A Tale of Hearts

Chapter Sixty Six

Zoya's POV:

I can't believe it. I can't believe he locked me in here and decided to take care of this on his own. What was the point of telling him if he was going to do whatever he pleased in the end?

What is he going to do if Wassal, that psychopath is at the door? Kill him? Or get killed? The idea of a lifeless Kamran sent a jolt into my body. If he is gone, his deep chocolate brown eyes wouldn't look at me like they always do. His fluffy hair wouldn't be a sight I could witness again. His gentle way of talking, his calming vibe. None of it would be there anymore. No.  I don't want to imagine it. At all. Just where is his common sense? I banged on the door a few more times. "Let me out right now!" No response at all. Huffing, I went and sat beside Misha on the bed.

"Should I ask?" Misha inquired and I just looked at her. We had known each other since grade four. We didn't need to exchange words to understand at each other at this point. She moved forward and gave me a hug. Ah, the flood gates have opened. I started crying in her arms. "It will be alright. Kamran has Ibraheem and Fahad with him. Not to mention all the uncles. He won't die. Those two will make sure to protect him till the end."

Misha patted my back, fully understanding the reason behind my anxiety and stress. She had been in a similar situation once too, with Ibraheem. She knew my worry stemmed from that fact that I was scared he is going to die, that fool. And it would be my fault. I won't be able to do anything to protect him or Kainaat if she is even alive at this point. I shouldn't have told him at all.

"I am a curse to his family. What if something happens to him, Misha? How will I live with that? There is just a door separating us and yet, here I am sitting, helplessly." I weeped some more before looking at her with glassy eyes. I hated feeling helpless.

"You are not a curse for our family. You might just be a cure sent by Allah." I had completely forgotten, in my panicked state, that Kamran's mother, Auntie Salma was also in this room with us. She had been sitting so silently on a sofa with a peaceful expression on her face that I hardly noticed her presence. "Anushay, dear child, you have mended our fractured family. Losing Kainaat was the most painful event of our life. We never healed from it. All of us were stuck in it. You are not a curse. You are the answer to the prayers all of us did. Allah sent you to heal our wounds."

Auntie Salma's words pierced through my heart. Her pain bore naked infront of me despite the peaceful smile on her face. At that moment, I came to realise that this graceful yet frail lady sitting before me was the strongest person I had ever come across.

"But auntie, what about Kamran?"

"Don't you worry, dear child. Kamran will be fine. Just as Misha has said, he has his father and his brothers with him. He won't be hurt. But more than that." Auntie paused and gave me a radiant smile, a smile that caused sparkles to erupt in her eyes. She beckoned me towards her and I bent my knees and sat infront of her, holding her delicate hand.

"More than that?" I urged her to go on. To console my heart that he will survive. He will be fine.

"He finally found you two. Ever since that day, August 10th, he has been searching. He never gave up. That boy, he left a part of his soul in his sister, Kainaat and his beloved childhood friend, Anushay. He won't give up so easily. He has waited too long for it."

Those words sent shivers down my spine. Every single part of my body tingled. I never knew the extent of his...I didn't even know what to call it. Attachment? Love? I was still concerned for his wellbeing. Wassal, I had seen the craze in his eyes. He isn't the type to back off easily.

"Wassal, that man is crazy. He won't stop at anything."

"It will work out. I trust Allah's plan. It will be fine. We have His protection."

And just then the door knob turned, the sound of a lock unlocking went off and in walked Kamran. He was unharmed. Not even a hair on his head had moved. No signs of blood. No ripped clothes. No gunshot wounds. He was okay. Sher was okay. He scanned the room until his eyes landed on my tear streaked face. I turned away almost immediately. I am not going talking to him, no matter what. Karle jo karna hai isne.

He took three long strides and joined us. From the corner of my eye, I spotted Ibraheem heading to Misha. Misha seemed unfazed and smiled softly as she got up to greet him properly.

"Ammi, Uncle Buland doesn't know anything. We are going to Wassal's house to get to the bottom of this now." Auntie nodded and walked towards the door where Uncle Azmat was standing. What? He was going to Wassal's house? Right now? Did the Narejo's have no sense of danger? Did they not strategize? Isn't this the part where they ambush Wassal or something?

In my petty state of mind, I had completely ignored Kamran's existence. I I flinched when his cold fingers touched my wet cheek. I glared at him and then stepped back so the contact wouldn't be there anymore.

"Why are you crying?" I wasn't going to answer him. He thinks I am joking when I threaten him. I am absolutely serious. I am a lawyer. Maintaining my word is my profession. No matter what he does, I am not budging at all. I have the resolve of a-Wait a minute. Where did everyone go? How is it just the two of us in the room?

How could Misha leave me alone with this unhinged-Oh my God, he was looking right at me with that intense gaze of his. I need to get out of here. I tried to side step but he blocked my path. Should I jump out of the window? I eyed the window behind me. Nah, the glass will pierce my skin.

"Are you really not going to talk to me? And no, you won't be able to escape through the window. That's tempered glass. It doesn't break." How did he know what I was thinking? Also, did he make his voice husky on purpose? He is playing dirty. Hmph! None of this will work on me. My resolve won't waver so easily. "Can my Zoya please tell me why she is crying?"

Did he just say please? Did Kamran Khan Narejo just talk to me as if he is talking to a little child? Is he cooing me as if I am a baby? And why is it working? Why is he getting so close? This is invasion of privacy. I can smell his masculine cologne. Why does his slightly puffy eyes and messy black hair look so attractive right now? All these questions are wrecking my rationality.

"Can you keep your distance? I don't like namehraams touching me." I shoo-ed him with my hand but he just stood rooted to his spot but rose his hands in surrender.

"You are finally talking to me." Kamran gave me one of his rare but boyish grins and I felt my heart slam against my chest. Nope. No. It's just the hormones. "I won't be a namehraam for long. I can promise you that."

I felt my face heat up. How could he casually say something so serious? 

"I am going to Wassal's house, Zoya." At that, I felt my heart drop. The cozy atmosphere disappeared and it suddenly felt so cold. Colder than the fingers that had grazed my cheek just now. I looked at him and the tears started to drop again. "Oh, so this is why you were crying. Is my Zoya worried about her Sher?" He wiped a free tear from my face and kissed a strand of my hair.

"Who is yours? And so what if I am?" I sniffed and he chuckled. The voice echoed in the empty room and I felt heart stop for a few seconds at how beautiful and smooth it sounded.

"I will be back, Zoya. You know why?" Kamran played with the ends of my hair strand while looking at me.

"Why?" I suddenly felt breathless.

"Because once this whole mess is resolved, I plan to marry you. With your consent of course. I will come back for you. With Kainaat beside me. She needs to see our marriage too. So will you wait for me? Just like I have always waited for you?"

I wanted to refuse but every atom in my being wanted me to speak with honesty for once. To make peace with the turmoil in my heart and mind. And so with a temporary truce of my rationality and my feelings, I answered.

"Yes. So promise me. Promise me that you will come back safely."

"I promise." 

Author's Note:

Hello and Asalam o Alaikum lovelies!

I legit have no energy or motivation to write nowadays. It's so cold, my finger tips have turned blue from how cold it is. I don't even know what I am doing anymore. I am just tired. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter though.