Echoes of Agony

Chapter Twenty Three

AbdulJalal woke up feeling drained and exhausted, with no energy to go to work. The previous night, overwhelmed by anger and agitation, he went to his office to calm himself down. Upon waking, he was greeted by a throbbing headache. As he struggled to get out of bed, he saw Zaytun entering the room, looking tired and weak. She was in her work attire and carried a glass of water and a painkiller. AbdulJalal noticed her pale complexion and felt a pang of guilt for not taking better care of her. He remembered she had been diagnosed with a parasite recently and was on medication, but seeing her like this made him question if he had been too harsh on her.

Zaytun crouched beside him and offered the medicine. Then, standing up to leave, AbdulJalal, still disoriented and unable to recall the previous night, asked her if she knew what had happened.

She hesitated before answering, "You don't remember?"

"No, did I do something bad?" AbdulJalal's voice was laced with worry, fearing he had hurt someone.

Zaytun's sad expression conveyed more than her words. She shook her head, reluctant to reveal how recklessly he had behaved. AbdulJalal, desperate for the truth, gently held her face between his hands and pleaded, "Look at me, Zaytun. What did I do or say? I swear I don't remember anything."

Zaytun tried to brush it off, saying nothing significant had happened, but AbdulJalal could see the strain in her eyes.

"You look tired," she said, handing him the glass. "Take the medicine. I've prepared your breakfast. I need to get ready for the company meeting."

With that, she left, leaving AbdulJalal alone with his thoughts. He felt he had done something wrong and hurtful, though the specifics eluded him.

Over the next few days, Zaytun's behavior grew increasingly distant. She was asleep when he came home and gone before he woke up. She stopped checking on him, stopped picking up his clothes, and didn't even sit with him for meals. Her cold demeanor made it clear she was upset, and AbdulJalal began reflecting on his past actions with regret.

He recognized the hurtful and disrespectful nature of his neglect over the past months. Realizing his feelings for Zaytun were genuine love, he yearned for a second chance. However, he feared that his past actions might have irreparably damaged their relationship. The situation caused him considerable emotional turmoil, and he was uncertain about how to mend the rift or how things would unfold in the future.

~

The next morning was a Friday, which meant it was time for Zaytun's weekly hangout with her close-knit group of friends. However, she was feeling quite anxious and panicked about the upcoming gathering. The main reason for her unease was that she had not yet decided whether or not she should tell her friends her newfound secret.

She was torn between her desire to be honest and open with her friends, who she trusted with her deepest secrets, and her fear of being judged or misunderstood. To make things even more complicated, she was facing a number of complications with her pregnancy, which was causing her significant stress and concern. Her weakened state was also affecting the health of her unborn child.

Despite her doubts and uncertainties, she knew that her friends would ultimately support her, no matter what decision she made. They had always been there for her, offering their support and advice whenever she needed it.

However, as she was mulling over her thoughts, Zaytun received an unexpected phone call from AbdulJalal's father, asking to see her urgently. This sudden turn of events only added to her already mounting anxiety and apprehension. A driver was already waiting for her outside. She was surprised and nervous, wondering why AbdulJalal's father wanted to see her, as he had never called her before.