30th January, 2020

Eram sat lost in thought, her mind echoing with Haya’s words. Oddly enough, they were starting to make sense. For the first time in what felt like forever, she was beginning to believe that maybe—just maybe—she could do it. She wanted to apologize to Shumail. She’d wanted it for so long. A whole year had passed with her rehearsing every word in her head, waiting for the moment he'd return. And now that he was back, those same words felt like stubborn passengers on a delayed flight—unwilling to land.

She hadn’t had the courage before. But something about her conversation with Haya had sparked a fire in her. Maybe it was the way Haya looked at her—like she was more than her past, more than her guilt. Or maybe it was just Haya’s no-nonsense way of saying, “Stop being a doormat.” Either way, the courage she’d been missing had finally made a guest appearance.

Her thoughts scattered as the door burst open and in rushed Zain, all energy and worry rolled into one.

"Aapi, how can you be so careless!" Zain scolded, puffing his cheeks as he marched over to her bedside like a pint-sized general.

“I’m so sorry for scaring you,” Eram said softly, reaching out to caress his cheek with her good hand.

“You should apologize to Shumail bhai too! He was the most scared of all! Honestly, Aapi, what were you thinking?” Zain’s voice was tinged with frustration.

“Shumail… was scared?” she asked, brows lifting in surprise.

“Of course he was! You were in the operation theatre! What did you expect him to do—send you a get-well-soon card and go play cricket?”

Eram nodded slowly, looking down at her lap. A small smile tugged at her lips at the thought of Shumail being worried. But Zain narrowed his eyes at her.

“Why are you smiling?”

“No reason,” she said, quickly shaking her head. “Hey, you didn’t miss school today, did you? Homework done?”

“Didn’t go today, but I’ll be back tomorrow. Homework’s done too, by the way—because I’m awesome.”

“Good boy.”

“Aapi?” Zain said, tilting his head. “Now that Shumail bhai is back… are we going to his house? Or staying in ours?”

Eram froze.

The question hit like a dart to the chest, and she had no answer. Before she could attempt a response, the door creaked open again. Shumail stepped inside, holding a tray, and his gaze immediately flicked to her.

Their eyes met.

Eram looked at him, pleading silently for some kind of sign. Shumail looked away.

That slight movement, so subtle and quiet, broke something in her. Her gaze dropped, tears pricking her eyes.

But then—he spoke.

“Of course your Aapi’s staying with me,” Shumail said, placing the tray gently on the side table. Eram’s head snapped toward him in shock.

“And you, young man,” he added, glancing at Zain, “are coming too.”

“Can I have my own room, please?” Zain grinned.

“Only if you don’t paint it black,” Shumail replied with a chuckle.

“Deal! Then… can I invite my friends over for a sleepover? Just once?”

“Zain!” Eram scolded, shaking her head.

“You can,” Shumail said casually.

“YES!” Zain launched himself at Shumail in a hug, who wrapped his arm around the boy easily.

“Aapi, you’re so lucky to have bhai,” Zain said as he turned to her. Eram’s eyes flickered toward Shumail, and she managed a small smile.

“Let’s go, champ. We should let your Aapi rest,” Shumail said. “Dinner’s ready. There’s soup for you too,” he told Eram. “And after that, your meds.”

With that, he left with Zain. Eram looked at the tray, reached out with her good hand, and managed to place it on her lap. She wasn’t a fan of veggie soup—green mush was never her thing—but she drank it without protest. She even finished it.

The medicine made her drowsy. She tried to lie down on her own but only managed to get into an awkward position before giving up and closing her eyes.

When Shumail returned to collect the tray, he found her asleep, albeit in a position that looked more like a yoga pose gone wrong. He hesitated. He didn’t want to touch her—but he also couldn’t leave her like that.

He sighed.

Setting the tray aside, he gently lifted her, careful not to disturb her cast. Once she was lying comfortably, he pulled the blanket over her and tucked her in. Without another glance, he picked up the tray and left.

***

Being in the same room with Shumail and sharing barely a word—it was torture. Silent, frosty, passive-aggressive torture. Eram thought she’d mentally prepared for it. Turns out, she was very wrong.

She tried to reach out—tried to engage. But Haya had been right: he wouldn’t take the first step, and he wasn’t about to let her take it either. Every time she reached out, he slammed the door shut without a word.

He stayed with her at the hospital the entire week. Always present, always attentive, always… distant. He sat outside during the day, brought her food, slept on the couch in her room, went home only to change and return. From the outside, he looked like the perfect caregiver. On the inside, though—he was a fortress.

She didn’t want the caretaker. She wanted him. His jokes. His sarcasm. His subtle, knowing glances. But instead, she got robotic politeness and stoic silence.

She held her tongue, especially around Zain. She didn’t want him knowing things weren’t okay.

And every attempt she made to break through Shumail’s walls? He shut it down with frightening efficiency.

Now, finally being discharged, she felt a flutter of hope. Maybe, away from hospital eyes, she’d get her chance.

Dressed in a soft, loose kurti and plazo pants with help from the nurse, she sat waiting with her tiny bag packed. She wasn’t sure what to call Ibrahim Mansion—her home? That felt like a stretch. But maybe, just maybe, she could make it her home again.

Shumail entered with Zain bouncing behind him.

“Aapi, we’re going to Shumail bhai’s house! I’m so excited!” Zain said, his grin wide. “When I was at the orphanage, Shumail bhai used to visit and bring me awesome toys. I always thought he was like… a real-life Superman!”

Shumail cut in quickly, “Have you packed your bags, Zain?”

Eram caught the flicker in Shumail’s eyes—he didn’t want Zain talking about the orphanage. She didn’t miss it.

“Yep! All set!”

“Great. Go find Shahmeer bhai and get the bags.”

“What about Aapi’s stuff?”

“I’ll get it later.”

Zain nodded and ran off.

Shumail turned to the nurse. “Can you help her onto the wheelchair?”

As she left to fetch it, Eram suddenly panicked.

“Wait! My husband will help me,” she called quickly. The nurses exchanged glances and left without questioning.

A few minutes later, Shumail returned and frowned seeing her still on the bed.

“Where’s the nurse?”

“I have no idea,” she said sweetly. Shumail narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

With practiced ease, he picked her up, cradling her gently before lowering her into the wheelchair. She grinned like a fool the entire time.

‘He still remembers how to hold me,’ she thought, trying to hide her smile but failing miserably.

Shumail wheeled her to the car, helped her inside again—another moment that made her heart somersault—and shut the door.

She missed his touch the moment it was gone.

When he returned after dropping off the wheelchair, he started the car. Silence filled the vehicle as they drove toward the Ibrahim Mansion.

Memories flooded her.

Of love. Of fights. Of laughter. Of heartbreak.

She glanced at the rearview mirror and saw Shumail’s face—calm, unreadable, focused on the road like it was the most important thing in the universe.

‘Does this place mean nothing to you now?’ she wondered bitterly. ‘Do you feel nothing? Not even a whisper of what we had?’

But she stayed silent, turning her face toward the window as her eyes welled up.

Because the one thing she’d learned from Shumail Ibrahim—was that silence could speak louder than any words.

Assalamualaikum guys!

I'm back with an update!
This one's dedicated to my sweetiepie Gulabisehar as well :-*

How was the chap? How many of you side with Eram? And how many side with Shumail? And your reasons to do so?
Shoot down below...it will be amazing to know your views about the whole situation :D

I had promised to update two days earlier but I became a lazy potato and didn't write the chap and that's why I'm updating it so late >.<'

Will be back with another great chap...Until then ciao!