"Aaaaaazeeeeen" marched my soul sister, my partner in crime to my office room.
"Yes love, how can I help you?" I asked looking through the designs of the dresses.
"Zeen, what the heck you doing man!!! Did you see the latest news? Dude please leave all this for freaking five minutes." Zaira my pal, said, taking the files from my hand.
"Zai whats wrong?" I sighed, getting up from my chair and walking near the huge window which views the perfect Eifell tower from my office.
Searching through the drawers of my desk, "Where is the freaking remote zeeen."
"Hey dont mess with my desk okay. And what's with the commotion down of our building and why is there so many police cars?" I asked raising my brows.
"Zeen I really don't know which world you are in, I don't know how come you not know that..." Zaira couldn't finish her sentence because the one and only suhail Barakat storms in my office.
"Whats with brother and sister storming in my office. Hey where is your manners." I fake screamed at the new comer.
"Zeeeeeen give me a bear hug. Infact Zai come here girl, let me hug you both." Suhail gave us a tight teddy bear hug and I could hear my bones cracking sound.
"Suhail, enough leave me, what is wrong with you and Zaira, what is all this hugging and jumping?" I asked folding my hands.
"Zeeee...." Suhail was about to say something but we got interpted by a knock.
I quickly put the veil in other words my niqab down, covering my face.
Yes I'm a Niqabi.
Alhamdullilah.
"Come in." Zaira yelled sitting on the sofa next to suhail.
"Mam, congratulation." my PA, Erica Watts said showing her perfect white teeth and sometimes I think that she chose a wrong career, because she should be in some toothpaste advertisement for smiling all the time and showing her pearly white teeth.
Wait whaaaaaat?
"For what Mrs. Watts?" I asked raising my brows at her and taking a seat opposite to Zaira.
"Mam, it's fo-"
"Mrs. watts, are the reporters gone?" Zaira interrupted whatever Mrs. Watts was about to say.
What's wrong with everyone today?
Wait again whaaat...?
"What the jahanum is happening in my company? Mrs.Watts what the jahanum they are doing here?" I yelled at my PA, getting angry with whats happening in my company without my knowledge.
"Mam I'm sorry but who is jah-un-".. she stammered the last part while looking back and forth for an answer from us.
"Ohh Love, I will handle the rest, you may leave, and yeah please take those files from her desk and keep it on my desk." Zaira said in her bossy tone.
Huh this girl will be the death of me.
Mrs.Watts left us alone and I turned to Zaira.
"Can you please tell me what is happening here and I was checking important things on were the designs went wrong and you know right how much this project is important for us." I took a very deep breath and removed my veil.
"Zaira, we were about to become top 1 fashion designer if my designs doesn't get plagiarized . I've no freaking idea where the jahanum I made mistake." I walked near the window sighing tiredly.
"Aazeen, look even I have no freaking idea how the jahanum our designs got plagiarized but I'm telling you it's all because of that son of Quraishi, but I have to say you something else that will make you go to cloud 9 freak even cloud 1000." Zaira said keeping her hand on my shoulder.
"Go on." I said in no mood of going anywhere.
"See Zeen that day I dont know who came to our designing area but I know it's Omar but you won't believe me. And the secret agents are still finding, but we have only two days to display our dress to the princess for her engagement and you know how important this is for us." Zaira said in one breath.
"Zeen, I know how much it is important to you and that day, when you got to know that the dress you were working on was claimed by your uncle and he launched a week before we have to. But everyone in our company knows that it's your design, you have freaking designed that without getting any sleep, you were completely broken because you couldn't do anything as it is your uncle and he is your family, because this will be the downfall of your family and the goodwill of the company will too."
Zaira pause and looks at me to see my reaction as she didn't get any reaction from me she continues,
"And whatever we made and built so far would diminish slowly. So that day our desinger team 'Razeen' perfectly completed the design which is way more better and elegant than the plagiarized design, to a brand new dress." Zaira said with lot of emotions on her face, proud was the one radiating.
"What you mean Zaira?" I asked completely shocked on what she said a seconds before.
"I mean to say that our team made another masterpiece." she said smiling calmly.
"That's t-" Zaira stops me from saying anything "See this" she switched on the Tv .
I turned to see what is she saying me to....."omg What the freak is this...omg." I started jumping of what I read on the news channel.
"This cant be true..." I kept my hands on my mouth and started jumping and seeing me jumping suhail too started.
"YESSSSS!!! OUR DREAM FROM PAST FIVE YEARS TO BE THE WORLDS TOP 1 FASHION DESIGNER HAS COME TRUE" Zaira yelled spinning around.
Omg I can't believe my eyes Zai, thank you so much for not giving up on that project, I.. I really thou--"
"Zeenii no need to say anything, I know with how much struggle you got this project to design for Saudi Arabia's kings daughters engagement dress. I very well know how much struggle you took by yourself to design a dress and make it with less number of workers and I couldn't help you because of our first Razeen launch in Pakistan. Thank god Erica called me and said everything about what happened here. So I designed as fast I could with the help of our team and it got ready today at 3:30 am and I sent as soon as possible to Saudi Arabia and the rest is history" Zaira said taking a deep breath.
Hugging her, "Thank you so much Zai."
"Okay okay, now lets go down before the reporters break the building" Zaira said dragging me to our private elevator.
"Zai, what happened to our garment factory in Pakistan?" I asked pressing G.
"Well, I want you also to be there in the opening ceremony and Pakistan was going crazy of my arrival and mostly the heartbreaking part was that they were asking for you but I had to tell to the media that you were working on a new project and couldn't accompany me here. And for the factory, the engineers looking to it and making it as we want." Zaira said leaning against the metal wall in the elevator.
"Awww that's sooo sweet them, no worries we will leave tomorrow itself to Pakistan and look to the construction work." I said coming out of the elevator with Zaira next to me.
"Okay let me tell my PA, Mrs.Ana Sparks to inform our pilot to be ready to take off tomorrow evening."
While she was informing her PA I straight away went to the prayer hall near the lobby and prayed nafl prayer to thank Allah for our success.
When I turned to leave Zaira entered the prayer hall and said she is also going to pray and I nodded at her saying I am waiting near the lobby.
When I went near the reception area I could here a faint voice of all the commotion happening outside the company.
"Zeeen, come lets go and answer their stupid questions and leave to our home."
"ZAIRA POV"
we both went near the main gate and there was a full blast of noise and so many people were asking so many questions and congratulating us for our success and we said our thanks, the security guards lead us to the private parking.
"That was damm crazy." I press start button and looked at Aazeen.
"Indeed."
The rest of the drive went by talking about our tomorrow's trip to Pakistan and our next project to design a wedding gown for the princess.
As I parked the car in the garage and got down , I saw Aazeen's and my family standing near the main gate and smiling widely. I looked at Aazeen who already removed her niqab and looked at me smiling widely like our parents.
"Asalamualaikum, mom and dad." we both said at the same time.
"Waalaikum salam, Mabrook Mabroook Zeen and Zai." Aazeen's dad said hugging us.
Smiling at him and my parents, "Thank you uncle, and we made it here with your all precious dua."
We made our way to the hall and the maid came with tea and snacks and we had a chit chat with our family about our great achievement.
"Your grandmom wanted to talk to you Zaira, she's been complaining lately that you don't call her." my mom said when we both entered my room.
"Mom, no worries, Infact I will call her right away." I went and took my phone from my bag, dialed my grandma's number and talked with her for an hour.
At 8 o'clock in the evening, after having dinner our both the parents left to India.
I walked to Zeen's room, and as usual she was with a file in her hand.
"Zeen you will be sick, if you keep working with no break." I said taking the files from her hand.
"Zai." she took a long sigh and lied on the bed closing her eyes.
"Zeen, I bought this abaya from Pakistan, you have to wear this tomorrow okay?" I said taking the abaya from the bag.
"You will never stop shopping right, even if you get an 15 minutes break from all the meetings." Aazeen said keeping the abaya on herself, checking in the mirror.
"Nah, never, you know right by shopping my stress level goes down." looking at her with a smirk on my face.
"Yeah yeah, whatever man." she said rolling her eyes.
"Is it possible that you go alone to Pakistan tomorrow, because I'm not feeling well and I don't feel like coming." she said, not making an eye contact with me.
"Zeen, it's not possible because before you were busy with the other works so I accepted to go alone, but now it's not possible..." I went near her and kept my hand on her shoulder "Aazeen I very well know what's the reason you don't want to come Pakistan." I said raising my one brow.
She did not look at me and kept looking at her so interesting lap.
I sighed.
"Fine then, let's call it a night and oh yeah, I came to say that tomorrow morning itself we are leaving." I said holding the door knob.
"Hmm, I think you said that we will be leaving at evening, and also we have an important meeting at 10 am." she said taking steps towards me.
"Well yeah, I know baby girl, we are leaving 10:30 , because you know the meeting will be boring and the rest of the meeting Mrs. Sparks and Mrs. Watts will handle and they will send us a summary on what happened after we left." I said rolling my eyes at how she takes 'not so important meeting' as 'so so important meeting.'
"Okay fine I know for what you are rolling your eyes, now get lost I need to get my beauty sleep." she said flipping her hair and going towards her bed.
"Well I see someone saying my "dialogues." chuckling I left her to get her beauty sleep.
Well , all I pray is that she doesn't see her ex in Pakistan.
I woke up by the sound of my alarm. I sat on my bed closing my eyes and thinking of nothing.
I got down from my bed and went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and did wudu.
After praying Fajr salah, I sat on my prayer mat and contemplated of how Allah blessed Zaira and me. Alhamdulillah.
After I got ready and wore my abaya, took my niqab, my bag and got down to the dining area.
"Asalamualaikum man." Zaira said seeing me walking towards her.
"Wa alaikum salam, whats for breakfast?" I asked taking a seat next to her.
"Toast and green tea, I got a call from my PA saying that the meeting will start in 30 minutes, so we need to leave."
"What? toast? I came to stay at your home after a long time and you make toast for me?" I pout at her and take a sip of green tea.
"Sorry Aazeen, I woke up late and couldn't cook for you." she said getting up and taking her things from the table.
I just hmmed and walked behind her.
*
We parked the car in the private parking and headed to the conference room.
Everyone stood up "Good morning, mam."
"Morning." Zaira and I said with a smile, "please take your seat and begin."
Zaira said opening her Mac book and I follow the same.
*
Meeting was done as planned well not as per as 'Zai's planning' I did a evil laugh in my mind.
"Zeen come let's leave, we are already late by 15 minutes because you didn't want to leave that so called 'important meeting." Zaira said rolling her eyes.
We sat in our private plane, after some hours of talking about business Zaira said, "Aazeen, let's take a nap and be fresh when we get down from plane."
"Even if I dont take a nap, the freshness doesn't matter." I said rolling my eyes.
She looks at me for a good five seconds and I raise my one brow which pisses her off because she can never do that "Yeah yeah whatever Niqabi." I laugh at her response and she storms off to her cabin.
I take my book 'when the moon split' from my bag and started reading it.
"Mam, would you like to have some drinks?" Air-hostess said smiling sweetly at me.
"Orange juice please." I said returning the same smile she gave me, but she couldn't see it due to my Niqab.
I was really bored and finally decided to sleep.
"Zeen wake upp, enough of your beauty sleep." Zaira said shaking my shoulder vigorously.
"Zeen let me sleep for another fi---" I was cut of by an announcement from the very trusted pilot Mr. Zakir Husain.
"Ladies, we have just been cleared to land at the Pakistan airport, Islamabad. Please make sure one last time your seat belt is securely fastened. The flight attendants are currently passing around the private cabin to make a final compliance check and pick up any remaining cups and glasses. Thank you."
After about 20 minutes, we safely landed in Pakistan.
When we decended down the stairs of the plane I saw our bodyguards already down opening the car door for us.
We met with few officers of Pakistan and they will be there for our safety throughout our stay here.
We sat in the Range Rover and headed outside the airport and behind us we saw a huge reporters waiting for us to answer their curious questions.
"Mam, in five minutes we will be in Kinza co." the chauffeur said.
Kinza co. is a fashion company like us, also she is one of our ex partner in the Razeen fashion.
We got down from the car and the reporter were flooding like a mosquito behind us but with the help of the bodyguards and police they cleared the way for us. And we met with kinza, 45 year old lady who act like our mother sometime, infact all the time.
"AsalamuAlaikum my beautiful girls, welcome to Pakistan." Kinza said hugging us together.
We walked towards a gazebo,"Give a pose to your crazy fans in Pakistan." Kinza said smiling towards the crowds.
"Come let's get you beauties inside." we walked towards the elevator and went directly to her office and discussed about tomorrow's event.
Later at evening 5 o' clock we headed back to our hotel.
The next morning after the Fajr prayer, Zaira and me went for our morning walk.
"ZAIRA POV"
Zeen and me turned back to the source of voice, "Asalamualaikum, are you Zaira and Aazeen."
This got so many people's attention and they started asking so many questions just like the reporter. Huh.
"I love all your desings infact see I'm wearing one of the sports wear you designed." said one of the lady in the group.
"Thank you for your love and support." I said smiling at them.
"And that's why we are opening RAZEEN in Pakistan." Aazeen said nonchalantly.
We have our clothing shop all around the world except for Turkey and Pakistan. We will soon launch in Turkey.
"Dear I'm really proud of you that you are wearing niqab and working. It's really a big thing in this generation. Really proud to see you two modestly covered." said the old lady bringing me back to reality.
After another fifteen minutes chit-chat with them, we left saying goodbye to those lovely people.
Later, in the afternoon we headed to the factory construction. Alhamdullilah all the work is done. All that is to be done is install the machines. Thousands of people applied the job and they are waiting to stitch and start with their appointed work.
We headed back home after having a final look at the factory and telling the manager to keep in track of everything and report it to us immediately if anything goes wrong.
"Zeen, did you see the email?" I asked, when I saw her coming from the kitchen.
She hands me the coffee "What is it?"
Taking a sip from her tasty coffee which I desperately needed right now "Well it's Aaliya."
"You mean the 'princess' what is she saying?" Aazeen asked raising her brow.
"Yeah, she invited us to her engagement party, also thanked us for the beautiful dress we designed for her."
"Cool, So next destination to Saudi Arabia I guess so." Aazeen said in amusement.
"Well, she said something in the end of the mail." my lips turning into a thin line seeing the mail.
Aazeen raises her brow, "what?"
'zai, ps-- someone is egarly waiting to see you' "wink, wink"
What is the meaning of this?
So what's the plan?" I asked looking at Zaira.
Zaira closed the MacBook "well, we have one hour more to go to the opening of "RAZEEN" , then maybe we can buy gifts for her and her family, and leave to Saudi Arabia."
"I don—" I got interrupted by a phone call. I looked at the caller ID and it was from the princess. Zaira looks at me asking who was it and I show her the phone.
"AsalamuAlaikum Aazeeen" Aaliya's bright voice booms the hotel room.
"Wa alaikum salam, how are you" I asked looking between the phone and Zaira.
"Alhamdullilah, and what about you and Zaira, is she busy because she didn't pick her phone."
"We are great Alhamdullilah, my phone is in my room, so I couldn't pick up." Zaira said taking the plate to the kitchen.
"so guys, I believe you are coming to the party. Please says yessssssssss." I could hear her sigh because there was no reply from us.
"In sha Allah, we will." Zaira said smiling at me.
"That's soooo great thank you." Aaliya said and I could feel that she is smiling ear to ear.
I look at zaira for two seconds and she raise her one brow at me and failed miserably, I chuckled.
"Aaliya, May I know who is that person eagerly waiting for zaira." I asked looking at Zaira and she sat on her chair waiting for The Princess to reply.
She laughs and Zaira rolls her eyes "Well, that's for you to find out by coming here and yeah I forgot to say something."
We both said in unison "Whaaaat!!" causing her to laugh once again "my dad is coming to Pakistan for political matters, and he says that he will bring you two with him and for that you have to give me your hotel address so I can send my dads men."
"Hey, no formalities please, we have our private plane and we will arrive in that." I said looking at Zaira to say something.
"I will send you the address. And thank you." Zaira said.
"That's so great, I will be waiting for you guys." Aaliya said and cuts the call.
After the end of phone call "Zaira what's th—"
"Aazen come on, for her happiness I accepted and moreover we trust them and we can go with them." Zaira said walking towards the stairs to go to her room.
She turns "And yeah, it's a loss for them and profit for us" I raise both my brows and she rolls her eyes "dumbo, our petrol will be saved because we are going in their private plane." it's my turn to roll the eyes "huh what, you are crazy, what about our plane, it needs to be in Saudi Arabia or else how will we travel in the future." I said rolling my eyes.
"Ohhhh yeaaaaaah."
"Oh yeaaaaaah, now who is the dumbo." I said the same way she said.
she sticks her tongue at me and runs upstairs and I fume and run behind her.
"ZAIRA POV"
At around 12:30 Pm, after our Dhur prayer, we went to GIGA mall, Islamabad for the opening of our first RAZEEN modest clothing and it went quite crazy.
Aazeen and me shopped for Aaliya and her family. She has two elder brother and two younger sister and she is the third one in the family.
After our shopping done we headed to BR.
While having our favorite icecreams we got a call from princess saying her dad will be in the hotel in an hour.
After heading to the hotel Aazeen and me got ready and we got call from the reception saying Mr. Siddique Shaikh is waiting for us, it's not a new thing for them because the princess and prince and all the celebrities and business people come to this hotel to stay. We headed to lobby and met with the king and directly went to the airport.
"Welcome to Saudi Arabia." Aaliyah's dad said looking at us smiling.
"Thank you sir." Aazeen said smiling at him. "Tsk...tsk, what did I say to call me." he fake angered.
"Thank you uncle." I said and winked at zeen, which made him laugh.
*
We got down from the plane and sat in a limo and headed to the palace.
Zeen and me looked at each other debating who will say first and zeen let a frustrating sigh "uncle..I was—I mean..." I mentally rolled my eyes and she got that look and twitched her lips and tries again, "uncle, we wanted to say you that..." she paused and looked at me and I nodded my head encouraging her to continue, "that we will be staying in the hotel, please don't say no, we can't stay in the palace with so many young men present there." Aazeen said in one breath and looks at me and I smile at her.
He looks at me and her for few seconds and keeps his hand on his knees "Well my dear, I understand, your wish is my command." we both smile at him, "but you don't have to worry about that part, I will personally make sure that no men comes near the palace you are going to stay." we both looked at him and he understood that look and chuckled "fine, fine your wish is my command, I will personally drop you to one of my hotel and you both will have a personal driver—-" zeen cuts him,
"actually uncle, I've driving license and I studied in Madina university, so we will manage and plus we have GPS we will reach the palace." Aazeen said nonchalantly.
"No, I will not agree to this wish of yours, you both will have a personal driver and he will help you two to reach wherever you want. Is that clear." the king said in his commanding tone.
"Crystal clear." I said and in return I earned a chuckle from him.
We both reached the hotel after fifteen minutes drive away from the palace. We got freshened and set to go to the palace.
We reached exactly in fifteen min. We got greeted by the twin princess and the two daughter in laws and the queen.
The palace was as I imagined. Beautiful and—-"Omg you are sooo beautiful, more beautiful in real than in pictures" said one of the twin and I can't make out who said, safa or Marwa.
I stare at them "Thank you." everyone laughs looking at my funny face.
Zeen clears her throat "Well zai, the one has mole near the side of her lips is Safa and the mole near her right side nose is Marwa."
I look at zeen raising brows.
"I know I know, you might be thinking how I know all this, because you were busy gawking the palace and mean time I had a good chit chat with them." Aazeen said with a smirk on her face.
You might be thinking how I know that as she is wearing niqab, because I've known her all my life. I know when she makes what face.
"Zeeeeeen, wallahi you will pay for this." I huff and everyone laughs making me more embarrassed.
"Zaira and Aazeen enough of your fightings, come I will show you the palace. And yeah what about your private jet?" Aaliya asked.
"Our bodyguards coming in that, we didn't want to say no to your dad that's why we accepted to come with him."
Aaliya nodded in return and dragged us into the palace.
Woooowwwww, this is——
"This palace is a plain style, and reflects the general features of the traditional Najdi Architecture." Aaliya said breaking my thoughts.
"Well I have no idea what is plain for you, this palace stands no where plain." Aazeen said touching the walls.
By hearing this Aaliya chuckles "well this is where me and the twins stay, so you both don't have to worry about the men coming and going and and you two staying here, and that's final."
"Only you three?" I asked doing a 'oooooo' face.
"Well yeah and the maids."
Zeen relieves a content sigh and looking at the drama queen Aaliya and twins chuckles "Well Aazeen, you can remove your Niqaab only females are here." Marwa one of Aaliya's twin sister said.
Yess yesss I mentally danced because I got the person who said it.
Zeen removes her Niqab and everyone stares at her in awwwww and their eyes wide as saucer and their mouth slightly open because of the beautiful girl standing in front of them.
"MashaAllah, ant jamilat jiddaan." Safa said in a whisper still shocked at the beauty in front of her.
Aazeen turns pink, aww my baby girl is sooo shy. She looks at me as if she heard my mind voice and now it's my turn to smirk at her. She rolls her eyes.
She turns her attention to the twins "JazakAllah khair."
"Omg you understand Arabic." safa and Marwa screams in unison keeping their hand on their mouth.
We chuckle at their cute face "yes, she speaks and understand Arabic language very well, Infact Aazeen studied in Madina university." Aaliya said looking at her sisters.
"What about you zaira, you speak to?" asked Marwa.
"Well yessss, but all credit goes to Aazeen because she thought me how to speak." I said imagining our old days.
"Wow, I really want to know more about you two." Marwa said grinning widely.
"Tsk Tsk, Marwa, this is how you treat our guests. You can ask your questions later." Aaliya said to Marwa.
"Come girls, I will show you guys your room and freshen up and come we'll have our dinner." Aaliya said climbing the stairs and we both nodding at her like a good girls we are.
We had our dinner and had a great time gossiping about fashion, Fashion and hot Arab Men's.
We gave them the gifts Aazeen and I bought for them.
"You can give the rest of the gifts tomorrow morning when we have breakfast with mom, dad, and my two brothers and their wife." Aaliyah turned to zeen "you don't have to worry we have two dining's one for men and another one for women."
Aazeen smiled at her.
"Wallah Aazeen, what's the secret behind this flawless skin of yours, omg Zaira did you notice her whole face glows when she smiles or laughs."
"Yes, I'm used to it aali." I said and we both laugh at the red face of Aazeen.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆•○○○☆☆☆☆☆☆☆○○○○○○
KEY WORDS-
ASSALAMU ALAIKUM - peace to you.
ALHAMDULLILAH- all praise to you.
ISHAALLAH - in the will of Allah.
MERHABA ALL.. DEAR READERS
HOPE YOU LIKED THE CHAPTER. DO LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS.
TILL NEXT TIME.
MASALAMA.