Smile that Doesn't Exists.

"Come on we are almost there," Jeena said as she moved towards the elevator.

"Are you sure about it. I mean, are we allowed. I don't want to be thrown out from the country with property trespassing charges on me." I said getting in the elevator behind her as Jeena scoffed pressing the 'R' button for the rooftop.

"I work here, so I am pretty sure nothing will happen. Just don't drop the mountain dew cans in your hand." Jeena said, turning around to assure me while pointing towards the six mountain dew's tin-pack. I nodded but gulped still unsatisfied by her so-called, in-evident assurance and to be clear, why would I? It was dawn, and the sun wasn't up yet, not completely at least. The whole place was empty. Although, the guards let us in because they knew her, yet this was still a bad idea. What if something went wrong and we are busted for it for no reason just because we were here. One might call me paranoid, but this was stupid next to voting already rigged elections; a person already knows their vote doesn't matter.

"Come on." Jeena cheekily stated as the doors slid open and in came the view of the whole Sanfrasscio from where we stood, and it was breathtaking.

"This is..." I trailed off in awe, forgetting how fu**ing scared I was before.

"I know." She grinned proudly over her idea as she looked at the view for maybe a millionth of time yet I can understand why she still found it beautiful because it was.

I could see half of the Golden Gate surfaced and the rest was just clouds, on a distance as the reddish-orange colour of the bridge glowed in the sparkling under the sun rays while there was a soft pink glow with some, sort of blue curtain around it as the darker part of the night was fading away when the brightest of yellow was colouring the sky.

SubhanAllah was the only thing I could think about, but could not say because the word was stuck somewhere inside of me on the view.

Jeena moved forward, and just a halfway through, she set on the floor as she looked at the partially visible city. Even at this time, some buildings were lit up like Christmas trees. I took my place beside her at a distance as I placed the tins between us, to not make it seem awkward. The sky was getting a little clearer by the passing time but I could still see the moon, part of it at least. The city lights were not enough to dim the sky because that was the sun's job to do. There were other buildings around us that were blocking the rest of the city, maybe because we were not at such a high spot in comparison, but never the less it did not disturb the feeling in the pit of my stomach.

It felt amazing to see what truly exists.

"Still scared?" Jeena asked as she took a tin out and popped it open.

"Not until I do not look down. So, I am good." She nodded at my reply as she looked back at the front.

"So, how is life there?" Jeena asked when I was opening a tin for myself. I shrugged off not meeting her eyes. How is it to be exact? I mean what should I tell her about home.

"As it is supposed to be." Jeena scrunched her eyes may be confused by my answer.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I took a large sip and then turned my head in her direction.

"It's what the one living there thinks it is. Example for me, Pakistan is home, and life there is what my father decides for me. So, it's as it's supposed to be." I explained with scorn as I glanced away towards the front. I knew that Jeena was observing my face, but it was better to not go further. It was a crap-py situation anyway.

"What do you mean?" She continued asking without ponding at the fact that I was not really kneeing on to sharing my story; that I would probably mind. But then again, if I had to mind I would have never told her that in the first place.

"My father likes to have my life in a certain way. I am the only kid, so he wants everything best for me. Sometimes, it just becomes a royal pain. I mean, I get that he wants me to do the things that are important for me to cover all my bases, but sometimes it just gets a lot." I said casually, mumbling the last part to myself. I glanced over at Jeena when I did not hear anything from her, but I only saw her surprised face with her arching eyebrows. Yet she looked away at the front and took a sip from her can.

"It seems to bother you." She stated what she felt after a moment or so.

"It does but he cares, I guess. Cannot really blame him though. It's not like he has other kids to worry about." The expression Jeena held was enough to tell me that it was a lame excuse, but I have no other choice. I couldn't just go and reject my father like that. I had to see his side of the perspective as well, but something told me Jeena won't argue with me regardless of what she felt about what I just said.

"What about your mother?" She asked, and this simple question caused my lips to twist up into a giant grin that made her smile as well.

"Oh, she loves me a lot. She lets me have some fun from time to time. She says work is not that important if you are not mentally healthy." I said, still smiling at the thought of my mother.

"So, your life is balanced, strict dad and cool mom." It was not a question but rather a statement.

"Yup. What about you?" I asked, looking at her as I took another sip.

"My parents are not alive." She said without an ounce of sorrow. It was like as if she has accepted the reality pretty smoothly, but I knew that was not true. She was just another good actor on the stage of this world.

"I am sorry," I quickly said.

"Were you the cause of their death?" She snapped, and I was taken aback by both her response and attitude.

"No..." I was not sure that I was allowed to speak over this matter.

"So, why are you apologizing? Life goes on. I hate when people feel sorry for me." I felt regretful because I knew in a way I was indeed pitying her.

"My dad was Pakistani, and my mom was Turkish. They studied here together. Kind of face-the-world-and-conquered-each-other type of situation was their life's motto." She grinned brightly in the sky. I smiled seeing her in this light. She was so different. Blunt, yes, but better.

"What's your dream?" I did not know why I asked something so random, but I knew I would get something different in reply because she was different. By now, I have learned something about me, with her, I say or do things without thinking as if my mind has ruptured its filtration muscle. The plus point is, she does not mind it neither do I.

"I want to take on the world. See it, go around and live it. Be me. Be happy and spread it. Make epic changes." She giggles at the last part that caused me to chuckle, staring at her. She had some weird explanation about her dreams, but it was like her, plain and uncomplicated yet equally beautiful.

"When are they coming back?" I asked glancing away as I sipped the remaining content in the tin only to go for another one.

"After two days. Ezzah sounded happy. How did you even know they would like it in Bali?" She was impressed by my choice of place for them. I could see it on her face. She has this warmth that makes me realize how special she is. I want to keep that warmth permanently as long as I have a forever.

"Who does not? Besides Pamir won't hate me after this." I shrugged, looking around me. It felt good to be under the open sky like this without any worry for a change.

"He would not. You did this much for them. Who knew you would pay for the whole trip." Jeena said maybe still not digesting on my actions. She couldn't believe the first time she saw me paying, neither she accepted it when I was printing their online visa papers out against their will. Yeah, I do say I was a very new site for her.

"They deserve it. Because of me, Pamir and Ezzah have suffered a lot. I am happy they are happy. Ezzah was like a sister, but these desi conspiracy theorists ruin everything." Jeena probably chuckled at my words, but it was the truth as the cold wind that swiping in my clothes.

"Your wife would be lucky." She pointed out that caused me to crack up. I pressed my fingers on the metallic green surface as my laughter subsided. She scoffed at me in the end.

"When are you going back?" She asked after a while gazing at my face. Her eyes are deep like the world I have never seen before, a constellation in itself. Going back to her question, I realize, maybe I will never see her again. I have been here for two months now. The job was done, and so is my plan to pay Ezzah and Pamir a little back for whatever they did for me whether it was giving me a chance to work here or still keeping me in their lives after how much damage I caused just by existing.

After Ezzah and Pamir's departure for their trip, Jeena has been giving me company by feeding me food and helping gets gifts for the people back home. She did not have any family with her here, so she had time, her words not mine. She was alone and most of all bored, so she did a favour to Ezzah. Ezzah asked her to take care of me while they were out for ten days. It was weird how we had this mutual understanding on many things. We disagreed and agreed on the same things, mostly just not on politics. I detested political discussions, and she loved it. She knew about Pakistani political condition better than me, and it was surprising for me at first, but it was impressive at first and annoying after a while because she could go on for hours without a break.

"After five days. Pamir said I have to be here for the final data transfer, and then, I can handle everything from Pakistan. It would be easy." I missed home, but I also knew I will miss this place and her like they are right now, at this moment. I glimpsed over at her as she was gazing at the sky with a smug expression, yet she looked artistic as the shades lined her face in different colours.

"I will miss you." She said still not looking over at me, but I still choked on my drink. Yet when she did not take it back, a painful smile appeared on my face, rewinding her words in my head. Those words had my insides to twist and turn, thinking I won't see her again when I leave from here. We have been together for almost two months mostly with Ezzah and Pamir, but we were still together and it kind of made me swallow hard thinking I won't meet her again for a very long time.

"You know, it's rude to stay silent when someone says something like that." Jeena glanced at me with furrowed eyebrows. Our eyes locked, but her glare was constant, unwavering.

Give it to her to be blunt even in a sensitive spot!

"I will miss you too," I said softly, and a smile graced her face as her eyes burned with unshed tears and she looked away with a nod. I don't understand why I do feel she cares too much, more then she expresses.

"Will you stay in touch?" I asked, hoping she does say yes.

"I hope so. I want to keep as many people as I can, in any way possible. I don't have anyone beside Ezzah here. My brother is studying medicine in Greece right now. We talk, but he doesn't have time, and I get it. There is a small portion or number of people in my hands that I cannot let go off. Fortunately or unfortunately you are one of them now." She said. She told me a month ago that we could be good friends and now she says I am essential to her in away. I had hoped I was important to her, and now maybe I was.

"I was hoping you do say that." I gave her a forced smile. I liked her, and she was my first crush. I knew I was acting like a schoolboy or a maybe a teenager, who was in love for the first time and I did not know how to accept or pour all of my feelings out for her to see, but what she said now makes me happy. Very happy.

"So, the reason you were here for, it's finally over, and you will go back after a few days, but you are free right now, right?" Jeena asked before sipping on her drink. After Pamir had left, I still worked and perfected the system walls, but I am finally finished.

"Precisely," I replied not really pleased by the fact.

"Okay, we are hanging out until the next few days. I will take off from work which will be easy because Ezzah is not here and I have been taken my paid leave. I don't have that much work anyway." She uttered shrugging as if that was nothing.

"No, no, you don't have to." I shook my head as I glanced over at her.

"Oh, shut up. Stop being formal for crying out loud. I am not asking you mister big shot; I am telling you." She waved her hand in the air as she dismissed my plead. Truth to be told, I did not mind it even a bit. I was just stating it out of courtesy.

I looked at the sun that has taken its rightful place, and the darkness wasn't nearby anymore. That was the time I knew she would be a reason for most of the smiles in my life.

"Sir?" Rafan looked over at the man who broke his chain of thoughts.

"Yes?" He asked, breathing a deep sigh.

"There is another email from Ezzah Wadi, but this one says it's urgent. It's about someone named Jeena." His eyes scrunched at the mention of her name. He moved his head away from the man and looked over at the window of his office, thinking what was this about now.

"Transfer it to me and delete it from the company's email account." Saying that he moved towards his PC on the desk, waiting patiently because this was the first time Ezzah was not asking for him to talk to her, but she actually went out and took her name. After such a long time, someone mentioned her name in front of him that he was hoping that it was not a mistake.

Is my search finally over?

Am I getting what I want after all?

The ding sound of a notification broke his thought over his misery. He was now staring at the new, unopened email pop-up on his screen. He was about to click over it with the cursor, but a sense of nervous caused him to halt.

What if it was another dead end?

This thought was indeed scary. Rafan waited so much for any information, and now when it was here, right in front of him, and he was scared. He was afraid to know how was she doing without him.

Was she sulking like me, or is she living some fantasy she used to talk about?

Mustering up some courage, he finally clicked over the pop-up.

He read it for a while, but soon a sadistic smile was growing its size over at his face. The content was enough to be close to the hair on her neck and bingo, her luck just backfired.

"You are done running, Aşk," He smirked, glaring at the screen. Picking up the phone, he made a call to his PA.

"Yes, sir?" there was a polite response from the other side.

"Kabir, book a flight to Istanbul and contact the Telco. inc. Tell them I am coming for their proposal and give a new date to that Saudi King while you are at it and if he is not listening, tell him to find someone else." Hearing a yes from the other side, he placed back the receiver on its base. Still eyeing the monitor's screen, he leaned back on his seat.

"Oh, how much I wanted to see you and make you miserable Aşk and look at that, we are finally about to come across each other, one more time. This would be interesting." He snorted humorlessly saying those words. He rubbed his face as the sarcastic grin never left his face. It was a piece of UN magazine that has a small picture of Jeena, volunteering a few years ago. Hard to see, but he has seen her enough to recognize her in an instant. With one-two clicks, her history will be in his hand in no time.

Chapter 3

Because I am on time despite I nearly forgot I had to update!

So, he is probably going to enjoy this, not in a good way that is.

I mean I am not kidding, check Allah's kudrat for a moment.

So how far who do you like? Some people really liked her tho.

So how was the chapter?

Fact series number 3, I wear headphones when I wanna ignore people and literally act like that when they shake my shoulders or call me out, don't tell this to my family they think I heard nothing, hehehehe.

That was pretty much it, 

Allah Hafiz.

P.S: The next chapter will be on 5th of July.