Wednesday, November 26

Contrasting Realities 2

M7 by Yves Saint Laurent.

I could recognize it anywhere - even when it was mixed with such a strong stench of cigarettes. But it was too strong not to be recognized anyway; he’d obviously just sprayed it before he left his car.

I imagined his piercing blue eyes and pitch black hair. I imagined his baby skin and unshaven face. I imagined his bad boy attractiveness that I faced every morning and pretended didn’t appeal to me.

But I didn’t flinch, never mind stop.

Mally 5elga elyom.

“9ba7 el5air Haya”

Did I really think I could avoid him when he was in the elevator I was talking to the same place he’s headed? I smiled at my own stupidity. Then, I stopped and turned around to face him.

His eyes were exhausted and his hair was messy. The skin underneath his eyes was darker than the snow white rest of him. He was wearing a pair of worn out jeans and a tshirt. It was the first time I’ve seen him dressed casually, and there was something so sexy about the look he was pulling off.

I knew he would see the spark in my eyes the moment I looked at him, and I knew I would rather die before giving him that knowledge. I forced myself to think of how highly I disliked him. He looks unprofessional, clumsy, tired, exhausted, terrible – that was it, terrible!

“Dude…you look terrible.”

He smiled. That sly smile of his. The kind of smile that made you wonder what the hell he was thinking. The type that you couldn’t tell was genuine, sarcastic, bemused or simply bored his mind out.

“This is what waking up at 7 does to me. I’ll never understand how you do it day after day”

I’m not a lazy bum like you, that’s how.

“Did Nasser talk to yet?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’m headed to his office now”

I paused for a second, then continued.

“Oh, so that’s why your Excellency has graced us with your presence so early"

That smile again.

“Shisalfa Haya?”

“Wallah madree M7ammad, bs something tells me it can’t be good”

“Oo laish bs yabeena ana oo entay?”

“Madree meno galek esmy Nasser” I said sarcastically.

“Zain yala emshay 5anroo7la”
he said, signaling for me to enter the elevator. I was gazing into his eyes so intensly that I oversaw the fact that he had been holding the door open for me this entire time. When I entered, his cigarette breath got stronger and it gave me a migraine. I held my breath till we got to the CEO’s office. I grieved the waste of M7 that I could’ve been inhaling right now.

The moment the elevator door opened in the 12th floor, we were greeted by Nasser’s secretary.

Or should I say M7ammad was greeted by Nasser’s secretary?

“9aba7 elward estaz M7ammad…keefak?”

“Wallah el7amdella Rana…entay shlonich?”

“Kteer mnee7a…keef baddy 2ol ‘3air shi eza yawmy beda bshawftak?” she said, and I thought I saw her wink.

He smiled.

There was a moment of awkward silence.

I cleared my throat.

“Dector Nasser mntezrak mn sa3et elda2ait 3laik el9be7”

She got up to knock on his door, swinging her hips a little too conspicuously as she walked towards it. He checked her out, not even bothering to try and hide it infront of me

Then again, I couldn’t blame him. Nearly every female that knew M7ammad (or had heard of him for that matter) was all over him. He was the eligible bachelor in town. He came from a well-known rich family. He was educated and open-minded. He was smart and witty. To top it all, though, his mom was American, and he’d inherited his stunningly good looks from her.

Those eyes – those mesmerizing blue eyes.

I personally didn’t like M7ammad. He was a daddy’s boy who always had to get what he wanted. Whether that was a job that someone else worked really hard to get or a girl that he would later dump, none of that mattered as long as he was pleased by the end of the day. It was always him first, then the rest of the world.

He did have that charm though, the kind that left everyone on their tiptoes. I had to admit it. At some point, the little naughty boy in him even got to me. But I knew his type too well to succumb to my desires. He was the type who thought they had every right to treat people like crap just because they were superior to them. I couldn’t stand that.

But why God why did he have to smell so amazing?

Dr. Nasser was on the phone when we entered. He signaled for us to sit down, and continued what seemed to be a very distressing phone call. He looked at me a couple of times and rolled his eyes. Then he looked at M7ammad and shot himself with the gun he made out of his palm. We couldn’t help but smile.

A few minutes later, he got off the phone and looked at the sea through the window. He took a deep long breath and let it out. Then, he looked back at us and smiled. Like his smile, his eyes were tired and worn out. In these past few weeks, I’ve witnessed this young man at-heart age 50 years. The recent crashings were affecting him, the company and our customers deeply. I wished there was something I could do to help him through it.

Dr. Nasser had always been a fatherly figure to me, and had helped me many times throughout my career. Despite the fact that I was an economics major, I had always had a passion for marketing. It was Dr. Nasser who motivated me to pursue a career in marketing, and assigned me to a job with the marketing team to encourage me further. I knew I was one of his favorite employees. He always liked and supported persistent people who went to all extremes to achieve their goals.

Why he liked M7ammad though, was beyond my comprehension.

“Did he come out here straight out of bed?” he said, referring to M7ammad and looking at me.

I smiled.

“Matshoof Haya ya7lailha yaya mzaheba oo kash5a oo shakilha mayfashil elsharika etha shafha a7ad?”

“Its 7 in the morning ya3ny shatbeeny asawy?”

“I want you to explain to me why the Finance Director mo ga3d ydawem at 7am if the company lost 7.8 million KD in the last two weeks”

M7ammad lowered his gaze and looked at his Nikes in shame.

“Elmohem, ana mo yaybk hnee 3shan azefk. I know none of this is your fault. Ana yayebkom elyom mn fayer allah 3shan agoolkom 3la suggestion, oo I want you to help me decide on what to do”

M7ammad looked up at him. He continued.

“The University of London is organizing a crash course on Crisis Management because of the recent crashings starting after tomorrow and lasting 10 days. I think it might be very beneficial if you guys went there and came back with some ideas on how to save our company and maneuver through this mess. What do you think?”

I looked at M7ammad for a few moments.

“I think it might be a good idea. After all, the European markets aren’t crashing as badly as the US markets, so maybe knowing their strategies would help us here”

M7ammad nodded.

“Then you guys are headed to London tomorrow. I want the head of each department to go too. That means Layla, Waleed and Khalid. Do you think that’s enough, or do you think you should take more people?”

“I think that’s more than enough”

“Excellent. I’ll talk to Rana now so she can arrange everything for you.”

M7ammad spoke.

“Are you sure you can afford to ship us off for 10 days hal7azza? The market isn’t getting any better, you know”

“7asesny enna your presence here is making it better 7amood”
he teased.

We got up to leave. When we got to the door, Dr. Nasser called us.

“Agool…”

We turned around.

“Things are pretty bad. I want you two to come back with good news.”

We nodded. As we left his office, we heard him on the intercom asking Rana to arrange our traveling plans.


“Sho? Baddak troo7 3a london?”


“Ee inshallah” he said

“Meen baddak ta5od ma3ak?”

“Wallah so far, ana oo Haya oo a few more people”

She looked at me from head to toe, clearly disgusted.

“Ma baddak 7adda yratblk she’3lak honeek?”

“Wallah I’ll see…ymkn a7achy my secretary tyee weyay etha kilish kilish”


Her face turned into the deepest shades of red. A broad smile made its way to my lips. I love how he caught her off-guard. That should teach her not to throw herself onto people like that.

She looked at me with flaring eyes when she saw the smile on my face. Even though everyone (including herself) knew that nothing in the world could turn me off more than the idea of me and M7ammad, the little naughty girl in me decided to make an appearance just to piss her off.

“7amood, yala tra warana ashya2 wayed…we don’t have time to waste!” I said, as I walked towards the elevator, not looking back.

As he followed me to the elevator, we talked about our travel arrangements. Given the not-so-functional state he was in, I suggested he went home and slept. I told him I would coordinate with Rana myself, and call Layla, Waleed and Khalid to tell them what was happening.


But it wasn’t those three calls that I dreaded. It was the one I had to make to 3abdallah that ate me from the inside out.

32 comments:

Anony said...

ahahahahahaha :D

3ad tawni ga3da agol weenha yala meta she'll post :P

Anony said...

OMG! i recieve ur email o raketh i wanetd to comment 3ashan akon first takhayelay zawe yame .. YAME LAZGA! ashof'ha she's typung fast gol shfeha! wala el 7aseena she's trying to beat me! @@ :P

madre if im first or no bs i hope :P 3an el fashla ya3ni :P

Anony said...

hahahaha :P

enzain mino 3abdallah! :|

o shme3na yayeb haya o m7amad ya3ni :P laish mayab rana o layla o khalid o waleed :P . o again mino 3abdallah ?? :P

o ba3deeen 7athraat "7amood" laishw ayed em6aye7 el meyaan weya Dr.Nasser :@

ma7abeeta 7amood .. o chena mo layeg 3lai 3yon zerg! .. ma shawagne :P

abi hal 3abdallah shino salfeta :P


o eee one more thing .. chena el template shway fahe :P

zwena said...

lool anony whatever :P


enzain mino 3abdallah? asraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa3






plz ? :P

doona said...

loooooooool @ anony oo zawe!!

wallah enkom etwansooooooon!

tha7aktoony i cant stop laughing lol!


3abdallah bet3arfoona next post! ;)

oo nasser e7eb haya wayed cz she's a hard-worker...bs madree laish e7eb 7amood!
bs they're his favorite mwathafeen! he trusts them with everything =D

oo 7amood is H.O.T!! 9adgeeny 3ad 7amood is inspired from real life lol

he just has attitude problems! lol thats why haya ma tebla3a! =S

oo zawee...asra3 mn chithee ill start failing school lol ;)

oo anony...ma fehamt shfee el template?

Aurous said...

laish kela t3lgeena? :p

yallah next part ebser3a... I want more :)

Anony said...

faheeeeeeeeeee .. bland 3ala gulat ba3th elnas :P

hmmmmmmmm .. men wasfech ma3ajbne wayed :P mayloo 7amoo do 3yon zerg maylog Allah belkhir o 3yon zerg :P

zwena said...

kelesh wala leskoool ,, o anony bs ta3abtay lebnaya alf comment bel yoom :@

o mo kafe al tamplete mal hathaak leblog ghayarte b3d hatha tbeen @@

ana agool go private o dont invite anony 3ashaan mat2athena :P

Anony said...

Zawe @@ blogech wala eblog'ha laish ehya shekatlech el 7al :|

o ba3deen ana magelt etghayra bs gelt fahe :@

doona said...

aurous,
ana?
a3alegkom?
me?
**PULLS ANGEL FACE**
**CLEANS HALO**

lol

**********

anony,
a'3ayra el template anony?
la la bas gooly tra a'3ayra 3ady
bs ba3dain etha 9ar feeny nervous breakdown oo i turned spanish, 3ad la tloomeen ela nafsich lol ;)

**********

zwena,
la la anony can comment as much as she wants eshda3wa!
oo 6ab3an that means anony oo people who use anonys profile sometimes ;)

zwena said...

Anoonyoooo wedi lo etkalmeni wana yamich mala da3e et3alqeeen eb blog dandooon :@

doona said...

eshda3wa!
l blog bloggkom!
e5thaw ra7atkom! =D

wallah emwanseeny! =D =D

Anony said...

esma3 mino y3aleq @@ .. o ba3deen na 7a6a sama3at ma asma3 shay :P o mali khelg a6el eb ir screen 3ashan ashof shino taktebeen :P

o yala bye bs ta3abt :P

dandoon latghayreena :P bs ya3ni etha fe majaaaaal bs etha me majaal ana agol etgamchena shway sayer fahe :P

doona said...

loooooool!
zain ill see if i can mess around with the background or font...im not sure ill be able to though ;)

..:: P.ANONYMOUS ::.. said...

ahhhhh im so addicted now :s

ME WANT MOOOOOOOORRRREEEEEE


can't wait to know who is 3abdallah !

and what's going to happen between haya and m7ammad int those 10 days ;)


btw i pictured m7ammed from the 1st post i think he looks HOT :p bs his attitude is a big turn off !


o allah ya36eech alf 3afya 7abeebty : **


P.s: how is ur studies n work going on? : )

sadia said...

omg!
who the hell is abdullah??
i thought haya was single...
and what will happen in london?????
sounds like muhammad also has a few secrets...
btw...your description of muhammad is sooooo good, i'm drooling over him....how tall is he??...lol!

shamma aldabal said...

i just loved it !! ..

can't wait for the rest .. =D

Anonymous said...

well written dandoon :P

endimajna.. w em'9ab6a il aw'9a3 ba3ad.. ya3ni financial problems oo min hal 7achi :D

doona said...

p.anonymous,
they're going to be very hectic 10 days ;)
allah e3afeech 7beebty...i just hope you likey =)

ps: studies suck, but atleast im trying to cope hehe...9ayer exam wara exam wara exam =(
how about you dearie? hows life?

************

sadia,
maybe she's single...maybe not...who knows? ;)
oo ee...m7ammad 6weel oo well-built bs mo eli over oo ylawe3 elchabd...just right you know what i mean?
**DANDOOON MELTS**

************

libero anima,
im glad you likey =)
the rest soon hopefully!

************

zamahreer,
ee ee tadree e7na malot elfinancial crisis...gelna dam fee mashakel bl denya 5ansawy menhom aflam lol ;)

SunshineKuwait said...

Mnoooo 3abdallaaah???? @@

Unknown said...

What a beautiful part and how beautifully told! waiting for part 3 ;*

Sham3at Al Jillas said...

I am hooked!! 7addy 7addy hooked!

You remind me of Zinzin... the good ol'day of Alf Laila ou Laila. Mashallaaah you are so gifted!

Mrs. said...

7abaita m7amad :P
il sekertaaytra etnarfezzz
Haya ya7lailha o yabakhat'ha betroo7 london!!

P.s eshsalfat 3abdulaa.. yala post!

Anonymous said...

liked 7amood, looks hot :P
yallaaaaah continue, I'm hooked!

doona said...

zuzu,
you'll find out soon enough ;)

**********

even sweeter,
3yoonich elbeautiful ;**
im glad youre enjoying!

**********

sham3at al jillas,
me blushy =$
wallah thanks 7beebty kilik zaw2k! =)

***********

mrs,
ee wallah...7addy 7addy craving london al7en! i love london in winter!
ps: 3abdallah ebayen soon! ;)

**********

faten,
7adda hot =/
abyyyyy! ;)
lol!

Mar8adoosh said...

I love it :D

Anonymous said...

i waaant email updates as well ya dandooon =(

yaaaaaay theyre comin to london baby..i will be lookin out for sexy blue eyez ;) if u cudnt tell...i lovedd it =) keep it uppppppp babyy

Anonymous said...

Mashallah you're really mobe3da :)
et5aleni a3esh every single moment o jeni I've been there lol
Can't wait for the next post to know who's 3bdallah!

Yousef~

doona said...

mar8adoosh,
im glad you do! =)

************

desertpalms,
mn 3yoooooooooony ;**
oo plz etha shefty the sexy blue eyes, let me know...
abyyyyyy =(

************

yousef,
awwww! =$
thanks wallah kilak zaw2 =D
3abdallah is coming up soon! =)

Razz said...

although it is so detailed i loved every single word of the post. the details made me andimij

doona said...

think-become,
im glad you do! =)
wishing you more endemaj ;)

Anonymous said...

EPIC !!!