18-09-2025, 06:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 18-09-2025, 06:42 PM by matiba2025213. Edited 1 time in total. Edited 1 time in total.)
Chapter 34: The return (Act 3)
Lina sat on the couch, her fingers tapping restlessly against the armrest. The walls of their apartment seemed to close in on her, and the quiet hum of the TV did little to distract her from the growing boredom. Rahim was busy organizing papers for his business course at the dining table, his focus unwavering. Lina sighed, glancing at him before finally speaking up.
“Rahim,” she said, her voice soft but insistent. He looked up, his brows raised in question. “Can I come help you at the shop tomorrow? I’m going a bit stir-crazy here. And you know what they say a little work keeps the blood flowing.”
Rahim hesitated, his pen still poised over the paperwork. “Are you sure? You’ve been putting in so much effort at the shop already. I don’t want you overdoing it.”
“I’m sure,” Lina replied with a determined smile. “Besides, I’ll just be helping with the inventory. It’s not like I’ll be lifting heavy boxes or anything.”
Rahim’s expression softened. “Actually, tomorrow’s perfect timing. I need to attend a full-day business course, and I could use some help with stock checking. If you’re up for it, that would be great.” His eyes twinkled with gratitude. “I’ll even arrange for someone to assist you.”
“Really?” Lina’s face lit up, her excitement palpable. “That’s wonderful! I’ll get everything done while you’re away.”
He chuckled. “Don’t overdo it, okay? Just take it easy.”
The next morning, Lina arrived at the shop early, the cool morning air brushing against her cheeks as she unlocked the door. She flipped the sign to “Temporarily Closed” and got straight to work, her hands moving swiftly as she began checking the inventory. The rhythmic task was oddly soothing, and for a while, she forgot about the restlessness that had been gnawing at her.
An hour later, the sound of the shop bell jolted her out of her focus. She turned, expecting to see a customer despite the sign, but her stomach dropped when Ravi and Kumar stepped inside, their smirks plastered across their faces.
“Surprise!” Kumar said, his tone teasing. “Looks like you’ve got some helping hands today.”
Lina’s heart raced, and she forced a polite smile. “Oh… Rahim didn’t mention it was you two coming to help.”
Ravi shrugged casually, his eyes scanning the room before landing on her. “He figured we’d make things easier for you. After all, we’re practically neighbors now.”
Kumar leaned against the counter, his gaze lingering on her more than necessary. “So, where do we start, boss?”
Lina took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “Well, if Rahim sent you, then let’s get to it. We need to check the stock against this list.” She handed them a clipboard, careful to keep her distance.
As they got to work, the atmosphere grew tense. Ravi and Kumar exchanged knowing glances, their words laced with subtle innuendos.
“You know, Lina,” Ravi began, his voice smooth, “you’ve been looking… different lately. There’s a certain glow about you.”
Kumar chuckled. “Must be all the hard work at the shop. Or maybe it’s something else?”
Lina ignored their comments, her focus fixed on the shelves. “Let’s just stick to the task at hand, shall we?”
But they weren’t easily deterred. As the hours passed, their remarks became bolder, their proximity closer. Lina’s resolve wavered, her promise to Rahim flickering in the back of her mind like a fragile flame.
“You know,” Kumar said, his voice low as he stood beside her, “we’ve missed spending time with you. It’s been a while since… well, you know.”
Lina froze, her fingers tightening around the clipboard. “That’s in the past,” she said firmly, though her voice trembled slightly. “We’re all adults here. Let’s just focus on what needs to be done.”
Ravi stepped closer, his presence unnerving. “Of course, Lina. We’re just… reminiscing. No harm in that, right?”
She swallowed hard, her mind racing. I promised myself I wouldn’t betray Rahim again, she thought fiercely. But the temptation lingered, a dangerous pull she wasn’t sure she could resist.
Lina sat on the couch, her fingers tapping restlessly against the armrest. The walls of their apartment seemed to close in on her, and the quiet hum of the TV did little to distract her from the growing boredom. Rahim was busy organizing papers for his business course at the dining table, his focus unwavering. Lina sighed, glancing at him before finally speaking up.
“Rahim,” she said, her voice soft but insistent. He looked up, his brows raised in question. “Can I come help you at the shop tomorrow? I’m going a bit stir-crazy here. And you know what they say a little work keeps the blood flowing.”
Rahim hesitated, his pen still poised over the paperwork. “Are you sure? You’ve been putting in so much effort at the shop already. I don’t want you overdoing it.”
“I’m sure,” Lina replied with a determined smile. “Besides, I’ll just be helping with the inventory. It’s not like I’ll be lifting heavy boxes or anything.”
Rahim’s expression softened. “Actually, tomorrow’s perfect timing. I need to attend a full-day business course, and I could use some help with stock checking. If you’re up for it, that would be great.” His eyes twinkled with gratitude. “I’ll even arrange for someone to assist you.”
“Really?” Lina’s face lit up, her excitement palpable. “That’s wonderful! I’ll get everything done while you’re away.”
He chuckled. “Don’t overdo it, okay? Just take it easy.”
The next morning, Lina arrived at the shop early, the cool morning air brushing against her cheeks as she unlocked the door. She flipped the sign to “Temporarily Closed” and got straight to work, her hands moving swiftly as she began checking the inventory. The rhythmic task was oddly soothing, and for a while, she forgot about the restlessness that had been gnawing at her.
An hour later, the sound of the shop bell jolted her out of her focus. She turned, expecting to see a customer despite the sign, but her stomach dropped when Ravi and Kumar stepped inside, their smirks plastered across their faces.
“Surprise!” Kumar said, his tone teasing. “Looks like you’ve got some helping hands today.”
Lina’s heart raced, and she forced a polite smile. “Oh… Rahim didn’t mention it was you two coming to help.”
Ravi shrugged casually, his eyes scanning the room before landing on her. “He figured we’d make things easier for you. After all, we’re practically neighbors now.”
Kumar leaned against the counter, his gaze lingering on her more than necessary. “So, where do we start, boss?”
Lina took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “Well, if Rahim sent you, then let’s get to it. We need to check the stock against this list.” She handed them a clipboard, careful to keep her distance.
As they got to work, the atmosphere grew tense. Ravi and Kumar exchanged knowing glances, their words laced with subtle innuendos.
“You know, Lina,” Ravi began, his voice smooth, “you’ve been looking… different lately. There’s a certain glow about you.”
Kumar chuckled. “Must be all the hard work at the shop. Or maybe it’s something else?”
Lina ignored their comments, her focus fixed on the shelves. “Let’s just stick to the task at hand, shall we?”
But they weren’t easily deterred. As the hours passed, their remarks became bolder, their proximity closer. Lina’s resolve wavered, her promise to Rahim flickering in the back of her mind like a fragile flame.
“You know,” Kumar said, his voice low as he stood beside her, “we’ve missed spending time with you. It’s been a while since… well, you know.”
Lina froze, her fingers tightening around the clipboard. “That’s in the past,” she said firmly, though her voice trembled slightly. “We’re all adults here. Let’s just focus on what needs to be done.”
Ravi stepped closer, his presence unnerving. “Of course, Lina. We’re just… reminiscing. No harm in that, right?”
She swallowed hard, her mind racing. I promised myself I wouldn’t betray Rahim again, she thought fiercely. But the temptation lingered, a dangerous pull she wasn’t sure she could resist.
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