Disaster

The exhaustion of the longest meeting I'd ever attended clung to me as I finally made my way back to my suite in Dubai. My back ached from the hours of sitting, and all I wanted was the solace of my bed.

I had arrived the previous night and spent the entire time working on presentations and statements. This project was crucial for my company, a landmark opportunity to be the first Dubai-based company to market internationally with Iran. I couldn't afford any mistakes.

Fortunately, everything went well. This was the last meeting I needed to attend here; the rest could be managed from India.

Despite the busy schedule, my thoughts frequently drifted to Areena. Our last encounter had ended poorly, but I hoped to explain everything to her, to make her understand.

I knew she was disappointed that I hadn't reached out after the incident, but I wanted to give her some time to process everything. This meeting was too important, so I left without informing her.

As soon as I unlocked the door to my suite, I collapsed onto the bed, ready to succumb to sleep.

Just as I began to drift off, my phone started ringing incessantly. Groaning, I ignored it, hoping it would stop. When it finally did, it began ringing again almost immediately.

Frustrated, I got up and reached for my phone. It had been charging since last night, and I saw eight missed calls from Tahir, my secretary.

Something urgent must be happening. I was about to call him back when the phone rang again with his name on the display. I answered immediately.

"What happened, Tahir? Why are you calling so urgently?"

"Sir, I'm sorry for disturbing you, but your father has been admitted to the hospital. He’s not well. Your sister asked me to inform you and request you to come as soon as possible."

A heavy burden settled on my chest.

"What happened to him?"

"Sir, I don’t have many details. Your sister was crying and couldn’t explain much. She just asked me to inform you."

"Alright. Book me on the first flight back."

"I already have, sir. You just need to get to the airport. Your flight leaves in an hour."

"Thank you, Tahir. I'll be there."

"It's my duty, sir. Have a safe journey."

I disconnected the call, packed my belongings hastily, and left for the airport, anxiety gnawing at me with every step.

The seven-hour journey to Mumbai felt endless, each passing minute amplifying my restlessness.

When I left for Dubai, I had assured my father I'd return in 2-3 days. His ominous words still echoed in my mind:

"If you don't come back, there's no need to come to my funeral either."

I refused to think like that. Nothing would happen to him. Maybe this was all part of his plan to trick me into coming back early. I hope so.

Upon landing at Mumbai airport, I immediately called Afiya. She answered after several rings.

"Assalamualaikum, Bhai. Where are you?"

"Walaikum Assalam. Where is Papa, and where are you? Is he okay? What happened to him?"

"Relax, Bhai. Everything is fine now. Papa is out of danger. I'm at Areena's house with her mom and dad."

Areena...!!

"What are you doing there? Where is Papa, and what happened to him?"

"Papa is still in the hospital. He’s fine now. Someone drugged him when he went to Areena appi's office to talk to her."

Drugs? Papa? Areena? What the hell is happening?

"But how could someone drug him?"

"He went to her office to talk with her. Appi ordered green tea for him, but her peon mixed some drug in it. He..."

"How's that possible? Why would a Peon do that? What does he gain from it?"

"I don't know, Bhai. Appi is also trying to find him, she is...!"

"All this happened in front of Areena, and she did nothing?"

I shouted, anger rising within me. My father had been drugged in her office, and she did nothing?

"Bhai, it's not like that, she sav—"

"Stop it, Afiya. I will meet you after visiting Papa."

I cut the call and went outside, my driver waiting for me. Without wasting any time, I left for the hospital.

My phone rang again, this time it was John. I answered.

"Hello, brother. I heard about uncle. Is he fine now? Actually, I'm out of town, otherwise, I..."

"It's alright, brother. Dad is fine now. You don't have to worry about it."

I didn’t let him finish. I knew he was mostly out of town for work. I couldn’t blame him.

"Yeah, you know... Anyway, what happened to uncle suddenly?"

I told him everything Afiya had told me. He became silent for a while.

"John... Are you listening?"

"Yeah, sorry. Actually, I was thinking..."

"What?"

"Don't get me wrong, Abid. But what if it’s all Areena's plan?"

"What do you mean?"

"Actually, you told me she might be the girlfriend of your rival's company head. What if she still is? Just think, Abid. If something happens to uncle, it would mainly affect his company, 'Shimmer Ltd.' You know it would surely affect the company's shares. The main profit would go to the rival company. Are you getting what I’m saying?"

I hadn't thought of it that way. I was angry at Areena because I thought she should have been more careful. But what he was saying could also be true. What if?

She isn’t like that.

My heart tried to defend her, as always. But this was too much. If anything happened to my father, I couldn't tolerate it.

"Abid, are you there?"

"We can talk later, John."

"Yeah, sure. Bye."

I hung up the call, the conflicting thoughts swirling in my mind.

Once I reached the hospital, it was already midnight. I rushed inside and asked the receptionist about my father's room.

Initially, she hesitated, but when I identified myself, she quickly apologized. My father’s substantial donations to the hospital certainly carried weight.

I hurried to his room and found him sleeping. His face was pale, and seeing him like this was unbearable.

He and Afiya were the only family I cared about after that nightmare with my mother. I sat on the stool beside his bed and held his hand.

"I’m sorry, Dad... You had to go through all this..."

My voice cracked, and tears filled my eyes.

"...You’re everything to me, Dad. I can’t live without you. I know I’m not a good son. I’ve made so many mistakes and caused you so much trouble.

But you’ve always been there for me. That night, when I lost myself, you were the only one who stood by me, who handled me.

You always protected me, Dad. But I’ve always disappointed you. I couldn’t protect you... I... am... so...rryyy..."

I broke down, laying my head on his hand and crying.

"I’m really... so...rryyy, Dad... Please forgive... me... please..."

I felt a hand on my head, gently caressing my hair. It felt so comforting.

I stayed like that for a moment before lifting my head and locking eyes with her brown, tear-filled orbs. A rush of feelings surged through me.

I grabbed her by the waist, buried my head in her stomach, and held her tightly, crying. She gently caressed my hair, and it felt unbelievably soothing.

Her scent, mixed with the sterile hospital smell, enveloped me. How long has she been here?

John’s words echoed in my mind, fueling my anger. What if she was still the girlfriend of my rival? What if her presence here had ulterior motives?

My rage surged back with renewed intensity. What was she doing here? What did she think of herself?

I let go of her waist and met her eyes again, this time filled with rage. I grabbed her wrist tightly and dragged her out of my father's room to the outside balcony.

"What are you doing, Abid?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

But I wasn’t going to fall for her so-called innocence again.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing here?" I hissed, my voice low but seething with anger. "Do you think you can just waltz in here and play the concerned friend while all this happens because of you? You're such an outstanding actress, Areena," I spat, my anger boiling over.

"What are you saying? I didn't do anything! Trust me, Abid," she pleaded.

"You drugged my father and now you want me to trust you? Are you for real?"

I punched the wall beside her in frustration.

"Abid, I... didn't—"

"You know exactly what you did. So stop playing innocent," I interrupted, my grip tightening on her wrist.

"I didn't do that. I would never think of doing something so horrible. I know I should have been more careful, but..." she began, but I cut her off again, pinning her to the railing.

She looked genuinely guilty, tears streaming down her face. I felt a pang of something in my chest—guilt, maybe? No, I couldn't let her trap me again.

"I'm sorry, Abid. I know I should have been more careful, and I do feel guilty. But believe me, I didn't do anything," she said, her voice breaking.

I tightened my grip, making her gasp in pain. Yet, she didn’t flinch or look away. She kept her gaze locked with mine, and all I could see was guilt.

Once more, I found myself drowning in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Abid. I—"

"Shhh," I hushed her, loosening my grip but not letting go entirely.

We were still entwined, our bodies pressed together. Her eyes softened, and I stroked her cheek, feeling her shiver at my touch.

I wiped away her tears, my thumb tracing the curve of her cheek.

Her eyes remained closed as she leaned into my touch, and I could feel her heartbeat, her chest rising and falling against mine.

Without thinking, I rubbed her lower lip with my thumb, making her shiver again.

Our eyes met once more, and before I knew it, I was leaning in, our lips almost touching.

I captured her lower lip between mine, but her phone ringing startled us both.

I pulled back abruptly, feeling awkward and confused about my actions. What was I doing?

Running a hand through my hair in frustration, I realized her phone was still ringing, but she wasn't paying it any attention. She was just staring at me.

Unable to meet her gaze, I turned to leave.

"You can leave. I'm here with my father now," I said over my shoulder before walking back to my father's room.

I felt a crushing loneliness, like I had left something important behind.

What I did wasn't right. I had to control myself. This had never happened with any other girl, but with Areena, I couldn't resist. Why?

Because you want her, my inner self replied shamelessly.

I sat on the couch, closing my eyes, but all I could see were her brown eyes and pink lips.

She was really something.

I was supposed to be angry at her, but here I was, thinking about her.

She was a disaster for me.