14th January, 2020

Eram was lost in her thoughts, pondering over what Haya had told her. Her words had began to make sense and she somewhat was feeling confident that she could do it. She wanted to apologise to Shumail and have him forgive her, for such a long time. The whole year long she had just waited for him to return back and now that he was back, she wanted to say out all those words to him that she had been planning to say to him the whole year. She didn't had the courage to do so though, but now after having a conversation with Haya, she seemed to have got the confidence that she needed.

Her chain of thoughts was broken when the door opened and in ran her brother Zain. A smile spread across Eram's face looking at him.

"Aapi how can you be so careless!" Zain complained, coming to her side.

"I'm so sorry for scaring you." Eram apologised, placing her free hand on his cheek and lightly caressed it.

"You should apologise to Shumail bhai as well. He was the most scared. How can you do this aapi!" Zaid exclaimed lightly.

"Shumail was scared?" Eram asked surprised, looking at Zain with raised eyebrows.

"Of course he was! How else should you expect him to react when you were in the operation theatre getting treated?" Zain spoke. Eram gave him a nod and looked at her lap, feeling a bit happy that he was scared and worried for her. Her lips eventually curved up in a smile making Zain's forehead to wrinkle in a frown as he asked, "Why are you smiling?"

"Nothing." Eram quickly dismissed the question, shaking her head at him. "You tell me. You didn't miss your school, did you? What about homework?" Eram asked, raising her eyebrows at him.

"Didn't attend today but from tomorrow I'll be regular, and I've done my homework already."

"Good."

"Aapi?" Zain began and Eram looked at him in question. "Now that Shumail bhai is back, we will go to bhai's house or we will stay at our home?" Zain asked and Eram went silent, clearly at a loss of words to answer that question. The exact moment Shumail seemed to have opened the door and he happened to hear the question, as his gaze went to look at Eram, who happened to look who had entered, and their eyes met. Eram looked at Shumail for the answer and unable to look at her, he broke his gaze away from her and walked in the room, holding a tray in his hands. Eram felt hurt when Shumail looked away from her and she thought that he didn't wanted to have her back in his house, as she looked at her lap and tried to control her tears which threatened to spill.

"Of course your aapi will be staying with me!" Shumail answered placing the tray on the side table beside her bed, and his answer made Eram's head snap in his direction as she looked at him surprised. "And you, young man, will also stay with us." He smiled at Zain.

"Can I have my own room please?" Zain pleaded and Shumail chuckled at the teenager's enthusiasm.

"Sure you can."

"Then can I invite my friends for a sleepover? Please just once?"

"Zain!" Eram shook her head in no.

"You can." Shumail said, and Zain's face immediately lit up as he ran to Shumail and hugged him tightly, and Shumail wrapped his hand around him too.

"Aapi, you're so lucky to have bhai." He said looking back at Eram who just looked at Shumail and then back at him and gave a small smile.

"We should let your aapi rest. Come, let's go and have our dinner, shall we?" Shumail asked Zain and the young boy nodded his head. "There's soup for you. Drink it, then you have to eat your medicines." With that said, Shumail headed out with Zain. Eram looked over at the tray and slowly tried to reach it and removed the lid from the bowl with her free hand. Her right hand which was in a cast wasn't much of a help to her. She took hold of the tray with her left hand and placed it on her lap. Taking hold of the spoon, she took a spoonful of the soup and drank. She wasn't much of a fan of veggies from the start but considering her health, she silently kept drinking it and finished it whole. She took the medicines that Shumail had placed on the tray and placed the tray back in its place.

The medicines made her sleepy but she wasn't able to lie down on her own but still trying her best, she pulled herself down on the bed which was an uncomfortable position for her and closed her eyes letting sleep take over her.

When Shumail entered the room again to get the tray, he found her fast asleep. Not paying attention to her, he walked to the bedside to get the tray. Picking it up, he began to walk out but looking at her sleeping in such an awkward position, he couldn't walk away neglecting her. He didn't wanted to make her sleep properly but he just wasn't able to walk away neglecting her either. He kept standing holding the tray by the bed and was contemplating whether to shift her or not. Finally giving in, he let out a huff and placing the tray aside he slowly put his hand under her neck and pulled her up and placed his hand on her back. He put his other hand under her thighs and trying not to hurt her injuries, he picked her up and made her lie in a comfortable position. Bringing the blanket from under her legs, he covered her with it and after he had tucked her properly, he picked up the tray again and walked out.

***

Being in the same room and having less to absolutely no conversation is the worst part and to Eram, it was killing her to face Shumail's cold and unbothered attitude. Taking Haya's advice in consideration, she had thought she would take advantage of the chances she would get and try to get Shumail to help her, but when Haya had said that he won't take the first step and neither will he let her take it, she hadn't thought it was going to be really true.

Shumail was cold and seemed really unbothered. Every chance that Eram could get to pull him closer, he would take a thousand steps back creating a huge gap between them and making it unable for her to close that distance between them. She had to stay for a whole week in the hospital to get proper treatment and until her injuries healed, and Shumail was with her all the time. He used to stay seated right outside of the room on the chair and would only come to bring her food. At night, he would sleep on the couch placed in the room and would go home in the morning to freshen up and change. He was taking care of her properly but it was only on the outside, as if he was just complying to his duties.

Eram didn't need that. She was wishing for him to really care for her, be with her, near her but Shumail was keeping his distance from her as if he would burn down if he touched her. She stayed silent though, taking in consideration that they were at the hospital, and she didn't wanted anyone to know that nothing was right between them, especially not her brother.

The nurses were appointed for her and they would get her to freshen up and for all the time that she needed help with. Every chance Eram looked for, to get near him, Shumail had blocked it even before she could make any move.

Now that she was finally getting discharged, she was happy that she would finally be alone with him. She was all dressed up with the help of the nurse, in a loose kurti and plazo pant and her small bag was ready. She was waiting for Shumail to come so that they can head to the Ibrahim mansion. It made her feel weird calling it home, but she was determined that she was going to make it her home and fill it with love.

Shumail walked in through the door followed by Zain, who looked super excited with the idea of living in Ibrahim mansion and having his own room. He quickly ran to her and stood in front of her with a cheeky grin plastered on her face.

"Aapi, we're going to Shumail bhai's house. I'm so excited." The little boy expressed his joy in words and Eram smiled at him. "You know when I was at the orphanage, Shumail bhai would often come and meet me and bring all amazing toys. I really admired him back then and always thought that he's really a superman."

"Have you packed your bags Zain?" Shumail asked, swiftly changing the topic, not wanting for Zain to speak about how he used to go meet him in the orphanage, but he didn't miss the look in Eram's eyes though when she heard it. He chose to ignore it.

"Yes I have."

"Good. Can you go get them with Shahmeer bhai?" He asked.

"What about aapi's stuff?" Zain asked looking between Eram and Shumail.

"I'll get them later." Shumail answered and the teenager nodded his head at him and ran out to Shahmeer. Shumail turned to the nurse present in the room.

"Can you get a wheelchair for her and help her on it?" He made a request and she nodded her head, heading to do the job she was asked for. Shumail took hold of her bag and turned to Eram. "I'll go get the car." He said and even before she could say anything, he was already out. The nurse returned back with the wheelchair and another nurse tagged along with her and they made their way to the bed.

"Wait up. My husband will help me with it. You guys can go." Eram stopped them quickly when they moved towards her to make her sit on the wheelchair. They looked at each other and then at Eram, and giving her a nod they both walked out. Shumail came back a few minutes later and saw her seated on the bed and his eyebrows frowned. He walked upto her and gave her a quizzical look.

"Where did the nurse go?" He asked.

"I don't know." She lied. Shumail let out a sigh and walked towards her. Placing his hands on her back and under her thighs, he picked her petite form in his hands and made her careful sit on the wheelchair, and went behind it as he began to push it to move forward. Eram's lips were curled up in a smile for having gotten a few moments to be im his arms, and she tried to hide it but failed miserably. She kept smiling like an idiot the whole time till they exited the hospital and had reached the car. Shumail opened the car door and came up to her again and bent down to pick her up. Her left hand went around his neck and she hold onto him. Making her sit in the back seat of the car, he closed the door shut. She missed his touch but whatever the mere time she could get to be near him, she was over the moon.

After he had returned the wheelchair back, he came back to the car and got in the driver's seat as he started the car, getting it out of the hospital premises. The car was soon on the highways and they were headed to the Ibrahim mansion. The thought of going back to the place which had so many memories of the times she had spent with Shumail was overwhelming. Going back to the place which was the witness of how they both had broken apart was making her tear up and she tried not to show the emotions on her face. Her gaze went to the rear view mirror and she looked at shumail, who paid no head to anything and looked focused on his driving.

'Does this have no effect one you?' Eram wondered looking at him. 'We both will be under the same roof again where we went through so much. Do you feel no emotions at all?'

She wanted to ask him those questions which were burdening her heart but she chose not to, as she pried her gaze away from his face and turned her face to look outside the window.

Assalamualaikum!

Hola Amigo! 

Wow I'm really surprised at myself that I got this chap completed in 3 hours too! *pats my shoulder in self praise*

Lol coming back to chap...how was it? Are you guys able to understand Shumail? Coz clearly Eram can't!

Shoot down your thoughts below :D

Chap dedicated to my jaana Gulabisehar

Until next time...Hasta mañana!