𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞

8. Unraveled Promises -1

Hassan's POV:

The ticking of the clock echoed through the room, but I barely registered it. My eyes were glued to the computer screen, yet the words in front of me blurred. No matter how much I tried to immerse myself in work, my thoughts always wandered back to the same place—Mashal.

I had been avoiding her, distancing myself, but even that felt like a battle I was losing. Every time I saw her, something in me stirred, a pull that I couldn't explain or ignore. She was always in the garden, sketching, lost in her art, unaware of how much space she occupied in my mind.

I glanced at the window, and there she was—again. Her head bent over her work, her movements graceful as she sketched something I couldn't see from here. A wave of warmth spread through me, but I forced myself to look away. I couldn't let this happen. I had responsibilities, duties that didn't allow for distractions like this.

The door creaked behind me, and I straightened. Dadi walked in, her expression soft but knowing. I tried to hide the tension in my shoulders, but Dadi always saw more than I ever wanted her to.

"How's the work going, beta?" she asked, though I knew she wasn't really interested in my meetings or the documents I had scattered across the desk.

"Fine, Dadi," I said, keeping my voice steady, though the distraction was all too evident in my tone.

She stood beside me, her gaze focused on me instead of the papers. "You've been different lately, Hassan. More distant."

Her words struck me harder than I expected, but I didn't respond. I had been distant, but it was necessary. Being close to Mashal wasn't an option; it would only make things more difficult for both of us.

Dadi sighed softly, a sound filled with both understanding and something deeper. "There are things you've been running from, but you can't keep running forever."

I frowned, my hands tightening around the edge of the desk. What did she mean? I had my reasons for keeping my distance. I had to protect Mashal from the weight I carried—my life wasn't meant to be shared. I didn't deserve the ease or connection she offered.

"Dadi, I..." I began, but the words faded.

Dadi placed a hand on my shoulder, silencing whatever explanation I thought I could offer. "You're not alone in this, Hassan," she said quietly. "But you must open your eyes and see what's right in front of you."

I turned to face her, confusion washing over me. Her expression was calm, but there was something in her eyes—something deeper, as if she was holding onto a secret she wasn't ready to fully reveal.

"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice low.

She smiled faintly. "Come to the living room soon. It's time to talk."

And just like that, she was gone, leaving me with a sense of unease that I couldn't shake. I stared after her, the weight of her words pressing down on me. Something was happening, something beyond the tension I had been feeling. Dadi knew more than she was letting on, and I had a feeling that the conversation waiting for me in the living room was going to change everything.

I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. My heart raced in a way I wasn't used to, and I closed my eyes, trying to steady myself. I had worked so hard to build these walls, to keep Mashal out, to protect her from the complications of my life.

But the more I tried to distance myself, the more I felt drawn to her. There was no denying it anymore. I just wasn't sure what to do about it.

After a long moment, I stood up, my mind still racing. The living room felt miles away, but I knew I had to face whatever awaited me. Dadi's words echoed in my mind—You can't keep running forever.