**Part of Preloved Series- Can be read as a stand-alone**
You don't have to read Preloved or Beloved in order to read this book. You can read this story on its own but my personal advice would be to read Preloved and Beloved first if you haven't alr...
'He left already?' I hurried after Hamza Bhai to the living room as he announced the news about Irfan the following day.
'Yeah, I tried to make him stay, but he said he needed to go,' He told me and finally sat on the sofa while I remained standing, thinking why Irfan left so suddenly? He must have talked to Ayat. There was no other way for him to leave without seeing me.
'Where is Ayat?' I was about to check on her when Hamza Bhai informed me she went outside to the market.
'Are you going to the office?' I asked Hamza Bhai when he finished talking over the phone with someone from his office.
'Yes, the meeting got reschedule, so I have to leave early, don't try to be too hard on Ayat. She is just looking after you...she didn't sleep last night,' He told me as I took Haniya from his arms before he left for the office. I called Irfan several times and left a voicemail too but didn't hear back from him. I hope he was alright. I went to the guest room where he was stying to see if he had left something, but all of his belongings were gone. He had taken everything with him.
'Haya?' Farah answered in a sleepy voice when I video called her after a while.
'Oh, I am sorry, I didn't realize the time difference...I'll call you later' I apologized and was about to end the call when she interrupted me.
'No, it's fine. I was about to get up...how are you? How is Irfan?' She asked me and sat up straight on the bed, looking more awake now.
'I am fine. Have you spoken with Irfan?' I asked her straightway, hoping she would have some news about him. His sudden disappearance didn't feel right.
'I spoke to him last night. Is everything okay? He did mention that your sister wasn't too pleased to see him' She looked at me tensely.
'No, it's not like that, she wasn't expecting him so suddenly, everything happened so fast so she is still shocked I guess but everything is fine...how is Abeer and everyone else? Does Ruby Aunty know? I mean, of course, she does but is she okay with him and me...us?' I asked her one question after another.
'Hold on, one thing at a time' She laughed and started telling me about everything one by one. She told me how happy everyone was when Irfan told them that he liked me and asked me for marriage. She told me everyone wanted to come with him, but he insisted on going alone.
'He wanted to come alone?' I inquired.
'He said he didn't know how everyone was going to react, and you weren't answering his calls then, so he left in a hurry...I guess you found about his engagement?' She asked me. I wanted to talk to Irfan about it, but now that Farah mentioned it, I decided to ask her about it.
'Yes, I got angry...it was a mistake...I shouldn't have avoided him, but I felt hurt when I found about his engagement...with your sister-in-law,' I told her, waiting for her to tell me what happened.
'It was forced...my husband pressured him to marry his sister or else he'd divorce me. To protect my marriage, he agreed, but he never liked her...he has never been anyone...he never wanted to get married...until you...when he mentioned you, I knew you were the right person for him Haya' She smiled at me.
'He never liked her?' I questioned her.
'No...he broke off the engagement...he said he wasn't going to ruin her life when he didn't love her...she understood that but not her brother...our marriage was broken a long time ago, but the final hit was when Irfan called off the wedding, and we separated...for a long time Irfan felt responsible for everything, but I was against this marriage from the beginning...he didn't have to sacrifice his life for me...I am just glad he found you...I can only imagine how beautiful his life will be when you become his wife' Her smile widen at me, and so did mine.
'Where is Irfan anyway?' She asked me, and I felt nervous again. I didn't want to make her worry and tell her about his unusual absence.
'He is sleeping,' I said and told her I'd call her later before she could ask me any more questions about him. When I returned to the living room, I saw Ayat coming from the front door.
'Did you speak to him?' I approached her right away and asked.
'Who?' She stared at me blankly.
'Our neighbor...Irfan, who else?' I said with annoyance.
'Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed' She eyed me and walked past me to see Haniya, who was playing in my room.
'Ayat, please tell me did you speak with Irfan?' I raised my voice at her when she tried to dodge the question. It made me suspicious of her. What if she said something and he left in anger.
'He is not answering my calls...where is he?' I asked her as I started to cry.
'I did talk to him, but I didn't ask him to leave...I just told him I needed some time and that I want to talk to his family...I can do that, can't I? I can ask him to stay away from you until I am sure he is a good fit for you' She looked at me angrily but came to wipe tears off my face.
'He is a good fit for me. He is avoiding me now thanks to you,' I said between cries.
'Don't put this one me. I don't know where he went,' She replied, and I sat quietly, not knowing what to say or feel. His departure was bothering me so much. I wish I had woken up early. I wish he answered my calls...I wish he was here.
'Maybe he had some urgent matter...he will call you' I heard her say, and I opened my eyes to look at her.
'I hurt him. That's why this is happening to me. If I had trusted him, he wouldn't have come here,' I said.
'It's not your fault...I don't know what to tell you, but he will come back. I don't want to see you cry like that again...don't cry, please' She came to me and took me in her arms.
'He took all his stuff with him,' I mumbled.
'Maybe we went to his parents house...don't worry, he will call you soon, and I will tell him to move back, okay? Just stop crying,' She assured me and patted my back gently.
'You'll be nice to him, right?' I asked her.
'Yes, Haya...I didn't tell him to leave...I didn't like how he came here so suddenly, but I am not angry anymore,' She told me and I relaxed a little bit, but as the day started to pass by, and there was no news of him, all my worries started coming to the surface again.
