𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐓: 𝐀 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐐𝐮𝐫'𝐚𝐧

chapter 35

He was lying on his bed, blankly staring at the ceiling, lost in deep thought about how peacefully he had slept there yesterday. But now?

"Okay, try one more time," he said to himself as he slowly closed his eyes, hoping that this time her honey-brown, glistening eyes would not haunt him. "Shit!" he shouted, sitting up in bed, frustrated with his own mind, as her eyes came back to him yet again. "I don't think I can sleep tonight!" he said in exasperation as he got up and walked out of his room.

As he approached the stairs, his gaze landed on a door. He opened it slowly and sneaked inside, letting out a breath of relief. His mother was sleeping peacefully, giving him a sense of calm. He climbed the stairs and reached the open area of his house, feeling at peace. He closed his eyes as he breathed slowly, letting the cold breeze hit his face. When he opened his eyes, a smile spread across his face as he took in the view of the city.

After 15 minutes, he began to feel sleepy again. He trudged downstairs, laid down on the bed, and closed his eyes, not realizing that his sleep would once again be interrupted by her eyes appearing in his mind.

"My God!" he shouted in irritation, sitting up on the bed with his legs hanging off the side. "Let me sleep, Ayat, please!" he pleaded dramatically, and just like that, his sleep was lost once more.

---

"Seher, do you know where Ayat is?" Ashar asked as he entered Seher's room, where she sat on the bed with her mobile phone. She raised her head and looked at him with an uninterested expression before returning to her phone.

"Her father's hand got fractured; that's why she is in the hospital with him," she replied without looking at him. Ashar was taken aback, but then he nodded and started to leave. Seher's next words left him stunned. "And maybe she will never come back here." He looked at her, confusion and shock etched on his face, but Seher didn't glance at him.

"W-why though?" he stammered. Seher raised her head, raising an eyebrow and wearing a smirk. "It's because she is soon giving you a divorce!" she said flatly. He stared at her, eyebrows knitted in confusion, struggling to comprehend. "And Ammi and I totally support her!" she added with the same tone that was beginning to irritate him.

"First of all, Seher! With what tone are you talking to me?" he growled slightly, as his ego was triggered by her crossing what he considered limits, despite her being younger.

"The way you deserve, Bhai!" This time her tone was softer, although a hint of mockery still lingered. Frustrated, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again, trying to control himself from shouting, "Okay, so now you'll talk to me like this just because of Ayat?"

Seher chuckled mockingly. "You know what, Bhai? Until now, I felt bad for you for losing such a gem, but not anymore after seeing your egoistic behavior!" She returned her focus to her phone, completely ignoring his angry glare.

Then she heard the door slam shut, and she glanced towards it, her eyes misting. No matter how much she pretended to be angry with him, she still cared. She would never wish for Ayat to divorce Ashar, but she couldn't be selfish like her brother. Wiping away her tears, she lay down, keeping her phone aside, and cried her heart out.

××××××××××××××××
"Ammi, I am coming in a minute," Ayat said as she sat with Aadam inside the ward. She then stepped outside while dialing Ashar's number. Once outside, she placed the phone to her ear, and it began ringing, but he didn't pick up. Confused, she redialed, and this time, it connected on the first ring.

"Ash-" Before she could finish, he roared, "Why did you call me, huh? To tell me that you will never come home again? So listen to me-I will not die without you, either, so you better not be delusional!" His angry tone made moisture well up in her eyes. What had she done to deserve this? Why was he shouting at her without knowing the reason for her call? She wiped a solitary tear from her cheek and replied.