of the men introduced himself to me as he offered a handshake.
"Hussain," I replied as politely.
"He is like a brother to me," Mr Abbasi said proudly and I nodded at him, "I thought why not put this great mind to use."
I looked up at dad and he gave me a look of concern.
"So shall we start?" Afzal asked and I nodded at the men. "Yes, I don't see why no—"
"Uh actually gentlemen, we are waiting for Shehryaar," dad spoke up before I could finish and I sighed.
"No problem," Mr Abbasi smiled and sat down on his chair.
I picked up my phone, reading my conversation with Madiha over and over again. What was she trying to say there? Suddenly it all made sense and I typed a quick reply before getting up.
Me: I will❤️
"You know what, Shehryaar is not coming so there is no point waiting," I spoke as I adjusted my blazer and walked up to the front.
Dad stood up instantly, blocking my way. "What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?" He hissed in a whisper.
"We are going to lose this anyway. I might as well give it a shot!" I told him and without waiting for his reply, I walked up to the front and opened up my presentation.
"Right, let's get started!"
~~~SHEHRYAAR's POV~~~
I paced up and down the room, staring at the screen of my phone. There were missed calls and messages from everyone but I was not allowed to answer any.
"Are you sure He is not going to mess up?" I asked, worried and Rabia sighed beside me.
"Trust your own brother Shehry, he will do great."
"That's what I thought yesterday," I sighed and turned to Madiha, "are you sure he fixed all the flaws?"
"I made sure he knew about them. I just hope he realises them," she said, running a hand through her hair.
"What do you mean?" I gasped, "what if he doesn't and we lose the contract?"
"Aisa Nahi hoga Shehry, stop being so negative!" Rabia huffed as she stood up, "I am making coffee. Anyone wants it?"
I shook my head at her and she sighed, "you are helping me out."
Dragging me along with her, she made me stand beside her while my mind kept going back to the meeting. I could call and ask Naomi about it, right?
"Apna Dimag office main hi chod aaya karo!" Rabia groaned, pulling me back to the reality.
"I am just worried yaar!" I reasoned, "dad would kill me if he fails to convince that Abbasi!"
"And things would cool down between him and Hussain if Hussain manages to convince. Besides, it's just a deal; life main Bohot saari aayengi Shehry."
"It's not just a deal," I rolled my eyes, "dealing with Mr Abbasi is the biggest thing ever. You don't know how much profit we will make out of this, Rabia!"
"Even better!" She clapped her hands and grinned at me, "imagine Hussain cracking his best deal possible!"
"But—"
"Oh ho, Shehry!" She groaned, cutting me off, "Bhai tumhaara hai Aur Mujhe uspar tumse zyada trust hai. Yeh Kya baat hui?"
I shook my head, giving up. Yeh Nahi samjhne wali!
I jut hope Hussain doesn't lose this opportunity!
~~~HUSSAIN's POV~~~
I was blank. And lost.
They had already been offered a deal cheaper than ours'. Then why would they deal with us? All the pair of eyes were staring at me while mine focused on dad, hoping for him to help me out of this.
"Looks like you can't help us," Afzal sighed, making my heart pound against my ribcage. If they leave today, I won't be able to look into dad's eyes, ever again.
"It isn't about one or two percent Mr. Asif, we will be saving at least eight percent," Mr Abbasi added and dad just nodded at him before looking at me. "Bolo Hussain. what do you have to offer?"
The other company offered them cheaper prices when everything is so costly these days, How is that possible? It doesn't even covers our costing, let alone the profit.
"But Sir, did they consider the taxes?" I asked, taking my chances and dad raised an eyebrow at me.
"What do you think? they are fools?" Afzal chuckled, making me feel even more worse about the situation that I was stuck in.
'Make me proud of my hero' I remembered Madiha's text and sighed. I can't fail this time.
"And...." I paused and sucked in a deep breath. Its okay, Hussain. "And what about dollar's price?"
"What do you mean?" Afzal frowned at me as dad leaned forward, listening to me intently.
"I mean, the world's economy keeps changing. We import our supplies from China and Hong Kong; Once the dollar's price rises, we will make a lot of profit since we will have to pay them less money but, what if it drops?" I smiled internally, seeing their confused faces, "right now one USD gives you roughly eight Hong Kong dollars. Am I correct, David?"
David quickly typed something in his laptop and nodded at me.
"Now imagine buying an apple for 8 Hong Kong Dollars. That's one USD, are you all with me on this? Once the USD's price drops by one HK dollar, those eight dollars will become one dollar and twelve point five US cents. It means nothing for now but do you realise, on a mass scale, those extra twelve point five cents mean? Paying 900 thousand dollars when it should have been 800 thousand."
Afzal and Mr Abbasi exchanged looks while I stopped pacing back and forth in the front of the room and held the head rest of the high end office chair, "oh not to forget, even the amount of tax you will have to pay for these raw material will change. So, Will they be able to deliver the products on the same price then? I think not."
"Uh," Mr Abbasi cleared his throat and looked at dad, "We want some time to think."
"You have all the time in the world," I replied instead of dad; Confident like never before, "we will leave you alone in here."
I walked out of the room and released the breath that I was holding on to. My wrist veins were ready to explode any second. I felt so claustrophobic in there but, putting my point across with so much confident, felt amazing. I pulled out my phone and there was already a text from Madiha.
Jaaaaaan 😉❤️ : remember, I will always believe in you 😊
My smiled widened upon reading that. It feels good to know that someone cares.
Me: And I will Always be in love with you ❤️
I sent the text and looked up, only to find dad looking out of the large glass window so, I went to stand with him. I knew he wasn't staring at anything particular but, for me, it has always been about staring right up at the blue sky.
"See those people down there?" He asked out of no where and I nodded at him, "they could have been here instead of us, But they are not."
I frowned at him, confused.
"There is a reason why you are here, fortunate enough to be a part of this industry and reputed company," He added and slipped his hands out of his pockets, "you proved yourself worthy of it today."
"What?" I chocked out, not expecting that from him. He chuckled, seeing me shocked, "I don't care what their decision is anymore. I am proud of your effort. Deals toh aur bhi aa jaayengi."
"But Dad-" I was about to speak when he shook his head.
"Confidence was one thing you always lacked and it always stopped you from delivering your best," he sighed, "agar itne confidence se kal bola hota toh Shehry ko iss main involve karne ki zaroorat hi nahi parti."
He frowned suddenly and checked his watch, "Its really unprofessional of him to not turn up on time."
I chose to stay quite since I didn't want Shehry to face his anger if anything went wrong today. He has been following dad's footsteps ever since I can remember. Toh aaj kya ho gaya usse?
"Mr Asif?" Afzal's voice made both of us turn towards the conference room, "We have made our decision."
~~~MADIHA's POV~~~
"Shit! he is here!" Shehry whisper-yelled as he came running inside. he had been sitting outside, looking out for Hussain's car for the past half an hour.
"Let me know if dad seems fine and I'll come out," he said as he picked up his phone from the table.
"Dekho, bheegi billi," Rabia chuckled, mocking him and I laughed along with her.
"Hans lo dono. Subha tak agar meri haddiyaan kutton main batne se bach gayi, toh phir dekhunga!" he huffed, scowling at us, and I gasped.
"Aise toh na kahein!" I told him, worried, "I am already worried that you might get in trouble because of my silly request."
He sighed and sat beside me, "don't worry, okay? I'll handle him."
I smiled at him; at times, he reminds me of Faisal bhai.
"Ab main bhag raha hoon," he hurriedly got up again and was about to run inside when uncle's voice stopped him.
"Shehry!" He came forward and my heart raced a marathon inside my chest while My eyes widened upon hearing his serious and loud tone, "chalo mere saath!"
I didn't want him to get in trouble because of me.
"Jee," Shehry nodded and followed him to his room. I looked at Rabia who was already staring at me with concerned expressions.
My eyes looked for Hussain and stopped when I spotted him going up the staircase, silently like yesterday. My heart sank to my stomach when the fear of him not being able to crack the deal crossed my mind. Its not about the money or the contract; its about his self-esteem. His self confidence. It would take him forever to overcome this guilt.
"Go," Rabia whispered to me, pushing me forward, and I nodded at her before sucking in a deep breath. I followed Hussain to the bedroom and found him in the balcony; his tie was lying on the bed, along with his blazer and laptop bag.
"Hussain?" I called out, trying to gain his attention. He tilted his head to look at me but, only for a brief second.
"Meeting kaisi thi?" I asked him nervously, "did it all went well?"
"went Well?" he frowned as he turned to look at me, "you have any idea how-"
He ran a hand through his hair as his frown turned into a grin, "We got it!"
I widened my eyes as he screamed in joy. "One moment I was so scared and then it was mine! I cracked the deal, can you imagine that?"
"That's great!" I chocked out, still in a shock, "wow! I am so-"
His excitement didn't let me finish and he held my hands, "You know what dad said to me? he was proud of my efforts. damn! I can't explain how happy I am today."
I smiled, seeing him so happy as tears of joy welled up in my own eyes. He is the same guy who was sitting on that bed yesterday, with his head hung low. I was brought back to reality when he picked me up from my knees and I shrieked, laughing.
"Thank you so much Madiha, I realised why you were talking about shopping and importing good last night. it really helped!" he spoke as he spun me around and then kept me down to look at me, "you are a true star, really!"
"Me?" I stumbled out, "Haha no. I don't know what you are talking about." who am I trying to fool here?
"Acha?" he raised an eyebrow at me and I nodded, "Dad's planning a party, everything is going so well and you have all the time in the world to lie to me."
"I am not lying," I pushed him away and folded my arms in front of my chest. he rolled his eyes at me and tugged on to my arm, pulling me closer. "Aaj jhooth bolne ka itna hi dil kar raha hai toh woh boldo jo sun'ne ka kabse intezaar hai mujhe."
I frowned at him as he tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ears, "Tell me you l-"
"Ehem ehem ehem!" someone cleared their throat, making us pull away instantly; Shehry bhai and Rabia were standing by our bedroom's door.
"Kam se kam darwaza toh band kar liya karo. kitni baar samjhana parega Hussain!" Rabia mockingly widened her eyes at him and I fought the urge of rolling mine.
"Hussain, mere bhai, come here!" Shehry ignored her and stepped forward to hug Hussain.
"Mubarak ho devarani ji, aapka student toh bohot bright nikla," Rabia whispered to me, making me giggle. Hussain smiled at me over Shehry's shoulder and I mirrored it.
"Tum sab mile hue the, Haina?" Hussain asked as they both pulled away.
"You know what this calls for?" Rabia asked, refusing to answer his question, while I looked away to avoid his gaze.
"Celebration!" Shehry yelled, Hugging Hussain again.
"Celebration?" I asked, frowning at them. Hussain and Shehry exchanged looks and then grinned at me.
"Tomorrow you will see hum Asif's kaise party karte hein!"
*_*_*_*
Short again!!!
The next part wasn't fitting well /.\
Ahhh!!! There are so many new pics are out there of Hussain, Sana, and Fawad but my app stopped working. I am dying to make new cover for the upcoming chaps 😭😭😩😩💔
Oh by the way, currently I am working on the 2nd last chap for this book 😱😅
Can't wait to finish all the current ones and start BI ;)
Anyways,
Love Always<3