Episode 02
Author: Ishrat Zahid
Tania returned to her room, the memory of that chance encounter at the mall still fresh in her mind. She meticulously hung her new dresses in the wardrobe and collapsed onto her bed. There was a peculiar magnetism in Almeer's personality that had left her in a deep state of reflection. A small smile played on her lips as she remembered her father teasing her earlier. Deciding to rest for a while, she closed her eyes, hoping to feel refreshed enough for her evening prayers.
Meanwhile, Shahab Sahab was in his room, standing before a drawer that had remained locked for years. Inside were memories he had personally entombed long ago. As he searched for an old photograph of Jahangir, his hand brushed against a worn envelope. In Sofia's presence, he had never felt the need to open this; Sofia and Tania were his entire world. He had sacrificed everything to provide Sofia with the lifestyle she was accustomed to—even selling his ancestral home to buy a house in this elite area. After retiring from teaching, he now managed a school with a friend. Financially, they lacked nothing, and Tania was studying at a top-tier institute. The only thing missing was Sofia... who had spent her life haunted by the rejection and resentment of her brother, Jahangir.
Shahab remembered how Sofia would sit with this drawer open whenever she missed her brother, only to snap it shut the moment he entered. Today, years later, he finally pulled out the childhood photos. Just as he found a picture of Sofia with her brother and parents, a voice called out, "Baba!"
Startled, Shahab shoved the photos back into the envelope without looking and locked the drawer. Tania peered from the kitchen. "Baba! I'm baking pasta dishes. Will you have some?" Shahab smiled warmly, "Of course, beta! I could never refuse pasta made by my daughter." He joined her in the kitchen, and soon, father and daughter were happily lost in the art of cooking.
At Jahangir Group of Enterprises, the atmosphere was tense. During the board meeting, shareholders were anxious as the market value continued to plummet. It was painful for Jahangir Sahab to see the empire he built from scratch begin to crumble. Rising salary demands and a few key employees resigning added to his mental strain. He summoned Almeer and shared his concerns.
Almeer immediately took control of the situation, advising the HR department to begin new hiring. His strategy was to bring in fresh graduates—young minds with new perspectives—and have them sign a three-year bond to ensure stability. Kamal Sahab, the HR head, was thoroughly impressed by the idea.
The next day, while skimming the newspaper, Tania's eyes fell on the advertisement. After gathering the details, she submitted her CV online. She was a fresh graduate, and although she had no financial need, she wanted to do this internship to sharpen her skills. She was completely unaware that the office she had applied to belonged to Almeer.
On the day of the interview, Tania felt a mix of hope and nervous energy. She chose her attire with grace, looked at her confident reflection in the mirror, and stepped out. She had no idea that a new chapter of her life was about to begin.
At the office, Almeer had to leave suddenly for an urgent business meeting, leaving Kamal Sahab in charge of the interviews. When Tania arrived, she was struck by the prestigious atmosphere. Kamal Sahab adjusted his glasses, looking at Tania's file and then her poised face.
"Tania Shahab! Your academic history is impressive, but we look for more than just degrees here. What do you think a fresh graduate can offer our company?"
Tania paused for a moment and then replied earnestly, "Sir, a degree only shows the path, but the passion for work and the ability to learn make a person successful. I am not here just as an intern but as a student who wants to learn from your experience and contribute something new. My dream is to become a professional that this institution can be proud of."
Kamal Sahab was visibly moved. "Where do you see yourself in five years?"
A spark of determination lit up Tania's eyes. "Sir, I don't see myself in a high-ranking position, but with an identity where my work is my recognition. I want to be an example for my family, especially for my father—to show that his upbringing made me a strong, independent woman." Impressed, Kamal Sahab marked her file as 'Outstanding.'
At the end of the day, Jahangir Sahab personally met the selected candidates. As Tania stood before him, she didn't realize this was the man whose very mention once brought tears to her father's eyes. Jahangir Sahab, too, noticed a peculiar gravity and dignity in Tania's personality.
When Tania reached home that evening, she was ecstatic. "Baba! I have a huge surprise for you!" she exclaimed, hugging Shahab Sahab. When she told him about her selection at a renowned company, a mix of pride and anxiety crossed Shahab's face. Seeing her hard work pay off, he granted her permission with a heavy but loving heart.
As the evening light filtered through the kitchen window, Tania happily served the pasta. Shahab sat at the table, watching his daughter's glowing face, though an unknown fear gripped his heart.
"Baba! You won't believe how professional the environment is," Tania said. "And guess what? Jahangir Sahab met us personally. He has such a powerful, commanding personality."
The fork in Shahab's hand froze. He lowered his gaze to hide the tremor in his eyes. "I see... are you happy working there?" he asked softly.
Tania took his hand. "Very happy, Baba. I want to build my own identity. I want you to be proud of me. But if you feel I shouldn't do this, I'll resign right now. My happiness lies in your permission."
Shahab placed a hand on her head. The image of Sofia flashed through his mind—Sofia, who had always yearned for her brother's love. He realized that if he stopped Tania now, she might remain incomplete like her mother.
"No, my life!" "I will never stop you," he said with a long sigh. "Your mother wanted you to live a free and dignified life. Just remember one thing, Tania... the world is cruel. People don't even spare their own. Stay true to your hard work, and let Allah handle the rest."
Tania's eyes filled with tears as she kissed her father's hand. "Thank you, Baba. I will never break your trust."
On her first day at the office, Tania's heart raced. Dressed in a white formal suit with light makeup, she looked incredibly confident. Kamal Sahab introduced her to 'Sara,' a lively girl sitting nearby.
"Welcome to Jahangir Group, Tania! "The pressure is high here, but there's so much to learn," Sara said with a smile. During lunch, other colleagues gathered around. "I heard you were in the top 5 candidates?" asked a boy named Ahsan.
Tania replied humbly, "It's just the grace of God." She was surprised to learn how much everyone feared Almeer's discipline and Jahangir's authority. Sara whispered, "Sir Almeer is a perfectionist." "There's no room for error, but he truly values hard workers." Tania listened silently, not knowing she had already shared a pleasant encounter with this 'stern' man.
From his cabin, Almeer was reviewing files when a flash of movement in the corridor caught his eye. He froze. Her? Here? The mall girl, whose simplicity had stirred something deep within him, was now an intern in his own office.
A fierce conflict erupted within him. His professional pride told him to treat her like any other employee, but the magnetic pull he felt was drawing him toward her. Is this a coincidence or a game of destiny? He wondered. He watched her through the glass partitions, mesmerized by the way she worked with such focus. He slammed his file shut. "Almeer! Get a grip. "She's just an intern." But his heart refused to listen.
Almeer had just turned his gaze away from Tania's desk when his cabin door swung open. Jahangir Sahab walked in, holding the same list with Tania's name at the top.
"Almeer! This girl's performance is exceptional. I want you to train her personally as your assistant."
The ground seemed to slip from beneath Almeer's feet. Would he be able to bear her presence so close to him, or was this proximity the herald of a massive storm?
Copyright © 2026 by Ishrat Zahid. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, events, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The opinions expressed in this novel are those of the characters and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author.