Chapter One: Adam & Halaat
One year later...

ADAM

"What time is the meeting?" I asked.

"At 2 o'clock Sir," my assistant replied.
I have a very important meeting today with the head of a very successful company. She is also an old friend, hopefully the deal will be sealed. I have to leave for prayers it's twelve forty already.

I drove to the nearby mosque. I finished my prayers, before I left the mosque I bump into my brother in-law Talal. Jamila's husband. "Assalam alaykum," I greeted him.

"Waalikum Salam 'akh (brother)," he replied.

"How is Jamila?" I ask.

"She is doing great Alhamdulliah. Adam you should pass by home, the doors are always open for you," he says.

"Insha Allah I will. I have to get going see you around Talal," I said. I rushed out of the mosque and head to the office realising only some minutes were left until two o'clock. I reach my office on time, Alhamdulliah. Minutes passed and she still hasn't arrived. I wonder why she is so late, this business deal is very important. After minutes of waiting, the door finally opens and there stood Amira.
My friend.

"Salams, I am sorry to keep you waiting. I was caught up with a personal problem," she said. She still hasn't changed. Tall, beautiful and never on time.

"Waalikum Salam," I replied and stood up. "No problem, I am glad you made it." She took her sit and removed papers from her handbag. I sat and waited for her to begin.

"When I heard your company wanted to do business with mine. I was surprised at first, but after being assured of the details and the contract. I was more than happy," she said.

"Yes, I was relived too when you accepted the deal and to talk further on it." We sat for what seemed like an hour just discussing and negotiating on the deal. Amira and I went to the same university. We were very close friends, she was my first love actually. We had a lot in common.
She's very intelligent and interesting talk too, besides her being beautiful. I proposed to her and she denied my proposal, stating that she need to be independent and focus on her career. 

She choose business over me, I respected her choice. Leaving me with a broken heart and a wondering mind. And after all this time she still hasn't gotten married... "The business makes about eight million a year, am I correct?" She asked.

"Yes you are," I replied.

"Okay than it's a deal. Your company has a steady income, a lot of branches and shows great potential. Why not?" She said with an exciting tone.

"Great," I say.

"I look forward to be working with you," I said.

"As am I." She looks at me and smiles.

"Adam are you free for Coffee?" she asks.

"Sorry I am busy, I have to head straight home, my mother is really sick and..."

"Oh it's okay. No need for an explanation, I totally understand. See you," she said while standing up. She left the office...

Ummi's sickness is worsening. After Halaat and I got divorced her blood pressure increased. Leaving her weak heart in a very critical manner.
I have not told anyone, I have been dreaming about a girl and it might be Halaat. I remember her in the car crash and in the house besides the ocean. I started having these dreams about her and me together. I wake up panting, heart racing and sweating.

And when I wake up, tears fall from my eyes and my heart starts to ache. What is happening to me?

I reach home and go straight to my room and rest. I lay on my bed and close my eyes.

Reminiscing(Recall)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sometimes it's not easy reading your emotions, I want to know how you feel,"

"Is that all you see? Mysterious?"

"No, I also see home. A home with a heartbeat,"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I open eyes and sit up. My breathing becomes heavy and my heart starts to ache. I start to feel light headed. Halaat...
I lay back on the bed and hope to get some rest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You know Halaat I'll never finish falling in love with you ,"

"Together?"

"Forever."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stood up and went to my mother's room. I couldn't take the pain, it was too much. The heart ache and headaches. I remember her. I knocked on the door and entered when she told me to go in. My mother was sitting on her bed, I went to sit with her. "What's wrong Adam?" She asked.

"I missed you," I replied.

"My son I see from your face that something is troubling you. Now tell me what's wrong?"

"Halaat..." I said in a low tone.

"Yes what about her?"

"I have been dreaming about her Ummi. When I close my eyes she's there. I am remembering, she loved me and I... I was scared of losing her,"

"Oh Adam you have no idea for how long I have been yearning to hear you say those words," my mother spoke tears in her eyes.
I remained silent and thought. I divorced her, I drove her away, I hurt her. All I hope is that she's happy now. "Adam will you tell Halaat? Now that you remember..."

How can I tell her? she's moved on and if I tell her nothing will change. "I don't love her Ummi. I don't love Halaat," I said bitterly.

"Adam..." my mother said. Her eyes filled with tears. I didn't want to lie but I had too. No one must know I remember. This will be my pain, alone.

HALAAT

"Mama can I go play on the jumping castle," Haris yelled excitedly. I pinched his cheeks that are so cute and chubby.

"Yes habibi you can go play. Be careful," Rania replied. Haris ran off to the jumping castle. "Haris just loves the fun park. Thank you for coming with us," Rania said.

"No problem, lucky for you I like the fun park too," I said and laughed. Rania started talking about her life, and her in laws. Rania is so interesting, she never lacks stories. Time passes by and it's almost six twenty.
Imad walks up to us...

"Assalam alaykum," he greeted.

"Waalikum Salam," Rania and I replied simultaneously.

"Yallah Rania let's go, I am getting late for prayers," he said to Rania.

"Haris is playing in the jumping castle let me go get him," she said and rushed to get Haris.  Imad took out his phone from his pocket, I stood up and walked towards Rania. It was so awkward... I didn't know what to say.

"Haris habibi there is Uncle Imad," Rania told Harris. Haris ran to his uncle and hugged him. "You know my brother is still interested in you..." Rania said. I kept quiet, because I had a feeling were this was going. "I don't know why you don't want to except his proposal," she said.

"I am not ready Rania,"

"Not ready for happiness or not ready to get over Adam?"   I just walked ahead and didn't say anything. "I want to see you happy Halaa. Don't you want a family of your own?"

"There's is nothing more in the world that I want than to have a child and to have my own family. But I am just not ready to take such a drastic decision," I turn around and told her.

We got in the car, and it was all silence and awkwardness. Haris fall asleep, and Rania was on her phone. I was lost in my own world, I was just starring at the view outside the window. Imad dropped me at my apartment. I got in my place, as soon as I sat on the couch my phone started ringing. My mum is calling me. I pick up the phone...

"Halaat Assalam alaykum," she greeted me.

"Waalikum Salam Ummi," I replied.

"I miss you Halaat, when are you coming back to visit your mother?"

"I miss you too ummi. Soon, Insha Allah end of this month,"

"Insha Allah," she replied. "Are you eating well?"

"Yes Ummi," 

"Okay Halaat take care," she said.

"You too and pass my Salams to Hussein," I told her.

"Okay." I hung up the phone. I haven't been to Kuwait in a about five months. And even when I do visit I only stay for two weeks. Ummi always complains but staying away from Kuwait is what keeps me Sane. Layla just arrived from work, my room mate. Layla is Rania's best friend and also mine. She greeted me and  sat on the couch.

"It was so busy today at the office. I am so tired," she said and sighed. She laid her head on my shoulder. "How is Rania?" She asked.

"She's good. We took Haris to the fun park," I told her. I look through my phone and notice I have a notification, an email message. I open the Email and I couldn't believe what I was reading. I froze and I couldn't move.

My boss accepted the deal, with the company in Kuwait. The company she made a contract with is ADAM'S COMPANY. My boss told me about the company, the negotiation deal but she never told me the name of the company. I read the email even further and my eyes widen.
I am to be in Kuwait and represent my company. I will be acquired to stay in Kuwait, for a month making sure the everything goes as planned, since another branch is being open in Kuwait.

My phone drops, I start to breath heavily. Layla woke up from her short nap. "What's wrong Halaat?" She asked worriedly. She picked up the phone and read the email.

"That's Adams company..." I softly say. Layla hugs me me, while tears slowly fall from my eyes. What should I tell the boss? If I deny this, she will surely question it.

"Should I call Rania?" Layla asked. I didn't reply, I just sat in silence and created scenarios in my head of how I will approach him. Layla called Rania and put the phone on loud speaker.

"Halaat it's going to be okay. Layla told me what happened, I need you to breath and relax. You are going to be okay," Rania said. I breathed in and out, in and out. Until I calmed down. Layla held my hand to comfort me. "Halaat the boss will need a reply and you have to face your greatest fear. Halaat you will be okay, you are strong and you are bold," Rania spoke.

"How will I face him?" I asked.

"With a smile and a bold attitude," Rania said.

"Rania, Halaat needs support If I must, I will go with her to Kuwait," Layla said.

"Layla you can't go to Kuwait. And Halaat is going to be okay,"

"Rania, Halaat needs ..."

"No Layla. Rania is right I must do this alone. I am STRONG," I said.

"Yes you are. I will call you later. Haris is fighting with his cousin," Rania said and hung up.

Going back to Kuwait is one thing, working with Adam it's a whole different story. I just pray I have the strength in me to face Adam.

...

Part two of Modest Heart.
Adam has no idea who he will be working with for the next one month. Halaat is worried about her feelings taking over. Amira unknowingly set up the biggest challenge for Halaat & Adam.

Find out what happens in the next chapter ;
-Will Halaat agree to stay in Kuwait for a month?
- What will Imad do when he finds out about Halaat's sudden change in mood.
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. ❤️