Love's Gentle Embrace

Silent Storms

The plane was gliding smoothly through the sky, cutting through the clouds as the cold breeze whispered outside. It was almost morning, and in just an hour, the plane would land. The world below was slowly waking up, but Noor was still lost in a peaceful slumber, unaware of what awaited her in the hours to come.

The stranger beside her stirred awake, his quiet murmurs filling the air—prayers, perhaps. He glanced at Noor, and a soft smile tugged at his lips. She looked so serene, like a child experiencing the best sleep of her life. He felt a strange warmth in his heart, knowing he had offered her some comfort, yet there was a bittersweet pang of realization that this might just be another fleeting connection. A person he met by chance, who would soon disappear from his life as quickly as she had entered it.

With a silent sigh, he reached into his bag, pulling out a notebook and pen. In neat, careful handwriting, he penned a note:

*"A stranger can be your friend. If you ever need to share your pain with someone, you can contact me at the number below. I will listen to all your stories without interrupting. Hoping to meet you again if it's Allah's plan. In Sha Allah. I wish this time you heal completely; it breaks my heart to see you like this. Be strong. Allah Hafiz... R.K."*

He folded the note carefully and, with a gentle touch, slipped it into Noor's jacket pocket without disturbing her. With one last lingering look at her, he gathered his belongings and quietly left the plane, blending into the stream of passengers disembarking.

A flight attendant approached Noor, gently shaking her awake. Noor stirred, opening her eyes to the empty cabin. Almost everyone had already left, and the stranger too. A strange feeling of disappointment washed over her as her eyes instinctively searched for him, the one who had comforted her in her moment of need. She couldn't understand why his absence made her feel this way, but she tried to dismiss it as she gathered her things and left the plane.

As she walked out of the airport, she began booking a cab, still lost in her thoughts. Suddenly, she felt a light touch on her shoulder, and her heart skipped a beat. She turned around, half-expecting to see the stranger again. But when she saw who it was, her mind went blank, and time seemed to stand still.

It was Shaan.

Questions flooded her mind. Why was he here? Why had he come to pick her up after everything that had happened between them? She struggled to process her emotions, her heart beating wildly in her chest. They stood there in silence, the bustling crowd around them fading into the background as their eyes locked, both searching for answers in the other's gaze.

Finally, Shaan broke the silence. "How was your flight?" he asked, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of something unspoken.

"Good," Noor replied, her tone clipped, trying to mask the turmoil within her. "Let me carry your bag," Shaan offered, reaching out to help her, but she quickly pulled away. "No, no need. I can manage," she said, her voice cold as she walked ahead, creating a distance between them.

Shaan followed her quietly to the parking lot, where Noor abruptly stopped, realizing she had no idea where the car was. Without a word, Shaan stepped ahead and opened the car door for her, but instead of sitting in the front, Noor slipped into the back seat. Shaan paused for a moment, then climbed into the driver's seat, asking, "Shall we go?"

"Yes," Noor replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "And please, don't disturb me. I'm feeling sleepy." Shaan nodded silently, adjusting the rearview mirror to see her as he started the car.

Noor closed her eyes, pretending to sleep, but her mind was racing with questions. How could she face this situation with Shaan now? She had to be strong, she told herself, she had to deal with this, no matter how much it hurt. The minutes ticked by, and she felt the car come to a stop. Thinking they had reached their destination, Noor opened her eyes, only to be met with a sight that took her breath away.

They were on a hilltop road, the kind of place she had always loved—quiet, serene, with wet roads from the rain and the cool breeze brushing against the trees. The air was filled with the scent of fresh rain, and the only sounds were the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. It was a place of peace, a place where she could lose herself in the beauty of nature. Shaan knew this, and she couldn't help but wonder why he had brought her here.

Shaan stepped out of the car, lighting a cigarette. The sharp smell of smoke mingled with the fresh air as he walked over to her side, opening the door. "Come out," he said in a cold tone, his voice laced with something she couldn't quite place.

Without a word, Noor stepped out of the car, her eyes locking with his as she noticed the cigarette in his hand. "You're smoking," she said, her voice filled with disappointment.

Shaan glanced at the cigarette, then back at her, giving a small, bitter smirk. "After you left, I was like this. I don't know why," he replied, his tone tinged with a sadness that mirrored the storm brewing within her.

Without thinking, Noor reached out and took the cigarette from his hand, throwing it to the ground. "I'm sorry, I don't like the smell of cigarettes," she said, her voice soft but firm.

Shaan was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on her. Then, with a heavy sigh, he asked, "What about me, Noor? Do you not like me anymore?"

Her heart lurched at his words, a flood of emotions crashing over her. She wanted to scream, to tell him that she had loved him with all her heart, that he had broken her in ways she couldn't even begin to explain. But the words caught in her throat, and all she could do was look away, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over.

Shaan stepped closer, his hands gripping her shoulders as he looked deep into her eyes, his voice trembling with a mixture of desperation and longing. "Why didn't you stop me, Noor? Why didn't you fight for us?"

Noor couldn't hold back any longer. "You told me to stop, Shaan bhai. You told me that you loved someone else, that you wanted to marry her," she cried, her voice breaking as the tears finally spilled over. "What do you want from me, Shaan? Why do you confuse me like this? One moment you make me feel like I belong to you, and the next, you push me away. Your mother always says you could never break someone's heart, but how many times will you break mine? You said you wouldn't marry me, so how could I go against your words? You never tried to understand my feelings, but every time you broke my heart, I forgave you because... because I loved you, Shaan bhai. I loved you so much I could even give my life for you if you asked. But the day you told me you wanted to marry her, I decided that I would never ask Allah for you again. I decided I wouldn't love you anymore, but this wretched heart of mine... it doesn't remember anyone but you. Tell me, Shaan, what do you want? Why are you so confused?"

Shaan's face crumpled with emotion, his voice thick with sorrow as he replied, "I don't know, Noor. I don't know. There are reasons, but I can't tell you. You can't stay with me, Noor. You deserve better than me. Please, stop here. Don't feel anything for me anymore."

Noor stared at him, her heart shattering into pieces all over again. She gave him a bitter smile, her voice hollow as she said, "I want to go home. After meeting aunty, I'm leaving tomorrow. Please, I'm tired."

Without another word, they both got back into the car, their eyes filled with tears they refused to shed in front of each other. The silence between them was deafening as Shaan started the car and drove away from the hilltop, each of them lost in their own storm of emotions, knowing that nothing would ever be the same again.