2.2 • Just Perfect

“So did you like him?” Hareem Begum asked expectantly.

Hoorain was resting on her bed with her eyes closed. Listening to her dearest mother's words, her eyes opened.

“You are asking me if I want to marry him just after our first meeting?” Hoorain asked in disbelief. Which century her mother lived in?

“No, I'm just asking if you like him.” Hareem Begum smiled.

“Okay, what if I say I like him?” She asked firmly.

“Then we'd get you married to him as soon as possible.” Hoorain rolled her eyes at her mother's words.

“And what if I say I don't like him?” She asked the opposite.

“Then I'll ask your father to run a background check on him to make you believe that he is perfect for you.”

“Ammi, you amaze me.” She shook her head in disappointment.

“I know how amazing I am. But did you like him?” Hareem Begum was again and again raising the same question.

“I am not sure. I need more time.”

“How much time?” Now Hoorain was getting annoyed.

“Ammi, please. You are pressurising me.”

“I am not.” She shook her head.

“Can you please lock the door from outside?” Hoorain tried to trick her mother into leaving her alone.

“Yeah, sure.” Hareem Begum couldn't understand the clever request and went to the door. She stepped outside the room and locked the door.

But then a question was raised in her mind, “Hoorain, how will I enter the room now?”

“You don't need to.” And the door was locked from inside as well.

Hareem Begum gasped at her daughter's cleverness and left from there with a huff of annoyance.

✨✨✨

It was past midnight when rats began doing breakdance in Hoorain's stomach. She rung a bell to Hooriya and requested for a plate full of biryani. Hooriya reheated the leftover biryani and headed towards Hoorain's bedroom. She unlocked the door and entered to see her sister sitting on the bed with her hands clutching her stomach. Her stomach must be aching because of hunger.

“Hooriya! I'm hungry as hell.” Hoorain quickly grabbed the plate of delicious biryani and attacked the food immediately.

“That's not a new thing.” Hooriya commented and sat before her.

“Say whatever you want. I won't mind anything right now.” She kept eating as if her life depended on it.

“Who had told you to lock yourself up?”

“I did that to get rid of Ammi from my room. But she didn't unlock the door before she left. And the plan backfired.” She made a sad face.

“I know Ammi gets annoying at times. But that doesn't mean pull up tricks like this.” Her wise sister advised her.

“You know what, getting rid of our annoying mother is bestest reason for me to get married.” She was being honest while saying so.

“Means you are considering this proposal?” Hooriya asked with curiousity.

“I am. He seems to be a practical person. But I am not going to say yes immediately. I want some time to see what I am getting myself into. I mean, he is so handsome and rich and successful. He must have some secrets. Maybe some bad habit. Love affairs. But there must be something for sure.”

“Thank God, I didn't get into this whole arranged marriage fiasco. It's so risky.” Hooriya expressed her gratitude at that odd time.

“Hooriya, it was your luck you found Zayan in the most unexpected ways. Not everyone is lucky enough to fall in love and get married. There are some unlucky humans like me who are clueless about love.” Hoorain sighed.

“I had told you to get married to Zayan's elder brother. Ayan Bhai is so nice.”

“No way in hell I'll marry your robot of a brother in law. I'm better off without him. And Shahmir is a much better choice than Ayan. At least, he knows how to treat women. How to converse. And most importantly, how to smile.” She had almost finished her biryani by then.

“Oh, you just got your reasons to marry Shahmir. But still Ayan Bhai is a gem.”

“Whatever, go back to your room now. I'm feeling sleepy.” She put the plate on the bed side table and laid down on the bed.

Hooriya picked the plate and left the room with a loud Good Night. Hoorain mumbled the same and tried to fall asleep by back counting from thousand to one. And she was fast asleep before she could reach four hundred.

(This is my trick to fall asleep fast. And it has been successful every time till now.)

✨✨✨

The next morning began with chaos. Because Hoorain was informed that she is supposed to visit Zuberi Enterprises along with her father.

“But Baba can go there alone. What will I do there? I know nothing about business.” She tried to argue with her mother.

“Hoorain, you should go and see his behaviour with his employees. It will help you with the decision.” Her mother explained.

Now it made sense to her. So she nodded and picked a random plain black suit and got ready for the day.

✨✨✨

As she stepped inside Zuberi Enterprises, she felt grateful to come there. Her eyes were glued to the mordern interior of the office. Everything was white and shining like a diamond. It was a beautiful shade of white, almost ivory. But beautiful. Walls were purely glass as if promising transperency.

A guy wearing black came to them. He very respectfully greeted her father and her. And then showed them the way to Shahmir's cabin. Hoorain's eyes kept wandering to glance around and remember the corners filled creativity. It was a heaven for an architect.

Shahmir's cabin was no less either. The floor and walls and furniture were in shades of black with tint of white here and there. It gave a mysterious but regal vibe.

“Welcome, Nawaz uncle.” Shahmir stood up from his chair and greeted the old man with a smile.

Hoorain and her father sat before him. His brown eyes collided with her hazel brown ones. It wasn't intentional but he traced her slender neck with his gaze. As if feeling the heat of his gaze on her neck, Hoorain tried to cover it with her dupatta. Seeing her do that Shahmir immediately diverted his attention to her father.

“So what brought you here?” He asked.

“We came here to meet you, of course. And it's been over two and a half decades since I visited this building. I wanted to visit here for a long time.”

“Oh, I can give you tour around the office.” He readily agreed.

“No, your assistant can do that. You should stay with Hoorain. Talk to each other and see if you reach some conclusion.”

“Sure, uncle.” Shahmir nodded.

Nawaz Shah left both of them alone in the cabin and left to take a tour of the office building.

✨✨✨

Now it was only Shahmir and Hoorain in the cabin. He noticed how she kept noticing the details of interior design. He smiled softly and called his secretary to send two cups of coffee. But then he remembered that Hoorain wasn't fond of beverages. So he ordered a mango smoothie for her.

“It seems you liked the interior of my cabin,” He spoke.

She looked at him and said with a smile,“Yeah, it's nice.”

“But you are not an interior designer.”

“Yeah, but I like it.” She shrugged.

“My sister Ramsha has designed it. She is an interior designer by profession. After I overtook the business, I asked her to renovate the entire office for me.” Hoorain didn't know why he was telling her that but she liked him sharing it with her.

“She is very nice at what she does. I would love to meet her.”

“Now that depends on your decision if you would be able to meet her in person.”

“Why only mine? It's also about you. The proposal.”

Before Shahmir could reply, his secretary knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

He entered the cabin with a tray in his hand,“Here's your coffee and smoothie, sir.” He put the tray on the table and left.

Shahmir picked his cup of coffee. He saw how Hoorain was looking at the smoothie in surprise.

“Yesterday, your sister didn't bring any beverage for you when she brought tea for me. So I thought you don't consume beverages. That's why I ordered smoothie for you.” He explained to her.

She smiled,“You are quite observant. And yes, I don't consume any sort of beverages.”

“But smoothies are a healthy option.” He added.

“Hmm, thanks for the consideration. I appreciate it, Shahmir.” Saying so she picked the glass containing mango smoothie and enjoyed the tasty drink. And as she drank the smoothie, a thought kept repetitively crossing her mind.

He was just perfect for her.

•••

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