Lethal Obsession

Every women can bear a child but not every women can be a mother.

Every women is alike. They only know how to betray and backstab.

And if you love and trust a women, you surely are doomed.

These were his views regarding women, a sexist, who didn't trust womankind and despised them from the core of his heart. He didn't believe in love. Love was just like a fairytale to him. A fairytale which he didn't believe in.

He was Shehryaar Haider Syed.

Over the years, his beliefs got stronger and stronger. He was adamant about what he believed in. Every women which came into her life firmed his beliefs. He was sure what he believes in is nothing but truth. He took women as fucktoys and nothing else. He thought that not any woman exist in this world who could change his reviews about her kind.

Until he met her.

The fire met with a fire and none of them was able to extinguish themselves.

...........

"You've to sign this contract Sheharzaad." He declared, sitting proudly in front of her while she just continued to wriggle against the ropes which strongly gripped her.

"You and your contract both can go to hell. I'd never agree to this!" She spatted with venom in her voice. Her state disheveled with her messy hairs demonstrating the amount of times he has roughly gripped her hair, her lips slitted a bit from a side indicating his harsh slaps whenever she disrespected him and her voice croaky yet confident indicating her bone crushing sobs and wails whenever she was alone in this warehouse.

"My Shehrzaad." He said pensively, his eyes focused on hers.

A fire of fear erupted in her heart when her name rolled off his tongue so smoothly, signalling her that his sadistic mind is upto something.

He stood up and moved towards her causing her to instantly turn her head to the the other side manifesting her disdain for him. Reaching her, he roughly pulled her head back and dugged his fingers into her cheeks causing her lips to pucker out. He moved closer and closer, until his face was parallel to hers.

And then his features morphed as he unlocked the real demon inside him causing her heart to beat erratically as the mask of her strong facade begin to go off.

His eyes showed the glint of anger.

While hers were somehow trying to express calmness and fearlessness.

The lethal and pure combination of Grey against grey.

"It's totally upon you if you don't want to agree,"

His lips smirked. An evil smirk, which was enough for her to know he is upto no good.

Grabbing her hair from the nape of her neck, he placed his knee in between her legs and moved his lips closer to her ear.

"But I'll kill that friend of yours." He whispered and a lone tear escaped her eye.

"I won't be your mistress," she managed to whisper.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Sheharzaad screamed as soon as she cut the call, jumping up and down before running towards her friend's room.

She opened the door and barged in, she was smiling brightly, her grey eyes sparkling with happiness.

"What happened shehar?" her friend asked who was laying on the bed.

She was getting paler day by day, the dark circles were getting more and more prominent and her cheek bones were protruding out.

"Amna! Amna! I'm selected for the interview!" she announced wholeheartedly.

"Really?!" Amna's dead eyes twinkled immediately and a small smile adorned her features.

"Yes! Really!" she squealed with joy, jumping up and down with excitement.

Her wild and care free nature was only revealed to her closed ones which only included her closest friend, Amna.

"From where and what will be your job shehar?" Amna asked, trying to sit up when she helped her and sat beside her.

"They have called me for interview, its from Syed enterprises. Remember I applied for the vacant post of assistant to CEO" she excitedly said.

"Syed enterprises?" Amna asked with widened eyes. She couldn't believe it that Sheharzaad was talking about that famous company. It was a multi national company which involved many countries across the globe and many youngsters died to get a job in this company.

"Yes Amna! Yes! Our life is going to change now. I still can't believe it they had called me. Pinch me hard." she forwarded her hand.

"When will you grow up shehar?" Amna said and pinched on her arm, hard.

"Oww...stupid." she squealed making her laugh.

"When is your interview?"

"Tomorrow! Oh Shit! Shit! Shit! I've nothing to wear. And now I want to die!" she briskly said and quickly stood up moving towards her room so she could dive in her cupboard and find something to wear.

While Amna just chuckled behind and prayed for her.

Sheharzaad was an extremely hardworking and a career focused student. She was always dead set on achieving her goals. Her whole life had always revolved around studies and just studies so she could be a successful woman one day and getting a call from a multi national company was her dream which got fulfilled today.

She completed her degree two months ago and meanwhile worked in a cafe to pay the rent of apartment in which they both were living. She was like a a lone soul in this world when she met, Amna. Four years back, her parents died in a car accident. She was devestated, her world crumbled that day and she had no idea what would happen to her. Her parents left her with a small piece of land which she sold out with the help of Asad, his neighbour. He was man in his mid fifties, extremely humble and well acquainted with Sheharzaad's family. Also, he was the one who bore all the expenses of her parents funeral.

Sheharzaad had no aunt neither any uncle, her parents were also the single child to her grandparents. And she didn't has much idea of her other relatives so the funeral included only the neighbourhood. On that upcoming week, she had gotten a call for scholarship in a university where she applied for admission in Lahore. And then she left her city leaving for Lahore, forever, with the small amount of money she got after selling the small property.

When she got the room at her hostel, she met Amna who was her room mate. Amna was two years older than her and she, too like her was a free bird, her grandmother brought her up, who died the last year, due to which Amna couldn't clear the entrance test and had to wait for an year. Slowly and gradually they both became best friends more like sisters. Amna was always like an elder sister to Sheharzaad. Sheharzaad used to blabber and Amna would listen her endless stories, endlessly. Taking her out of troubles, advising her, scolding her for not cleaning her bed and much more. When they both had completed their degree, they rented a small apartment when Amna met love of her life, Ahmed, who worked in a bank and they both got engaged.

Shehrzaad had noticed how Amna's health was detorioating for past few months and when they went for a check up, Amna was diagnosed with cancer and she needed immediate medical assistance. For her treatment a huge amount of money was required, which Sheharzaad's job at the cafe couldn't fufil.

She desperately needed another job when her eyes caught the advertisement that post of assistant to CEO of Syed enterprises was vacant. She immediately applied for it. She had quite vague chances to get to the post as she was a fresh graduate and to assist the CEO requires alot of experience. You're like a right hand to him.

She knew what posistion did that company holds globally, it was like a dream job to her and it would provide her enough money atleast to initiate Amna's treatment now, she can't see her dying. Though, it may require alot of money but she'd break every limit just to get her out of this disease before time runs out.

"Amna, which one should I wear?" Sheharzaad asked holding two dresses in her hands.

"The white one, it'd be simple and elegant"

"Ahaan! You're right. How come you're so intelligent Amna?" She joked.

"Genes" Amna answered.

"You've got good jeans" she said that made her laugh.

"Are you sure, Shehar, you'll make it to their? The company is quite well known and their might be alot of candidates."

"I'll give my hundrent percent Amna. I want this job, we both can't live on mere ten thousand rupees which I'm able to earn from the cafe. Your treatment needs to start now and this job would provide me enough money"

"I don't know where this cancer came inside I-" she stated in a sad tone before she cut in.

"Genes" Sheharzaad answered quickly before she completes her infamous sentence 'I don't want to be a burden on you' followed by dropping of her face, depicting her sadness.

"Aha! Sheharzaad" she chuckled.

"I'll call Ahmed, he'll be so happy after listening the news." Amna said picking up her phone dialing her fiance's number.

"Oh yes do inform him, Ahmed bhai kept bugging me on and on whether I got the call for interview or not"

"Yes yes I'll" she said as Ahmed immediately picked up the call.

"You carry on with your husband to be, I've to dug into my wardrobe to find some shoes which for tomorrow" she said, leaving the room.

"By the way, shehar, who's the CEO? What's his name?" Amna asked as she only knew about the company not the CEO.

"Shehryaar Haider Syed" She replied, without looking back and moving towards her room.

...................

Riders on the storm

Riders on the storm

The music played lowly as he continued his speedy and energetic strides on the treadmill, his naked torso glistening with sweat.

Into this house we're born

Into this world we're thrown

His slow pants reverbrating the air. His well built, indestructible biceps on full display. His eyes forming a deep frown as if he was thinking about something hard. Few strands of his hair, shadowing his forehead

Like a dog without a bone

An actor out alone

Riders on the storm

He pressed a button and with that the speed of treadmill increased and his legs move fast, his jaw clenching with the rush of adrenaline in his blood vessels.

There's a killer on the road

His brain is squrimin' like a toad

His grip on the handle increased so does the intensity in his grey eyes and the speed of his legs.

He smirked.

'Just a few more' he encouraged himself.

Take a long holiday

Let your children play

After carrying on with the same speed for few minute, he increased the speed further. His teeth grinding against each other and his legs moving faster than ever.

The sweat increased.

The speed increased.

The pants increased.

If ya give this man a ride

Sweet memory will die

Killer on the road, yeah

'10' he counted in his brain.

Girl you gotta love ya man

Girl you gotta love ya man

'9'

With every count, his strides went rapid

Take him by the hand

'8' adrenaline rushed in his veins

Make him understand

'7' his breathing accelerated.

The world on you depends

"6" He gritted his teeth.

Our life will never end

"5" he clenched his jaw, his legs were running with an inhumane speed.

Gotta love your man, yeah

"4" he muttered.

Riders on the storm

"3" he panted heavily.

Riders on the storm

"2" his pupils dilated. He was about to make it. Breaking his own record.

Into this house we're born

"1"

Into this world we're thrown

Like a dog without a bone

"0!" he uttered with merriment and slowed down the treadmill after completely stopping it and getting off it.

He panted heavily as he gulped down the glass of water placed nearby before sitting down on one the couch in his personal gym as the music continued to play behind.

Very few things gave him contentment and defeating him, himself was one of them. Just like he did now, by breaking his own treadmill record. It made him feel undefeatable.

When he had caught his breath he got up before drying his sweat from the towel when he felt someone entering into the gym.

He turned his head towards him and saw that woman whom he had fucked last night, entering inside, wrapped in a small towel which didn't cover anything.

"I believe, I told you, your job was done" he stated, his attention towards her. His face stoic and void of any emotions.

There's a killer on the road

"Shehryaar" she whispered.

And his jaw clecnched.

She bite her lips seductively and moved towards him. Her fingers intentionally loosing their grip on the towel. Her thighs clenching tightly against each other on witnessing the handsome beast standing infront of him, who fucked her mercilessly last night.

She could still feel him going in and out of her butt while his legs were wrapped around his waist and her upper half lied on the bed and the lower one in the air. She knew it then, he likes it rough and she wanted it rough.

Her crux was already soaked on remebering the occurings of last night.

"I want something from you" she muttered as she moved closer to him. When she was closer enough, she deliberately left the towel and it cascaded down her body.

A fake shocked expression marred her face which he deciphered immediately.

"Huh! I'm sorry" she said with that fake shocked tone and made no move to grab the towel.

"What is that you want?" he cocked a brow, not giving a glance to her naked body.

She moved forward, invading his personal space and tucked her hands behind his neck.

"Don't touch me" he whispered in a calm tone and she ignored it, not sensing the calm before the storm.

"You didn't suck me last night" she uttered without any shame.

Her eyes lingering towards his lips and she licked hers with desire.

"And you didn't kiss me last night" she whispered and moved forward, standing on her tip toes to place her lips on his.

He shook his head slightly.

'Bad move' his mind said.

And before her mind could register, he suddenly gripped her throat not too tightly but the threat was there and in a jerk he landed her on the couch where he was sitting before.

Panic struck her eyes.

"You want to kiss me?" he gritted, increasing his hold. Anger evident in his features.

When she take more than two seconds to reply, he further increased his grip now cutting off her air supply and jerk her body forwards and then harshly smash her body again on the couch.

"Si...sir" she whispered in her shaky voice with trepidation.

"Are you here to be fucked again?" he demanded.

"Si...sir. Wh.."

"You want my lips on your pussy which is fucked by hundred men daily?!" he gritted, his brows hanging down with a sudden surge of anger as his other hand now threaded into her hair and tightly held her locks, making her neck to arch at an uncomfortable angle.

"Le...ave" her heart beat fast.

"God damn answer!" he clenched his jaw.

"Yes...yes" she answered quickly.

"Yes what?" he questioned.

"I want to be fucked again..I want you to fuck me" she replied swiftly before his temper rises more.

He smirked. His hand freeing her locks and seperating her thighs tapping her nub harshly with his calloused hand.

"You should know" he stated and slapped her hard on her crux, making her gasp for air but the tight grip on her throat didn't let her

"I dont fuck a woman twice" he stated and gave her the hardest hit their, removing his hand and getting off of her.

"Show yourself out" he ordered and she immediately got up, her legs moving towards the door fastly.

"And" he said in his deadly voce making her stop in her tracks. Her bare back facing him. She didn't has enough courage to look back at him again

"Dare to call me by name again, I'll cut your lips" he finished and she ran out not caring to cover herself.

................

"Sir we've picked out only five people based on their GPA's as you told" Hammad, who worked as his PA, informed him as Shehryaar moved towards his office and he followed behind him.

He had fired the last assistant due to her non serious behaviour towards work and he couldn't tolerate any idiotic or laziness in work. Work was his life. He had built this whole empire on its own, not taking any help from his brother, Irtaza, his father, Haider or his grandfather, Shabbir.

He wanted to build his business with his own hard work and he did that. After burning the midnight oil and years of struggles, he at last reached the point where his company was globally flourishing, progressing by leaps and bounds.

He wasn't a person to ignore mistakes. First impression was the last impression for him. If you've done a single mistake you're fired the very next second. No sorries, no justifications, no arguments. And rather who would argue him? The whole staff knew how scary their boss was and no one can ever win him in arguments. He was so manipulative with that dark and cold era always around him.

He was an extremely anti social person, only a few, rather just four men were close to him, Irtaza, his elder brother, Moosa, Irtaza's first in command, Zaroon, his closest friend and Hammad, his PA, who deals with all the mafia shit. Even he had maintained his distance with Hammad too, he would discuss the mafia deals with him only.

As Hammad was always busy in dealing with mafia, Shehryaar wanted a personal secretary, who can help him dealing with the business so he decided to advertise it and as expected there were tons of applications out of which on his orders Hammad picked up just five.

The less the people the better it is. One of his philophosical statement.

On reaching the office, he sat on his swivel chair and Hammad who was following behind him came inside too.

"When you've scheduled the interviews?" he asked, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.

"Tomorrow sir"

"Great. Till then you've to be my secretary"

"Fine sir."

"What are the names of candidates?" he asked.

"Maham Saleem, Hamza Junaid, Ijaz Raza, Atif Ishaq" Hammad told, all these names were craved in his memories due to the amount of research he had done on them. There were tons of applications and only these five got the chance.

"The last ones?"

"Sheharzaad Qureshi"

Her grey eyes anxiously moved around, portraying her anxiety. She was getting breathless with every second, unable to believe her luck. Her fingers were getting shaky and small droplets of sweat popped by the root of her hair though she was sitting in a chilled room

Why would God favor her so much?

The question again struck her mind. She was fervently hoping that no blunder would occur and she would get the post without any hindrance. Because if she lost this golden opportunity, never she would ever be able to gather money for Amna's operation on time.

Her friend would die. Just like everyone around her died. She would be left alone.

This job was a matter of life and death for her. In front of Amna, often she would act like she was jolly and fine but her internal state was only revealed to her God.

HE was the one aware of her sleepless nights full of anxiety. Amna's recovery was on her mind all the time. There was not a single day in her life when she had not worked enough to earn some money. Let it be a minor and non-considerable amount. From working as a waitress in cafes and getting subjected to the hungry eyes of men to take part in every competition, her university hosted she went to all lengths to get a little share of money. She did everything in her power but that was not enough.

If she continued to make money at such a speed, she was sure, by the time the full amount for her operation would be in her hands, Amna would be six feet under the ground. And she, herself would have progressed in her age that this young time of youth had passed a long time ago. Maybe she would be 40 or 50? Who knows?

It was this much necessary for her to get this job. And merely thinking of the possibility that she won't be able to make it to the post, her anxiety was getting increased with every second.

"Mr. Atif Ishaq, it's your turn," The calm and professional sound of the woman came off of from the speaker instilled at the top of an automatic door in the waiting room. "Please enter the CEO's office after five minutes of return of the previous candidate. Thankyou,"

The man, Atif, who was next in turn stood up from the comfortable sofa and began to stroll left and right, rubbing his hands together.

She was able to deduce, he also wanted this job as much as she did. But she hoped, he was not as desperate as her.

To get a job in Syed's enterprises was a dream of millions and getting called for an interview was a golden opportunity itself. So she could understand the people's aspirations and expectations linked with getting the job in this company. And the post of secretary was considered as a second hand to the CEO. His secretary should be sharp, able, quick-witted, hard-working with a sea of knowledge regarding everything. The post demanded so much but it also gives one so much.

After a few moments, the previous candidate whose name was apparently Ijaz, entered the waiting room. Every eye landed on him. The guy, Atif, quickly walked towards him and began to ask him questions about the interview and CEO.

"How was it? What were the questions? Do you think, would you get selected? Please tell us about it," He bombarded him with questions.

"Yes please. What kind of a guy was CEO? Was he nice? Soft spoken or angry?"

"What do you think are their priorities for selecting someone?"

The others asked.

"I don't know man. I don't know. His face was stoic all the time. Not even an iota of an expression came on his face. I was clueless whether he was satisfied or not."

"What kind of guy was the CEO?" Someone asked again.

"I don't know. But whenever he would interrupt you in the middle of your answer, know it, you were lying and he caught it. So advising everyone beforehand, don't lie. Don't try to show yourself as master of all. My answers would collide with my own answers, unbelievably," he stated as in shock, "They would morph the questions in such a way that my previous answer would be counter to my next answer. They have the tendency to catch lies. Their questionnaire is that way. The same question would be repeated in such a way that you would never know that you answered the same type of question just a few moments ago. So be yourself, be who you are and don't lie," He advised everyone.

"Thanks brother," Atif patted at his shoulder.

"I guess it's your turn. Now go. Remember knock before entering and ask permission for whatever you do. Sit with his permission, stand with his permission. Add this word 'may I' into your dictionary for a short period of this interview,"

"Thanks man. I'll keep that in check," With that being sad, the man Atif went inside the CEO's corridor that led to his office.

It was told that all the five candidates were to wait till the interview of the last person as they would be announcing results today and right now.

The applicants went in and went out one by one and everyone continued to listen to their experience keenly. She could inferred that CEO didn't talk much, a stoic man, whose grey eyes were metallic shards that would enter into your soul and gauge out deepest of your secrets. One would often feel nervous under his penetrating gaze. His austere gaze would make a person think twice to whatever he was saying. And they all experienced the same thing.

Seemed like, he ruled the world through his eyes.

Her number was last in the queue and now the fourth person, who was a girl, Maham Saleem just had gone inside. Next was her turn and she began to squirm already. Nervous, anxious, fearful and what not. She was praying for the best and hoping for the best too because hoping the worst was making her morale go down more and more. It was taking almost 45 minutes to an hour for everyone to come out and she had to wait just for an hour more to unlock her luck and save her friend's life.

Busy in calming herself she got a call from Ahmed, fiance of Amna.

A frown formed on her head as she quickly pick up the call.

"Hello Ahmed bhai? What happened?"

"Come fast, shehar. Amna..... Amna she is...her heart is not working, we are....the hospital. Come.."

"What?!" Her eyes jutted out, "Send me the details of the hospital, I'm coming," She cut-off of the phone, and rushed out of the building towards the hospital.

Upon reaching there, she came to know she was in ICU. The doctors are not giving any clear answers regarding her situation.

"I reached there and she was..... she was sitting on the bed. I thought she was slept but....but when I fixed the comforter her arm fell as if she was some dead body. They are saying, the left ventricle is not working due to the cancer," Ahmed sobbed while explaining the situation to Sheharzaad, who was already in tears. Her eyes were red and constantly spilling tears out yet her lips didn't utter a word. She was in a shock, at the verge of collapsing.

The doctor came out of the ICU and both of them moved towards her.

"Doctor Ali, please don't give us a bad news," Sheharzaad pleaded.

Doctor Ali was the doctor of Amna who had been dealing with her case for a while.

"Her left ventricle is not working properly. The heart beat has gotten low to a level that the blood supply to the body got almost diminished but he brought her on time. Now he is out of danger. We need to start her cancer treatment asap, Sheharzaad. If we didn't then the working condition of her heart would become unrecoverable. Start the treatment before its's too late. She is out of danger, take care of her diet. She is unconscious yet. We've given her anaesthetics. We're keeping her under observation. You can take her home within a day or two." He stated and Ahmed took a sigh of relief, thanking the doctor but Sheharzaad mind kept on repeating the same sentence on which her mind got struck

'Start the treatment before its too late'

For how long she would be able to postpone it? For how long she would keep on just gathering money and not initiating the treatment.

It was then she recalled her job interview.

She needed that job!

With that she got out of the hospital and rushed towards the company.

........

The sky was blue already and the birds were returning to their respective abodes.

Shehryaar, who was witnessing the slow and gradual changing of day through his window was delved in millions of thoughts. His grey eyes observed the worrisomeness of the inhabitants of the city, Lahore but his mind was somewhere else. Somewhere far. Somewhere struck in his past.

That particular scene engraved in his mind.

That particular scene that made him despise all the womankind.

He considered them just a thing through which he could gain pleasure.

For him, they were weaklings and nothing else.

Most of them would want to be under him so they could feed him some money for extracting pleasures for them.

They deceive and attract men by showing that they are innocents but in usual they are their just for money.

Every women can bear a child but not every women can be a mother.

Every women is alike. They only know how to betray and backstab.

And if you love and trust a women, you surely are doomed.

These were his views regarding women, a sexist, who didn't trust womankind and despised them from the core of his heart. He didn't believe in love. Love was just like a fairytale to him. A fairytale which he didn't believe in.

Over the years, his beliefs got stronger and stronger. He was adamant about what he believed in. Every women which came into her life firmed his beliefs. He was sure what he believes in is nothing but truth. He took women as fucktoys and nothing else. He thought that not any woman exist in this world who could change his reviews about her kind.

As he was unaware of her, yet.

"Sir," the door knocked and Hammad entered.

"Yes, Hammad?" His dark voice demanded.

"That fifth candidate has came. She said her friend was rushed to the hospital and she needed to be there so she could not be at the interview on time,"

"Okay, so?" he said nonchalantly without turning around.

"Sir...the inter-interview,"

He turned around, his cold eyes staring straight into Hammads' making him stare down. "You got my answer?"

"Yes sir,"

"I don't like to repeat a thing, Hammad," he stated in a low voice making Hammad remember the second time he says something is not through words but by a bullet.

"As you say sir," Hammad left the office and came across Sheharzaad, who was in the waiting room.

"I'm sorry. He is not ready to take your interview, Sheharzaad,"

"But I need this job, sir,"

"There is nothing in my hands. I can't convince him,"

After listening his verdict, tears filled in her eyes.

"Please, can't you do something?" Her shoulders squared and her head fell down. Her throat constricted with pain and guilt. Guilt of now not being able to save her friends' life.

"I'm sorry," He apologised and left the waiting area.

She had failed herself! Failed her friend! And failed everyone around her!

Now, she won't be able to save her life. She would send her friend to death by her own hands.

Biting her shivering lower lip, she gathered her files that she had left there before rushing to the hospital and walked towards the lift. Her head was hold down.

She was totally crumbled. She didn't know where she was going but only following the path where her instincts led to.

She could physically feel a pain in her heart. A pain of anxiety, a pain of failure and a pain of fear of future.

She kept on moving down when she collided with someone's chest and her things fell down. She looked up and her eyes came across the mirror of her eyes.

She found a pair of similar grey eyes staring directly at her.

Little did she know, those grey eyes were going to be her destruction.

....

"I'm sorry," Sheharzaad apologized and squatted down to pick up her things. Her movement was slow as her mind was again immersed in depths of anxiety, covered by folds of fear and anticipation. She was clueless about what she would answer Ahmed, who had a minor post in a bank through which he wasn't able to earn, and how she would face Amna. She had given her word to both of them that she would get the job in this company and their circumstances would change.

She had been trying to get an interview call from this company for months. No other company was hiring her as she was a fresh graduate with lack of experience. Apart from that, the package this company offered would help her to gather money for her treatment within two to three months. And she needed money as soon as possible.

But now, nothing would happen. Things have slipped from her hands. Her friend would die just like everyone else around her. Amna wasn't just a friend to her. When life tested her, Amna protected her. Amna advised her throughout her life. Amna was in front of her, beside her, and behind her in every difficult situation that Sheharzaad ever came across.

A small teardrop slipped from her eye and fell on her hand. Amna's feet were hanging in her grave and just a slight push was enough to send her six feet down the ground. The push that would be born due to lack of money.

When she was done collecting her things and stood up, she found no one around. She frowned, thinking she was hallucinating about bumping into that man, whoever he was.

Moving towards the lift, she found him standing in the lift, typing on his phone. His head was tilted a bit down as he was looking at his phone screen and the other hand was rested against the metallic rail that was used as a hand rest. He didn't notice her and she didn't spare him more than a glance.

The lift's door was about to close when she quickly entered the elevator and stood beside him.

She noticed him through his reflection on the door. He looked up at her, spared her a glance, and looked back down into his phone, before turning it off and standing straight.

The area was small yet sufficient and she was able to get a sniff of his manly cologne without even trying because his rich perfume was overflowing in the whole area.

She wondered what would be the cost of it? Never in her life, she could buy something so expensive. The scent was enough for her to deduce the bare minimum price of his perfume.

She would have maybe if she got a job in this company but now it was a no chance. A no chance for her to live a better life and a no chance for her friend to stay alive. Now, only prayers could save her friend from death. Nothing else. She had ran out of options.

Her phone ringed, it was Ahmed and she answered it immediately.

"Yes Ahmed bhai?" She worriedly asked, thinking something might have happened to Amna.

"Shehar, they are demanding for the fee. I'm penniless. It's end of the month. Do you have some money?"

"Around how much would you need?"

"Almost 8 to 10,000 rupees, for her medicines and tests,"

"Ten thousand Ahmed bhai?" She reiterated, shell shocked, "I don't have ten thousand. Now what we will do?" She asked, her voice at the verge of crying.

"I'll try to arrange some money, don't worry. I'll ask my friends,"

"I'll try too Ahmed bhai, don't worry," She replied.

"Please try to come fast, shehar. I need your help,"

"Don't worry, bhai. I'm coming. Allah hafiz,"she answered and cut the call, before placing her phone in the purse. She wanted to get out of this lift and rush to the hospital as soon as she could. She needed to stand beside her family.

To check the available cash, she had at the moment she drifted her attention to her purse and searched for her wallet in it. Her eyes widened upon realizing that her wallet was not with her. She searched through her purse twice but again she could not find her wallet.

She began to think that where she could left it and she got her answer. It was in the tax. She had left it there. Now, her tears were at the bay.

She didn't get the job.

Amna was in the hospital.

And now her wallet was gone. She practically had no cash to go back to the hospital now. A sob formed in her throat. She was breaking. The life and the circumstances, all were breaking her apart. She was vulnerable.

"What happened," A voice came from her left side. Thick, rich, deep and dark. That suddenly made her heart skip a beat.

She just spared him a glance before turning her neck back. Was that question directed at her? She couldn't tell, as he was looking infront of him, not at her.

"Nothing," came her reply. Her voice was firm and hardened. Yes, she was broken but that didn't mean she would tell her worries to everyone.

He didn't speak anything. Kept quiet. Gave no response to her.

"No, I'll come, wait," his voice came again and she confusedly looked back at him again only to realize he was talking on the phone.

Her face got red.

He had asked 'what happened' to someone on the phone and she thought the question was directed at her. Oh god. She didn't even notice him receiving a call, maybe she was too submerged in her thoughts.

"Yeah, hold on," he said again, now as he continued speaking on his phone and directing orders.

At last, the elevator dinged open and she rushed out of the building while his hawk like grey eyes followed her. He took off his phone from his ear, while looking at her retreating back. He tapped his phone against his palm and rose an eye-brow as his eyes still followed her.

"Nothing," he muttered under his breath, "nothing," he repeated her answer again as a small smirk unnoticeable smirk, subconsciously appeared on his face and it vanished as soon as it came and he walked out.

As soon as he sat in his car, his eyes again landed on her. She was standing near the foot path looking here and there. His eyes widen for a moment when he found her walking swiftly in the middle of the road looking towards the bus that was coming in her direction. The driver was honking the bus violently but she kept on moving.

"What is she doing?" He whispered with a frown thinking she was going to commit a suicide when suddenly he saw her snatching the arm of a young girl and pushing her towards her. The buss near missed them both and the little girl began to cry hysterically in her arms when she wrapped her arms around her and immediately crossed the road along with her.

The little girl continued to cry in her arms and she consoled her as if she was her guadian angel. Just minutes later, that girl's parents came and took their children from her before thanking her profusely to which she gave a bright smile as if she was content with saving a life.

For a moment he thought that how much she differs from him. She gets content in saving a life whereas he found his satisfaction in taking lives.

Nevertheless, not focusing on her more, he roared the engine to life and drove himself to home.

.......

Both Ahmed and Sheharzaad were able to arrange the money somehow and had gotten Amna back to home. Ahmed was gone and now both Sheharzaad and Amna were alone in their small house. Amna was sleeping as the doctors had prescribed her some pills while Sheharzaad had already started her job hunt again. She had applied in each company that came across her.

The day was too hectic and tensed for her. Everything came running down on her. It was one of the worst days of her life. Her high hopes got shattered and she was back to where she started. She missed the golden opportunity and now she was back on the hunt for a new job.

Yet the thing that brought tranquillity in her was the fact that she survived it. She survived this day till the end. That gave her a hope that she would make the ends meet, she would resist, oppose and fight. It rekindled her spirit. Despite losing her wallet and all the money, she still managed to get to the hospital as she convinced one of the taxi drivers to take he to the hospital as she had lost her wallet. She would pay him upon reaching the hospital and luckily the driver agreed and also he was one of the close acquaintances of that cab driver who took her to the company from the hospital and she got her wallet back as well. It taught her never lose hope. The nature not only tests you but also protects you.

She closed the lid of her laptop and laid down beside Amna and set the comforter on her.

"Thank you, buddy," she smiled looking at her dear friend and then looked at the sky that glimmered with stars.

A peaceful smile sprawled on her lips as if thanking the nature and tired of the todays events she found herself snoring.

Unmindful of the devil that she had awaken