Sin

Chapter 17

Pov: Ayat 

"Hey, Boss, you called me?" I said while opening the door, my voice trembling with nerves, barely able to hold it steady.

"I have to suspend you for a while," he declared, a cigar clutched between his fingers, smoke curling lazily from his mouth. The smoke seemed to blur my mind, thoughts racing and tumbling over each other at a dizzying pace.

"It came from upper authority. You should have known this hospital is strict on such matters. I mean, come on, a gangster whacking his tail around a well-known doctor for months!" Dr. Ryan was fuming. Even from my spot by the door, with him standing by the long sliding windows, I could feel his anger. "Have you even heard the rumors?" Yes, the rumors, those scandalous headlines, people saying that I should be canceled and stripped of my title as a doctor.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, sir. I will make sure to fix everything." My words sounded like I was begging, my head bowed in shame. What had I done to feel so ashamed?

"You have been suspended for a week—"

"A week!!" I interrupted, unable to let him finish. A week! This matter seemed minor to me but apparently was major to society.

"Yes, a week. Although, you're still in charge of Zara, so pack your stuff and only treat Zara for now." His words were straight and cold, like a knife cutting through any hope I had. I bowed once more and left the room, feeling the weight of the suspension settle over me.

Walking down the corridor, I heard faint laughs from afar. "Dr. Noor finally got suspended." I could tell it was a woman's voice, laced with satisfaction.

"Suits her, she sluts around anyway. A man drops her off and picks her up while another follows her everywhere she goes." I smiled at those words, masking my irritation.

"Being at work gives you a free pass to gossip, I see," I teased, walking past them.

"Says the one who just got suspended," came a voice. It was Robin, a young intern and a constant thorn in my side.

"You have a death wish?" I questioned, directing a death glare his way. I was furious, and those words had pushed me to the edge. With Ehaan ignoring me while I was desperate to talk to him, that asshole gangster stirring rumors about us in the hospital, and now this suspension—my patience was spent.

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"Hey, Vernom, do you have a vacant place for me to stay at?" I called him up as I hurriedly stuffed my things into a box. On the other end of the line, Vernom responded, "Surely, but why?"

"That's a tale for later. May I stay for a week?" I asked, waiting outside the hospital for Ehaan, my arms piled high with papers and boxes.

"You are my daughter," he stated firmly, "you know that, right?" He threw the question my way. Though I'm not his biological daughter, he treated me as if I were his lifeline. And with that, he ended the call.

Vernom left me alone, so I kept waiting for my Ehaan. Why did I add "my" before his name? Why do I feel all these useless giddy feelings? "Ahh, my stomach hurts." Are these the butterflies people talk about?

"What hurts?" A voice came running to me, panic in his eyes. Did I say my thoughts out loud? "Are you fine, Ayat?" His voice made me want to immerse myself in it, like a cozy, warm blanket on a winter's night.

"Ehaan," I called out, savoring the sound of his name.

"Yes." I craved his response, needing to hear his voice. He took all those bags, papers, and boxes from my hands, placing them carefully in the boot of the car. "Ayat, you have been awfully silent," he remarked when we both settled into the car.

"At least not for 3 months and 2 days," I replied. He looked baffled by my answer and stayed silent after that. "Leave me at Vernom's place, please." He glanced at me and nodded. What is up with this guy? Has the cat got his tongue, or does he identify as mute? And we drove in silence once again.

"Why are you carrying them? Drop them down here," I said in amusement as he unloaded everything from the parked car in front of Vernom's place.

"Are you sure you will be fine here? Is that all you need?" he asked, walking back towards the car.

"Yeah," I said, walking towards him, but it was too late. He was already inside the car. "Bye then," he said and drove away.

"I wonder what happened to you. Isn't it better for me to be away from you? I wanted that to happen, didn't I?"

"Hey, why talk to yourself outside? It's cold out here. Come on in!" Vernom shouted from his doorstep.

"That's all my stuff," I said, setting the last box in place.

"Are you sure you don't want to defend yourself from that gangster?" Vernom's question put me in deep thought after all this hard work.

"There is nothing I can do about it. Anyway, I have to get some stuff from my home, so car keys, paps." I left for my home in peace, my mind a storm of thoughts with no clear solution. Gong has not been troubling. It's like the silence before a storm.

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"I have to take my clothes. I really don't wanna stay home," I said, entering my password. "Why does it say seven tries?"

Seven tries!! To unlock my door!! Panic surged through me. Who is inside my home? I took careful steps, my door only slightly ajar.

"Who is there?" I lived alone. Thieves were an obvious threat. I heard not a single sound. With a bit more courage, thinking someone tried to get in but failed, I reached for the switchboard in the living room.

"So, you're back home, darling?"

Surprise? Or a gift? Well I don't know its for you to find out in the next chapter. Sorry for being late lovelies had to deal with real life Gongs. Anyways hope you enjoy this chapter, follow, like, vote, share and comment for more. We are on stck.me now yayaya. Hope you all my 6k readers and 37 follow and support me.