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Zarrar never knew he was an open book. He always thought he was difficult to understand. When did she start reading his eyes. His face never his inner turmoil to anyone then how did she come to know.

He opted not to reply and kept his focus on driving.

"You didn't answer me" She said after a minute.

"What can I say when you are calling me abnormal" He said it anyway.

"No! God Forbade. I didn't mean to say that you are abnormal. I am sorry if you minded. I am just trying to say you just don't live your life" She explained herself nicely.

"I am not dead Zohal! Not yet" He emphasized at his words.

Zohal's heart lost a beat when he called her name. It always sounded different from his lips.

"You aren't alive either" She asked.

"I don't want to be" He left out a humorless chuckle.

"You are scary" She whispered shockingly at his words.

"I didn't mean to scare you" He smiled at her momentarily. Not just his lips smiled but his eyes also shined.

Zohal never seen him smiling before. She couldn't believe her eyes as his smile was breathtaking. In that one moment he seemed a different man.

"You did it anyway" She said to him.

He didn't say anything this time.

"You are just spending your life. Life is a blessing Zarrar! It's meant to be lived in a positive way. Don't waste it!" She asked him softly.

"You are a nice speaker but I ain't in the mood to be preached. I want you to be silent. Thank you" He ended the conversation he wasn't interested in.

"I was just saying casually" She looked at his stoic face. Why he was so emotionless?

"Silence" He just uttered a word in annoyance.

Zohal looked out of the window. They had left the hills behind and entered the city which wasn't much hilly but it wasn't less beautiful.

He parked his car in front of the only university in the city. He recognized the surroundings as he had also graduated from this place years ago. Nostalgia hit him hard. Everything in him was same but the place seemed different now. It was definitely modernized but Zarrar was standing at the place where he was years ago.

"I will call you when I will be free" Zohal took his attention.

"Don't consider me your driver" He minded.

"I am just considering you my husband" She smiled lightly.

"Don't consider that too" He looked straight at the building.

"Reality can't be changed. You and me are bound to be together. We were meant to be together only" She said effortlessly what came into her mind.

"We won't be together forever" He reminded her.

"I understand that but that doesn't mean you aren't going to pick me up. I am your responsibility anyway" She smiled at the end.

"Alright" He nodded glancing her smiling face. Why was she used to smile after every second. He got irritated.

"At least you can say 'Best of luck' to me" She suggested friendly.

He glanced her with his mysterious eyes. His lips pressed together, not uttered a single word. He took her attention in the unexpected way. She never thought she would loose herself by just looking in to his eyes.

"Allah Hafiz" She mumbling before leaving.

Zarrar kept looking at her back till she disappeared in the main gate of the university.

Zohal looked at the sky. It was getting darker with each passing second. It was going to rain in a few minutes. It was past 3pm. She was already done with her exam till 12 pm and was waiting for him for many hours. There was no sign of him arriving there anytime sooner.

How can I believe him when he didn't oppose the idea of him picking me up from the university. He would take his leave from the office and come here. He doesn't care about you Zohal! He is just bound to you. Don't think of a future with him. You don't have a future with him.

She was thinking about him when the first drop of rain hit her face. A smile formed on her lips. She left her bag under the shade and took a step forward in the open space enough to get her extended hand wet.

Her cell phone made a sound. She checked the message sent by him.

I am waiting outside.

She ran through the open space to the main gate. It was raining heavily now. She was drenched when she sat in the car in the passenger seat beside him.

"I thought my clothes won't be soaked in rain water if I run fast. How silly of me" She laughed at herself.

Her melodious laugh reached his heart but he averted his gaze from her the very next second.

He put on the heater after glancing at her. She was shivering with the cold. He himself wasn't bothered by it. He wasn't bothered by anything.

...

Thunderstorm hit the area midnight. Lightening was so bright that it enlighten the whole lounge for a second. The next moment a drastic sound echoed. Zohal opened her eyes. She got scared in her sleep.

She was alone there and the environment was dark. The forest outside illuminated once again in the lightening scared her more. She suddenly felt like someone was there outside. The next moment something fell on the floor.

She threw the blanket of herself and ran to the only room in the home. She tried to open it and to her surprise it wasn't locked.

She was shocked when she entered the room it was covered in darkness.

"Zarrar!" She shrieked.

He didn't reply. The next moment lightening screamed through the sky once again. The room was illuminated with the bright light for a second. She found the bed empty and everything was covered in the darkness again.

She screamed and ran to the lounge. Slamming her hand on the switch board in the darkness she tried to switch on the light. Her heart beat was erratic. She couldn't believe she was alone in the middle of nowhere.

The lights couldn't be switched on as the electricity supply was affected with the thunderstorm. She started crying loudly. Only a small amount of moonlight was able to reach the lounge window.

Zohal was crying when the door of cottage opened and Zarrar entered the space only to find her in devastated state near the window.

"Zarrar" She screamed and ran to him. She threw herself on him and wrapped her arms around his rain coat.

"Where were you? Why you left me alone?" She cried out.

"I didn't leave you alone. I was just outside" He said in his deep voice. His hands unwantedly wrapped around her crying figure. He couldn't stop himself from holding her in his arms.

"I am scared" She whispered and nuzzled her face more into his neck. She wanted warmth no matter from where she was getting it.

"I am right here" He patted her back. His face touched hers. Lips pressed at her temple.

"Don't leave me" She begged.

"I won't" He said instantly.

Both stayed at the same place. No one tried to move away. Both were getting the warmth they never found anywhere else. They found something new in each other.

Zarrar was the first one to move. He removed his arms from her and pulled her away from his body. He opened his rain coat and threw it away. He removed his shoes, walked towards the table near the window and enlightened a candle.

Zohal was still standing where he left her. He looked at her. She was still afraid. He walked to his room holding the candle and kept the door open. He was standing near the door silently, looking at her.

She couldn't stay alone in the lounge tonight. There was no way she could survive the fear. He gave her open invitation to come inside. She took the opportunity and walked to the room. Zarrar closed the door behind her. He left the handle holder at the table and stood there with his gaze fixed at her shivering figure. She wasn't wearing any warm clothes.

She was melting under his gaze. Why was he staring at her? She couldn't stop herself from thinking. He didn't say anything to her. He kept looking at her.

Zohal looked anywhere but him. She stopped breathing for a second when he took steps towards her. She took a step towards him without thinking twice.

He touched a strand of hair falling on her cheeks and pushed it back her ear. His finger touched the soft skin of her cheeks.

His skin was as cold as him but his eyes were warm tonight.

..................................................................

Finally an update of this story after ages. I missed them🩷

I will try to update all of my books together. Those who were reading Zulaid and Inara's story check my new book named 'Doctors love' on my profile. I am updating new chapters there.