𝐙𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐀𝐌 ~ 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 ♡

29: "Do you care anything for me, Maryam?"

"Why are old lovers able to become friends? Two reasons. They never truly loved each other, or they love each other still."
         -  Whitney Otto

ZAID KHALID

"WHAT?"

"Zaid, wait," he said, his hand on my arm. "Let me explain."

I turned to him, my voice raging with anger. "Explain what?" I demanded.

"Zaid," Amr keeps reassuring me. "Its not how you think!"

"What am I supposed to think then?" I snarled, running my hands through my hair.

I couldn't believe it. After all these years. This simple, simple reason was the one which kept us apart? I couldn't believe it with my own ears. I needed to hear from Maryam herself.

"Zaid, wait," he said, his hand on my arm. "Let me explain."

Our little commotion had made some of the guests turn around. Fortunately ,my family was nowhere to be seen.

Unfortunately, Kiara had and now she was striding towards me, from across the ballroom.

"Excuse me, Amrad," she said sweetly to Amr, who flinched at his hearing his own name. He walked a bit away from us as Kiara's polite looks seemed to demand it from him, but when she was not looking, he mouthed "Call me!"

Kiara's piercing eyes turned to me,

"Zaid, what is wrong with you? You're making a scene in front of all these people, including my aunt, the queen! You're embarrassing me, and I won't stand for it and..."

I stayed silent and gazed at the floor during the whole affair.

Her words stung, but I didn't respond, didn't defend myself. I took a deep breath, my eyes scanning the room, searching for a way out of this mess. I spotted Amr, his eyes fixed on me, a hint of a smile on his face. I knew I had to talk to him again, to get to the bottom of this whole mess. 

"Kiara," I started, as she stopped and faced me. "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you in anyway but you know what? Its my party after all and who should be having more fun than me?"

With that, I straightened my collar and walked towards Amr. I heard a click of heels and a heavy sigh from the back but I didn't stop. I'll have to deal with it later.

"Show me the way," I whispered to Amr. He smiled.

☆☆☆☆☆☆

MARYAM SHEIKH

I hadn't gone back in since talking to Amr. Somehow, I was scared to go back. Now that my secret's out there in the open, I felt more weak. Just why did I do that? And for what? Would things be any different now?

Suddenly, I heard the door slide open and a thunder of footsteps behind me, and I spun around, my heart beating hundred times a second. Zaid rushed out onto the balcony, his eyes blazing with an intensity that made my breath catch.

Amr was behind him and he shrugged his shoulders as if meant to say,
' Sorry, I tried.'

"I need to talk to you, Maryam," proclaimed Zaid, placing his hand over  his chest as if he ran to get here.

"Zaid, we cannot be seen like this at night," I protested as the faces of Aziz and Baba came floating into my mind, their shock. "Its haram."

"I know," Zaid assured, standing straight. "That's why I brought this guy over here, as a witness." He motioned his thumb back at Amr.