didn't wanted to work here but she just swallowed her words because her boss had helped her in her life enough times then she can count.

She was introduced to their IT team which was about four people from which three were boys (Hussain, Amir, Ali) and one girl (Nida).

"I don't even know why they would need an outsider to do our work". Nida said rolling her eyes, "It's like they are saying they don't like our work anymore".

She just stayed quiet looking at the file that was handed to her.

"They don't like us". Shaikhah said moving closer to her

She shrugged, "Did you see the file? They have some problems in that".

"You should speak to the boss because he said we have to report to him directly". Shaikhah said smiling secretly

"You seem to like that". Sumaiya said rolling her eyes, "I will speak to him".

"Have fun". Shaikhah said chuckling

"What are you laughing about at work?. Is that professional behaviour?". Nida said

"We should be welcoming them". Amir said politely

"I didn't ask you for advice and stay in your limits. Don't be free with me". Nida said angrily

Sumaiya sighs.

"I am going for the meeting". She said softly walking away

******

She knocks on the door after hearing his approval she walks inside the office. She looks around the office then back at him while he is busy with his own files. She notices for the first time that he was a rather handsome fellow she has ever seen.

She frowns at her thoughts.

"Are you ok?". He asked making her shriek a little

She nods.

"I wanted to discuss these files". She said softly

He nodded smiling, "Zeeshan said that you are fast in your work but I didn't think you would be this fast".

She walked near the table sitting down in front of him.

"There is something wrong. I think it might be fraud because the number and other things don't match". She said explaining the situation

He nodded looking at her as she speaks but what actually had his interest was the fact that the woman he was watching now was determined, strong and focused. She wasn't consistently apologising for something she didn't do, not being pushed around and definitely anything but weak.

She was different.

He wondered if this was the actual her that people had crushed and if it was then what had happened that she was being humiliated like that by everyone.

"Do you think you can do that?". She asked softly

"Huh?". He said confused

"I asked if you can tell me the time limit you want this to be done so I can work accordingly!?". She repeated

"Oh, about the time limit there is no limit. Zeeshan said that you can do your work slowly because we both want you to reach the end of it. So, even if you take the time it's fine by us". He said smiling

She nodded thoughtfully, "It will take time to know the real face behind all this. But I wanted to ask if you really want to know and handle the real face behind it?".

"What does that mean?". He asked confused

"Nothing". She said, "I will continue my work then".

She stands from her place walking towards the door with her files. For some reasons, he wishes to stop her from going or at least stay a few more minutes because this new version was even more exciting to look at.

"I wanted to ask something". She said softly moving back to stand in front of him

He smiled, "Ask anything".

"I wanted to pray but I don't know where I could?". She said softly

"Oh, I will ask my secretary to direct you". He said nodding

*****

She walks inside the small beautiful room design for prayer and separate place just for women to pray.

She feel the calmness washing over her as she starts her praying because her heart and mind had been making it hard for her to even breath the next minute. The whole night she spends restless and unable to sleep even a second.

Now, she feels the connection and peace as she linked herself to her lord. She raised her hands to make her dua when she heard the door opening but thought of another woman coming in she ignored it asking her lord for help and safety.

After she was done, she stood from her place as she turned around she looked at IT team leader standing there.

"Hi, Beautiful". He said smirking

She didn't say anything because the look in his eyes said so much. She knew why he was here and what he wanted she had faced this situation once before and she knew too well. Her heart started beating louder as the fear gripped her senses making her beg her lord to send some help.

"What do you want?". She asked even when she knew

"Nothing. I just came to the company you. I heard your husband is dead so I thought you would want someone in your life". He said smirking

She fisted her hand as anger filled her, "My husband was my one and only love there is no way I would love another person or even be with another person".

"Oooh, feisty is what I like. I never thought you had that in you". He said taking a step forward, "But, let's be honest, you are a single woman who killed her husband and is all alone in this world. This world will never allow you to live on your own and how long will you survive with this loneliness. I can help you".

"I don't need help". She said taking a step back

"You shouldn't be saying anything you should be obeying to what everyone has to say. You don't have rights and you should be focusing on making connections that could help you in your life. I am not even asking for much". He said moving even closer

*****

He looked around to find her seat empty frowning he looked down at his watch to find it was 30 minutes since she had left but even if the prayer might have taken long but not this long.

"I saw him going in after her and they are there for so long". He heard Nida say

He clenched his fist not wanting to think that this was related to what he was looking for but he had a feeling it was.

"Why are you blaming me?. I am not the one who is there spending time with a man alone neither I am the one who sends them there". Nida said crying when he asked her

Before he could even think for a second his feet started running towards the direction wishing it wasn't what it seems like.

But he opened the door hearing her cries for help and begging for not to do what he was trying to do which fell deaf against his monstrous self. He ran towards the man pushing him away from her.

He looked down at her bruised cheeks, lips and little ripped clothes making his heart clenched.

"Please, please, don't do this. Please". She begged with her eyes closed scared

"Sum-". He started

"Please, I will never tell anyone. Please, just let me leave". She cried harder making him almost chock

"Sumaiya". He said louder

She opened her eyes immediately hearing the sound of his voice. He looked at her red eyes from all the crying and begging to make his anger rising. He removed his jacket covering her properly in it.

"Sir, it wasn't my fault. She lured me here and asked for it. Now, she is just pretending. Why would I do something like this when I have a wife. She is the one who distracted me". The IT leader said

He clenched his fist but the scenes that he had vanished as he turned towards him punching him over and over again.

"How dare you?. How dare you do something like that even after her saying no and then blame her for your disgusting actions?. Just because she is a woman you think you have every right to do anything to her without her consent?. You think you are a man so you will get away with this. I will never leave you alone for touching her. You are not even a man, a real man would never lay his hands on a woman". He said angrily not stopping punching him

"Sir, please leave him he will die". His security said

"Good! I want him dead. A person like him shouldn't be living to destroy innocent lives". He said angrily

"Sir". His security said trying to push him away but he didn't stop

Everyone looked at him being this angry for the first time. No one had ever seen their boss in this way. He was always a calm and sophisticated person who used his mind more than anything else.

"Aziz". He heard her soft cracked voice immediately halting his actions

He turned around looking at her broken eyes filled with the pain he couldn't even measure. It looked like she was a figure who was filled with only pain and nothing else. He turned back to the man punching him hard again.

"Aziz, please leave him". She said desperately crying

He stopped.

*******

He watched her shaking as her colleague from her company consoled her.

"I am fine. I promise". She said softly

"No, you are not. How can anyone be fine after everything you been through?. I wish I was there to punch him good". Shaikhah said angrily

"I am good, Shaikhah. Thank you but you should go now I want to be alone". She said

Shaikhah looked at her for a moment then nodded her head walking outside. She sighs painfully when Shaikhah was out of the door. Her whole body was drained from the fight she had put with that man and the few hits she received was hurting even more.

She was relieved that she had found a new dress that her new boss had brought magically and she changed into that. Her wounds were tendered by a doctor who was here in a few minutes after her new boss made a call even after her saying she doesn't need one.

She didn't need a doctor because he would be able to see her physical pain and even lessen it but the mental pain will stay and hurt more every passing second.

The images, her cries and her fight versus his laughter, mocking and sharp words.

They all will stay embarked on her soul that no one could see, ever.

He could see through her.

He could see her high wall breaking as she sat there not moving but her hands shake continuously. Even with her head down, he could see the broken eyes that were there. He could see everything and nothing was hidden from his eyes.

"I am sorry". He said softly watching her shriek even at his low sound making him clench his fist, "I am sorry that I wasn't able to provide you proper protection when I called you here. But I promise I will make him pay".

Her eyes widen, "No, don't do anything to him".

He frowned, "What?. Why?".

"Please, just don't do anything to him. If you do anything it will be worse for me, please". She begged

He shakes his head, "He is the one who did everything why will everything turn on you?. I said I will make him pay and I will do exactly that".

******

Her mother saw her entering inside the house stumbling side by side. She focused her eyes to see the bruises on her face.

"Ammi (mother), I had a hard day. Do you want to eat with me?". She asked softly

She saw her mother frowning walking upstairs towards her room until she heard the loud bang of the door closing.

She chuckles dryly at her thought she had a minute ago that she will find her mother comfortable chest to cry on but she should have known better.

There was no comfort for her in this world.

No shoulder, no chest and no words exist for someone like her. She wasn't supposed to be living and she is not living but people don't see the inside all they do is see that she is doing well from the outside.

She dropped on the ground when the weight on her shoulder got heavier going into the sajda (kneeling in front of her lord) asking to ease her pain in any way possible.

******

"It was all her fault".

"She must have done something he was never like that to do it".

"He had a family and she ruined everything".

"She had a face that says she is trouble".

"She should have worn better clothes to work".

"She must have seduced him in some way".

"She is not as innocent as she looks".

"That's why woman are always asked to stay at home".

"Woman like her ruin all other".

"I heard she killed her husband".

She heard those comments as she stepped inside the building. She knew she would be blamed like every single time no matter how much she pleaded for innocence.

That is just how it works.

No matter how good of a person you are you do not stand a chance against the people of this society. They will strip you, cut you and bruise your soul in ways no one imagined.

"Woman should be bringing a woman up but she is not that kind of woman". Nida said

"We should ask her what happened". Ali said

"You don't know anything. Stop trying to be on her side. Our team leader is fired and ruined because of this woman". Nida said angrily

"But-". Ali started

"Stop interfering in my business". Nida said

She sighs.

The most she never liked was a woman who talked about woman rights and equality. Our religion had given the woman more rights than they need to know from other people. What we, as woman, need to do is to read the book that is handed to us instead of walking on streets with things that are not appropriate. That is how rights are turned into a joke and never taken seriously. We need to change ourselves and thinking.

"What is that you find?". He asked looking at her drained face

"There are few people I have a doubt on but these records are changed completely. It will take some time to reach the original file and with everyone here as an expert I will have to hack into the file more carefully in order to not alert the person". She said sighing

He could feel that she wasn't the same woman he met yesterday. She was focused, yes, she was determined, also yes but she was weak and he was afraid.

He had never felt that emotion before.

The whole night, the scenes replayed in his mind like a broken cassette that doesn't stop. He wished to be there before it happened or to be able to stop her to not enter that pure place. He wasn't even sure if it was pure anymore but he knew she wouldn't be praying there anymore.

He had made everything so that he always has her under his radar he just needed to execute the plan.

"I think it's best if you and your colleagues transfer to my office. You can work from my computer so no one would be really suspicious about entering into the record when needed". He suggested crossing his fingers

She looked down thoughtfully. She wanted to leave this place as soon as possible but if she wants to do that she needs to work faster.

So, she agreed to make him feel a little at ease.

*******

"Now, she is moving to the boss room. How much of the sympathy act worked for her don't you see?". Nida said leaning on Amir

Amir moved to the side, "I don't know. I think it's better".

"You don't understand her kind, I do. She is the one who acts innocent and then is a person who cuts everyone". Nida said

Amir placed his finger on her shoulder pushing her away lightly.

"How dare you touch me?. Do you think because I talk to you I am easy woman?. Do you think my self-respect is a joke?". Nida yelled grabbing everyone attention

"No-I-". He started but was cut off

"No, I know men like you always are after a woman who looks innocent. I know you touched me because you had bad intentions. How can you even think like that?. Are you even a human to think about a woman like an object?". Nida said crying

"What is happening in my office?". Aziz yelled angrily looking at the scene

"Sir-". Amir started scared

"He tried to touch me inappropriately". Nida said crying

"I don't believe this". Aziz said, "I will look at the CCTV footage right now to find who did what and the person who is wrong will pay a heavy consequence for creating a scene in office and at office hours".

Nida looked around at everyone looking at her. She quickly wiped her tears looking at her boss scared.

"N-No, that's fine. I-I will let it go this once if he ever does it again I will inform you". She said smiling tightly

"No, we need to know". Aziz said firm

"No, Sir, it might have been a misunderstanding we will sort this out ourselves. You are a busy person you must leave". Nida insisted

"If I ever find another scene like this in my office I promise that the person will be in a mess he/she can never come out from". Aziz said

*******

She saw a petite woman walking inside like she owns the place and without a word, she entered inside his office shutting the door behind her.

"Who is she?". Shaikhah said curiously

She shrugged, "How would I know?".

"She looks interesting". Shaikhah said going back to her work

She saw a small kid entering inside looking around confused then sitting on the cold chair in the waiting area. She kept looking at him as he played by himself moving his tiny legs in the air while no one around him seems to notice his presence.

Suddenly, he raised his head looking directly at her and her breath hitched when she looked into the pair of eyes that seems too familiar. As the small innocent smile spread across the child's face her heart clenched at the thought of it.

"Who are you?". She asked