"The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies." --Horus Fe-Nix

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'After One Year'

Tani's POV

"Tani, it's almost 7:50 a.m when will you gonna come downstairs?"

'uh-uh, I didn't even realize that I almost took 1 hour in shower, well that's me, only I can take 1 or 2 hours in shower, I should be proud, but mom wouldn't be if I'd be late, I can't be late, I have to reach there at 8:30. OMG! I didn't even think about that before, how am I gonna reache there? Pop and Hamza has already left for work, what would I do now?'

I muttered everything under my breath while brushing my hairs when I once again heard my mom calling me,

"Tani, are you coming? or should I come there?"

"Coming mom, just a second please.", I shouted loudly by grabbing my purse that mom recently brought for me, covered my head with scarf loosely, grabbed hair band, and quickly applied lip gloss on my lips and glanced once again myself in the mirror and then headed downstairs.

"Tani? how much time would you actually need to get ready?" Mom was literally glaring at me and I tried to say something but she started,

"I've asked Faiz to drop you there---" I again opened my mouth but my mom raised her index finger, pointed towards me and said, "--before you could argue, I wanna tell you that I called him cause it'd be easy for him, as it is near from his home and also from his office. So---" I frowned at my mom,

"---So, he happily agreed and he'd be here any moment, do it fast, tie your scarf quickly after finishing your breakfast."

"Arghh mom??" I said angrily,

"Tani, no excuses, no arguments, I've told you before."

"But mom, I can go by myself more--- more happily."

"Tani, shut your mouth. Finish your breakfast now. Go!!"

I started whispering to myself angrily and she scolded loudly while stepping out of the dining room, then I came near to the breakfast table and sat on a chair with a thud and sighed. 

After all that happened one year before, she still won't believe me, she still won't let me go alone anywhere and it doesn't matter for anyone how much I really wanted to be alone or happy. But why now? why now she suddenly started caring for me? huh? No, she don't care for me, she just don't believe me, I can't believe this after one incident how the behaviour of my family changed towards me. I still remember, when I needed them, they kicked me out of my house. 

I just returned two days before, yes.... I just returned from that freaking hostel to spend my holidays here at my home and mom is behaving as if nothing changed, but I know how much things have changed here, pop don't talk to me, he didn't even ask about me for once in the whole year, except Ghannu everyone changed, mom don't believe me anymore, Hamza kept him busy in his life and he has some scene with Somy that I don't know, Somy? My best friend? She didn't talk to me either also she started hiding things from me, I know she and Hamza are a thing now but I didn't ask them cause they won't tell me, they think I'd get jealous from their relationship but think about it, why would I ? If they have any relationship so why would i get jealous? Hamza is my brother and somy? my best friend---- but they act towards me as if they have nothing. Wow! 

I didn't talk to my 3 idiotic friends too, couldn't meet them since last year cause my parents had thrown me to the hostel that was situated far away to this place, also they changed my university, where I'm studying now cause it was near to that hostel where they shifted me and why they did that to me? so that I'd be safe....? Really? I mean without them was I really safe? I was safe in my own home, I use to feel safe with them, but not now.... not anymore, now I feel safe alone, and I just know all these things happened due to Rezay and due to Sami. It all started due to his murderer.

'Shit!' I cursed under my breath

"I almost forgot about that case." I sighed and took a glance at the breakfast, there were french toasts, butter, milk, bread, boiled eggs, tea, juices and---

"Hot chocolate?" I beamed excitedly and quickly took a glass from the table and was about to take a sip, when I heard,

"Still hot chocolate? You'd never change Tani." I quickly looked at my left side and saw Faiz standing in the door way of dining room, smirking at me, he was dressed in Sea green shirt with a black tie on it and with black dress pants. and then my eyes met his blue/brown/green ones, yeah 3 colours cause his eyes change colours with the clothes, right now his eyes have a hint of green mixed with blue, and after our gazes met, his smirk increased,

"Checking me out hun?"

Well that was true, no doubt in that, he was handsome, a stunning young man, with a highly fair colour, brown hairs, small blue/brown/green eyes and a light brown coloured french beard, he was not so tall but taller than me, having a great muscular body and his hairs were slightly curly just like Rezay but------

'Rezay?' How can I still remember that man? I hate him. 

"Tani?"

"Huh? Ohh yeah--No, Oye Mr. I was not checking you out, don't flatter yourself. See your face in the mirror, you're not so handsome that I'd drool over you." Well that was a big lie cause he was damn handsome with a slight cuteness on his face. 

Well, I have told you about Faiz, my only male cousin and we were best friends but something happened related to my bro and him and when I took my bro side obviously, then he changed himself before, but since last year he again started talking to me and sharing things with me, but still I felt something is missing in our friendship.

"Well, that hurts." He said dramatically and I came out of my thoughts.

"You're aliright?" He asked when I didn't respond back and I slightly flinched at his sudden attack.

"Yeah, I'm alright. why?"

"Cause I saw different colours on your face at once." Did my face really change colours?

"Ohh, I think you are thinking so much Faiz, it's not like that, I'm fine and happy." I said quickly taking a sip from my chocolate and almost moaning with its taste and Faiz started laughing,

"You really like it? right?" 

"Ofcourse Faiz." I rolled my eyes at him.

"Haha! You are too cute Tani." He said while squeezing my cheeks and I almost groaned with pain. 

"Faiz! Hush! Don't touch me you idiot." I said while slapping the back of his hands and he chuckled more.

"I'm glad you are still that Tani and you know I missed you so much, I'm glad you returned." He said while giving me a side hug and I started, 

"Yeah Faiz, I'm glad too that you're glad for what I am, cause I'm not gonna change for anyone and---" I paused to think again what else he had said while he started, 

"That's the spirit--" He said sitting beside me, "--I love the way you are." 

Then I got my memory back--- I don't know what is happening to my brain,

"---Yeah, and I missed you too and I'm just here for holidays, but---no scratch that, I'm now planning to go there back--umm.. to my hostel." Then he was about to say something when I cut him off and started,

"Okay, leave this topic, tell me do you want some?" I asked handing the plates of boiled eggs and french toast towards him,

"Ohh yeah, I didn't have my breakfast, I left in a hurry after your mom---I mean bajjo's call." 

"You should had it---" I said handing him the juice, "---Well no worries, here you can see we have lots of things to eat, actually mommy thinks that I'm an elephant so I could eat all these things so she made these things for me." I said sarcastically and he chuckled,

"Oye! I'm serious, don't you think that? See, here almost 5 more people are required to finish this all." I said pointing towards the table infront of us with my hands and he laughed more.

"I just think that bajjo really loves you, that's why she made these lots of things for you, I think you must be thankful." He said with serious face while chewing and gulping his food. 

"Obviously I'm thankful, for what they did to me, Yeah---I'm thankful for everything, don't think that I'm not." I said while finishing the boiled egg in my plate and hot chocolate and as my gaze dropped on the wall clock,

"Faiz, 8:15?" I said shouting, 

"Hurry up, hurry up! Finish it quickly. I'll be back in two minutes." I said quickly while standing from my chair, leaving him behind, even not giving him a chance to speak upand went into my mom's bedroom to tie my scarf tightly in the mirror, quickly tied my hairs in a bun and then set scarf on it and shouted for mommy while coming out of the room and went towards the door way of dining room,

"Mommy, I'm going, okay?" Mommy came quickly from the kitchen and I saw Faiz gulping the whole glass of juice in one breath and I shouted,

"Easy easy Faiz, easy." And he relaxed a little bit meanwhile I started to talking to mommy again,

"Tani don't be nervous, tell me when you'd reach there and tell me how it went and everything okay?" I looked at her questioningly as if she was not my mom but any other women standing infront of me,

"Okay...." I said tiredly, "--- I'd give you every detail, just pray for me, that I'd pass this one atleast."

"Yeah, Inshaa Allah, you'll pass it. Don't think negative sweety." I nodded while dropping my gaze to the floor and she kissed my forehead and I didn't respond back, 

I don't know what to say, what to do, I don't even know if they are still my parents or not? I was just waiting for Ghannu to come, I can't wait to share everything with her, I was thinking when Faiz came,

"Done, Ready?" He asked, 

"Yes." I said beaming at him and then I glanced last time at my mom's face and kissed her forehead while holding my tears back and was about to heading out when I heard my mom saying something to him and I stopped in my tracks,

"Take care of her, drop her to your home with my sis before going to your office cause I'm going outside and don't want her to be alone in here." Mommy said to Faiz, 

Okay----I was wrong, I was thinking she still loves me although she don't, no one loves me even not my family, she is again throwing me out of her home, yeah right! It's her home, not mine. But she could have said that to me directly there is no need to make excuses. I wish I'd be with that kidnapper, atleast whatever he was, he was true, he had hatred for me so he kidnapped me, he hit me, I could live with him but I don't wanna live with fake people.

"Okay bajjo." He replied and kissed my mommy on the forehead and then headed outside with me. 

He unlocked his car and motioned me to sit with him and I did as he said then we drove off in a speed like it would be an aeroplane not a car.

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After a while, we reached at our destination and he pulled over his car infront of a huge building, I quickly got out of the car and read,

'Crawford & Company International Inc.'

Alright, here I am. I just hope they accept me, I want internship experience for my degree and this is the best American company in Dubai, if I'd get a job or atleast internship experience from here, it'd be a biggest opportunity for my career growth. I was excited and nervous both at a time, when I got an interview call yesterday from this organization, I was shocked cause I applied in many organizations but this was the best among them and I was desperately waiting for the best opportunity to come and yeah since last month I was waiting for a call or any email from this organization and when I got it, I was like, 'Really?' I was shocked totally shocked, I was even damn nervous on call that I couldn't even talk to that woman without stuttering or pausing but well, she was nice and she still wanted me to come for an interview. So, I'm here, but--- the main thing is, I have an interview with the CEO, CEO? Can you believe it? I don't know what'd he going to ask me. Oh My Allah! Please help me.

I was thinking when suddenly someone grabbed my hand and I turned around to see Faiz smiling at me,

"Don't worry, you'd be okay, don't think much, just go!" He said giving me his best genuine smile and I smiled back at him,

"What do you think? I'd pass it or not, OMG! It's just like my final exam." He chuckled, took my face in his hands and said,

"Don't worry, just be confident and you'll conquer the world." He laughed and when he stopped, his intense gaze dropped on my face and I felt uneasy, then I quickly pulled away from him and said,

"Uh.. I think--I should go and yeah thanks for the advice." I winked while stepping on the first stair and he smirked then again went to his car, I quickly entered to the main black door and when I entered I was stunned with the view, when I entered there was a huge hallway ahead of me and huge glass lifts and doors and at the corner of that huge hall there was a reception, I quickly headed there and asked,

"Ehm...Assalam-o-Alaikum, I've been called for an interview by Miss Farheen from HR department, I have an interview today at 8:40, can you please tell me where could I find her?" The receptionist smiled and nodded after listening my whole sentence that I finished in one breath.

The receptionist, she was a beautiful girl, but she was looking more beautiful due to that silky pink scarf which she had wrapped around her head very nicely, I could just see the golden and pink coloured dress she was wearing but couldn't see the more details of the dress cause she was behind the huge counter and she was busy on phone, by the way of her dressing and talking on the phone, she looked really presentable and well-mannered, she was in her mid twenties--- I guess, but she was stunning, I was just lost in her beauty, when she woke me up,

"Your sweet name, Miss?" She asked and I was shocked before then I stated,

"Uh--oh, I'm sorry, I'm Tani, Tani Fatima." She nodded and said something on the phone by saying my name two to three times then she hung up and again dialed something on the phone and after a while she said pointing towards someone,

"There he is, he'll take you to the 28th floor." My eyes got wide, 28th floor?

"Don't worry, he'll take you through the lift." I sighed and she chuckled, I was about to follow that man when she called me,

"Miss Tani?" I turned,

"Yes?"

"Best of luck, just be careful, don't hesitate, he don't like nervous people." I gulped and was about to ask who is that he, but she already answered,

"Our CEO." I laughed nervously and quickly followed the security guard or whatever that man was, he stopped infront of a glass lift and waited when it came down he motioned me to enter, I entered hesitantly and then he himself entered, he pressed few buttons in the lift but I didn't notice that, I was lost in the last words of that receptionist, 

'He don't like nervous people?' 

what did she mean by that, was she saying the truth or was she trying to make me run away with fear of her fucking CEO. I again gulped the whole air in my lungs and sighed, After almost one minute we reached 28th floor and I asked,

"Wow! It came so quickly." That man looked at me as if I've said something in french or maybe in the animals language that he couldn't get and then he motioned me again to follow him and I did follow him, I followed, followed and followed, we passed through some rooms, written on them were the names of departments or rooms, and then we reached to one place where only men were sitting and I hesitated seeing them staring at me as if I was some piece of meat, when we crossed that huge hall, I released my breath that I was holding and then again some glass door came and that man suddenly stopped and I almost bumped in that man but before I could bumped in him, I bumped in some other man, who suddenly came out of that room infront of which we were standing and then I tripped over and fell onto the floor and he somewhat balanced himself and was staring at me in disbelief, my foot and knee was hurting badly that I couldn't stood up, I looked at that man throwing glowers at him and when I couldn't resist my anger more, I started,

"Were you blind? Was there a crocodile or dog in your room or behind you? what was the hurry in coming out of this room that you'd almost kill someone? Kill me? Are you mad or what?" I again wanted to stand on my feet and I again fell, the man was stunned with my response that he didn't say a single word then I glanced at that man who was I following the whole time to come over here? Here? I started,

"--And you?--" When I grabbed his attention, "--Yeah you? what was the meaning of abruptly stopping? I mean without informing your follower? hun? Are you nuts too?" He shook his head and was about to say something when I again started,

"You both get out of my view now, otherwise I don't know what I'd do to both of you." I don't know, why I was so much angry but I was, I mean, these were not right ways, he suddenly stopped walking and the other one suddenly came out of his room, without looking at once that someone could be standing outside,

The security guard looked at him and tried to say something, I saw the other one was still in shock, but he was continuously looking at me and his face was having different expressions, I frowned with pain and I guess he woke up from his thoughts when the other one started,

"Sir she is here for an interview---" The other man nodded and stopped him in between, then motioned him to go and he did as he said, when that security guard went, the other man again started looking at me and I was about to say something when he bend down, smirked and said,

"Hello! Miss Tani, I'm Mr. Sheikh Shehryar, the CEO of this company." 

I looked at him with horror, gulped and cursed under my breath.

'Shit!'

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Yoohoo! How was this chapter? Do you like this new update?

okay, many many things have happened in this one year, the secrets will be revealed slowly slowly xD

Don't forget to read votes and comments, silent ones....? You know what I mean xD lol 

GOOD LUCK! Enjoy! ;) ^_^

-Fatima