***
He slipped on his shoes and glanced toward her bedroom door.
She hadn't stepped out since last night.
Not during dinner. Not during Tahajjud. Not even for breakfast.
"Meow."
A faint smile came at Haider's lips as Lion padded over to see him off.
"Your mother isn't seeing me off today."
Ding. Ding.
Yesterday's memory resurfaced the moment the elevator chime echoed through his mind.
She had gently tugged at the hem of his shirt, and the instant he turned to look behind him...
She had already fled.
The recollection lingered far longer than it should have, replaying in his thoughts with startling clarity.
"Boss?"
"Ah... yes?"
Haider blinked, snapping back to reality. The staff were all staring at him, patiently awaiting his opinion on the proposal before them.
...
A weary sigh escaped him as he settled behind his desk, both hands rising to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"What's with the sigh?"
A raspy voice broke the silence.
Leaning lazily against the office doorway stood a man dressed in a tailored navy-blue suit, a sly grin stretching across his face. His brown buzz cut was brushed with subtle brunette highlights that shimmered beneath the office lights.
He sauntered inside, a bundle of documents swaying loosely in one hand.
"Something troubling my dear friend?"
He placed the papers neatly onto Haider's desk before waggling his eyebrows with theatrical exaggeration.
Haider lifted his gaze and studied the man, his usual reserved composure never wavering. Removing his slim-framed glasses, he pinched the bridge of his nose once again and released another quiet sigh.
The man's lips twitched before he burst into amused laughter.
Haider wasn't surprised.
He had long grown accustomed to his antics.
After all, they had been close friends for years.
"Nothing is bothering me, Zayne. Stop wasting time and get back to work."
"Still as cold and stoic as ever!"
Zayne laughed, hugging himself dramatically before rubbing his shoulders as though shivering from an imaginary winter breeze.
A knowing smirk tugged at Zayne's lips as he leaned forward and said with unmistakable enthusiasm,
"You need to blow off some steam. Come hang out with the guys tonight. It's been a while."
He expected Haider to reject the invitation without a second thought.
Instead-
Silence.
The pause stretched longer than anticipated.
Zayne slowly turned around, only to catch Haider genuinely considering the offer.
A mischievous giggle escaped him as he covered his mouth.
Interesting.
"Oh?"
His grin widened.
"Something's up with your wife, I see."
Instantly-
Haider's eyes widened, and he shot up from his chair.
Zayne's expression lit up with delight.
This was priceless.
It wasn't every day he had the privilege of witnessing Haider lose his composure.
He immediately slithered over, draping an arm across Haider's shoulder with a dramatic sigh.
"Tsk, tsk. You two haven't even been married for that long, and you're already fighting."
He shook his head in exaggerated disappointment before shamelessly resting it against Haider's shoulder, the sly amusement never leaving his raspy voice.
"Don't worry."
He puffed out his chest proudly.
"You can count on me."
He flashed a confident grin.
"I'm an expert."
Zayne's eyes sparkled with confidence.
Haider stared at him for a long moment before quietly muttering,
"...You're not even married."
Everything froze.
The colour gradually drained from Zayne's face as reality struck with merciless precision.
He had yet to get married.
Worse...
He hadn't even found a woman.
His lips twitched.
A vein almost seemed ready to pop.
Friendly outrage boiled inside him as he refused to accept the painfully accurate statement.
Then-
He lunged forward, grabbed both of Haider's shoulders, and shouted inches from his face,
"I KNOW THAT!"
Haider instinctively leaned back as tiny droplets of spit landed on his cheek.
Before the argument could escalate-
Ring. Ring.
"...Your phone's ringing."
Zayne's grip slowly loosened.
Still wearing an offended scowl, he fished his phone out of his pocket.
"Oh."
He glanced at the caller ID before breaking into a grin.
"Perfect timing, Yusuf."
Haider quietly stepped away while Zayne answered the call.
His gaze drifted toward the vast sky beyond the office window.
His thoughts wandered once again.
Round and round they circled...
Then he remembered.
I should let her know.