Far Away Love ✓

√chapter thirty seven

Shaiq's POV

The brightness of the day was long gone and now the darkness of the night had engulfed everything all around. After getting assured that Zainab was sleeping, I softly separated her hand from mine and left for the bathroom to take a shower. I took a deep breath of relief that she didn't get disturbed when I made a distance from her. I didn't understand why she became so apprehensive like this.

This past week since she had come to consciousness, I found her too disturbed and afraid. She wasn't like this before. She was so brave. She now refused to sleep or eat when I wasn't around her. And whenever I tried to go away from her, she either woke up or became scared in her sleep. She used to mutter calling me not to leave her alone. And only when I assured her that I was with her by grabbing her hand or telling her vocally, she became relaxed again. 

It was been a whole day since I didn't get freshened up. And at this time of the night, I was feeling so worn out and greasy which was only got alleviated by a warm shower. Coming back to the room as I rubbed my wet hair with a towel, I laid a glance at Zainab who was still sleeping. She was looking so innocent and calm. A satisfied smile appeared on my face seeing her like this. Again in my life, in my room, and front of my eyes. God knew how hell those few days were for me when she was in the hospital.

I wore my T-shirt and began combing my hair. Getting done with my business, I silently walked towards the bed and crouched down on my feet near her. Devouring her beautiful face with my eyes for a moment, I leaned over and pecked her forehead.

"Sleep well Zaini," I whispered and stood back. I had been getting so many calls from my office as I didn't go there for almost a week. Now as everything was back on track, I decided to call my personal assistant to look out for everything in my absence and send me important files and other work at home to review them. I didn't want to go office right now. Especially leaving Zainab when she was still not healthy enough yet.

I was about to leave for my study room when Zainab's warm and soft hand held my forearm. I turned around and my gaze darted at her who was already looking at me with half-opened eyes filled with sleep.

"Where are you going?" She murmured slowly.

I could never understand how she used to sense my absence even while sleeping. An amusing grin raised on my lips at this.

To the hell with everything else. What was important right now was my Zainab.

"Nowhere. I thought you were sleeping," I reasoned, still delighted by her confused expression.

"As soon as the warmness of your presence goes away from me, my mind automatically becomes restless," she blinked her eyes quickly. And I knew it was to stop herself from tearing up.

"Just sleep. I am with you, don't worry." I caressed her rosy cheek with my thumb.

"But now I am unable to sleep," she chuckled but then again pulled a straight face. "I want to talk to you Shaiq. Just like we used to do before. It's been years since we didn't talk to each other properly. "

I abruptly looked away from her. How much did I torture her with my cold behavior? Before doing that, I knew she was going to suffer but I didn't have an idea that she would get affected this much that she would become a totally different Zainab. I broke her. My attitude broke her internally. But what could have I done if not for this?

"Shaiq, stay with me," I came back to present at her words and when I looked back at her, she already slid herself a bit back to make space enough for me on the bed. This was a kind of permission from her. A sort of redemption for what she did five years back. And this alone made me feel the profundity of my move.