For the next whole week, Haifa occupied
herself in her project. She began by learning about the contest and the company
behind it, aiming to gain a better understanding of her target audience before
developing her video concept. Haifa thoroughly reviewed the winning videos from
the previous year, especially the first-place entry. It was expertly crafted
with sophisticated shots and editing.
When she spotted Lamya's name among
the top ten videos, Haifa attempted to brush it off and stay focused on her own
project. Nevertheless, the importance of winning the competition made it hard
for her to completely disregard the presence of her rival. She couldn't
shake the feeling that their paths kept crossing for some unknown reason.
Haifa dedicated herself to refining
her concept for days. She methodically worked through the logistics required and
scouted the best locations within the atoll. Haifa was determined to take on the
competition independently, without relying on any assistance from Zishan. She
had become increasingly apprehensive about Aseel's reaction to Zishan, so she
made a conscious effort to avoid mentioning his name.
Her interactions with the rest of
the family remained minimal. Her mother had repeatedly attempted to engage her
in conversation, but Haifa steadfastly declined. She allowed Afa to stay with
her sometimes but refrained from engaging with Saira. Haifa had no intention of
recounting the details of her fight with her mother to anyone.
After a week of preparation and
concept development, Haifa ventured around the island to capture the best shots
possible. She explored the beach, boatyard, harbor, and forested areas. Though,
even she knew that her current footage was still far from extraordinary, which
was what she needed to win. Winning videos often featured aerial or underwater
shots, but she lacked both the equipment and expertise for such shots.
Frustrated, Haifa finally reached
out to Saira for assistance. Luckily, Saira didn't press her for details about
the recent family drama. Together, they explored the island, and Saira led her
to a small wooden bridge on the far side of the island, which Haifa had never
visited before. There, Saira introduced her to the mangrove.
"Oh my gosh, this is
beautiful," Haifa exclaimed, quickly aiming her phone to capture the
scene. "How did I not know about this?"
The mangrove, also known as “Kulhi” by
locals, was an unusually spectacular sight. The trees rose majestically from
the water, creating a stunning coastal forest with lush canopies. Unlike the
trees on solid ground, these mangroves had their robust roots extending both
above and below the water's surface. The water itself was calm and mirrored a
deep emerald hue. Many of the plants had branches that dipped low, and their
broad leaves added to the enthralling scenery. Haifa had never encountered such
a breathtaking sight in her entire life.
Saira rested her forearms on the
bridge's railing, observing Haifa with an amused expression. "Well, Madam
has a short temper and tends to sulk in her room. You can't view the island
from your room," she teased.
Haifa turned to her, concern in her
eyes. "Are you upset with me?" she asked, suddenly worried about what
Saira might think of her.
Saira let out a small sigh and
replied, "No, just a bit confused, I guess. When we hang out, you're
usually so cool, but then you have these moments of sulking. I thought we were
friends."
Haifa averted her gaze, feeling
guilty for the way she had treated Saira. "My life is a bit complicated
right now. I'm sorry," she said softly. "We are friends, it just
takes me a while to open up to anyone."
Saira nodded understandingly.
"I get that. That's why I try not to pry into your life. I hardly know
anything about you," she said, gesturing toward the mangrove. "Can
you at least tell me why you suddenly decided to enter this competition? You do
know who else will be entering, right?"
Haifa sighed, "Yes, I know.
Lamya must already be busy filming in some resort."
Saira chuckled, "She hasn't won
for two years, so she's probably at a resort or maybe even in a seaplane."
Haifa lowered her phone, a defeated
look on her face. "I can't compete with her, can I?"
"If you want to go head-to-head
with her, you'll need something unique," Saira advised. She pretended to
think for a moment, tapping her chin with a finger. "You know, I think we
should start with the uninhabited spots around. I wonder who could help you
with that."
"Please don't say..."
Haifa made a face at her.
"Zishan!" Saira announced
with a grand gesture as if she were a game show host revealing the winning
answer.
Saira gave her a bright smile and
began pulling out her phone. "Now, where is his number?"
"Stop that," Haifa urged.
"What? What did I do?"
Saira asked innocently as Haifa tried to take away her phone. "Okay, okay,"
she relented, and Haifa let her be.
"So if you don't have anything
going on with him, why are you so nervous to ask him for help?" Saira
asked with a meaningful glance.
Haifa tugged at her sleeve, trying
to figure out a way out. "I don't know him," she finally admitted.
"But I do, so let me ask,"
Saira insisted.
"No," Haifa replied
firmly.
With that, Saira dropped the topic.
***
Another week passed, and Haifa grew
increasingly frustrated. She had already captured everything she could around
the island, even going out on fishing boats with her stepfather's help. But it
wasn't enough. She knew the videos needed to appeal to tourists, and she needed
to find special spots. Finally, hanging by a thread of hope, she messaged
Zishan, asking for help.
Haifa had not expected a reply from
him, considering she had never replied to any of his messages weeks back. She
knew he had likely figured out that she did not want to have any connections
with him. She had no idea what he thought of her now. However, in her case, she
had not been able to stop thinking about him.
Instead, she had called and texted Aseel
regularly. Her behavior, sadly, had an adverse effect on Aseel. The interest
she had managed to hold for those few days had waned as soon as she had
increased her interest in him. He seemed more distant and bored with her. The
power struggle between them was unnatural.
Haifa had attempted to FaceTime him
several times, but he always seemed to be busy. It had always been that way
with him. Whenever she became attached to him, he would start pushing her away.
Strangely this time, for some reason, it didn't seem to trigger the usual
anxiety she had experienced with him before.
Zishan replied within a few minutes,
and Haifa checked her phone, trying to ignore the sudden pleasure that began to
well up inside her.
Zishan: Hey,
missed me?
Haifa: Haha.
Decided to enter the competition. Can you help?
Zishan: Of
course. Let's meet this evening and make a plan.
That was it. Haifa was amazed at how
easy it was. Was it always like that with other people, or was it just his
style, she wondered. He sent her the time and place, and she put down her
phone, unable to hide her grin. She was excited to get help with her project,
she told herself as she started to get ready.
Haifa dressed carefully in a
long-sleeved white embroidered top and blue jeans. She added a silk scarf to
cover her head and applied minimal makeup. She didn't want to appear as though
she had dressed up for him or that it was a date. It was a meeting, for work,
nothing more.
Haifa arrived at the agreed-upon coffee shop and nervously scanned the surroundings. The decor was cozy, with wooden tables and steel chairs, and the delightful aroma of fresh brew filled the air. The walls were adorned with vintage photos, and rustic light fixtures hung from the ceiling. She spotted Zishan just as he saw her, and he greeted her with a warm smile, waving her over.
He had chosen a casual attire as well, wearing a blue cotton shirt and jeans.
His wavy locks fell gracefully onto his forehead, lending him a boyish charm.
His skin appeared darker, as though he had spent an excessive amount of time in
the sun.
Her heart immediately responded with
a special dance number for him. She told herself it was just nerves, a normal
reaction to his presence. Nothing more. Haifa had to remind herself that she
was here for work purposes only, and she wasn’t looking forward to seeing him.
She certainly wasn't excited about their meeting. When she came to the table,
he stood up and pulled out a chair for her, Haifa felt awkward. She wasn't
accustomed to men being so gentlemanly around her, and she struggled to find
the right words to say.
"Hi," she greeted him as
she settled into her seat. Zishan sat across from her, the small table making
their knees brush against each other. She felt a pleasant shock from the
contact, he gave her a surprised look as if he too felt it. Gulping she quickly
shifted back a bit.
"Hey," he replied, "What
can I get you? Coffee or something else?" he asked.
"Coffee would be great,"
she replied.
"Lavazza? With milk?" When
she nodded, he signaled to a waiter and placed their order. "So, tell me,
how can I assist you?" he inquired.
Haifa unzipped her bag and retrieved
her laptop. "I've developed a concept and shot a few videos," she
began, setting her laptop on the table. Her preparations were careful; she
aimed to present herself as professionally as possible. It wasn't that she
sought his assistance out of any personal desire; she primarily wanted to
ensure he understood the level of work she'd already put into the project. She
couldn't quite explain why the latter was significant, though.
She opened her laptop and selected
the files she wanted him to see before turning the laptop toward him. Before
she could fully turn it, Zishan stood up, pulled his chair closer, and sat right
beside her. In his concentration on the videos she had just played, he failed
to notice Haifa's fidgeting and discreetly wiping her suddenly damp hands on
her jean-clad thighs.
Her gaze stayed fixed on the screen,
though she couldn't help but let her eyes occasionally wander to his profile.
His hair appeared so soft and inviting, that she couldn't help but wonder if it
would feel as wonderful to the touch.
"That's a nice angle. I love
the way you fade out the background and give focus to the subject," he
commented.
Haifa struggled to concentrate with
him sitting so close, her nerves making her feel jumbled up inside and her
heart racing. With every breath, she inhaled the warm, woody-spiced scent that
surrounded him. She scooted a bit further away from him, hoping to regain her
composure, but his presence continued to have an undeniable effect on her.
As he clicked to the next video, her
gaze inadvertently shifted to his fingers. They were long and gracefully
tapered, almost feminine in their elegance. She found herself inexplicably
captivated by the beauty of his hand
He did not wear any rings or
bracelets on his wrists. Haifa briefly wondered if was married or had a girlfriend.
Given that it wasn't a tradition or obligation for married men to wear rings,
it was difficult for her to determine. She had scrolled through a few of his
Instagram pictures, but there was nothing personal there – just photos of
places he had been and his own snapshots.
“Your concept is very diverse as if
you wanted to capture both the local and tourist experiences. Impressive,"
he remarked, leaning back slightly. "How long should the video be?"
"Only one minute," she
replied, concern in her voice. "It's hardly enough time to showcase
everything, which means I have to focus on the most unique aspects."
He nodded in agreement. "Yes.
Where would you like to start? I've noticed you've already captured a lot on
the island."
"I was hoping to include
footage from an uninhabited island. You mentioned knowing some areas around
here," she said hopefully.
"I can arrange that. I have a
few trips planned for next week. You're welcome to come along," he offered
with a smile. "I also have a friend at a resort about a 30-minute boat
ride away. Would you like me to arrange a visit there?"
Haifa was nearly ecstatic at the
offer. "Yes, that sounds fantastic."
"Let's plan for Friday morning then. We won't have work, and I can arrange a breakfast meeting with the manager," he suggested.
Friday was just two days away, and
Haifa eagerly nodded in agreement. They continued discussing potential shooting
locations, so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice their
empty coffee cups being cleared away.
Haifa was shocked when she glanced
outside and saw that it was nearly sunset. She quickly checked the time on her
phone and realized that two hours had flown by during their conversation.
"It's getting late," Haifa
said as she swiftly powered off her laptop and stowed it in her bag. Zishan
also seemed taken aback by the time, and he promptly settled the bill,
insisting that the coffee was on him.
He followed her to the exit and
asked, "May I walk you home?"
Haifa hesitated for a moment, torn
between her desire to maintain a certain distance and her appreciation for his
help. After a brief pause, she reluctantly agreed, "Okay."
Did you love the chapter, please let me know your thoughts
in the comments.
Have a wonderful day!
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