Maryam's POV

"She did that?" Anaya gasps over the phone. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? How's Samar now?"

"He's out of danger, but he'll be hospitalized for one more week," I reply.

"What about Rayan?" Anaya asks, concern etched in her voice. "He must be devastated about his mother's actions."

"Of course," I say, tears welling up. "My heart aches thinking about him. He deserves so much better in life."

We chat briefly before I end the call, promising to talk later.

I start chopping vegetables for the soup.My mind reeling with many thoughts.I think about Rayan,how he handled all this,how much kindness, he has in him,i think about Samar,how he suffered so much without any reason.How he suffered physically,mentally and emotionally due to his father's actions and wrongdoings.My heart aches for both.

Lost in thoughts, I accidentally nick my finger with the knife. I rush to the sink, rinsing the cut under cold water.

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

I search for Rayan, having heard Orhan say he's leaving for India today. He had stayed to handle his mother's prosecution and imprisonment. I wonder how he is feeling right now.Before heading to the hospital with the soup I made for Samar, I want to say goodbye to Rayan.

I approach Rayan's room and knock, but there's no response. I dial his number, and the ringing phone echoes from inside. I enter, finding his bag packed and phone on the bed.

I scan Sofia Mansion, finally spotting Rayan through a window, sitting alone by the ocean.

Rayan's POV

Cool breeze hits my face, trying to calm me down, but Mom's cries ache in my ear. During imprisonment, she asked her lawyer to arrange a meeting, but I refused. I helped her with the investigation and hired top lawyers, doing my best to defend her over the last seven days. But that doesn't mean I forgive her. It's my duty as her son but my soul refuses me from forgiving.

I hear footsteps,I turn my head and see Maryam. She wears black abaya and olive hijab. Fast wind loosens her scarf; strands of brown color brush her face. Her warm gaze meets mine.

"Hi," she says, sitting beside me on the sand.

" Hii" I reply.

We both are silent, watching waves crash against the coast. The silence seems so loud, as if we're discussing all the chaos that happened last week.

I break the silence. "How's Samar doing?"

She doesn't reply. I turn to look at her face. Her eyes are filled with tears. Something about her eyes makes even crying captivating.

"Maryam," I say urgently, "Hey, is there a problem? Is Samar alright?" I continue.

She doesn't reply, hiding her face, crying with increased intensity.

I am confused. "Tell me, Maryam, what's wrong."

"I am sorry," she says, her voice seeming muffled. "I am sorry, Rayan, you suffered all this. I pray your life will be happiest and most blessed."

I smile. "Thank you."

"Can you show me your face now? Are you crying for me?"

No response only sobs.

"So you pity me and love Samar. It's heartbreaking," I joke.

Maryam is still crying, hiding her face into her knees.

"Maryam," I add, "Stop crying. Why are you such a crybaby?" I tease. "Instead of talking to me, you're wasting time in crying. I'm leaving for the USA; we might not get a chance to talk for years."

Maryam raises her head, looking at me in shock.

"What?" she says, "You're leaving? When?" Her voice is panicked.

"This saturday."I say

" Why?" She asks.

I sigh

"Because I want to fresh start my life.I am going to work in google."

She remains silent and watches my face as if finding something.

" Have you told Alia about your Mom." She asks.

" Not yet I was scared of telling her when she is all alone in India but I am suspicious she might know it from the way she talks to me on the phone.Its going to be tough for her I expect shifting to USA will help her healing from this." I say.

" She will be fine because she has a brother like you." Maryam says.

" Thanks for the complement." I laugh.

" How can You be so nice,Rayan.I sometimes feels jealous." She says.

" No you dont." I smile

"Yes I do."She tries to smile," Oh I forget to give you something." She says and starts searching something in her purse.

She takes out a matel bracelet.It has engraved ANGEL in beautiful letters.She hands me this.

" I bought this for you in that charity event."

I am admiring it when Maryam says,"You dont like it."

"No"I say

"No"Her face saddens.

"No I mean I like it."I reply urgently as she misunderstood me," Do think I am an angle." I ask.

" Offcourse.I customised it and made them engrave angel on it." She tells me a whole story how she got it and what samar said that I would not like it and she told him that its the testomony of our friendship.

Friendship,from where this whole thing started.

Friendship.

" Its hard to be human sometimes and You think I am an angel." I laugh.

" Yes Rayan.You are best person I have ever met in life.You are my favourite." She smiles sweetly.

Just then her phone rings,She talks to Ayesha while I admire het gift.

" I need to go." Maryam says,hanging up," I am going to the hospital." She adds.

" Okay." I say.

She stands and says," All the best Rayan.You deserve the whole world.I will pray for you." Her eyes are filled with sadness.

I stand up,"Thank You Maryam." I say.

There is silence for some seconds then I say," Goodbye." I stop," Maryam."

" Bye Rayan" she smiles and wave at me.

She turns and walks away.

My heart feels heavy with each step she takes away from me.

"Maryam"I say,desparate to take a last glance at her.

She turns," What."

" Nothing." I say.

She smiles softly and walks away.This moment is enough to spent a life for me.

Samar's POV

There's a deafening silence in the hospital room. Dad sits beside me, his eyes cast downward. I've been waiting for him to speak, wondering what he wants to say.

"I'm sorry," he finally speaks, "I ruined everything. I know my apologies can't fix the wounds I've inflicted on you at such a young age."

I gaze at his face, etched with regret. He can't meet my eyes.

"Your mother was a kind person," he continues, his voice cracking. "She was strong woman who empowered others, but I made her so weak that she end up like that."

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I think about her. I lean my head against the headboard, blinking rapidly to hold back the tears.

"I'm a horrible person," He whispers, his shoulders sagging in defeat.

There is a long moment of silence before I finally speak up. "So, what do you want me to do now?" I ask, my voice laced with sarcasm. "Hug you?Celebrate you, Appreciate you for finally acknowledging your mistake after 15 years?"

His eyes plead for forgiveness. "I want your forgiveness," he says, his voice barely above a whisper.

I raise an eyebrow, incredulous. "As if it's that easy to forgive you after all the pain you caused my mother."

Dad nods, acknowledging the depth of his mistakes. "I know it's not easy, but I still hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.You are son of a kind woman." I disgust at his manupulation.

"I've told your grandmother everything. I know that your forgiveness, and hers, is essential. Without it, I don't think even God will forgive me."

I look at him in shock,he is genuinly sorry.But why.What inflicted this sudden change.I think its due to this whole thing with Tara.

He pauses, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "I'll be retiring soon, after you're healthy again. I know this wealth and prestige were never truly mine. I stole them from your mother, betraying her trust.I will try my best to make everything right."

He walks to the door when I say," Its too late to make things right,Dad.I lost my mother and nothing will bring her back."

He turns to see me but I look away.He gets out of the room.I'm holding back my emotions, trying to process everything, when the door swings open again. Anneanne, walks in, her eyes filled with tears. She rushes to my side and wraps her arms around me.

"I'm sorry, my baby," she whispers, her voice trembling. "I couldn't protect you and your mother." Her sobs fill the room, and something inside me shatters. The dam I've built around my emotions for 15 years finally breaks, and a torrent of grief and pain pours out.

I cling to Anneanne, my body racked with sobs. Tears stream down my face, and my shoulders shake with uncontrollable anguish.

Anneanne holds me tightly, her own tears mingling with mine. "My baby, I'm so sorry," she whispers, over and over, as we both succumb to the overwhelming emotions that have been building for so long.

Just then the door swings open,Maryam walks in and stops at the entrance,sensing the tense environment in the room.She is about to leave when I signal her to come.She sits on the edge of bed,observing the scene with worried eyes.

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

"Is everything alright,Samar."Maryam asks after Anneanne leave the room.I tell her everything and she listens it with compassionate gaze.

She puts a warm hand on my cheek,brushing my beard.I have grown a beared being hospitalised.

I grab her hand and find a bandage on her index finger," What is this,Love." I ask.

" Its." She stops.

" What." I ask.

" I made soup for you so when I was choping vegetables I nicked myself." Maryam says while opening a box.

" Why were You making the soup." I ask my voice quite rough.

Maryam looks into my eyes in anger,"Why are you so ungrateful,Samar.Instead of being happy that I made soup fro you,You are yelling at me." She says," You didnt even notice my olive hijab that I specially wore for you.You are really mean." She continues as if complaining.

I smile.

"Sorry,Love but I was not yelling I was just concerned."

She brings the spoon to my mouth,"Now drink this."

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

I lie on the physical therapy table, eleven days post-surgery. A middle aged doctor stands over me.

"Alright, Samar, let's assess your progress," he says, scanning my chest.

I wince as he gently manipulates my arm.

"Pain?" he asks.

"Minimal," I reply.

Doctor nods. "Excellent. You're healing remarkably fast."

He guides me through exercises - arm circles, shoulder rolls and deep breathing.

"Your physique and strength are definitely aiding recovery," He comments. "You must have been active pre-surgery."

I smile slightly. "Yeah, I worked out regularly."

He smiles back. "Shows. Your muscle mass is helping stabilize your chest. Keep this up, and you'll be back to normal soon."

His words boost my morale.

"Let's try some strengthening exercises," he says.

I comply, feeling stitches stretch.

He observes, nodding. "Impressive. You're regaining mobility quickly."

The session ends and doctors leave the room.

Maryam walks in and puts some flowers in a vase on the side table.

" How was the therapy session." She asks,her tone warm as always.

" Great.Doctor said I am healing a lot faster." I say while putting my sweatshirt on over me.

" Thats good." She says.

I see into her eyes and they are red,"Love,You should take care of yourself.You seem exhausted."I state witnessing her constant care towards me.She always stays in the hospital,rarely staying at home.She seems sleep deprived as well.

" I am fine." She says and hops on to the bed.She fixes my arm and lie beside me putting her head on my arm.

" Love." I say," Go home and rest."

"I am having rest."she says wrapping her arm around me.

" Maryam listen to me." I insist,she lifts her eyes to meet mine," You want me to go."

" No Love.I want you to have rest because you seem tired."

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

As Maryam steps out of the bathroom, I'm struck by her beauty. Her nightclothes hug her curves perfectly, and her brown hair cascades down her back like silk.

She begins talking about Ayesha's youtube channel and how she helped her in cooking a new dish but I barely hear her. I'm lost in the gentle curve of her neck, the soft glow of her skin.My eyes scanning her every move.She is not not wearing dupatta and my eyes stuck on her collar bones.

"...and then I spilled water on all over it" she laughs, braiding her hair with effortless elegance.

"You are clumsy," I reply.

My gaze follows her as she walks to the closet, her movements fluid. She pulls out a blanket.

"But we are thinking of remaking the video tomorrow." she continues and settles into the coach.

Dissapointement surrounds me,I am waiting for her to come into the bed,to snuggle close and bask into each others warmth and she is sleeping on the couch but why.

" Maryam" I say,a slight hint of my anger," What are you doing."

"What ?"She says," I am sleeping on the couch."

" But why?" I asks.

" Because You said I should stay away from you."

My mind goes blank.

" What the hell. When did I said that and why would I say that?" I ask my tone quite high this time.

" You even forgot." She says pulling the blanket over her and I am left with my broken heart.

" Maryam Love." I say and try to get out of the bed towards her when she says,"Stop.Dont come near me."

I blink in confusion," Is this any kind of joke,Love.If it is,its not funny." I say.

" I am not joking,You told me to go home the other day in hospital." She says.

I sigh.

" Love,Are you serious.I was concerned about your health thats why said you should go home not because I wanted you to stay away from me." My voice convincing.

She says nothing and just stare at my face,I tap my palm over the bed to signal her to come but she pulls blanket over her agressively.

"Maryam I am counting 5.If you will not come by yourself I would come there and bring you here by myself."I say my tone authoritative.

1

2

3

"Stop counting"She says irritated," Do you think you can scare me with this again.No you cant." She says and I am loving her this rebellious side.

" But you are scared my Love." I smile.

" Cant I sleep alone for one night." She says gritting her teeth in anger.

" No,you cant." I reply.

She lie again ignoring me.

4

5

I rise from the bed and walk towards her,"Samar,no! You cant force me like this." She protest while resisting.

" You cant lift me,you are injured." She adds when I go near her.

But I ignore her words and lift her by my only arm that move makes her giggle," You love playing games." I whisper into her ear, placing her onto the bed.

As I lower her onto the bed,I hover above,My body covering hers.Maryam's wrists are caught in my hands.Our faces inches apart and for some seconds my heart stopped beating.

" Samar its not funny.You are hurt." Maryam's eyes flash with worry.

" Thats what I am saying Love." I say,my voice low," Be gentle with me I am wounded.Have some mercy" I smile.

Her cheeks turn pink and she looks away.I trail kisses down her cheek,neck.Maryam's eyes drift closed,lost in sensation.

Ahemm Ahemm what just happened🤫🤫

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