The Enchanted Hearts

CHAPTER-13

As I walked into the house, the day's exhaustion weighed heavily on my shoulders. I headed straight to our room, eager to find some peace after a long day. Pushing the door open quietly, I saw Zara lying on the bed with her eyes closed, looking serene and peaceful. I stood there for a moment, just watching her, feeling a strange sense of calm wash over me.

She looked beautiful, more so than I'd ever allowed myself to admit. I shrugged off the thought, trying to focus on anything else. I needed to change and get out of my work clothes. After changing into something more comfortable, I returned to the bed, my eyes drawn to her once again.

"Why is she looking so cute while sleeping?" I thought to myself, a small smile made its way on my lips shaking my head as if to clear away the thought. What is happening to me? Why am I thinking like this? She stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she saw me standing there. She immediately sat up, looking a bit disoriented.

She quickly started to straighten her clothes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep. I just lay down for a moment and must have dozed off."

I waved off her apology. "It's fine. But why were you lying down like that? You seemed really tired."

Zara hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I just lay down for a bit to rest. I guess I didn't realize when I fell asleep."

I nodded, understanding the exhaustion. "Did you have dinner yet?" I asked, knowing the answer but needing to hear it from her.

She shook her head, a hint of frustration in her eyes. "No, I can't eat peacefully with them around. Aunty's taunts are too much to bear."

I sighed, feeling a mix of anger and sympathy. "Alright, let's eat together then." I didn't like the idea of her going hungry because of our guests.

We made our way to the dining table, and I noticed the relief on her face as we began to eat. The atmosphere was slightly more relaxed without the prying eyes and judgmental remarks. We shared a quiet meal, the silence between us feeling oddly comfortable.

As we were eating, Rania walked in, acting overly familiar with me. She laughed loudly and tried to engage me in conversation, clearly ignoring Zara. "Ayaan, it's been so long since we had a proper chat. Remember those days we used to hang out?" she said, her voice was too cheerful.

I glanced at Zara, noticing her discomfort. She was quietly eating, her mood visibly souring with each passing second. I couldn't stand seeing her like that. "Rania, we're having dinner. Can we talk later?" I said firmly.

Rania pouted and crossed her arms. "Fine, whatever," she said angrily and stormed out of the room.

The atmosphere at the table felt even more tense after that. Zara's mood had clearly shifted, and it was evident in her eyes. I wanted to say something to comfort her, but I didn't know what.

After dinner, we returned to our room. I glanced at Zara, who seemed more at ease than she had been earlier. "Good night," I said softly as I settled onto my side of the bed.

She looked at me, her eyes wide with shock. It was as if she couldn't believe I had actually said good night to her. "Good night," she replied, her voice hesitant but warm.

As I closed my eyes, I couldn't help but think about the small steps we were taking towards some semblance of normalcy. It wasn't much, but it was a start. And for now, that was enough.

"Sometimes, it's the smallest steps that lead us to the greatest journeys."

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At university, I met up with my friend Maria in the cafeteria. We grabbed some tea and sat down to chat. The topic of internships came up, as it often did these days with everyone anxiously waiting for responses from companies.