The twenty-story Haideron Tech tower dominated the commercial hub of the port city.
Its iridescent blue-and-green façade shimmered beneath the pale winter sun, drawing the eye long before anyone reached its gates. Above the turquoise latticed entrance, the words HAIDERON TECH were embossed in heavy gold.
Beyond those gates lay a seamless corporate machine—a high-tech empire where software, hardware, construction engineering, media, and corporate power operated under a single, formidable umbrella.
Outside the gates, Abdul Ahad stood bracing himself against the January wind.
His silver Suzuki Cultus was parked by the roadside.
His clothes offered little protection against the cold—a simple shirt, worn trousers, and a faded jacket that looked as though it had come from a flea market.
His hands felt icy.His nose had turned red.
Every few moments he rubbed his palms together, only to stop the instant one of the armed security guards glanced his way.
The guard did not ask a single question. He simply stood there, yet his presence alone felt like an interrogation.
Abdul Ahad wetted his dry lips.
"I was... I was called for an interview."
The guard looked him up and down before speaking.
"Where is your appointment letter?"
"I was called," Abdul Ahad repeated nervously.
"There wasn't any email..."
"...I just received a phone call."
The guard remained unconvinced.
Before he could ask him to move aside, a sleek black Honda Civic rolled towards the gate.
Two security guards hurried forward and opened it.
The car entered.
Instead of proceeding towards the parking area, it stopped near the entrance.
Ali stepped out.
He acknowledged the guards with a courteous nod.
A deep forest-green high-neck sweater was layered beneath a tailored black coat. The earthy shade complemented his fair complexion, while the coat's clean tailoring completed his distinguished appearance. His trousers were sharply creased, and his polished leather boots caught the morning light. Dark sunglasses concealed his sea-green eyes, and his hair was, as always, impeccably groomed.
With long, confident strides, he walked toward Abdul Ahad, who watched him in silent admiration.
"He's with me," Ali said calmly.
The guards immediately stepped aside.
"The Boss will interview him."
Without another word, they opened the way.
Once inside the gates, it felt like entering another world.
The roar of the city faded behind thick insulated glass.
Only the quiet hum of the climate control remained.
Warm air drifted through hidden vents.
The polished marble floor gleamed beneath the lights.
Abdul Ahad felt some of the tension leave his shoulders.
Even so, he continued walking stiffly beside Ali, his shoes squeaking faintly against the polished floor.
Ali led Abdul Ahad to the elevators serving the executive floors. He tapped his access card against the reader, and the doors slid open.
Moments later ,they arrived on the tenth floor.
Mr. Haider stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of his executive suite, looking out across the sprawling skyline.
Morning sunlight outlined his figure against the glass.
The electronic lock clicked.
Ali stepped inside.
His sunglasses now rested in one hand.
"Good morning, Sir."
Mr. Haider did not turn.
"Abdul Ahad is here," Ali continued.
"The cab driver..."
He corrected himself immediately.
"I mean...the civil engineer you asked me to call."
Silence.
Ali waited.
Knowing Mr. Haider even from a distance meant accepting that his moods could be as unpredictable as the weather.
For a brief moment, Ali wondered whether the Boss would ask him to send Ahad away or simply ask,
"Which civil engineer?"
After another pause, Ali decided to press for a response.
"Sir..."
"You told me that you would personally interview him."
"...and asked me to bring him here."
Mr. Haider slowly turned away from the window.
He walked towards his high-backed leather chair with his usual grace.
"You have already taken his interview."
Ali blinked.
For a second he thought he had misheard him.
He pointed his sunglasses towards himself.
"Me?"
"I beg your pardon, Sir."
"But perhaps you're mistaken."
“I deputed you to call him here only,” Mr. Haider said smoothly, resting his hands on the mahogany desk.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2vb1zXd0A
He gestured toward the closed door behind Ali. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5umIAhKxLH
“Instead, you practically escorted him to my doorstep.”
Ali’s brows knit together. His lips parted to object, then closed again.
“I'm sorry, Sir, if I overstepped,” Ali said carefully. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlYelcyxOv
“But I haven't spoken a word to him today. And as for an interview... Sir, I am from IT, not HR. And you specifically stated that you would personally interview him.”
Mr. Haider cut across him, interlocking his fingers. “He’s hired.”
Ali hesitated.
"No questions? No résumé?"
Mr. Haider studied him quietly.
"Mr. Ali..."
"...a word to the wise is sufficient."
"And I hardly consider you anything less than wise."
"When I say you have already interviewed him..."
"...it means precisely that."
He paused.
"Did you not correct me the other day when I referred to him as a cab driver?"
"You reminded me that he was a civil engineer."
"It was obvious you had already interacted with him."
"You had already observed him."
"And perhaps..."
"...understood him better than you realise."
Ali remained silent.
"If you still insist that he requires a formal interview..."
Mr. Haider continued,
"...then you may conduct one officially."
Ali fought to keep his composure intact.
“Sir, I handle systems and networks,” he said cautiously.
“Construction is a different domain entirely. Yes, I inspected the site and presented you with a progress report, but this... an interview... a recruitment ."6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalIkuggvYk
"These are HR’s responsibility. “
"IT and Human Resources are entirely different departments."
A faint muscle tightened along Mr. Haider's jaw.
"I expect you to adapt, Ali."
His tone remained remarkably calm.
"And I know you adapt rather quickly."
"It's simply that lately..."
"...you've developed a habit of questioning my motives."
"As though you've begun believing..."
"...that I now consider you a liability instead of an asset."
Ali searched for an appropriate response.
At the same time,he found himself trying to understand why the Boss had made such a simple matter feel strangely personal.
Before he could speak, Mr. Haider opened the file lying on his desk.
His attention shifted away from Ali.
"I want a report on him by this evening."
Nothing more.
The conversation was over.
Ali quietly left the executive suite and gestured for Abdul Ahad, who had been waiting anxiously outside, to follow him.
Abdul Ahad walked behind him, his eyes wandering across the gleaming surroundings in silent amazement.
A few minutes later, the elevator carried them down to the IT Wing.
"I still can't believe I'm actually inside Haideron Tech..." Abdul Ahad murmured under his breath.
The elevator doors slid open onto the IT Management Floor.
Ali led him along a broad marble corridor until they stopped before a pair of glass doors.
Two security personnel seated at the reception desk immediately stood up.
"Good morning, Sir."
Ali acknowledged them with a nod.
One of the guards stepped forward and opened the glass door.
Beyond it lay the IT Management Floor.
Only three executive offices occupied the entire floor, together with a spacious conference room whose frosted-glass doors remained locked.
The atmosphere was remarkably quiet.
The first two offices stood side by side.
The polished steel nameplate on the first door read:
DIRECTOR IT6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxGOHe6wPf
Ali Iftikhar Siddiqui
Immediately beside it was another office.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IT6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiklMibNXCo
Omer Hashim Kiyani
Directly opposite them, across the corridor, stood the third office.
MANAGER – HARDWARE & MAINTENANCE6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVK2DpwJ5Sg
Sajjad Zaheer
Mounted along one wall were illuminated digital display panels displaying the organizational hierarchy of the IT Wing, the qualifications of its senior officers, and Haideron Tech's latest proprietary technologies. Between them hung framed photographs of Ali, Omer, and Sajjad alongside the CEO during product launches, technology exhibitions, and corporate ceremonies.
Abdul Ahad slowly turned his head, absorbing every detail.
For him the place felt like another world.
Ali tapped his access card against the reader. The lock clicked, and he opened the door.
"Come in, Abdul Ahad."
Once inside, Ali let the door close behind them before lowering the motorized blinds over the glass panels.
He gestured toward one of the the leather chairs opposite his desk.
"Sit."
Abdul Ahad lowered himself onto the very edge of the chair.
His faded jacket and inexpensive trousers looked painfully out of place against the elegant furniture, the soft lighting, and the hum of the climate control system.
"Relax," Ali said as he took his own seat.
"I'm trying..."
Ahad admitted, his eyes still wandering around the office.
"...Sir."
A faint smile appeared on Ali's face.
"'Ali bhai' is fine."
Abdul Ahad nodded nervously.
"Ali bhai..."
"I still can't believe I'm actually inside Haideron Tech."
"When you sat in my cab that day..."
"...I never imagined I'd be walking into this building one day."
"I hardly slept last night."
"I kept thinking....what if someone called and said it had all been a mistake?"
"It wasn't a mistake," Ali replied gently.
"The Boss himself approved your appointment."
Ahad stared at him.
"Mr. Haider... personally?"
Ali nodded.
"So don't waste the opportunity."
"I won't."
"I'll work hard."
"I'll make my family proud."
"I'm sure you will," Ali said.
Ahad hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"But... Ali bhai....why am I sitting in your office?"
"I mean... shouldn't I be in the Construction Wing.....or perhaps in HR, submitting my degree and other documents?"
A hint of mischief appeared in Ali's eyes.
"Just consider that it was your moment of acceptance."
" When you wished you could somehow get an internship at Haideron Tech."
He smiled.
"Perhaps the HT Corridor project happened to like a certain cab driver."
Abdul Ahad laughed nervously.
Ali slipped his mobile phone from his pocket and dialed a number.
After a few rings, someone answered.
"Good morning."
"Good morning. Ali Siddiqui speaking."
"I'll be sending over the new intern approved by the Boss shortly."
He listened quietly.
"That's right."
"He'll report to your office in a few minutes."
Another brief pause.
"Thank you."
Ali ended the call and placed the phone on his desk.
"I've spoken with the Director of Construction."
"They're expecting you."
"You'll begin as an intern at the HT Corridor site."
"Observe everything."
"Listen more than you speak."
"Learn how the site functions."
"And by five o'clock..."
"...I want a typed report."
Ahad nodded attentively.
Ali's tone became more serious.
"The Boss expects me to submit my observations about you this evening."
"I'll remain in contact with your supervisors throughout the day."
"So don't assume nobody is watching."
Ahad immediately straightened in his chair.
"Yes, Ali bhai."
"I won't disappoint you."
"I hope not."
As Abdul Ahad reached the door, Ali called after him.
"Oh... one more thing."
Ahad turned.
"Tell your grandfather that Iftikhar Siddiqui's son was asking about him."
"And if he remembers anything about the old airport..."
"...let me know."
A warm smile spread across Ahad's face.
"I will."
He nodded respectfully before quietly leaving the office.
Ali remained seated, his eyes resting on the closed glass door.
A civil engineer...
...working under the Construction Wing...
...yet being reported on through the IT Director.
He leaned back slowly.
And why in the world would an IT Director be responsible for evaluating a construction intern?
As if I don't already have enough work in my own wing...
Now I'm expected to keep calling site supervisors... asking whether the intern is learning, working, adapting... almost as though I've been assigned to shadow him.
He rubbed his forehead thoughtfully.
Another unusual instruction from the Boss.
Another move whose purpose remained hidden.
Ali remained seated for a few moments after Abdul Ahad left.
Then he rose from behind his desk and stepped out of his office.
Instead of returning to paperwork, he headed toward the Central Operations Floor of the IT Wing.
The glass doors slid open almost silently.
A vast open workspace stretched before him.
There was no unnecessary noise.
Only the soft rhythm of keyboards.
The low murmur of technical discussions and the quiet hum of hundreds of workstations.
Natural daylight poured through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the port city.
Clusters of software engineers occupied spacious work islands.
Some studied lines of code across multiple monitors.
Others reviewed software architecture diagrams projected onto large interactive displays.
A cybersecurity team monitored live threat dashboards across an entire video wall.
Nearby, network engineers monitored the firm's global infrastructure through animated system maps and real-time server health indicators.
Glass meeting pods lined one side of the floor.
Inside them, engineers participated in virtual meetings with overseas teams.
Mounted along the operations floor, a row of digital world clocks displayed the local times at the company's overseas branches—Port City, Dubai, Singapore, and Paris. While one office prepared to end its workday, another had only just begun.
The floor was almost silent. Engineers spoke only when necessary. Work moved steadily, without confusion or delay.
As soon as Ali stepped onto the operations floor, several engineers looked up.
"Good morning, Sir."
He acknowledged them with an easy nod.
"Morning."
He paused beside one workstation.
A junior software engineer immediately minimized a diagnostic window.
"No," Ali said calmly.
"Leave it open."
The young engineer restored the screen.
Ali studied it for only a few seconds.
"Your algorithm isn't the problem."
He pointed at another section.
"Your database query is."
The engineer blinked.
"...You're right."
Ali smiled faintly.
"It happens."
He moved on.
At another cluster, two engineers were quietly debating a software deployment strategy.
Ali listened without interrupting.
Finally, he spoke.
"Neither option."
Both men turned.
"If you deploy today, you'll interrupt tomorrow's maintenance window."
"Bundle both releases."
"Test overnight."
"Deploy once."
The two engineers exchanged glances.
One of them nodded.
"That'll save nearly six hours."
Ali simply smiled.
"Exactly."
As he continued through the floor, questions found him naturally.
A project lead requested approval for a software milestone.
A cybersecurity analyst briefed him on an overnight intrusion attempt.
A systems architect sought confirmation before migrating part of the firm's cloud infrastructure.
Ali answered each calmly.
He rarely gave long explanations.
Most of the time,a single sentence was enough.
Nearly an hour passed before his mobile phone vibrated.
The display showed a familiar name.
Mr. Ahsan
The CEO's Personal Assistant.
Ali answered.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Mr. Ali."
"The CEO would like to see you."
Ali looked once across the vast operations floor.
"I'll be there in two minutes."
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XVve1mGKz
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