Jaan-e-Azlan❤

11(edited)

"Can I hug you?" Mantasha asked Azlan, her voice tinged with vulnerability.

"Huh?" Azlan looked at her, confused.

"Please, Azi," she pleaded softly. In the next moment, Azlan pulled her into a comforting hug. It was an innocent side hug, with her head resting on his shoulder and his arms gently encircling her.

He caressed her head, trying to ease her tension. He felt her body start to shake and noticed his shirt growing damp. Realizing she was crying, he frowned and pulled back slightly, his heart aching at the sight of her tears. Seeing her in pain hurt him deeply.

"Misha! Kya hua hai? Aise kyun ro rahi ho?" he asked, holding her face tenderly. She closed her eyes tightly, sobbing harder.

"I... he— that boy... in uni..." she stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence. Azlan's worry deepened.

"It's okay. Calm down," he said soothingly, pulling her back into his embrace. She clung to him, crying her heart out on his shoulder. Every sob felt like a dagger to his heart, but he held her close, offering silent comfort.

After a while, when her sobs subsided, she pulled away, leaving him with a sense of cold emptiness. He gently wiped the tears from her face, his touch tender and reassuring. She sniffed and took a deep breath, trying to compose herself.

"Can we go home?" she asked, her voice still shaky.

"Misha, you’re not planning to ignore me again, are you?" Azlan asked, his tone gentle but probing.

"I’m not. I just want to rest a little first. I promise, we will talk about it," she replied, her eyes pleading for understanding. He nodded, accepting her need for space.

He drove her home, the journey filled with a comforting silence. Once they arrived, he urged her to rest, promising they would talk after dinner. She agreed, heading to her room. Azlan, needing to occupy his mind, returned to his office to complete his pending assignments, hoping work would distract him until their conversation later.

As Mantasha lay in her room, she felt a mixture of exhaustion and relief. Azlan's comforting presence had eased some of her pain. She closed her eyes, hoping that sleep would bring her some respite from the turmoil within her.

Azlan, in his office, couldn't shake the image of Mantasha's tear-streaked face from his mind. His heart ached for her, and he resolved to do whatever it took to ensure that she felt safe and loved. He worked diligently, though his thoughts constantly drifted back to her, counting the hours until they could talk and he could offer her the comfort she so desperately needed.

In the stillness of the night, after the clatter of dinner had subsided and the household had settled into quietude, Azlan remained awake, tending to a silent yet significant task. With practiced care, he prepared two cups of hot chocolate, a gesture of comfort and solace that he knew would resonate deeply with Mantasha.

Balancing the warm cups in his hands, Azlan made his way to Mantasha's room, a place of refuge and understanding. He knocked softly, awaiting her permission before entering. Upon her assent, he stepped inside, finding her seated on her bed, her demeanor a mixture of weariness and quiet longing.

As Mantasha's eyes alighted on the cups he held, a small smile graced her lips, a flicker of joy in the midst of turmoil. Azlan felt a surge of relief at her reaction, knowing that even in her moments of vulnerability, he could offer her a measure of comfort.

Handing her a cup, Azlan settled onto the edge of her bed, his presence a reassuring anchor in her storm-tossed sea. Mantasha accepted the cup eagerly, savoring the warmth and sweetness it offered. Her gratitude was palpable as she expressed her thanks, and Azlan responded with a gentle nod and a tender smile.