Chapter 19: Chapter 19

" sorry for asking sir but what are you doing here? Are you looking for my sister? " Kalthum asked quizzically. It's possible he is here for Basma since she now works for him, Kalthum thought. His tall figure stood almost looming over her.

He cleared his throat " actually, I'm here for you "

She furrowed her brows confused " uhm OK. Here I am sir " she closed the door behind her as she came out of the room.

Faisal mentally groaned. He couldn't believe he was really doing this. Now she would think he was crazy.

" I'll prefer if we talk outside the lodge. I wouldn't want us to wake the others"

Could something be wrong? She wonders

Kalthum nodded " OK Sir " and trailed behind him like a kitten following her master. For a second, she was actually following her master. After all,he is still the boss, she thought.

Kalthum was met with the chilli night breeze as it prickles her skin. She loves every bit of it. She closed her eyes to enjoy it while it last. A smile graced her lips as it prickles her skin once again,and then ,she remembered that she was with Sir Faisal!

The smile was gone in an instant. She opened her eyes and was met with his deep brown eyes staring at her.

Kalthum couldn't pinpoint if he was staring because she looked stupid or he was surprised but she was sure of one thing and that is, his eyes are captivating. That moment, she couldn't deny the fact that he was truly handsome and she never noticed it until now. Her boss is handsome.

Subhanallah

She gasped unexpectedly as she realized what she had thought. She broke the eye contact first.

Faisal cleared his throat and scratched his neck slightly like someone who had been caught doing something wrong.

" uhm Sir, what is it you want to talk to me about ?" she decides to break the tension by asking the particular reason they were here.

" yeah.... yeah, I almost forgot. Actually I came to check if you're doing ok" he regretted the word immediately he said it. Really Faisal! his subconsciousness scolded.

" if I'm doing ok........as in? " she trailed " why wouldn't I be alright? " she folded her arms waiting for his response

He knew he needed to find a way out of this. He remembered habib warning him not to tell her that he found out about the slap incident from him.Right now the only option he has is to say it.

" Actually...I got to found out about what my mom did to you"

She knew it, Habeeb or umm Rasheeed must have told him. She should have known better not trust them on this .

" it was really nothing Sir. I don't know why everyone is just taking it seriously. Its not a big deal"she shrugged

He shook his head " No it's a big deal"

She scoffed " he sound so much like Habeeb " she mumbles quietly

" did you say something? " he raised a brow

She quickly shook her head " no"

" oh I thought I heard you mentioning Habeeb's name but anyways , I promise to talk to my mother. She shouldn't have done that to you "

" Sir please you don't need to worry. It's really not a big deal. We all have been slapped in our life so why is this a big deal to you all. Habeeb, umm rasheed and you , you guys don't really need to worry. The bright side is that I actually learnt my mistake and I went back to do things the right way"

When she mentioned Habeeb's name without the Sir, he wanted asking but decided against it.

" That's because we care" he blurted unexpectedly " we care about all of you.We want you all to feel comfortable " he added

She felt bad all of a sudden, for a second she thought he was talking only about her not until he added the remaining maids. Where are all this thoughts coming from? Get a grip Kalthum. She shook her head slightly.

" are you OK? " Faisal voice brought her out of her thoughts

She forced a smile " yes sir, I am. Is that all you wanted to talk to me about? "

" erm no actually. I meant yes" he almost stuttered. He has never stuttered before, what the heck is going on here? he thought.

" oh OK. Can I go back to my room now? " please say no

" yes. "

" OK sir, hm good night " she smiled tightly then turn around to leave. She walks slowly hoping that he would call her back. She counted as she took one step after another.

One

Two

Three

Four

Fiv_

" Wait! " and he stopped her

She mentally squealed then turn around to face him at the same time masking her happiness.

" Sir? "

Faisal looked at her for a second trying to remember why he stopped her .

" I--i--I was wondering if you've iced your face. I mean, the swell on your face. I'm sure it hurts. An ice will lessen the pain" he mentally patted his back for actually finding his words.

" oh, I never knew an ice can help"

" There are some in the kitchen. I'll advice you to do that before they turn purple and sore when you wake up tomorrow " he said

She looked at him surprise.why the sudden kindness? He always meant business for her before, but now it looks as if he cares somehow or maybe it's his way of saying sorry for replacing her. She shrugged.

" it's a little bit late sir. I think I'll just leave it till tomorrow "

He shook his head " No I insist "

Dole ne?she wanted saying

" oh ok"

" if you like, I can escort you. I'm sure you are only scared to be alone " what he did next surprised her, he chuckled. A manly one at that.

She almost gasped. Never have he smiled or chuckled at her before not until now.

He cleared his throat after realizing what he did " shall we? "

" Yeah" she nodded and trailed behind him as they made their way to the kitchen.

The walked together to the main house and then continued their journey to the kitchen. The house was as quiet as a grave yard . No noise could be heard.

Faisal went to open the fridge to get the ice

" Sir you really don't need to stay with me. I'll do it myself " Kalthum told him

" I don't really mind. I'm not even feeling sleepy " he shrugged. He brought out a glass jug containing pieces of ice block. He took a clean hand towel and spread it on the slab. He then pour some of the ice blocks in the middle of the hand towel and then wrapped it in a way it will be easy to hold.

Kalthum stood by the door, admiring all his movements in the kitchen. He looks calm and collected. She heaved a sighed.

" Here it is" he said all of a sudden. He hand over the wrapped ice to her " all you need to do is to press it on the swell"

She took it from him and smile appreciatively " thank you sir"

He nodded and waited for her to do as she was told.

By the time she placed the ice on her face, she winced in pain " ouch "

Faisal quickly stood alarmed and took the ice from her hand " let me help you"

" No_no you don't need to. I can handle it sir " she reassured him. She did it the second time and winced again.

" you never listen. Give it to me " he took it from her with a frown.

Why is he frowning? She wonders. It's no as if she was the one that told his mother to slap her.

" No si_

" Just keep quiet for a second and let me do it! " he snapped and she kept mum

He loom over her with his tall figure. His perfume surrounded her space. Having him this close make her stomach twist. She felt as if she couldn't breath again.

Faisal placed the ice pack gently on her face. She winced a little but not as loud as before. He focused his attention on what he was doing that he didn't notice the smile on her lips. She raised her eyes up to see if he saw her but lucky for her he was only paying attention to the swell. He wasn't even bothered by their closeness.

As if he new she was looking at him, he met her eyes and the world around them disappeared. He couldn't resist her big doe eyes. What is this feeling he was having?he questioned himself.

They stared at each other like two lovers trying to understand what the other was thinking. Kalthum wanted talking but couldn't find her words. She knew this was inappropriate. He is her boss. This shouldn't be happening. But she couldn't resist.

It was already too late because she now realize that she, fancy her boss!

" Subhanallah " a shattering of glass broke them apart.

Basma stood with wide eyes as she stared at the two people in front of her. Her mouth open and closed like a fish.

" i-i-i

Faisal groaned mentally. He is the boss and see no reason to explain himself to a certain maid. He dropped the ice in the sink and took a bottle of water from the fridge, acting all normal as if nothing happened.

" Good night ladies" he said and left the two sisters alone

Basma looked at her sister, who still looks as if she was in daze .

" What the heck did I just witness?!Are you getting squishy with sir Faisal! I can't believe how low you could be " Basma yelled

Kalthum groaned " please leave me alone. " she pushed her sister out of the way so she could go back to their lodge.

" I'm not done talking to you " Basma grabbed Kalthum's hand.

" please Basma I'm tired right now as you can see"

" of course why wouldn't you be tired after all, you're here romancing Sir Faisal! What witchcraft are you using on him for Allah's sake! "

" OK fine, you can ask me anything you want but please let's not do it here. People are sleeping. Let's go to our room " that is the only option Kalthum have if not her sister must sure make a scene right here.

" OK fine " Basma agreed

***

The moment they got to their room, Basma reign all sort of insult on Kalthum.

" I can't believe you're my sister!How can you try seducing Sir Faisal after you know he is our boss !" Basma fired disgusted

" for Allah's sake I'm no like you. I'm not a prostitute. Sir Faisal was only helping me to ice my face, Nothing else happened " Kalthum explained

" No! I don't believe you. I'll never allow this to happen. Stop calling me a prostitute cos I'm not. Over my dead body will I allow this to happen, No! " Basma continued to say like someone who is suffering from a mental problem

Kalthum rolled her eyes " I don't know what is going on in that head of yours but please never try comparing me to a prostitute like you. I don't care whether you believe me or not but I've said my own"

" Will you stop it! Stop referring me as a prostitute "Basma fumed " you are that worthless to the extent that you now throw yourself at someone else's fiance"

Kalthum looked at her like she was crazy. First and foremost she wasn't throwing herself at him and secondly, sir Faisal is not engaged so what is she talking about?

" what do you mean by fiance? "

Basma smirked " when Umm rasheed and I went to the supermarket today, we saw sir Faisal with a lady and I asked Umm rasheed who she was and to my utmost surprise, she told me that the lady was sir Faisal's fiancee. They are about to get married and here you are flirting around with someone else's man. "

" No!you're lying. I know sir Faisal is not engaged and I was never flirting around with him" She didn't want to believe Basma's word but the way Basma sound so confident made her want to believe her.

She felt ashamed of herself right now. How can she be catching feelings for another person's man. It breaks her heart.

" if you like don't believe me. Infact ko, you can ask Umm rasheed, she will testify that I was actually saying the truth. Dear sister, never forget your place in this house. You are just a maid and maids ends up with their kinds not with someone as rich as Sir Faisal or his brother ,Sir Habeeb! " Basma laughed at her sister's hurt face

" You don't know what you're talking about basma. I don't know why you felt the need to tell me about sir Faisal and his supposed fiancee. All I want you to understand is that, I don't like sir Faisal the way you think I do. I don't like him that way, so please tell those information to those that need it because I for one don't give a damn about it "

It hurts alot but she just needed to act brave in front of Basma.

Basma giggles " if you like keep deceiving yourself, I've told you what you need to know before you take a drastic step. Whatever feelings you might be catching for Sir Faisal should better come to an end or else_

" or else what !" Kalthum gritted out

" or else you'll face the consequences " Basma ended with a wink then went on to climb her bed with a satisfied smile. If she can't have any of the Dantata sons then same also applies to her sister too. She would rather die than see Kalthum end up with one of them. She is better than Kalthum and their mother likes her more. All this years, it has been hard pretending that she cares about Kalthum. It was just an act to make their mother like her more since their father passed away.

Kalthum who still seems affected by what her sister just said went to the bathroom to pour out her tears. She really felt stupid right now. How can this be happening to her. The moment she realized that she has a crush on Sir Faisal, then this happens? She wouldn't want Basma to see her defeated. It does hurts alot . Never have she ever felt this jealous in her life.

Kalthum stare at the mirror and then promised herself that from now henceforth she would only concentrate on work and nothing else. She just have seven months to go and this whole disaster would be over.