Echoes of Agony

Chapter Twenty Five

The early morning of Monday was filled with a brisk and chilly air typical of the cold season. The city bustled with activity as its citizens prepared for Ramadan, which was just a month away. Zaytun, after bidding goodbye to Sadeeya, who generously hosted her, headed to work after spending only a day at Sadeeya's house. During her brief stay, AbdulJalal attempted to reach out to her, even making a visit to Sadeeya's house. From her temporary bedroom, Zaytun managed to catch a glimpse of him standing outside, her heart aching to see him. Her heart pounded with an intense desire to run into his arms, to feel the warmth of his chest, and to hear the beating of his heart. Despite her attempts to suppress her feelings, her longing for AbdulJalal was beyond her imagination. However, her logical mind took control, and with a heavy heart, she closed the curtains. That night, she talked to her baby, pouring out her heart until he eventually fell asleep.

As Zaytun reached her workplace, she Was surprised by the warm welcome from her colleagues. They appeared overjoyed about something, and it was then that Ahmad approached her with a wide grin.

"Congratulations, Zaytun," he said, beaming with excitement.

Zaytun, puzzled by the sudden congratulatory message asked, "Congratulations for what?"

"You've been promoted to Chief Design Manager and Project Manager for Design," he declared, his voice filled with admiration.

She was ecstatic, and her happiness knew no bounds. Overwhelmed, she hadn't known what to do. "Alhamdulillah, I'm so happy. It's like a dream come true!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy.

"You deserve it and more, Zaytun. I'm thrilled for you too," Ahmad replied, his eyes shining with pride.

She apologized for her overreaction. "I'm sorry for reacting like that."

He smiled and said, "It's alright. It's natural to feel excited. So, Miss Manager, how about we head to the HR department to discuss your new position and your new individual office?"

She replied, "I'm over the moon!" Her thoughts raced as she imagined the possibilities of her new position and the exciting challenges that lay ahead.

She walked into her new office with her head held high, feeling proud of her accomplishments. Determined to make the most of this opportunity, she was resolved to prove that she deserved this promotion. She knew she was capable of achieving great things and would not let anyone or anything hold her back. She would not rest until she achieved her goals.

Her eyes glazed over as she looked around her new office. The walls were a somber shade of grey that reminded her of her husband's office, and she noticed how dull and lifeless it looked. The previous occupant, an arrogant man, left the office in a state of disarray, and it was up to Zaytun to turn it into a space she could be proud of. She couldn't believe her luck; she was finally going to create a workspace that reflected her personality.

She let out a sigh of relief when she remembered that the HR department had given her carte blanche to decorate her new office with the company's budget. With the company's budget at her disposal, she came up with a plan to transform her office into a space that would inspire creativity and productivity. She had a concept in mind that would incorporate pastel colors with a touch of beige, AbdulJalal's favorite color, to create a calming and welcoming environment.

A pang of longing had hit her as she thought about the missed opportunity to redesign his workspace. But she quickly shook her head and admonished herself for thinking of her husband.

"Stop thinking about him. It must be- it must be the baby."

But as she started to plan, her mind kept wandering back to AbdulJalal. She couldn't help but think about him. What was he doing? Had he eaten delicious food? Was he resting? Deep down, she knew it was not the baby in her belly making her this way. She missed him terribly, but she didn't want to appear weak or pathetic. She had already gone through a lot of pain, and she didn't want to go through it again. She knew that sometimes it's better to let go of something you love if it's not good for you.