Yusra: Don't hurt me in the way I cannot even recover.
Shazal: Do you not realize, there's no one but you for me?
Daniyal: She let the tears fall, but it weren't for me.
Zumar: You fall in love and then, fall out of it.
It's not that big of a deal.
...
Adnan nodded. "Meet Rashed. He'll be assisting me with your team. I'm sure you remember me, don't you?"
Shazal was, for a moment, at the loss of words. You remember me, don't you? The voice, the tone and the way it was delivered were very, very familiar. He sounded like the voice of someone Shazal was desperately waiting to find. "I do,", He says in a trance while taking in the other man's hand.
"Hello, Mr. Haider; I heard a lot about your bonding with the ball. Let's take it to another level" he was a young man, not very older than Shazal himself, with a stunning personality and handsome likewise, he was already impressed.
"Let's get seated to discuss the practice schedule", the coach intervened, and they all took their seats.
๑ ♡ ๑
It had been three days since Rashed vanished without a word, leaving her in a pit of confusion and despair. He hadn't even called to reassure her. Not a single message, not a fleeting whisper of explanation.
She knew deep down that this was all Farzana was doing. The woman was determined to make sure nothing stood in the way of this marriage. She must have sent Rashed away to prevent any interference, Zumar thought bitterly. And why wouldn't he obey? Farzana was more than just his godmother; she had a way of commanding everyone around her like puppets, pulling strings to orchestrate her own plans.
The wedding date was looming just a week away, and Zumar's mind raced, trying to find an escape. But each idea seemed more impossible than the last. She had spoken to Amaan, hoping that he would finally take a stand and help end this nightmare. But every time the topic came up, his answers were evasive, his promises empty. "I'm trying," he would say. But trying wasn't enough anymore. Nothing was changing. His efforts, if there were any, had borne no fruit.
Time was running out. She had to act, and she had to act fast. But how?
Running away seemed like the only option, but even that had its limits. Her room opened to the front yard, always in full view of the house.
The security guards, tall and muscular, patrolled the grounds like statues ready to move at any hint of trouble.
Escaping through the front door was out of the question, especially with Farzana constantly around, overseeing the wedding preparations with a watchful eye and a battalion of servants following her every command.
But the truth was even harsher- Zumar had nowhere to go.
The one person she might have turned to, her mother, was silent. Every time she called, there was no answer. Zumar couldn't help but feel that her mother was punishing her for leaving, for abandoning her when she chose to live with her father. Now, her mother's silence felt like a form of retribution-a cruel absence that echoed in Zumar's loneliness.
