In The Grip of Trust

Chapter 21: A Bridge to Mend

The atmosphere in the house had changed since Ayesha returned from the hospital. A thick, unspoken tension lingered between her and Amir. He had barely spoken to her since that night, keeping his distance as much as possible. She had tried to apologize, to explain, but every time she approached him, he would either leave the room or give her a brief, cold reply. It was as though a wall had risen between them, one she didn't know how to break down.

Amir's anger was palpable, and Ayesha could feel the weight of his disappointment in every glance he avoided, in every word he left unsaid. She knew she had hurt him deeply, and that guilt gnawed at her constantly. But she didn't know how to fix it.

Amir's parents had been away in the village, attending a family wedding, and Sara had been with them. Hamza had also been staying with a friend for an urgent university project, and they had all just returned today, unaware of the recent storm that had passed over their household.

As soon as Amir's parents and Sara arrived home, the house came alive with cheerful conversation. They brought stories of the wedding, laughter, and excitement, but all of it felt distant to Ayesha. She couldn't shake the heaviness in her heart, the gnawing feeling that she had ruined everything.

Sara was the first to notice the tension. After catching up with Amir briefly, she found Ayesha in the kitchen, silently preparing dinner.

"Ayesha Bhabi, is everything okay?" Sara asked, her brow furrowing in concern. "You seem... off, and Amir Bhai looks like he's in a mood. Did something happen while we were gone?"

Ayesha tried to force a smile, but it faltered. She couldn't lie, but she wasn't ready to tell them everything either. "Amir... he's angry with me," she admitted quietly. "I did something, and he's upset about it."

Sara raised her eyebrows. "Angry? What did you do, Bhabi?"

Before Ayesha could respond, Hamza came into the kitchen, having just returned from his friend's house. "What's going on? Why's Amir Bhai looking like someone stole his wallet?" he joked, but when he saw the look on Ayesha's face, his smile faded. "Wait... are you guys fighting?"

"Ayesha, my dear, is everything alright? You and Amir... have you two had a fight?" amir's mother asked who's happened to hear their conversation.

Ayesha's heart sank. The question hit too close to home. She hesitated for a moment before finally answering, her voice barely a whisper, "He's angry with me, Ammi. I did something... and now he won't talk to me."

Amir's father, who had just walked in raised an eyebrow. "Amir is angry? That's unusual. What did you do, Ayesha?"

Ayesha felt her cheeks burn with shame. "I made a mistake," she muttered, not wanting to elaborate. "I've apologized, but he won't listen. He's hurt... really hurt."

The room fell silent for a moment before Amir's father nodded thoughtfully. "Well, whatever it is, you'll have to make it up to him. Amir has a big heart. He just needs to see how much you care."

Sara jumped in excitedly, unable to contain herself. "Yes, Bhabi! You need to surprise him or do something grand! Men may act tough, but they love being spoiled."

Amir's mother smiled kindly. "She's right, Ayesha. Cook his favorite meal, or do something special for him. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. Amir loves you. He just needs to be reminded that you love him too."

Hamza, always the jokester, chimed in, "Yeah, Bhabi, maybe get him some flowers or a romantic dinner. Or better yet, take him on a date! Show him that he's still your number one."

Ayesha froze for a second when she heard the word love. Love? She thought to herself. No, I don't love him... do I? The idea of loving Amir romantically felt foreign, even absurd. It's not love, she convinced herself. It's gratitude. He's done so much for me. How could I love someone like him?

Her mind drifted. Someone like me doesn't deserve love. I'm broken, scarred. Loving the children is different. They're innocent, they need love. But Amir? He deserves someone better. Someone whole. How can I ever love someone romantically again after everything?

As Ayesha's thoughts churned, she realized she had fallen quiet, and Sara was watching her curiously.

"Bhabi? You okay?"

Ayesha forced a nod, trying to shake off the lingering doubts. "Yes, yes. I'm fine. I'll... I'll try something."

Sara grinned. "Good! Because I promise you, Bhabi, Amir Bhai loves you more than you know. You just have to get through that thick skull of his."

Amir's father, who had been quietly listening, offered one final piece of advice. "Ayesha, sometimes love isn't about grand gestures. It's about being there, showing that you care in the little things. Amir is a good man. He'll forgive you... but you need to show him that you're still with him, through everything."

Ayesha nodded, feeling both overwhelmed and touched by their support. Despite everything, they were there for her, helping her navigate this unfamiliar path. But even as she agreed with their suggestions, her mind kept circling back to her own doubts.

Love? She thought again. Maybe they're right about Amir, but me? No... I can't love him. Not like that.

Still, she owed it to Amir to try. She owed it to him to make things right. Even if she didn't believe she could love him in the way he deserved, she had to at least show him that she cared. She had to do something, anything, to bring him back.