Bridging Hearts.

                        AZLAAN'S POV:

"We have to visit Shines today.”
Mr. Hassan, my manager, reminded me once again. Well, as needed, I had been quite forgetful lately; my mind was taking a toll.

Taking my coat from the handle of the chair, I put it on and grabbed my phone. Meanwhile, Mr. Hassan picked up the important files from my table, which I had just signed.

As I walked out of my office, my feet clamped on the floor, drawing everyone's attention towards me. I didn't stop to acknowledge their respectful nods, it was rude, but today I just wasn't in the mood.

Striaght settling into my car, the driver headed us towards the destination.
On the way, I scrolled through my phone, checking emails and my important messages out of habit.

Messages delivered but unread.
Calls went unanswered.

I and Ali hadn't talked since the day he abruptly left, he seems to be very upset at me.

How could I have been so stupid?
He didn't like it, after all it involves his sister. I should have kept quiet and not been so open about my feelings.

Since when had I started expressing my feelings to others? I deep focused on my phone's screen.

If only I had kept my feelings to myself about Zara, at least that would have saved our silly but budding stronger friendship, which had become generous.

I never had friends or a close person so had I never been so open and comfortable with someone before.
I thought Ali would be that one first friend, but thadidn't go well either.

I felt like I had lost something rare, something I had been hoping to hold onto, ruined one good thing I had in my life.

                             
                                 ——

I walked into the entrance of Shine Estates, with an aura of confidence , commanding attention radiating from my very being. I made my way towards the conference room, following Mr. Hassan.

The air around me seemed to shift.
All eyes turned towards me, faces tinged with a mixture of respect.

"Because of your incompetence, we failed to achieve our goals! We could have gotten first deal instead of a mere third,"
A booming voice shattered the silence. It was the owner of this company, where I had been invited for a brief but potentially pivotal meeting.

"You messed up it with your complete disillusionment!"

As soon as I heard those words filled with rage, I stood still in my tracks.

The insults continued to flow, a spate of degradation, a blatant disregard.
 

The venomous words that hurled at the poor employee, those cruel words, though not aimed at me, still struck a deep chord within, resonating with the echoes of my own life's struggles.

Memories of harsh criticisms and hurtful remarks from my own people flooded my mind, triggering the anger that threatened to consume me from the inside out. I could feel that anger within me threatening to boil over.

It was a feeling I had struggled with many times before, a constant battle against the demons of my past that whispered cruel words and sought to tear me down.

I looked around, the other attendees shifted uneasily in their places, their faces etched with fear and discomfort.

“Just give him his resignation letter and throw him out of here," the same booming voice spoke once again with disdain and contempt.