Junooniyat|✔

CHAPTER 76

Maryam Chaudhary
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I woke up from a restless sleep, feeling disoriented as I sat on the edge of the bed. The room around me was vast and grey, with a sense of emptiness that matched the turmoil in my mind. Pulling back the sheets, I noticed the bandage wrapped tightly around my wrist, a stark reminder of the events that had unfolded the night before. The memory of my desperate attempt to end my own life by cutting my nerve flooded back to me, the failed attempt leaving me feeling even more lost and alone. 

As I sat there, trying to make sense of it all, I couldn't shake the image of his pleading eyes as he begged me to hand over the gun. I had refused, the fear and pain driving me to make irrational threats of self-harm if he dared to come any closer. The tension in the room had been suffocating, the air heavy with unspoken words and unshed tears.   

And then, in a moment of weakness, everything had gone black. I had fainted, the world fading away as my body succumbed to the overwhelming weight of my emotions. Now, as I sat on the edge of the bed, the memories came rushing back, leaving me feeling more lost and broken than ever before.

Just then, the door flew open with a sense of urgency, causing a slight startle in the room. Maria entered with a warm, genuine smile on her face, bringing a sense of tranquility with her presence.

"Assalamualaikum", she greeted in gentle, soothing voice as she gracefully made her way to the bed where I was seated. I couldn't help but return her warm greeting with a smile of my own, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me in her company.

As Maria settled herself on the bed beside me, her eyes immediately landed on my bandaged hand, a silent question lingering in the air. It was clear that she was curious about what had happened, her concern evident in the way she studied the injury. I, too, found myself pondering the events that had led me wrapping my hand in bandages. The truth was, even I couldn't pinpoint what had came over me in that moment, causing me to act in such a way.

Despite the unspoken questions that hung between us, there was a sense of understanding and compassion in Maria's gaze. It was as if she knew that sometimes actions speak louder than words, and that there are moments when explanations fall short in capturing the complexity of human emotions. And so, we sat in silence, a silent understanding passing between us as we shared a moment of connection and empathy.

Maria cleared herthroat making me look at her. I raised my brow in curiosity. "Ahmm, Kya aap mere saath shopping chalengi?", she asked adjusting her glasses on her nose. I couldn't help but think how cute she looked in that moment.

"Off course, Maria. Just give me a few minutes to change", I replied with a smile, getting up from the bed and heading into the closet.

As I rummaged through my clothes, Maria stood infront of the closet. "Bhabhi, main nikal dungi aapke liye dress, aap shower lene jaein", she offered. I nodded in agreement and entered the shower, feeling the warm water relaxing my muscles.

"Can you please pass me my clothes now?", I asked, poking my hand out of the shower, waiting for her to hand me my clothes. She handed me a beautiful baby pink chikankari kurta and I quickly put it on. Stepping out of the shower, I dabbed my face with the towel.

"You look pretty", Maria complimented, standing there brushing her hair. I couldn't resist but pull her chubby cheeks and she giggled, scrunching up her nose. "And you are very cute", I said, feeling grateful to have her company in this cage.

Wallah, agar mera koi bhai hota, toh main ise apni bhabhi bana leti, I thought, admiring her more and more.

I put on a claw clip in my hair, securing it in place before reaching for my favorite lip balm to hydrate lips. With my hair and lips taken care of, I made my way over to my shoe rack and selected a pair of jutis to slip on. As I finished getting ready, Maria and I interlocked hands and stepped out of the room together, ready to embark on our shopping adventure.

"Shall we go for some pani puri while we are out?", Maria suggested, as we descended the stairs, our hands swaying in unison.

"Sure, that sounds like a great idea", I replied with a smile. 

"Chachi jaan, nahi aayengi kya hamare saath", I asked as we stepped out of the house and walked into the parking area.

"Nahi, mama haveli gayi hai dadi ki tabiyat kharab hai", Maria replied as we saw Asad coming towards us.

As Asad approached us and inquired, "are you both going somewhere?", Maria responded with a smile, "yes, we're heading out for some shopping". However, Asad's expression turned into a glare, causing a pout to form on Maria's lips. I observed the interaction between them, sensing that there was something more going on between the two of them. I couldn't help but wonder what it could be.

"What happened to your hand, bhabhi?", Asad asked, looking at my hand and prompting me to cover it with my dupatta.

"Nothing", I replied, grabbing Maria's hand and leading towards the black swift parked in front of us in the parking area.

"Did you ask bhai's permission to go shopping?", Asad asked, his question sparking anger within me.

"Why, am I supposed to seek permission from your brother for everything?", I retorted, my voice clearly filled with frustration.

"It's just bhai told us not to let you out of the house without his permission", he said, while scratching his neck as I glared at him.

"Well, I don't care what he says, Just take me to the mall", I said as I closed my eyes and lay on the seat headrest. Despite his warnings, I was determined to go out and have some fun. I was tired of being cooped up at home and needed a change of scenery.

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🥀I'm not even sorry for how I'm about to start acting, I've been nice too long🥀

Sorry for the mistakes 🤗🤗

Allah hafiz 💕💕