chapter 23

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Athar's POV

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"Shall we go now?" Izhaan asked, I nodded and adjusted the knot of my tie

"Let's go" he said and walked ahead

"Izhaan" I called, he stopped and turned around

"Hmmm?"

"You want to tell anyone about last night?"

"No not now. If dadi finds out about Reem's health she will worry a lot, let Reem get fine then maybe I will tell her"

"Ok" I nodded in agreement

We both came downstairs to the dining area, everyone was already there.

"Maa get some breakfast packed please" Izhaan said

"Why?" Maa asked

"Just do it please" he insisted

"Ok" she immediately got up and went to the kitchen

We left soon and made our way to our girls, I mean Izhaan's girl.

I was driving and Izhaan was sitting beside me, he looked in deep thought. He has been really quiet since we returned from Reem's house, five hours ago

"What happened?" I asked

"Nothing" he replied

"What are you thinking?" I asked, he sighed

"I am thinking about Reem"

"Don't worry, she's fine now" I said, he stayed quiet I understood it was something else which was bugging him

"what about Reem?"

"When she was missing yesterday, I felt like I was losing my mind. It was like a part of me has been taken away from me, all I could think of was to find her."

"You were worried about her, i understand"

"It wasn't just worry. I had this weirdly strong feeling in me which was suffocating me"

I could relate to that feeling, I felt it too when Ayesha got stuck in that building. It was a fear of losing.

I turned to look at him. It was written all over his face i just said it out loud

"You are in love with her, aren't you?" I asked, he kept his lips tightly sealed

"So all this while, I was forcing you to talk to dadi and refuse to let Reem be a part of your life and you stayed silent because you fell in love with her, isn't that so?" I raised an eyebrow at him

"I'm not in love with her, yet, but I think I might" he smiled

"Who can blame you! You had to fall in love with her, she has always been the only one for you" I shrugged

"Forget about me, you tell me, did you apologise to Ayesha?" He asked, I recalled our time in the kitchen.

"Don't even ask buddy, that girl drives me mad"

"So you didn't apologise?"

"I did"

"Then what happened?" I rolled my eyes

"Then she made me hold my ears and say sorry, and she made me write "I will not treat Ayesha badly" 100 times"

"What?" Izhaan laughed out loud, I shook my head

"Yeah yeah laugh all you can"

"She gave you the taste of your own medicine."

"Whatever"

"At least accept now that you love her"

I fell silent at his words. Lately I've been thinking a lot about my feelings for Ayesha.

"Accept it" he repeated

"Buddy you know I can never hide anything from you, I'm like an open book till the very beginning for you."

"That's true. So?" He asked, I sighed

"I don't know about love, but i definitely can't see any other guy looking at her, forget about looking, it burns me when some other guy even take her name, it makes me want to strangle him"

"Finally you have accepted jealousy. Tell me more?"

"She's beautiful, the way she carries herself, so gracefully makes me crazy about her, i could look at her for hours"

"Admiration! nice. What next?" He asked, i looked at him in irritation

"That's it! Focus on your life, not mine"

"I'm telling you, confess your feeling"

"Yeah right! As if I'll tell her and she will say that she loves me too" I said, Izhaan grinned ear to ear

"What?"

"You just accepted that you love her" he smirked

Did I? I recalled my words. Oh yes I did.

"Ayesha is a perfect match for you, I'm very happy with this"

"Hold your happiness, we have reached your princess' house" I said pointing outside, he sighed

"Yours too" he winked, I shook my head. I parked the car and both of us got outside, Izhaan carried the food he brought for the girls.

We stopped outside the door, Izhaan pressed the bell.

"I wonder" I said

"What?"

"How did Reem manage to stay warm after you left?" I laughed, he smacked my arm

"Shut up" he said and pressed the bell again.

'why is no one answering?" He said

I can't dislike Reem anymore, my view about her have always been dependant on Izhaan's thoughts. If she makes my brother happy, I have nothing against her. She is anyways important to two important people of my life.

"What the hell happened? Why no one is answering?" He said, and hit the bell again. Another minute passed, still not answered, I pressed the bell continuously

The door opened and Ayesha stood there, my hand was still hovering over the switch. She was looking disorientated, I scanned her from head to toe.

She was wearing a red coloured oversized top, it was so big it could fit three Ayeshas. She paired the top with oddly looking orange colour pajamas, total mismatch.

Her out of the bed hair was sticking out from her bun, some tendrils were fallen on her face. She was rubbing her eyes. Even in this state she looked adorable to me.

"What the hell? You guys are back again? Didn't you leave just five minutes ago?" She shouted

"So graceful" Izhaan mumbled

"Shut up" I whisper yelled at him

She looked at both of us, then she rolled her eyes.

"You guys continue talking to each other, I'm going back to sleep" she said and turned around

"It's 8 o'clock, why are you going back to sleep? Aren't you going to come to the office?" I asked

"Are you crazy? How can you even ask me that?"

"Because it's a wee..."

"Guys stop" Izhaan cut me, "let me also talk. How's Reem?" He asked

"She's fine, still sleeping"

"I hope she did not get chills after I left, I mean, the whole night" he asked awkwardly, Ayesha and I smiled

"No, she was fine, you did a great job" she teased him, he cleared his throat

"Here!" He handed her the package

"What's this?" She asked

"Breakfast" he shrugged

"Jeeju! Rukhsana Aunty is here now, she would have made breakfast"

"I just thought..." He trailed off

"Thank you" she smiled

"Let Reem sleep for now, I'll come by the lunch time" he said, Ayesha smirked

"Fine"

"Just need to see if she's ok"

"Yeah yeah why not! You have all the rights"

"Let's go Athar" he said, I tried telling him through my eyes to let me talk to her alone, he raised his eyebrows at me. I glared at him, finally he got the message.

"I'm in the car" he said and left

I turned to Ayesha.

"You also go" she said, I inwardly rolled my eyes. What would happen if she will talk with me for a minute.

"I know you are taking care of Reem, but look after yourself also"

"Ok. Now go"

"Why are you so adamant to throw me out?"

"Because I want to sleep" she groaned

"Oh ok. I'll go then"

"Please" this time I rolled my eyes and made it obvious. I left the house immediately.

I returned to the car and sat inside.

"So did you tell her?" Izhaan asked

"Pagal ho! Yeh koi time hai aisi baato ka (are you crazy? It was not a right time to talk about such things)"

"There's never a right time, you have to make it right"

"Ji ji advocate sahab (yes Mr advocate)" I said, he laughed.

"Ab chalein? (Shall we go now?)" He asked, I brought the car to life and we left.

******

I exited the lift and made my way to my cabin, I looked at Ayesha's desk, the empty chair had my heart twisted. I wanted her to be there.

I called Rose to know my schedule for the day, she stood in my room and read my entire time table

An image of funny looking Ayesha came to my head. Does she know that she is extremely cute? I love her confidence, even looking so mismatched she wasn't looking even a slightly nervous, that is what is most charming in her.

"Sir" I heard a loud voice, the bubble broke and I looked up, Rose was frowning at me

"Huh?" I asked

"Are you feeling ok sir?" She asked, I sat straight and turned my expression serious

"Is it all for today?"

"Yes"

"Leave"

She left immediately. I shook my head putting all the thoughts aside, I started my day. I stifled a yawn, I only slept for two hours last night, I was a bit sleepy.

There was a knock on the door, I gave my permission to enter. The door opened and the team of imams project entered

"Good morning sir" they greeted me, I nodded my head and motioned them to sit

"Yes?" I asked

"Sir we want to know what will be the status of the project?" Irfan asked

"What do you mean by the "status" I got all serious

"Mr Imam has refused to even look at my designs, he is totally impressed by Ayesha's" Vivek said

Ayesha!!!!!

The sweet memory of cooking the soup together played in my head. How she was flipping her hair, when a lock of hair fell on her face she would blow it away, she is so pretty. I sighed and smiled

"Sir?" A voice broke the chain of my thoughts, I cleared my throat

"Let me think about it"

"But sir..." Irfan was speaking but when i glared at him, he turned quiet, "yes sir" he said, then they left

I exhaled heavily and leaned back on the chair, this girl is making me crazy, I should be focusing on my work.

****

It was time for a meeting, I left my cabin to go to the conference room, my eyes went to the empty chair again, I felt everything turning gloomy, there is no life in the office.

I want Ayesha in the office right now, but Reem needs her and she won't leave her alone. What should I do?

Suddenly I remembered Izhaan said he would be going there at lunch time. I quickly took out my phone and called Izhaan. He answered

"Hello"

"Buddy I need your help"

"Ok tell me"

I explained him what he had to do. Then i went to Rose and said

"I want Ms Ayesha in the office in an hour" I said

******

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Izhaan's POV

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"Did you even sleep at all?" Ayesha asked, I looked at her

"Yeah for an hour or two, perhaps"

"I could never work on that less sleep" she shook her head, I chuckled

It was lunch time and I was back at Reem's house. Ayesha told me that she woke up and had medicine, then she went back to sleep.

Since Reem was low on energy and dehydrated also, the doctor decided to give her IV fluid, she got one last night, a nurse would be coming to give one in the afternoon and then one last at night, till then she will have a cannula attached on her hand.

"Why are you still here?" Ayesha said looking behind me, I turned around and found Rukhsana aunty there

"I am not going" She replied

"Why?"

"Even if I leave now, by the time I will return it will be night time"

"So?"

"I can't leave you girls alone"

They both continued talking while I sat and listened to their conversation quietly.

"It's ok, we are fine. But you should not miss your nephew's function, you must go" Ayesha insisted

"No beta! Just let it be"

"If Reem finds out that you have missed the function, she would be so mad at you"

After a little more convincing Rukhsana aunty left. I also wanted to tell her to not worry, I'm here for Reem, but I was saving these lines for Ayesha

"I will go and check on Reem" Ayesha went upstairs, I stayed in the living room. She returned in five minutes

"How's she?" I asked

"Still sleeping"

What is taking you so long Athar? I wondered and just then Ayesha's phone started ringing, she picked her phone from the table

"It's Rose" she announced and answer the phone

" Hello" She said, then she listened to whatever Rose was saying. I could hear the muffled sound of screaming but nothing was clear to me

"What? ...no.. i cannot come... Reem is not well, i can't leave her alone... Hello?"

She removed the phone from her ear and looked at me.

" It was Rose's call. She was calling me to office"

"Oh" that's all I said

Her phone rang again and she answered

" No I already said I cannot come...... What important work? .... you are talking as if I'm the CEO, not some temporary employee" she rolled her eyes, I stifled a laugh

"Rose I cannot come"

"Now" i told myself

"It's ok Ayesha, you go, I'm here with Reem" i said, she looked at me while still talking on the phone

"I'm not going anywhere" she shook her head.

"You return as early as you can, she is anyway sleeping" i said, Ayesha looked half convinced, so I kept on speaking till she agreed, i sighed in relief.

Ayesha is a tough nut to crack, it took a lot of efforts to make her agreed. She went to get ready, then she returned.

"I'll be back as soon as I can" she said

"Take your time, I'm here"

"I wish I didn't have to go, it'll be Reem's medicine time soon"

"I will give her medicine"

"She has to eat something before"

"I will give her something"

"I got porridge made for her, i took it out in a bowl already, just warm it and give it to her. I will try to return before that. I will call you to remind, but.." she was panicking, it was so clear that she didn't want to leave her

"Ayesha! Don't worry, I will take care of Reem, now I will only have to look after her for the rest of our lives" i said, she smiled

Finally she left, after locking the door from inside I made my way upstairs to my sleeping beauty.

I opened the door of the room and went inside. She was sleeping peacefully. I sat on the sofa. I noticed the cannula was pressing on the mattress, it will hurt her when she'll wake up. I got up from the sofa and knelt beside her, I kept her hand carefully.

I smiled when I looked at her face, she looked so angelic. I can only look at her so freely when she is sleeping, otherwise she would have given me a piece of her mind for even sparing a glance at her

Her skin looked flawless, so glowy as if she drinks highliters for breakfast. Her lips were slightly parted, they have come back to their original colour, pink.

There was a strand of hair fallen on her face, carefully I removed it, my finger grazed on her soft cheeks. She stirred a little and inhaled sharply but was still asleep.

I held her hand lightly

"I won't let anything or anyone harm you ever." I silently promised

Her hand looked so perfect in mine. I just want to keep holding this for the rest of my life. No one can ever get between us.

I felt something vibrating i looked around to find the source, the vibration stopped, then immediately started again. Finally i found it, it was Reem's phone. I picked it up, "Zuhan calling" was flashing, but what caught my eye was the heart emoji with the name

Before I could answer the call disconnected, who was that, there were numerous missed calls from him. To check more I was trying to unlock Reem's phone, but it was locked with a password.

I heard some shuffling, I put the phone down, I saw Reem waking up, she looked in pain, I went to her side

"Reem are you ok?" I asked, she looked at me

"You?" Her weak voice said

"Yes, me! Now tell me, do you want something?"

"Ay.. Ayesha"

"She had to go to the office, it was too urgent she couldn't escape"

"Ok" she was trying to sit straight, I moved forward to help, she raised her hand to stop me. She was struggling, I rolled my eyes and put my hand on her back, she glared at me

"Reem please" I requested, she looked at me. I held her more firmly, "please" I repeated, she nodded. I smiled and helped her

"I want to go to the washroom" she said

"Ok"

I helped her in getting out of the bed. She held my hand and leaned on me, I was holding her back and took her to the washroom.

I stopped outside and let her go on

"Go from here" she said

"Let me stay to help"

"I'll call you when I'm done, but please go" I nodded and came back to the sofa

Her phone was kept on the table, I picked it up, I wanted to unlock it.

Whoever is this person, he is definitely close to Reem, I clenched my fist feeling jealous, I should be the only special one for her. She should put hearts with my name.

The door slightly opened I immediately put the phone down and got up. I went towards the bathroom.

I held her hand and brought her back on the bed. She was trying to put some pillows behind her back but her cannula attached hand touched with the pillow, she flinched

" Why are you doing this? I'm here for your help" I spoke loudly and move forward to put pillows.

After I was done I took her hand in mine and examined if there was any bleeding. Thankfully there was none.

" How are you feeling now?" I asked

"You can go"

" That's not the answer of my question"

"I'm absolutely fine"

My phone rang. I immediately ran to it and answered. It was Ayesha's call

" Hello"

" Is she okay?"

"Yeah"

"Is she up?"

"Yes"

"Give her medicine, it's in the left drawer of the bed"

"Ok i will give"

"But first make her eat something" .

"I will do it"

"Please call me if she needs anything"

"Everything is under control, don't worry"

"I will return as soon as I can"

"Take your time"

She hung up the call. I returned to Reem.

"Ayesha called to remind me about giving you medicine" I said and walked out of the room I came to the kitchen, picked up the bowl Ayesha prepared for her then put it in the microwave and warmed it up, after it was nicely warm, I took it to Reem

She was sitting on the bed with her eyes closed. I sat next to her. She opened her eyes and looked at me

"Have food" I said, she extended her hands to take the bowl from my hand, but I moved it back. She had a cannula on her right hand, how would she eat on her own, she understood what was in my mind.

"I can eat myself" she said, ignoring her protest I took a spoonful and put infront of her mouth, she turned her head away

"Please Reem, stop being so stubborn" i pleaded, again I put the spoon infront of her mouth. She kept her lips tightly sealed.

"Please I request you. If you won't eat how will you get energy." I said and still no effect.

"I will do whatever you say, just have food for now" I said, she looked at me and this time she opened her mouth. I sighed in relief, it felt like my biggest victory of life. I felt proud of myself and kept feeding her

"That's it, I'm full now" she shook her head for another morsel.

"Just last" I requested, thankfully she had it. I put the bowl aside and wiped the corner of her mouth with my thumb, she looked at me, and my hand froze, we both were looking at each other. My eyes dropped to her lips, then back to her eyes.

I had this strange feeling in me which I have never experienced in my whole life, it felt like she was a magnet which was pulling me with full force. It took every ounce of me to pull away.

I took out the medicine and gave to her. She picked up her phone and got busy with it, I was looking at her. I recalled last night how she was pulling me closer, I felt so delighted thinking that she was seeking comfort in me.

Her scent has engulfed me, all I can think of is her fragrance, her skin, her hair. I want her in my arms again. I tried to stop myself from thinking like this, but my mind was out of control.

"Look who's back" the door opened and Ayesha entered. Thank God she has returned staying in the room all alone with Reem was becoming a torture.

I quickly said bye to the girls and left immediately.

*****

"I am very upset with him" dadi complaint to Reem about me

It's been 2 days since Reem has fallen sick, when dadi found out she immediately asked me to bring to her house.

She was planning to stay here till her parents don't return, Hayat would be accompanying her. To be honest it gave me a relief that she would have dadi by her side, she will take good care of her.

"My baby was sick and nobody told me" she glared angrily at me. Reem laid her head on dadi's lap. The sight was so beautiful

"Dadiii" Reem spoke like a child

"Tell me beta" she caressed her head

"I'm bored. I want to go out. I have not seen the outside world for ages" she exaggerated, I shook my head

"Where you want to go? What you want to do tell me I will do whatever you say"

"Can we go out to eat some ice cream?" She asked excitedly

"No ice cream for you" I scolded her, she looked at dadi.

"Why not? You will take us all right now" dadi ordered me.

Before I could protest all the girls got ready and now I was sitting in my car ready to drive, while dadi, Reem, Ayesha and hayat were busy in talking with each other.

I looked for my phone, but couldn't find. I remembered I left it in Reem's room

"What happened?" Dadi asked

"I'll be back, I forgot my phone" I got out of the car, I went to Reem's room and looked for my phone, I found it, I picked it up and was about to leave when I spotted something.

There was a get well soon card, I opened it, my blood boiled when I saw "with love Zuhan" on it. Who is this guy? I tore the card in pieces and shoved the torn pieces in my pocket.

He came here? To the house? Thank God dadi will be here now. I have to find out about him.

My phone rang, it was Hayat

"What?" I answered

"Phone mil gaya to aa bhi jaiye (please come if you have found the phone)" she said, I hung up the call and made my way to them

I sat in the car and looked at Reem in anger. Who is this Zuhan? Why did he come home to give you the card? I will find out the truth

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