"I must say,looking at your resume its evident that you are quite overqualified."Ayat smiled at the comment and looked straight ahead at the  interviewer before continuing.

"I am immensely flattered sir,but I would give all credit to my wish to work here which drove me to such limits."she returned smoothly at which the interviewers turned heads at each other.

"Why here specifically?"he continued curiosity taking the better of him.Ayat's smile fell a bit before she regained her composure.

"Mr. Zafar Malik..."The interviewer looked at her in anticipation as she paused.

"He is the reason for my passion towards this company.Working in the same place as him is an honour that I cannot possibly explain in words.."She continued smoothly while the interviewers sat dumbfounded,momentarily mesmerised by her.

"Well then,"he continued after clearing his throat and began to assemble her documents.

"I think we too shall be honoured to have you as an intern for now with hopes to see you as a permanent employee in the future."With this he got up and extended the file towards her who was sitting opposite to them.She extended her hand with a smile before nodding her head in approval.

"That you will sir."and with this she left the room.
--------------------
"If he wasn't going to be here in the first place,why did he call me?!"Tayyab cried exasperated but before he could get his answer she caught his attention.

"Ayat?"He called out to her who was about to leave but turned back at his voice.

"What are you doing here?"he asked fondly,unusually happy to see her.After that odd night it had been a few weeks since they had even exchanged a greeting.But seeing her here during their winter break when he least expected to see her,caught him off guard.

She looked at him with her same skeptic and cold look before answering."I came here for the internship interview."she put plainly and then looked behind him.

"Well did you get it?"he asked excitedly.She turned back to look at him and answered with a mere nod before avoiding his gaze again.

"Awesome.That's great.I am so happy for you."she looked up at him slightly taken aback but he just continued smiling as if the news was of his getting a job and not her.She was still staring at him when they were interrupted.

"Are you the new intern?"Ayat turned to the all too familiar face and in a moment her mask was on.

"Yes sir,I am Ayat Naveed."she greeted cheerfully at which he slightly nodded his head.

"They are calling you."He pointed to an office before turning to Tayyab.

"And you Tayyab,I am your dad's employee not yours.So as per the orders of my boss you are to wait in his office.And that's the end of it."

"But Uncle Imtiaz--"Tayyab retorted defensively but was cut off in the middle of his sentence.

"No buts Tayyab.Office now."He ordered firmly which earned him a groan from him.

"See you later Ayat."he said with a smile which caused Ayat to turn her head away.

"Miss?"He pulled her out of her thoughts and with motion of his hand directed her to the office.She stared at him for a moment before a smile beautified her features.

"Yes."And with this she walked away satisfied as the first stage of her plan had set into motion smoothly.

------------------

"Miss Ayat are you done preparing the sales report?"She looked up at the voice of her team leader.

"Yes sir.Here it is."She handed him a print out and watched him skim through it.

"Great work.."He nodded in approval and turned on his heel to leave when she called out.

"Sir,I was looking through old reports too and I noticed that the total revenue is although increasing but so is the expenditure."She stood up and showed him the statistics report.

"And based on that even if we cut out the taxes and other expenses,the final yield is falling short by few billions over the past decade."She stepped back and saw the frown deepen between his eyes with hidden pleasure.

"Who is the sales manager sir?Maybe he could look into it?"she suggested helpfully at which he finally looked up but his features were hard as rock.

"Its...Mr.Imtiaz Muhammed...."he left off at the end of his name as his eyes fell back on the file.

"I--I will look into this.You can get back to your work."She watched him leave satisfied and then went back to her desk.

'All that's left now....'she thought as she reclined back on the chair and scrolled through her contact list before her eyes found her target and her knowing smile spread on her face....
------------------------

"Come in!"He called out at the sound of knock on the door.

"Assalamualaikum sir,I am Ayat Naveed from second division."she said while coming in.He glanced up at the girl and his features hardened at her sight,but she smiled up at him unfazed.

"Oh so its you..?"he asked disinterested and picked up a call while ignoring her.

"Sir,I need your sign on these--"she was saying when he harshly cut her off.

"I am in the middle of a call!Come back later!"

"It's okay sir I can wait."she added calmly and took a seat herself.He stared at her shocked while his face reddened with anger.

"Did.I.ask.you.to wait.or.sit?"he asked slowly emphasising on each word.Anyone else would have stood up and ran away apologising but Ayat smiled at him innocently.

"No sir,but I was asked by the branch manager to not come back until I have your sign on these papers.So,please continue with your call,I can wait."she explained calmly with a smile and although he would have liked nothing more then to throw this girl out of here humiliated,he just couldn't.No.She wouldn't let him.As he let the reality sink in he calmed down and put down his phone before extending his hand for the documents.Ayat handed him the file with a smile.

"Here.Is that all?"he scorned at her at which she shook her head.

"Yes.This is the end of it.Thank you Sir Imtiaz."and with this she got up and left.

---------------------

"Ayat!Hi."She merely glanced up at him before turning back to packing her things with a sigh and shake of head.

"Wow,you are really bad at hiding your dislike!"Tayyab retorted back while clutching at his chest as if stabbed.

"What do you want Tayyab?"she asked painstakingly and got up from her cubicle.

"Lets have dinner."He proposed so simply and easily that she turned back to face him in surprise.

"What?"

"Dinner.With me.And you.It will give a chance for our friendship to blossom."He explained casually while she eyed him skeptically unsure if he was in his right senses.

"Have you lost your mind?And when did we become friends?"she expressed tiredly as the others in the office watched their exchange curiously.

"Oh come on Ayat.Just this one time.I promise I won't disturb you after this!"He said while following her out of the office.

"No thanks.I am not interested.Take your girlfriend if you are that desperate for a friend."She added while looking for a taxi.When one did halt it was shooed away by Tayyab.She turned to him,shooting daggers through her eyes.

"I will continue to pester you until you agree to go with me."He said defiantly.Ayat felt it stinging how he hadn't denied the fact that he did have a girlfriend.

"Do whatever you want.I don't care."she suddenly felt a tightening feeling in her chest but avoided it by walking quickly to hail a passing by cab.

"Ayat!"Tayyab pulled her back as a motorcycle almost crashed into her.

"Are you okay?!Have you hurt yourself anywhere?!"He bent down to inspect her feet still clutching onto her hands.

"Let--go!I---am fin--e."she stuttered while pulling away from him.Her heart was beating quickly and she felt heat rise on to her cheeks.She stole a glance up at him but he wasn't looking at her instead straight ahead at nothing.

"Get in.I will drop you home."He finally said as he opened the door for her.Ayat looked between the open door and him.Although she wanted to protest but they had already attracted too much attention.

She quietly stepped into the car as he shut the door after her and then waited for him to sit too.

After asking her for directions he didn't say anything the whole way until they reached where she had directed him.

"Where from here?"he asked when they had entered her colony.

"Nowhere."she said briefly and then collecting her stuff she got off.

"Wha-Ayat?"he called out getting out after her.

"What?What do you want Tayyab?What is it that you are really after?"she blabbered without intending to.

"Ayat--"

"How many times have I said and showed to you that I don't want to have anything to do with you?What do you want Tayyab?"She cried out exasperated while he gaped at her dumbfounded.

"I--nothing..."he looked away from her cold piercing gaze.

"Really Tayyab?Are you sure because you--"

"Because all this time I have been running after you Ayat?Yes!you are right.I do want something from you!Even though you have made it very clear that you don't want to have anything to do with me!Even still!even still Ayat,I can't help but---"he looked away as if the burden of his emotions was becoming too much for him to handle.

He shook his head and gave out a short laugh before continuing.

"You know what?"He looked up at her with his usual smile while she gaped at him pale and shocked.

"I am sorry.I will never bother you again.I promise."He nodded with a small smile and then turned his back on her.

She watched him reverse his car and leave and even minutes after that she stood there as tears dripped down her chin before she could wipe her face; and him from her memories.

-------------------

With a bang the door opened and the noises which were confined to the walls of the CEO's office before were now out in the open.

She slowly got up from her seat and watched the guards enter into the office.

"IT WASN'T ME ZAFAR BHAI!I DIDN'T SELL THOSE SHARES!!PLEASE BELIEVE ME!I WOULDN'T BETRAY YOU!"Ayat's gaze fell from him to Zafar Malik who was looking at his old friend or ally better said with disgust.

"I heard he was smuggling the profit from sales into his own account too!"she heard someone whisper behind her and her smile deepened.

"That's nothing!Everyone sort of knew that before but now going so far as to sell the company properties--"

"The message was sent from his email too!"

As she watched the guards slide him across the office floor and right past her,unconcerned with his shoutings and screaming the past clashed on the screen of her mind.

"Imtiaz!Imtiaz!!You are my secretary!You know I didn't do this!You know I didn't smuggle the shares right!!Please tell them!Someone is framing me Imtiaz!!Please say something for the sake of my family at least!!!please Imtiaz!!!!!"

In the past she had watched his father beg to him like this.Now its his turn.She turned away from him and typed a message on her phone and sent with an attachment.'breaking news.'

She glanced up as Zafar Malik slammed the door to his office.

--------------------

"Its just came in!!The court has sentenced Imtiaz Muhammed to 30 years imprisonment!!Mr.Imtiaz what would you like to say--I DIDN'T SELL THOSE SHARES!I DIDN---you say that but the documents even had your sign on them--"

Ayat looked away from the TV screen,a smile playing on her lips as she walked to the end of her room and crossed his face with red before stepping back and watching her board.

'They say,love is the strongest emotion which can overcome mountains but if you consistently water and nourish animosity then it grows and thrives into a tree with deep roots in your heart and soul,and then you will even be able to swim through a sea of fire.'

And my tree has finally started bearing fruits Zafar Malik.