Paasban

Chapter 26

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The next morning, the warm glow of Paris had dimmed slightly. As beautiful as the city still was, there was an undercurrent of tension.

Maybe it was the exhaustion of traveling, or maybe it was something deeper, but I felt a subtle shift in the air as I woke up to find Musa sitting at the small desk by the window, engrossed in his phone.

I stretched, feeling the stiffness in my muscles from yesterday’s endless exploration. "Morning," I mumbled, my voice still heavy with sleep.

Musa barely looked up, just gave me a distracted nod as he continued typing away on his phone. I frowned, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.

"Busy?" I asked, trying to make my voice sound casual.

"Yeah," Musa sighed, glancing at me apologetically. "I'm so sorry, Jaan-e-Adda... but I don't think I'll be able to take you anywhere today. My client from Paris just scheduled a meeting at the hotel. I tried telling them I’m on my honeymoon, but they insisted."

I saw the frustration in his eyes, and even though a part of me felt disappointed, I smiled and slid out of bed. "It’s fine," I said softly, walking over to him. "I can still enjoy Paris just by looking out the window."

I settled beside him, gently resting my head on his shoulder. His body tensed for a second, clearly torn between wanting to comfort me and the work that awaited him. "I really wanted today to be about us," he muttered, running his hand through his hair.

I tilted my head, looking up at him with a gentle smile. "We’ll still have today, even if it's just for a little while later. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Go handle your meeting, and I'll explore nearby on my own for a bit. Paris will still be waiting for us."

Musa turned his head, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "You’re too understanding," he murmured, his voice filled with guilt.

"I love you," I whispered, tightening my arm around his waist. "Now go. I’ll be here when you get back."

He smiled down at me, his eyes softening. "I love you too. I’ll make it up to you, I promise."

As he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door, I sighed, watching him leave with a mix of pride and a twinge of loneliness. It was part of our life now—balancing work and love. And even though we were in the most romantic city in the world, it didn’t mean everything would always be perfect.

After he left, I walked over to the window, staring out at the beautiful Parisian streets below. People were wandering the sidewalks, sipping coffee at quaint little cafes, and laughing as they moved through the city’s magic. I smiled to myself, knowing that even if today wasn’t going as planned, I could still enjoy it in my own way.

But even as I tried to distract myself, I couldn’t shake the emptiness that filled the room without Musa.
I sighed, trying to shake off the lingering disappointment, and walked over to the wardrobe. Pulling out a soft, pastel-colored dress, I made my way to the bathroom, hoping a long, hot bath would ease the tension in my mind.

The warm water enveloped me, and I let myself relax, closing my eyes and trying to focus on the soothing sensation of the bath rather than the empty feeling in my chest. Paris was supposed to be magical, but it wasn't quite the dream I'd imagined when we first planned this honeymoon.

After what felt like an hour, I finally stepped out of the bath and got dressed. I styled my hair loosely, letting it fall over my shoulders, and applied a bit of makeup to brighten my mood. Staring at my reflection, I forced a smile, determined to make the best of the day.

Grabbing my phone, I checked for any messages from Musa, hoping maybe his meeting had been canceled. Nothing. I sighed, feeling a little silly for holding onto hope, and decided I’d head out for a walk. I wasn’t going to let a day in Paris go to waste.

As I wandered through the streets, I stopped at a small café and ordered a coffee. Sitting by the window, I watched the world go by, couples holding hands, families enjoying their time together, and tourists snapping photos of the beautiful sights. It was peaceful, but part of me still wished Musa was here beside me.

I took a sip of my coffee and decided to send him a quick message.

I miss you. Hope the meeting's going okay.

Minutes passed, and still no reply. I sighed again, putting my phone down and deciding to focus on the present, even if that meant enjoying Paris alone for now.

I knew his work was important, and I loved how dedicated he was. But at that moment, I couldn’t help but feel a little forgotten.

I paid for my things and headed towards the shops, deciding that a little retail therapy would be the perfect distraction. As I wandered through the narrow streets, the shop windows filled with beautiful Parisian souvenirs, I made a mental list of all the people I wanted to buy gifts for.

First, I found something for my family. A delicate scarf for Maria, a lovely bracelet for Shaheen, and a beautiful perfume for Amma. My heart warmed as I imagined them smiling when they opened their gifts. I picked out clothes for Abba, something traditional but with a modern Parisian twist. For my sister's I got them jewellery and for their children some toys.

Next, I focused on my in-laws. For Sana, I found a stunning set of earrings, and for Arif, a sleek leather wallet. I selected a beautiful silk shawl for Musa’s mother and a classic watch for his father. Shopping for them made me smile, feeling like I was bringing a bit of Paris back to everyone.

The day passed by quickly, and by the time I realized it, the sun had begun to set. I stopped for a quick break at a cozy café, ordering a fresh juice and trying out a chocolate croissant that looked too good to resist.

The first bite melted in my mouth, and I immediately thought of Musa. He’d love this, I thought, buying another one to take back for him. Even though he’d been busy, I knew he’d appreciate the small treat.

With my arms full of shopping bags, I made my way back to the hotel, feeling accomplished but exhausted. As I entered the room, I placed the croissant on the table and started unpacking the gifts. The room felt empty without Musa, but I knew his meeting was important.

I sat on the bed, staring at the clock, wondering when he’d be back. I sent him another message:

I got you something sweet. Hope to see you soon.

I lay back on the bed, closing my eyes, trying not to let the silence bother me too much.

❤️❤️❤️

The sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, warming my face as I slowly woke up. I stretched out my arm, expecting to feel Musa beside me, but the space was empty. My hand grazed the untouched sheets, and I frowned, sitting up quickly.

The bed was still perfectly made, untouched from the night before, and that’s when I noticed—the croissant I had brought for him was still sitting on the table, uneaten. My heart sank, a wave of worry immediately washing over me.

Where was he?

I grabbed my phone off the nightstand, my pulse quickening as I unlocked the screen. My message from yesterday—the one about the croissant—was still unread. No reply. No missed calls.

I panicked slightly, a thousand scenarios rushing through my mind. Maybe his meeting ran late? Maybe he crashed in another room? But why wouldn’t he at least send a message?

I tried calling him, my fingers trembling as I pressed the dial button, but it went straight to voicemail.

Where are you, Musa?

The minutes felt like hours as I sat there, staring at my phone, waiting for some kind of response.

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What could've possibly happened? Any guesses?