Chapter 5. Awaken Devil

"I'm sorry," Sheharzaad apologized and squatted down to pick up her things. Her movements were slow as her mind was again immersed in depths of anxiety, covered by folds of fear and anticipation. She was clueless about what she would say to Ahmed, who had a minor post in a bank and wasn’t able to earn much, and how she would face Amna. She had given her word to both of them that she would get the job at this company and their circumstances would change.

She had been trying to get an interview call from this company for months. No other company was hiring her since she was a fresh graduate with little experience. Besides, the package this company offered would help her gather money for Amna's treatment within two to three months. And she needed money as soon as possible.

But now, nothing would happen. Things had slipped from her hands. Her friend would die just like everyone else around her. Amna wasn't just a friend to her. When life tested her, Amna protected her. Amna advised her throughout her life. Amna was in front of her, beside her, and behind her in every difficult situation that Sheharzaad ever come across.

A small teardrop slipped from her eye and fell on her hand. Amna's feet were hanging in her grave, and just a slight push was enough to send her six feet down. The push would come from the lack of money.

When she was done collecting her things and stood up, she found no one around. She frowned, thinking she had hallucinated bumping into that man, whoever he was.

Moving towards the lift, she found him standing there, typing on his phone. His head was tilted down as he looked at his phone screen, and his other hand rested against the metallic rail. He didn't notice her, and she didn't spare him more than a glance.

The lift's door was about to close when she quickly entered and stood beside him.

She noticed him through his reflection on the door. He looked up at her, spared her a glance, and looked back down at his phone before turning it off and standing straight.

The area was small yet sufficient, and she could get a whiff of his cologne without even trying because his rich perfume filled the whole area. She wondered about the cost of it. Never in her life could she buy something so expensive. The scent was enough for her to deduce the bare minimum price of his perfume.

She might have been able to afford it if she had gotten a job at this company, but now it was no chance. No chance for her to live a better life, and no chance for her friend to stay alive. Now, only prayers could save her friend from death. Nothing else. She had run out of options.

Her phone rang, and it was Ahmed. She answered it immediately.

"Yes, Ahmed bhai?" she worriedly asked, thinking something might have happened to Amna.

"Shehar, they are demanding the fee. I'm penniless. It's the end of the month. Do you have some money?"

"Around how much would you need?"

"Almost 8 to 10,000 rupees for her medicines and tests."

"Ten thousand, Ahmed bhai?" She reiterated, shell-shocked. "I don't have ten thousand. Now what will we do?" she asked, her voice on the verge of crying.

"I'll try to arrange some money, don't worry. I'll ask my friends."

"I'll try too, Ahmed bhai, don't worry," she replied.

"Please try to come fast, Shehar. I need your help."

"Don't worry, bhai. I'm coming. Allah hafiz," she answered and cut the call, placing her phone back in her purse. She wanted to get out of this lift and rush to the hospital as soon as she could. She needed to stand beside her family.

To check the available cash she had at the moment, she drifted her attention to her purse and searched for her wallet. Her eyes widened upon realizing that her wallet was not with her. She searched through her purse twice but could not find it.

She began to think about where she could have left it, and she got her answer. It was in the taxi. She had left it there. Now, her tears were at the bay.

She didn't get the job.

Amna was in the hospital.

And now her wallet was gone. She practically had no cash to go back to the hospital now. A sob formed in her throat. She was breaking. Life and the circumstances were breaking her apart. She was vulnerable.

"What happened?" A voice came from her left side, thick, rich, deep, and dark. It suddenly made her heart skip a beat.

She just spared him a glance before turning her neck back. Was that question directed at her? She couldn't tell, as he was looking in front of him, not at her.

"Nothing," came her reply. Her voice was firm and hardened. Yes, she was broken, but that didn't mean she would tell her worries to everyone.

He didn't speak anything. He kept quiet and gave no response to her.

"No, I'll come, wait," his voice came again, and she confusedly looked back at him only to realize he was talking on the phone.

Her face turned red.

He had asked "what happened" to someone on the phone, and she thought the question was directed at her. Oh god. She didn't even notice him receiving a call; maybe she was too submerged in her thoughts.

"Yeah, hold on," he said again as he continued speaking on his phone and directing orders.

At last, the elevator dinged open, and she rushed out of the building while his hawk-like grey eyes followed her. He took the phone from his ear, looking at her retreating. He tapped his phone against his palm and raised an eyebrow as his eyes still followed her.

"Nothing," he muttered under his breath. "Nothing," he repeated her answer as a small, unnoticeable smirk appeared on his face and vanished as soon as it came. He walked out.

As soon as he sat in his car, his eyes again landed on her. She was standing near the footpath, looking here and there. Something flashed in his eyes for a moment when he saw her walking swiftly in the middle of the road, looking towards the bus coming in her direction. The driver was honking the horn violently, but she kept moving.

"What is she doing?" he whispered with a frown, thinking she was going to commit suicide. Suddenly, he saw her snatching the arm of a young girl and pushing her towards her. The bus narrowly missed them both, and the little girl began to cry hysterically in her arms. She wrapped her arms around the girl and immediately crossed the road with her.

The little girl continued to cry in her arms, and she consoled her as if she were her guardian angel. Just minutes later, the girl's parents came and took their child from her, thanking her profusely. She gave a bright smile as if she was content with saving a life.

A sudden thought hit his mind as he thought about how much she differed from him. She found contentment in saving a life, whereas he found satisfaction in taking lives. A sudden feeling came over him to ask her about her feelings when she saved the little girl's life. 

Nevertheless, not focusing on her more, he roared the engine to life and drove home.

.......

Both Ahmed and Sheharzaad were able to arrange the money somehow and had gotten Amna back home. Ahmed was gone, and now both Sheharzaad and Amna were alone in their small house. Amna was sleeping as the doctors had prescribed her some pills while Sheharzaad had already started her job hunt again. She had applied to every company she came across.

The day was too hectic and tense for her. Everything came crashing down on her. It was one of the worst days of her life. Her high hopes were shattered, and she was back to where she started. She missed the golden opportunity, and now she was back on the hunt for a new job.

Yet the thing that brought tranquility to her was the fact that she survived it. She survived this day till the end. That gave her hope that she would make ends meet, she would resist, oppose, and fight. It rekindled her spirit. Despite losing her wallet and all the money, she still managed to get to the hospital. She convinced one of the taxi drivers to take her to the hospital, explaining that she had lost her wallet and would pay him upon reaching the hospital. Luckily, the driver agreed. He was an acquaintance of the cab driver who took her to the company from the hospital, and she got her wallet back as well. It taught her never to lose hope. Nature not only tests you but also protects you.

She closed the lid of her laptop and lay down beside Amna, setting the comforter on her.

"Thank you, buddy," she smiled, looking at her dear friend. She then looked at the sky that glimmered with stars.

A peaceful smile spread across her lips as if thanking nature. Tired from the day's events, she found herself snoring.

Unmindful of the devil she had awakened.