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I was staring at Sobia's father's number on my phone, debating whether I should inform him about her health condition. My finger hovered over the screen, hesitating, as I thought of the potential consequences. The silence of the room was broken only by the faint ticking of the wall clock, each second intensifying my internal conflict.
Suddenly, movement at the top of the stairs caught my attention. Sobia was descending, her steps slow and deliberate. I quickly turned off my phone, slipping it into my pocket as I shifted my focus to her. Her face was pale, her eyes clouded with exhaustion. It was clear that her recovery had a long way to go.
Muffin, who had been quietly lounging beside me on the sofa, instantly perked up at the sight of her. Without a second thought, the cat darted across the room, his paws light on the marble floor as he ran to greet Sobia. Muffin rubbed himself against Sobia’s legs, purring and licking her feet affectionately.
I smiled at the heartwarming sight, but my smile faded the moment I noticed the deep frown on Sobia’s face. She recoiled slightly, her brows knitting together in confusion.
"Whose cat is this?" she asked, her tone edged with irritation, as though Muffin’s presence was an unexpected and unwelcome surprise.
Her gaze swept across the room and landed on Parveen, who had just entered the hall, her hands full with a tray of tea and biscuits.
“Is this yours?” Sobia’s voice was sharp, her gaze cutting towards Parveen as she demanded an answer.
Parveen hesitated for a moment, glancing at me for direction.
“You can leave, Parveen,” I said calmly, nodding once. Without another word, she exited the room, leaving us in a tense silence.
Turning back to Sobia, I walked toward her slowly, closing the distance between us. Dropping to one knee, I scooped Muffin into my arms, the little cat immediately curling against me, his soft purrs barely audible. It was as if he was upset, saddened that Sobia didn’t seem to recognize him anymore.
“It’s our cat, Muffin,” I said gently, my voice low as I stroked his fur. “The one I bought for you. The one you used to adore.” I glanced up at her, hoping to see a flicker of recognition in her eyes. “You cherished him, Sobia.”
Her lips parted slightly. “Muffin…” she whispered, the name trembling on her tongue. It was like a dam had broken; memories flooded her all at once, hitting her with the force of a wave. Tears welled up in her eyes, glistening like morning dew before spilling over.
