"Mamoo, what will I do here all alone...? Please don't go."
Mr. Jilani had brought her to Karachi and was now about to leave for the airport with his essentials. When Hoor complained and tried to stop him from leaving, he spoke:
"Child, it is necessary for me to go right now. For one, Kayan will get suspicious, and secondly, our business has expanded greatly and I have very important meetings there, so my presence is mandatory. As for what you will do here, you should handle our branch in this city. After all, you have done your BBA, so put your degree and skills to use. Besides, this branch isn't earning much profit lately. I have full confidence that you will not only manage it well but also take it to the top level like our other companies."
Hearing this, she spoke thoughtfully:
"Fine then, give me an appointment letter; I will join from tomorrow morning."
"Why an appointment letter...? You are the owner with a 51% share in every business everywhere, while Kayan has 49%... In that sense, even Kayan and I cannot do anything without your permission, so why would you need that...?"
She was stunned to hear this. She wondered how someone could give their everything to another person. Kayan had done all this for Hooreen himself, and Mr. Jilani's consent was fully included, but she hadn't known any of it. She was unaware that she was the 51% owner of every business while Kayan held 49%. She spoke without hiding her astonishment:
"Mamoo...! So much trust in me...? I don't need all this, so why did you both make such a big decision...?"
"You are Kayan's wife and my daughter too, so you are entitled to all of this. If it were anyone else in your place as Kayan's wife, I would never have let him do this, but you are different from everyone else... You are Hoor—Kayan's Hoor... my Noor and Ilyas's daughter, Hoor... my daughter-in-law... so doing all this for you is a very small thing for us."
Seeing their love and trust, her eyes welled up. Wiping her tears, she spoke:
"I still want to work as an employee because, as you just said, this company isn't giving much profit. To get to the root of this problem, it's better to be an employee. Owners don't know the internal details as well as the workers do. And besides, if I enter the company as the owner, the news will reach Kayan."
"You have a point. In that case, you can work as my assistant. I will call Manager Anas and inform him. Anas will handle everything, and the matter will stay hidden from Kayan because he doesn't like Anas and won't visit this branch."
"Why is that...?"
She asked instinctively at his mention, and Mr. Jilani replied:
"I don't know the full details, but I do know that his wife and child had misbehaved with some girl, and that's why...!"
He paused as a thought occurred to him, and then asked Hooreen:
"Has a woman and a child ever harmed you or misbehaved with you... in Lahore? Do you remember anything like that??"
"No Mamoo, nothing like that ever happened... and I live in Sialkot. I've only visited Lahore three or four times; nothing like that happened there...!"
Pressing her memory, she suddenly recalled something and spoke again:
"Wait... I remember now. Once in a mall, a vase fell on my foot because of a child, and instead of admitting her son's mistake, the mother misbehaved with us. Then we left from there."
At her words, he spoke with a smile:
"I can say with certainty that Kayan was present there at that time, because he fired Anas for that very reason—that his wife and child misbehaved with a girl and showed off their wealth. Kayan kicked him out of the company saying he should stay home and teach manners to his family. He wasn't even in favor of keeping him in any of our companies. I forced him to stay in this branch, so Kayan stopped coming here altogether and remained angry with me for a long time... Now I understand what the real matter was!"
She began to look at him with wonder. She also remembered Kayan mentioning during his long explanation that he had fired a manager named Anas. Remembering this, she spoke:
"He even slapped that child because of whom the vase fell and injured my foot...!"
At this, he looked at her skeptically:
"Kayan raised a hand against a small child...? He loves children so much...!"
Then Hooreen told him the whole story. Hearing it, he began to smile. Seeing him smile, she lowered her head, and after saying goodbye, he left for the airport.
Today was her first day at the office. She faced some difficulties initially, but after understanding the work, those hurdles vanished. Everyone in the office was very nice and cooperative except for the Product Manager, Natasha. First, Natasha scrutinized her from head to toe. For a few moments, even she was stunned by Hooreen's beauty, but jealousy soon took root in her heart. Previously, everyone praised Natasha, but within a single day, everyone began appreciating Hooreen's talent and beauty. Tasks that new workers took 10 to 15 days to learn, she mastered in a few hours. Days passed, and she became even better at her work. Her confidence grew, her personality underwent visible changes, and simultaneously, she discovered the reason why the company was going into loss. Now, she was just waiting for Mr. Jilani's return.
"Mamoo, when are you coming back? It's been two months since you left. When do you plan to return...? I have something very important to tell you before it's too late."
"Child, it will still take some time for me to return. Whatever you have to say, tell me over the call."
In response to his words, she spoke with feigned annoyance:
"I don't want to tell you anything. You stay right there... just work, work, and work... You don't care at all about your daughter being bored and alone... Go, I don't want to talk to you!"
Saying this, she cut the call. Mr. Jilani burst out laughing at her behavior and words. Hearing the sound of his laughter behind her, she turned and saw that he was right there. Hooreen rushed forward and hugged him joyfully, then pulling away, she expressed her grievance:
"You were teasing me...? I missed you so much... You are just like Kayan, you both enjoy teasing me."
Inadvertently, she mentioned Kayan and didn't even realize it. Mr. Jilani was startled to hear Kayan's name but then ignored it and changed the subject:
"I have brought lots of shopping for my daughter. I brought everything that my princess daughter likes, and Ilyas has also sent many things of your choice. Look at all this and tell me if you like it or not."
At his words, she spoke excitedly:
"You met Papa...? How is he...? And Mama, how is she...?"
"How can they be without you...? Both miss you very much... Ilyas wanted to come and meet you, but Kayan has placed his men everywhere to find you, so he cannot come even if he wants to. And Haleema cries for you all the time... at least tell her that you are okay...!"
"Mamoo, Mama's words have left deep wounds on my heart which will take a little time to heal. And seeing me reminds her of all the cruelty and agony she endured. I don't want to be the cause of her grief anymore...!"
He fell silent at her sad tone. Then, composing herself, she spoke with a smile:
"Mamoo, go and freshen up, then after having dinner, I will look at all this."
Since Hooreen had changed the topic, he agreed and started to leave. Remembering something, he turned back and said:
"Child, you had something important to tell me...?"
She replied:
"Yes, I do, but first you freshen up. I'll tell you after dinner."
He went to his room, and after he freshened up, she served him dinner herself. Despite Mr. Jilani's insistence, she didn't eat, making an excuse that she had already eaten before he arrived. During tea, their conversation began, in which she informed Mr. Jilani of all the office matters with evidence. He spoke thoughtfully:
"So all this is happening in the company? Is that why this branch was going into such a loss...??????"
"Yes Dad... every human is not worthy of trust."
"You're right... I must say, I'm impressed by your 'employee strategy'."
He spoke in praise, and she just smiled.
Later, Mr. Jilani went to his room, and Hooreen went to Kayan's room instead of her own. Whenever she came home after the office, she spent most of her time in Kayan's room; she found peace there. For the past few days, she had been feeling a heaviness in her health, and she found solace in Kayan's room, breathing in his scent. In these two months, there wasn't a single moment when she hadn't thought of Kayan or missed him. She didn't want to face him right now, yet living without him was becoming very difficult for her.
In the morning, when she came downstairs ready for the office, Mr. Jilani was waiting for her for breakfast. Seeing him, she greeted him with a "Salam" and "Good morning" and sat in the chair next to him. As soon as she sat down, the maid brought breakfast, seeing which she spoke:
"Mamoo, you should have started breakfast; you'll get late for the office this way."
"I've finally gotten a chance to have breakfast with my daughter after so long, how could I have it alone? And you'll get late too, so let's just head out together."
At his affectionate words, she lowered her head and spoke in an embarrassed tone:
"Mamoo… actually, I've been going to the office late for the past two weeks and returning before time too. Now that you're going to the office, everyone will complain to you about me coming late and leaving early."
"I am sorry, Mamoo...!"
"Child, it's alright… there must be some reason behind it. And even if there isn't, it doesn't matter. Though punctuality is a rule of our business which even the owner must follow, in your case, things are different; you have permission for everything. If people talk, I will handle them. You eat your breakfast without any worry...!"
He spoke with a calm smile, seeing her troubled. At his reassurance, she reached for the breakfast plate. As soon as she put a piece of toast in her mouth, she felt nauseous. Covering her mouth with her hand, she rushed toward the washroom. Mr. Jilani followed her anxiously; she was vomiting in the washroom. Mr. Jilani waited in her room. When she came out after washing her face, he observed her closely; her complexion was turning pale. She sat on the bed, exhausted. He asked with deep concern:
"Child, what happened...? You don't look well to me...!"
"I'm fine, Mamoo… It's just that whenever I try to eat something, I feel this way."
At her words, he remembered that she hadn't eaten anything last night either, having lied that she had already eaten. He also understood why she had been arriving late and leaving early for so many days. He asked her in a stern tone:
"And since when has this been going on...?"
She replied nonchalantly:
"Just for the last two or three weeks."
"And surely you haven't seen a doctor...? Nor taken any medicine...?"
At his angry questioning, she lowered her head and spoke:
"No...!"
"You are crossing limits, Hooreen... such negligence regarding your own self...? What way is this...? You aren't going anywhere; you will stay at home... I am calling the doctor, she will come, check you up, and give you medicine. Until then, you go and rest."
"No Dad, it's important to go to the office today. I will get checked up on my way back."
She spoke in a pleading manner. Hearing her call him "Dad" brought him immense joy, but setting that happiness aside, he spoke in a somewhat stern tone:
"There is no need to go anywhere. You will stay home and rest... Anas will look after the office matters with me. You will stay right here."
"Now I know where Kayan learned to speak in such a stern tone!"
She spoke with a pout. He smiled at her remark but spoke again in the same firm manner:
"You can think or say whatever you want, but you are not going to the office today."
"Fine, then I won't see the doctor either, nor will I take any medicine. Now you decide whether I should go to the office or not...?"
She spoke stubbornly. Giving in, he said:
"Are you acting stubborn like my useless son...? Was Kayan not enough that you are behaving the same way...?"
"What can I do? I am his wife after all, so there's bound to be some influence...!"
She stopped mid-sentence. At her silence, he spoke:
"You take his name all the time, Hooreen. Perhaps you don't even realize yourself that you do everything with Kayan in mind... you only talk about him. When you love him so much, why don't you forgive him...?"
She remained silent at his question. The mixed expressions of pain and immense love written on her face were not hidden from Mr. Jilani. He spoke, changing the subject:
"Alright, fine. You come to the office with me, but just for today. And on the way back, I will personally take you to the doctor."