"The construction services have been contacted. We will be starting this project within a week or two," Ehsan reported as they reached the end of their new project's PowerPoint presentation. All the colleagues clapped simultaneously while Zaib stood in approval.

"Well done Ehsan. I do agree that it's not a huge project like the recent shopping mall we worked on but it's necessary for educational purposes. Within the 142.5 miles radius of Seattle, there's only 2 museums in total which is absurd. Our goal is to create an endearing place for kids today," Zaib concluded and everyone seemed to agree with a nod.

"Any questions?"

Aliya, the annoying brunette raised her hand. Zaib struggled to not roll his eyes and motioned for her to speak her mind. Aliya flashed her ingenious smile before speaking, "Shahamill, the area of construction is actually home to many civilians. Are we just going to destroy the entire town?"

Sure Aliya was dense and smug but she did have some very great capabilities.

"That's a good question. Well, yes the construction site does involve a small town but our investors have already discussed the issue with the mayor. Mr. Brunley has decided to fund for the construction of new homes for the people of Shahamill in Lake City. There will be no complication."

Aliya nodded. Zaib silently awaited for more questions. "Zaib, do we get started on the model?" Zack questioned from the right corner of the dark meeting room.

"No. Last time I left it to you guys, there were huge complications and the proportions were uneven. I'll personally draw out the rough sketch and hand it to Ehsan to monitor the model. I do not want anyone to leave chances of error. Mr. Brunley is investing tons for this museum to accomplish success. We have to get this done right."

Everyone nodded in unison, remembering the horrors of the shopping mall incident. They had to work overtime for six months straight without extra payment just because Juan messed up the entrance measurements.

"Alright, best of luck fellas!" Ehsan roared and Zack and Juan did a handshake before rushing out of the gloomy meeting room. Whenever a new project struck their doorstep, everyone seemed to burst into joy and ecstasy.

"You want help with the sketch?" Aliya questioned in a crafty tone, hoping to get some time alone. Zaib rolled his eyes and rushed to the door, briefcase in hand and exited the room. He heard her grunt and sighed. Ehsan followed suit and they both went into their working room.

"Zaib, Aliya needs to know you are about to get married," Ehsan muttered as he broke into fits of laughter. Zaib shrugged off the awkwardness and pulled up his notebook.

"What? You're leaving already! Bro, calm down. We can go to the site together for the measurements tomorrow," Ehsan recommended. Zaib shook his head. "I have to work on the sketch as soon as possible. The model will not be ready until two weeks considering our team's speed."

Ehsan groaned as Zaib grabbed his umbrella and departed from the office. Zaib was a determined man and disliked anything getting in between his work and passion. He always prepared ahead of time.

As he started his car, he added the location of the town into his GPS and drove away. He reached within the next thirty minutes. The sun was soon about to set and the clouds were beginning to gather. Zaib parked his car near a phone booth and exited the vehicle.

The town was eerily quiet and not many people were visible. The shanties were uncountable and spread unintelligently. He walked ahead and came across unestablished roads. The pathway was flooded with filth, leaving a despicable whiff to fill the air. There was discarded industrial waste, polluting the air by releasing harmful gases such as carbon monoxide.

Zaib began to cough up; the environment was unsafe for a civilization.

Zaib was about to turn back but he heard chatters from across the road and soon decided to follow. He walked ahead, passing by a large cemented building and came across a large queue of civilians.

He noticed the different tables set up across the footpath chaired with some students wearing lab coats. There were basic medical health instruments displayed on the table such as a thermometer, blood pressure meter and a glucose meter. He assumed the people in white coats were practicing doctors as they held onto a stethoscope.

"How may I help you?" A lady's voice dragged him out of his train of thought. Zaib turned to greet the woman who had a chirpy voice.

"Hello, I am Zaib, an architect from 'The Builders'. I was only passing by for a project when I heard the traffic. What's all the crowding for?" Zaib questioned the white haired lady.

"Oh hello, I am Natalie, a practicing doctor from the Seattle medical university. We are working for the project, trying to deliver health care facilities here in Shahamill, an underdeveloped shanty town," she preached and Zaib nodded, impressed with the new motives leveled for university students.

He thanked the lady and decided to look around. The children were on a separate table, taken care by a man and a woman. There were vaccine shots provided for the children.

"Where's Zoya! It's almost time for our dismissal." Zaib halted. His ears became extra sensitive upon hearing her name and suddenly he could even hear the slight groan of the boy who was receiving his shot.

"I think she's on the rooftop," another man responded. Zaib turned to the towering, abandoned building. Without a moment's thought, his body was in action. It seemed like a reflex action, as ordinary as dodging a punch thrown your way, he sprung up towards the stairs, zooming past the crowd. The stairs seemed endless but he remained determined, his steps thudding against the wooden plank. Soon he had reached the dead end, the rooftop.

He mounted the stairs and was met with heavy wind. He squinted his olive eyes and caught the presence of a woman facing her back to him.

It was his Zoya indeed.

A wide smile broke onto his lips and his eyes glowed to life. He walked ahead, towards her. He noticed the pink shade of her hijab. The white maxi dress paired under her pristine lab coat and the sky's blue complementing her, made her seem like a pearl within the ocean.

"As salamu alaykum."

She gasped, turning at the speed of light, meeting his passionate gaze. Her wide eyes made him realize how she was caught off guard. "Oh, did I scare you?" He scratched the back of his head nervously, making himself vulnerable.

She nodded awestruck.

"I'm sorry. I thought you heard me coming," he murmured. He met her eyes and his tense nerves seemed to calm. She smiled to the ground, responding to his Salam and looked up again. "What're you doing here?" She questioned.

Zaib's smile retuned. "Following you?"

Zoya's mouth dropped. "What! Why would you do that—" she reddened, her eyes widening as every second passed by. Zaib noticed her panic stricken voice and chuckled at her.

"You believed me? I mean, I do like you, a lot, trust me, but I also have to work," Zaib played it off smoothly causing Zoya's reddened cheeks to darken.

She turned away from him facing the sky. "O-of course!" She stuttered. He silently admired her adorable embarrassment.

"Are you a member of the project?" He questioned, hoping she would ease up.

Zoya nodded. "How'd you know?" She asked once again. He smiled. "Well, I would say I followed you but I have already abused that joke so yeah, I asked the lady outside." Zoya glared at him with narrowed eyes.

"What brings you here?" Zoya narrowly asked. "What is this, an interrogation?" He dramatically stated.

Zoya glared more bitterly this time causing Zaib to cower. "I was just around for work," he explained and she nodded.

Zaib surveyed her, admiring the refraction of the pale sun rays against her skin. "How's working here?" He wondered curiously. Her eyes seemed to jostle to life, brightening up and a large smile splayed itself over her lips.

"It's... indescribable."

"Before arriving I was worried I wouldn't be able to treat them well. But later, the nerves vanished when we all got busy with helping them out. I was in charge of the women. There were so many who didn't know the importance of vaccinations, cleanliness or the significance of child planning."

"Since most of them are refugees, they are robbed off proper medical care since the very beginning. On the bright side, we vaccinated many people; handed out some important medicines and also educated them about these issues." She seemed to lose herself into her words.

"Does it feel special?" He asked.

She nodded without a minute's pause. "I want to be here for the whole day and night. Did you see the children in that queue?" She pointed and Zaib nodded. "They are super cute and lively. I wish to be around them more."

Zaib's smile grew. Zoya was a little kid on the inside. "I'm glad I joined this organization," she muttered.

He was glad he met her.

"Why're you on the rooftop?" Zaib wondered. Zoya stared up at the sun, a piece of it already covered by the cloud and pointed at it. "I want to see the sunset," she declared, her eyes glistening as she stared.

Zaib's gaze followed her hand and he observed the faraway sun. On the rooftop, the sun seemed nearer than the building beside them. The Orange had begun to diffuse into the atmosphere leaving strokes of pink and lilac.

The moment drove them both speechless.

He had never cared to admire the sunset at such approximation. Even if he had, he never remembered the sunset being so endearingly stunning. Maybe, it was the sunset with Zoya which made it more memorable or maybe it was his head playing with him. The one thing he was certain of was that the sunset was breathtaking beside Zoya Malik.

When he glanced back at her, she was already looking. Her eyes were warm, making his heart pace. Zaib had read of people falling for someone in that one precise moment. He didn't believe in it. But, under the pink-blue sky, he fell for her deeper than before.

If yesterday he liked her, today he loved her. And he couldn't imagine himself without her.

-:)-

💜