18th March, 2021

The morning sun rays were making their way through the glass walls of Shumail's room, brightening it naturally, falling on Shumail and Eram's face but it wasn't blinding. It was chilly outside, with cool breeze swaying at its own pace, but Eram was feeling cozy and comfortable, cocooned in the arms of her husband. Unintentionally, she snuggled more into his warmth and bringing her hand up, she wrapped it arounď Shumail's torso and tried to scoot even more closer to him in her sleep, if that was even possible. Shumail was too sleepy to realise that he was pulling her more closer to himself, and also his hold around her form was tight but at the same time, protective.

Eram pried her eyes open and tried to take in her surrounding, and instantly her face lit up with a bright smile when she realised that she was in Shumail's arms. She felt a sudden rush of happiness course through her. His embrace felt unexceptionally good, and it made her heart race faster. She wanted the time to stop in that moment so that she could cherish the feeling of his arms around her. It felt as though she was in a dream, and if it was one then she didn't want to wake up from her sleep.

But her happiness was short lived and soon her reality came crashing on her.

Her happy bubble burst.

She scooted closer to him and supporting her weight on her arm, she raised herself to have a look at Shumail's face. He was fast asleep. She brought her other hand up to his face and held his cheek, caressing his face with her thumb.

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me." She spoke to his sleeping form. "But unfortunately, I messed it all up. I ruined our relationship." There was a sad smile plastered on her lips as she spoke those words. She lowered herself and placed her lips on his forehead and gave him a lingering kiss.

Her touch disturbed his sleep and he shifted, wrapping his hand around her and pulling her closer, resulting in her falling on his chest. She was taken aback for a moment but she didn't try to move a single muscle. Her face was pressed againt his chest and she could hear his heart beating rhythmically. It sounded like a melody to her ears.

Eram immediately closed her eyes when she felt Shumail wake up, as she pretended to sleep. Shumail took in his surrounding after opening his sleepy eyes and his eyes landed on Eram, who was in his arms. He brought a hand to her face and placed it on her forehead and then on her cheek to check her temperature, or if she still had fever, and found her temperature normal.

Looking at her petite form wrapped up in his arms, he felt a rush of adrenaline. It was a weirdly odd feeling. It was as if he wasn't in his senses, and he found himself going insane with her scent. His hand, which was on her cheek, began to caress it and her skin felt soft to his touch. A faint voice in him told him to stop but he wasn't sure if he wanted to obey that voice.

He didn't realise he was moving closer to her face and he placed a kiss on her cheek. His hand had moved to her chin and he held it with his forefinger and thumb ever so lightly. His breathing turned heavy and he couldn't top himself from getting more closer to her. Her skin under his touch felt amazing and he wanted to feel more of her. Putting his left hand on her waist, he pulled her more into him and began to trail kisses down her cheek.

Eram was squirming under his touch. His kisses were giving her butterflies in the stomach. She wanted to moan out but she didn't want to let him know that she was awake because she knew he will pull back. She wasn't able to handle it either. It was getting hard for her to fake sleeping. She felt as though she would lose it when he began to trail down her cheek and towards her neck. Her skin was burning because of his touch and her body began to get hot. She wanted to take in a deep heavy breath to calm her nerves.

Shumail was lost. He didn't seem to think what he was doing. He just wanted to feel her in the moment and that's what he was doing. His hand began to move to her shoulder, trying to sneak its way in and his lips pressed against her collarbone, sucking the flesh and giving it a soft lick later.

Eram couldn't hold it any longer and unknowingly a moan left her lips.

"Shumail..." His name rolled off her tongue with a harsh breath. She held his tshirt tightly in her fist and her neck moved to the side, giving him more access. Shumail pressed his face in her neck and took in a harsh breath, breathing in her scent. It was driving him crazy.

Eram moved her hands to his face and puled him to have a look at it. Their faces were right in front of each other, just a few inches apart. Their gazes had the same passionate look in them and their hearts were beating at the same pace. His hand was resting on her shoulder and he brought it up to her face. He gave it a soft caress and Eram's eyes closed for a moment, feeling the softness of his touch. She held his hand and gave a soft kiss on the back of it.

"I love you so much." He confessed with all honesty. "I love you so much, Eram."

"What are you trying to do?" The question from a familiar voice broke her reverie and landed her in reality. She looked around her and found herself close to Shumail. He was wide awake and was looking at her with raised eyebrows. He brought his hand to her face and her eyes followed his movements and she saw him place it on her forehead. Her forehead felt normal and Shumail moved his hand to place it on her cheek.

"You had high fever at night. Your temperature feels normal now but I'll still get a doctor's appointment for you. Don't forget to visit the clinic and get a check up." Shumail said in a monotonous voice and removing the duvet from over himself he got out of bed.

"So it was just me imagining situations which will never happen." Eram voiced out her thoughts with a huff and pulled herself up in a sitting position. "It felt so real."

She heard the water running from the attached bathroom indicating that Shumail was taking a shower. She took hold of the cordless and dialed the maid for help. The maid came in quickly and helped her to get on the wheelchair.

"Bring in a black coffee, fruit platter, pancakes and an egg sandwich for Shumail. He'll have his breakfast here." Eram instructed her with a smile.

"Anything for you, Mrs. Ibrahim?"

"I'm not really hungry. Thank you." The maid walked out and Eram pushed her wheels to the walk-in closet to set out clothes for Shumail. She heard the water turn off and realised that he was done showering. She thought she could but she couldn't really help him with his clothes. She wasn't able to reach the clothes, which were hung in his closet.

"What are you doing?" She heard a voice behind her belonging to Shumail and she turned her wheelchair to see him in his bathrobe, wiping a towel on his wet hairs. He looked as handsome as ever.

"I thought to get your clothes out for you but I couldn't reach them." Eram said. Shumail didn't say anything in response and walking past her, he pulled out his clothes from his closet.

"You don't need to do such things." Shumail spoke to her with his back facing her.

"I just thought of helping." She saw him shake his head at her answer.

"The one in need of help right now is you." With that said, he began to walk out with his clothes in his hand.

"Can you be a little gentle to me?! Like, I'm trying, Shumail! I know I've hurt you badly and whatever punishment you give me or are giving me, I'm ready to accept it but can you please be a little understanding of me?? I beg you!!" Eram burst out and Shumail's steps haulted in his tracks listening to what she had to say. Eram turned her wheelchair to face him. "What do you want me to do?" Eram questioned in a heavy voice. "Whatever it takes to get you to forgive me, I'm ready to do it! Are you listening to me? Im ready to do anything but this careless attitude of yours towards me, is hurting me."

"Ohk so you're telling me my attitude is hurting you?"

"Yes!!"

"And how exactly I'm behaving with you?"

"You're giving a cold shoulder to me, as if I don't even exist as a person in your life, as if I'm nothing to you, and I can't take it anymore." Eram's voice rose a pitch higher at the end and her hands went in the air in frustration. Shumail walked to her and bending down to her level, he held her arms and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Imagine how I might have felt knowing well enough your motives? So many times I asked you in the slightest hope that you'll confess to me but you didn't..."

"Yes I know and you know the reason for it as well! Why do you bring it up again and again??" She shouted at him with anger and hurt in her voice, cutting him mid sentence.

"Because I thought you would trust me and confess to me and that I would help you out of the mess, but I was an idiot to think like that. You had zero trust in me and that thing hurts me the most!!" Shumail shouted back with equal anger and hurt. "You say you love me? You do? Really?" Shumail questioned in a mocking tone.

Eram's hands went to cup his cheeks. "I love you, Shumail. I really love you. Please forgive me." She confessed, caressing his face with her thumbs.

"How much ever I try to but I can't bring myself to do that." Shumail said with a clenched jaw. He moved back and tried to walk out when his steps haulted in his tracks for the second time when her words fell on his ears.

"Then leave me." Eram said. Shumail stood frozen on his spot. The world around him blurred into oblivion and his senses went blank. His mind went in haze and his heart dropped.

He haven't thought that Eram would say something like that.

Divorce her?

Shumail had never ever thought of it. He didn't even want to let that thought cross his mind, ever. He knew he wouldn't be able to live.

The thought was terrifying.

When a moment later Shumail gained back his senses, he looked at Eram from over his shoulder and not wanting to give an answer to that, he walked away, without waiting for anything else that Eram had to say.

Eram's shoulders slumped in defeat looking at his retreating back and she felt miserable. She let out a deep breath that she didn't know she was holding. She felt as though her heart had stopped for a moment when she had said those words and she dreaded if Shumail would actually leave her. She didn't want to say out the last words that she said but she was too frustrated and riled up.

"I guess I can't get you back." Eram said. "I don't think I can ever get your forgiveness."

Assalamualaikum!!

I know! I know! No update for 8 months! That's a lot I know but I had my reasons!

To those of you who don't know, I got engaged 6 months back Alhamdulillah and also I had a few stuffs going on in life that kept me from writing. Also I was having a huge writer's block for the first time ever!! I had the story in mind but had no appropriate words to jot down!

I would request you all to keep me in your duas. It will mean a lot.

Coming back to the story. How was the chapter? Shumail is not ready to forgive Eram! Should she finally leave him for good? Will Shumail realise that he's being too extreme? Or will it be too late until he realises that?

Can you guys leave behind some beautiful comments? They might help in making me feel good and also energise me to write again?

I don't promise quick updates now and I'm telling this to you all beforehand. I'm still going to try my best and end both of my stories in this year if possible In Sha Allah but no promises though.

Until next time...Ma Salama!