Love, Lies & A Cup of Chai

Chapter 2

Farjaad stormed into his room, paying no heed to Niyaz's incredulous glances as he returned home at half-past one on a Friday. He ascended the stairs with discomfort coursing through him, the sticky sensation of his stained shirt clinging to his body. In a long while, Farjaad had never felt so thoroughly humiliated in a long time. He could not describe meeting her as anything less than absolutely disastrous. From Umeed's arrival almost an hour after what he'd planned, to getting him bathed in a piping hot cup of chai, to her flimsy excuse about her missing phone while in all reality she apparently never checked her messages, Farjaad found her to be the antipode of everything he was.

However, the spilled chai was not really her fault.

It was an accident. Farjaad grabbed a new pair of shirt and pants, vividly recalling Umeed stumbling over the table. Her reaction and composure made it seem like a routine occurrence at her cafe, yet he couldn't help but remember the genuine fear in her eyes that he noticed.

Her eyes.

Farjaad's phone buzzed, the screen flashing Majid Sahab's name. He tossed it on his bed, deciding to deal with it in a few minutes. He had a meeting scheduled at two and now he was certain he wouldn't make it on time. All thanks to Umeed. Walking into his bathroom, he unbuttoned his shirt and winced as he looked at his reddened chest along with his hands which were visibly but mildly burnt, his mind once again drifting back to the mishap. The image of the cafe, Umeed, the spilled chai, and her trembling hands lingered in his mind. Sure he was fuming when it happened but what did not go unnoticed by him was how her hand was trembling. She was holding the cup, of course the chai fell on her too. 

Farjaad wondered if she even realized it, considering she was all about getting him a first aid kit and did not even look like she was in any kind of discomfort throughout their conversation. A conversation which was barely a conversation mostly an exhibit of how incompatible and contradictory everything about the both of them were. He closed his eyes as he let the shower soothe him. He heard his phone buzzing again and he let out a long sigh.

The situation with the latest season of "Socho Pakistan" had already become considerably more complicated when the beloved host, Asadullah Khan, abruptly left for Dubai right after signing the deal. Now, being late for a pivotal meeting only added to the chaos. Although Farjaad had already emailed Miss Mehak to relay the message to the board and clients, the incessant buzzing of his phone hinted how it's going to be difficult once he showed up, also considering his personal equations with the said absconder.

Well showing up late would be better than showing up drenched in tea, he guessed. But he couldn't also deny the fact that this was the first time in years that he was late for a commitment he'd made, all because of someone else's inability to manage time and self. The realization of this partnership not happening, it working being out of question came to him pretty easily. Farjaad, now dressed in fresh, clean clothes walked to the mirror reaching out for the comb as he made up his mind to tell Mimi either she tells him her preferences or she got it done herself as she planned originally. He was firmly resolved to steer clear of Umeed by his own volition.

Toofan-e-badtameezi.

Farjaad adjusted the lapels of his navy blue coat as he strolled towards the lounge, only for him to stop on his tracks once again listening to her talk on the phone. He genuinely wondered what was it with him inadvertently catching his sister's phone conversations these days. Quite contradictory to the grievances she exuded yesterday, she sounded chirpy and happy. It did not take him long to realize his sister was happy because of him, and he had arrived here right on time with one mission — to absolutely rain on her parade. He stood there, listening to Mimi's enthusiastic chatter on getting rid of the wedding planners, who were being a 'nuisance' all this while. She was telling who Farjaad deduced was Sunny, how confident she was in Umeed's ability to handle all the aesthetic aspects, while her brother would ensure the technical details were seamlessly managed. Strangely, her logic struck a chord with Farjaad and he swallowed hard, pondering the ironic twist of the situation.