Tashuq -E- Zain ✓

CHAPTER-17

Hello my lovely reader,
Here's the chapter 17 😊💙

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"Hasrat hai ki unko qareeb se dekhien,
      Qareeb ho toh aankhein uthaayi nhi jaati" _____________________________________

The warmth of the room was interrupted by the sound of a hiccup. Ahad's voice trembled as he made dua, his heart laid bare in his plea.

"Ya Allah, keep her safe... grant her health... make her mine, so I can love her, cherish her, always," he whispered, each word filled with yearning as he prayed for Seerat.
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A week had passed since Seerat learned about her upcoming wedding. Each passing day felt like a step closer to hell. Soon, she would be married to Shahzaib—a loveless marriage, filled with the fear of being tortured, beaten—a price she had to pay for her father's wrongdoings.

Her father had a plan. He wanted Seerat to ask Dr. Khan for help, to cover the financial expenses of her wedding. The thought made her stomach turn, but there seemed to be no other way out.
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Azka wore a simple pink kurta, her hair still wet from the shower. She half-tied it, draped her dupatta, and left for the hospital. Just as she was about to enter, she noticed a woman in her late fifties struggling to catch her breath. Without a second thought,
Azka rushed towards her and got her admitted to the emergency ward. The woman fell unconscious, and Azka placed her on a saline drip.As she held the woman's hand, Azka observed her face for a full minute—there was something familiar, as if they had met closely before.

Once she was sure the woman was stable, Azka turned to the nurse. "Let me know as soon as she regains consciousness," she instructed before heading to Dr. Khan's cabin.

Azka then approached Dr. Khan's cabin, knocking before entering. He was furiously typing on his laptop, seemingly unaware of her presence.

"Good morning, Dr. Khan," she greeted.

"Morning, Ms. Siddiqui," he replied, glancing at her briefly before a thought flashed across his mind. "Bring your laptop to my cabin. You'll work here for the next two days."

Azka's eyes widened in disbelief. She barely managed to stand in his presence, and now she would have to work in front of him for two days? Taking a deep breath, she composed herself. "Ok... okay, s-sir."

Soon, she brought her laptop and sat by the coffee table in his cabin.

"Who told you to sit there, Ms. Siddiqui?" His voice was calm but cold, his sharp gaze fixed on her. "Take your seat in front of my desk."

Azka flinched, her eyes squeezing shut for a moment before she moved to sit where he instructed.

"Open the official email and draft a letter to the CEO of 'TopItOff LLC' regarding the upcoming auction," Dr. Khan instructed, his gaze steady.

Azka was stunned—Dr. Khan dealt with business too? She had always known he was the CEO of Khan Ventures, but it still amazed her how he managed everything on top of his busy schedule as a surgeon. She began typing as he leaned back, fingers interlaced, eyes closed, looking like he was planning something serious.

Azka realized her water bottle was empty, so she hesitantly said, "I'll fill my bottle."

Dr. Khan opened his eyes, glancing at her. "No need. Take this one for now." He gestured at the glass of water on his desk.