Kareem's POV ...
I pushed open the door to my office. In a couple more minutes I'd be attending another meeting.
I made my way to my desk and placed my laptop carefully on it. I was about to get started on my second presentation, when I noticed a new notification pop up on my phone. I picked it up only to see a missed call from Laila. But why would she be calling me? There was no reason for her to be calling me, or maybe it was just a mistake.
Pushing any thoughts of the missed call aside, I was about to switch of the phone, when I noticed another incoming call, but this time, it wasn't Laila, it was the driver. I answered the call and put the phone by my ear.
"What is it?"
"Sir, I won't be able to make it to work today". He said, his voice sounding a bit distant compared to the rustling cars and buses in the background.
"Why?" I asked, I didn't want this conversation taking more time than it should.
"Well sir, my daughter got into a terrible car accident. I didn't want to delay picking up madam".
"You haven't picked her up yet?" I asked as I waved my assistant off when he came to remind me about the meeting.
"Well actually sir, I just arrived at the hospital and I don't think I'd be able to pick her up. Sorry for the inconvenience sir".
"No it's fine".
"Thank you so much sir".
"It's nothing". I said as I cut the call. So Laila hasn't come home yet, that's probably why she called me, I thought to myself, trying to push those thoughts away, I mean, she could call a cab if she wanted, right?
My thoughts ran back to the day that guy dropped her off. She could have also called a cab then, but she didn't. I shook my head to get rid of those thoughts, I mean, she'd probably figure things out on her own.
I was about to stand up and make my way to the meeting room when a sudden thought crossed my mind, what if he does drop her off? I don't know , why that thought seemed so wrong, it was wrong, but why did I hate it so much?
"Sir, the meeting, it's starting now". I heard my assistant say.
"Come over here". I said, and he did just that. " You already know everything about the presentation, so just fill in for me . I have somewhere really important to be".
He looked up at me with what looked like confusion written all over his face. "But sir, why would you want me to fill in for you. The investors want to see you". He said putting more stress on the word 'you'.
"No, the investors don't want to see me, they want to see a representative for the company, and I want that person to be you. I have somewhere really important to be". I said as I grabbed my car keys and wallet and began making my way towards the exit.
"But sir-"
I didn't wait to hear what he had to say before walking through the door. I made my way outside and towards my car. I opened the front door and hopped in. I don't know why I felt this sudden urge to go there and without wasting anymore time, I plunged my car keys in and started the car.
Finding the university was a bit more complicated than I thought, but I managed to get there just in time . I parked my car in the school's driveway and pressed the horn. I could see her seated next to some guy, before standing up and walking towards the car.
I didn't want to make any quick assumptions and say it was the same guy that dropped her off but they did look oddly familiar.
I could hear her footsteps getting closer before they eventually stopped. I didn't wait to see her expression before speaking. "Get in". Was all I said and she obliged without saying a word, and soon enough, we were on the road again, but this time I was in less of a hurry to go home.
" Uhm, what happened to the driver?" I heard her say. I glanced at her from the rear-view mirror, her attention was mostly on the view of outside.
"Nothing, he's just on leave for the day". I wanted to ask about the guy she was talking to , but decided not to .
The rest of the ride went on in silence as I contemplated asking her about the strange guy, before finally coming to a conclusion.
"Who was that guy you were talking to?" I asked just before pulling up in our driveway.
She stepped out of the car and shut the door." He's my friend's older brother. " I stepped out too as we began making our way towards the entrance. "I barely know him". She spoke again just before I pushed open the door. Her words didn't sound as reassuring as she expected them to be , but I just ignored the feeling and pushed the door open.
"Okay". Was all I said before walking in. The air felt different for some reason and I hated to admit it, but, I really prayed what I was thinking wasn't true.
...
Hours had passed since I picked Laila up from college, but my thoughts constantly ran back to the same question, was there something going on between them?
I was seated in the library armchair ,with a cup of coffee in one hand and a book in the other. I placed the coffee on the table and folded the book, now making sure to place my focus on Laila.
She was seated on the armchair in front of me, transferring notes and writing stuff on her notebooks, not noticing my gaze.
"Do you know who that guy is?" I asked, that caught her attention and she finally looked up to meet my gaze.
"What guy?" She asked before diverting her attention back to her notebooks.
"The guy that you were talking to, when I picked you up from college this afternoon?" I said but it sounded more like a question. I don't know why, but it seemed as though she grew uncomfortable every time I brought up the topic.
"I told you, he is my friend's older brother. And I barely know him". She said, her eyes fixated on the notebook she was writing on.
"Okay, since you barely know him, I want you to stop talking to him or seeing him ".
She looked up at me slightly, " okay", was all she said before packing her books and storming out of the library. And I sat there wondering. What did I say this time?....