In The Grip of Trust

Chapter 12: Echoes of the Past

The night had fallen softly over the terrace as Amir, Ayesha, Hamza, and Sara settled into their circle. They were relaxed after dinner, the cool breeze carrying the scent of the city air. Laughter had followed them throughout the evening as they shopped and shared stories, but now the mood was shifting as Hamza declared, "Truth or dare!" once again.

The four of them sat comfortably on cushions, under the soft glow of a few terrace lights, while the rest of the family was away, visiting a relative’s house. Zain, Amina, and Bilal were being watched over by Amir’s parents, leaving the young adults alone for the night.

Hamza started the game with his usual energy, taking dares that made them all laugh, while Sara picked truth, sharing a few harmless secrets. Amir played along, giving simple, honest answers that didn’t reveal too much. He had never dated before Layla, and though the thought still ached, he found a way to respond lightly.

Then, it was Ayesha’s turn. Sara smiled mischievously. "Ayesha Bhabi, truth or dare?"

Ayesha, who had been silent throughout much of the evening, hesitated. She felt the familiar weight of expectation around her but decided to go along with it.

"Truth," she replied softly, knowing she wasn’t ready for a dare.

Sara’s eyes sparkled with mischief. "Okay, Bhabi, I’ve been dying to ask. You said you had a crush before. How did you meet him, and what was it about him that caught your attention?"

Ayesha’s face paled at the question. She had hoped they would have forgotten about her earlier confession, but now she had no choice. For a moment, she considered brushing it off, but Sara’s excited expression and Hamza’s teasing grin made it impossible to escape.

She took a breath, her heart suddenly heavy with memories she hadn’t revisited in a long time. "He... was someone I met in school," Ayesha began, her voice distant. "We used to study together, and I don’t know... there was just something about him. The way he talked, the way he made everything seem so easy. He was... charming."

Sara leaned in, intrigued. "And what did you like the most about him? Was it the way he talked? Or maybe his smile?"

Ayesha’s lips twitched in the ghost of a smile. "It was everything. The way he could make me laugh, the way he seemed to understand things without me having to explain. He was always... there."

Her voice had softened, taking on a dream-like quality, as if she were remembering a life from another world. For a few moments, Ayesha allowed herself to drift back to that time, to the innocent crush she once had, to the feelings that had seemed so intense and all-consuming back then.

She spoke almost fondly, recounting small moments—the way he would help her with assignments, the silly jokes they’d share, and how he’d make her feel like she was the center of the universe. For a brief moment, she was lost in those memories, her face softening as she recalled the innocence of her feelings.

But just as quickly as those memories surfaced, the darker ones followed. Her eyes flickered with the shadow of pain, and the brightness in her voice dimmed. She was abruptly reminded of how everything had ended, how that part of her life had shattered beyond repair.

Ayesha’s expression changed, her gaze dropping to her hands. The memories were no longer sweet—they were tinged with sadness, regret, and a pain that had never really gone away. "But," she added in a quiet, strained voice, "none of it matters now. It was just a crush. It’s... in the past."

The light in her voice was gone. She had spoken too much, said more than she ever wanted to reveal. The room seemed to grow heavier as her words trailed off, leaving an uncomfortable silence in their wake.

Amir’s heart clenched. He watched Ayesha carefully, noticing the way her face had shifted from wistful to wounded. The ease with which she had talked about her crush—about a time when she had been happy, perhaps even carefree—stung him deeply. He had never expected to feel this way, but hearing her speak so fondly about someone else, especially when his own heart was still tangled in grief over Layla, made him feel like an outsider in his own life.

He tried to mask his emotions, but the tightening of his jaw and the tension in his shoulders gave him away. His thoughts raced, and for the first time, he found himself wondering who this man was that had captured Ayesha’s heart before. He felt an inexplicable sense of jealousy, something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Why did it bother him so much? He wasn’t supposed to feel anything like this—not for Ayesha. He had promised himself he would never open his heart to anyone again, not after Layla. But now, here he was, feeling unsettled and confused by the simple truth that Ayesha had loved before.

Sara, sensing the shift, quickly tried to steer the conversation back to something light. "Well, it sounds like you had good taste, Bhabi!" she teased, giving Ayesha a playful nudge. "But now you’re with Amir Bhai, and no one can beat him, right?"

Ayesha forced a small smile, nodding half-heartedly, though her mind was far away from the present. She wasn’t thinking about Amir, or her crush, or even Sara’s teasing. Her thoughts had wandered back to the pain she had been trying so hard to bury—the pain that had nothing to do with love or affection but everything to do with why she was so broken now.

The rest of the night passed with more questions, but Ayesha’s spirit remained absent, and Amir’s heart felt heavier than ever. When the game ended, they all said goodnight, but the tension between Ayesha and Amir lingered, unspoken but palpable.

As they lay in bed later that night, Ayesha faced away from Amir, her body curled tightly into itself as if trying to disappear. Amir, too, lay in silence, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts.

The conversation about her past crush had rattled him more than he expected. He wasn’t supposed to care—he couldn’t care. But somehow, Ayesha had slipped into his life in a way he hadn’t anticipated, and now, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He was still in love with Layla, wasn’t he? He had told himself that over and over again, but tonight, the doubts had started to creep in.

And Ayesha... what was her story? There was more to her than she was letting on. He could feel it. There was a darkness in her eyes, a weight she carried that had nothing to do with him or the marriage. He didn’t know what it was, but he was certain now—something was wrong with Ayesha. And he had a sinking feeling that it was something far more painful than he could imagine.

The night stretched on, both of them lost in their own thoughts, neither able to sleep as the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future pressed down on them.