Eternity

Chapter 19

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu

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The next morning, Zayan woke up to a throbbing pain in his hand. He glanced at it and saw angry red blisters where the curry had burned him the previous night. He hadn't thought the wound would be so serious, and now he regretted not taking better care of it.

With great difficulty, Zayan managed to button his shirt, each movement sending a fresh wave of pain through his hand. Tying his tie was an even greater challenge, but he persevered, gritting his teeth against the discomfort. Finally ready for work, he made his way to the dining area.

Ayzal was already there, preparing breakfast. She glanced up as he entered and saw him wince as he sat down. Her eyes immediately went to his hand, which was now red and swollen. Guilt washed over her, but she kept quiet, not wanting to provoke another argument.

Zayan's mother, who was also in the dining room, noticed his discomfort. Her eyes widened in concern as she saw his injured hand. "Zayan, my child, what happened to your hand?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.

She reached out and gently took his hand, inspecting the blisters with a frown. Zayan gently pulled his hand away from her grasp. "It is from the burn I got yesterday," he said tersely.

"Didn't you apply anything on it?" his mother asked, her concern growing.

"I forgot," Zayan replied, trying to brush off the topic.

Ayzal's guilt intensified. She had tried to talk to him about his wound the previous night, but his stubbornness had prevented her.

"Ayzal, can you bring over the ointment and bandages kept on the upper shelf in the kitchen?" Zayan's mother said, her voice filled with a calm authority. Ayzal nodded and made her way toward the kitchen to look for the items.

"Mom, I will take care of it on my own," Zayan argued, his frustration evident. "I am getting late right now. I should be going."

"You don't want to be treated by me, that is fine, but let Ayzal help you. She has been feeling guilty about it since yesterday," his mother tried to negotiate with him, her tone softening.

"She should. It was her fault," Zayan replied coldly, not meeting his mother's eyes.

"Zayan, let her help," his mother commanded, her voice now firm, leaving no room for disagreement. Her gaze held a silent insistence that Zayan couldn't ignore.

Ayzal quickly fetched the ointment and bandages from the kitchen as she was told, her hands trembling slightly. She could feel the tension in the room as she returned.

"Ayzal, Yusra is calling me. I am going to see what she needs. Can you please take over my job of treating Zayan?" his mother said, giving Ayzal a reassuring smile.

Zayan looked at his mother, recognizing the smooth lie she had crafted to ensure he got the care he needed. He sighed, realizing he had no choice but to comply. Ayzal nodded her head, determined to make amends.

As she sat beside him, gently taking his hand in her own, Zayan winced but didn't pull away. Ayzal carefully applied the cooling ointment, her touch gentle and soothing. She felt a pang of guilt seeing the angry blisters up close, but she remained focused on treating the wound properly.

Zayan's mother lingered for a moment, ensuring everything was going smoothly before heading to the other room. The silence between Zayan and Ayzal was thick with unspoken words. Ayzal worked diligently, wrapping his hand in a fresh bandage.

"I am sorry for yesterday. I didn't mean to, Zayan. It was an accident," Ayzal said softly, finally breaking the silence.

Zayan glared at her, "Was it?"

Ayzal's patience was wearing thin seeing Zayan accusing her of something she had no intention of doing, but she took a deep breath and continued. "I am really sorry, but being rude isn't going to help your hand heal any faster."

Zayan sighed, his anger slowly rising "Just hurry up."

"There, that should help. Make sure to keep it clean and change the bandage regularly," Ayzal said.

Zayan looked at her with frustration in his eyes. He snatched his hand back from her. As he turned to leave, his parting words cut through the tension like a knife. "Perhaps it is best if you learn to mind your own business this time," he remarked, his voice tinged with a bitterness that lingered from the previous night's events.

Ayzal opened her mouth to respond, a mix of hurt and confusion evident on her face. "I was only trying to—" she began, but Zayan's interruption was swift and harsh.

"I didn't ask for your help," he interjected, his tone laced with anger. "In fact, you would be the last person I would turn to for help," he added, each word heavy with resentment before he turned away.

Ayzal felt a mixture of sadness and frustration. She had only wanted to help, but his stubbornness and pride made it difficult. She sighed, cleaning up the medical supplies and trying to shake off the negative emotions.

Zayan's mother returned to the dining room some time later, her eyes filled with understanding. "Ayzal, don't let his words get to you. He is just hurt and frustrated. He will come around."

Ayzal nodded, though the words still stung. "I hope so. I just want him to be okay."

"He will be, thanks to you. You did a good job," Zayan's mother reassured her. "Now, let's finish up breakfast. We have a busy day ahead."

Throughout the day, Ayzal couldn't shake the image of Zayan's pained expression and harsh words. She tried to focus on her tasks, but the incident weighed heavily on her mind. She knew Zayan was going through a tough time, but she wished he would let her in instead of pushing her away.

As the hours passed, Ayzal found herself replaying their interactions in her head, analyzing every word and gesture. She wondered if there was something more she could have done or said to ease the tension between them. The uncertainty gnawed at her, but she resolved to keep trying.