Paasban

Chapter 27

👀

The clock was striking 2 p.m., and panic had fully set in. My hands shook as I sent text after text, my calls going unanswered, each attempt tightening the knot of fear in my chest.

“Where are you?” I sobbed into the phone after yet another call went straight to voicemail. Tears blurred my vision, frustration mixing with dread.

Suddenly, the door creaked open. I whipped my head around, expecting relief to wash over me, but instead, Musa stepped in, looking indifferent, his expression cold. He held his bag in one hand, his phone in the other. Without a word, he tossed his phone onto the chair by the window, its screen cracked as it landed harshly. My heart sank further.

I stood frozen, watching as he walked past me, not meeting my eyes, and threw himself onto the bed. He lay down with a sigh, completely ignoring my presence, as if I didn’t exist.

“Musa?” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding in my ears. He didn’t respond. I took a step closer, my heart racing. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you all day.”

Still nothing. His eyes stayed glued to the ceiling, unbothered, like my panic and tears were invisible. The distance between us in the room felt like miles, the coldness in his demeanor like a slap.

I wiped away my tears, frustration now rising to the surface. “You can’t just ignore me like this!” I cried out, my voice shaking. “I was worried sick! Where were you?”

Musa finally shifted his gaze, glancing at me for the briefest second before turning his back, his silence cutting deeper than any words could.

My chest tightened, the anger bubbling up. “You think this is okay? To disappear for hours and just act like nothing happened?”

His silence stung like a dagger, and with each passing second, the gulf between us widened.

"Will you shut up!" Musa's voice erupted as he suddenly sprang from the bed. Before I could react, he grabbed me by the shoulders, pinning me roughly against the wall. His grip was firm, his eyes wild with anger.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. "Musa?" I whispered, barely recognizing the man before me.

"Because of you, I lost a million-dollar deal!" he shouted, his face inches from mine. My heart pounded painfully in my chest. "You had to call me every few seconds. Couldn't you have waited?" His words cut through the air, filled with frustration and rage.

Tears filled my eyes, but I forced them back. “Musa, I didn’t know! I was scared… You disappeared without a word. You never do that! For a whole night!” I stammered, trying to make sense of the situation, my voice trembling.

He released me abruptly, stepping back and running his hands through his hair, his chest rising and falling as he breathed heavily. “I told you I was busy. You just… you don’t get it, Zyra.” His tone softened slightly but was still laced with irritation.

I blinked, tears threatening to spill over as my hands shook. “You can’t just blame me for everything. I didn’t know you were in a meeting. I was worried.”

He glanced at me, his expression torn between frustration and something else—guilt maybe—but he didn’t speak. The room felt thick with unspoken words and heavy silence.

I swallowed hard, my voice quiet now. “I’m your wife, Musa. You could’ve told me.”

He let out a deep breath, but instead of replying, he just turned away, his hands clenched at his sides, leaving me standing there with the weight of the moment pressing down on me.

I blinked back my tears, my throat tight with emotion as I turned and walked to the bathroom, desperate for some space. At least he was back, I tried to remind myself, though it didn’t offer the comfort I had hoped for.

I locked the door behind me, letting out a shaky breath before I turned on the shower. The sound of the water hitting the tiles drowned out the lingering echoes of Musa’s angry words. I stepped under the warm stream, letting it wash over me, hoping it could somehow cleanse the heaviness in my chest.

The tears I’d held back finally spilled over, mingling with the water. I leaned against the wall, closing my eyes, trying to make sense of what had just happened. It wasn’t like him to react this way. Not Musa. Not the man who had been so patient, so gentle. But today he had been someone different—cold, distant, and full of anger.

As the steam filled the room, I kept replaying his words in my head. A million-dollar deal. His frustration. My constant calls. Had I really ruined something that important?

No, I told myself, I wasn’t at fault for being worried. He had disappeared for hours without a word. I was his wife; I had the right to know where he was. But the doubt lingered, gnawing at me as I finished my shower.

I turned off the water, wrapping a towel around myself, and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were red, swollen from crying. I looked lost, small, unsure of what to do next.

Taking a deep breath, I left the bathroom, unsure of what I would face outside. Musa was lying on the bed, his back to me, the silence between us thick and uncomfortable. I didn’t know if I should say something, if I should try to fix it, or if I should just give him space.

Quietly, I went to the dresser, pulling out a fresh set of clothes, my mind still racing. The room felt colder now, the distance between us more than just physical.

I changed quickly, grabbing my purse without a second glance at Musa. Maybe space was exactly what we both needed right now. I could still feel the sting of his words, but being in the same room wasn’t helping either of us. As I walked downstairs, my lower lip trembled despite my efforts to stay composed.

I made my way to the hotel’s bathroom, turning on the tap and splashing cold water on my face, hoping it would wash away the remnants of the argument. I stared at my reflection, watching as the tension in my shoulders slowly eased, though my heart still felt heavy.

With a sigh, I dried my face and stepped out into the lobby. The bright lights of Paris awaited, but for the first time, the city felt less exciting, more overwhelming. I just needed to clear my head, figure out what to do next.

I pulled my scarf tighter around my shoulders and walked out onto the street, the cool breeze hitting my face. My mind wandered to all the things we hadn’t said to each other, the unspoken tension hanging between us.

I sighed and settled down in a street corner cafe. I ordered some coffee. I didn't feel like having something sweet.

I sighed, settling into the corner of a small café that overlooked the bustling street. The faint hum of conversations around me was a welcome distraction, but it couldn't drown out my thoughts. I ordered a coffee, skipping the usual sweets I’d indulge in. Today, nothing seemed to taste right.

As I waited for my drink, I stared out the window, watching the people pass by, each seemingly absorbed in their own world. Couples laughing, friends chatting—it felt strange to be surrounded by so much life when all I wanted was to retreat into a quiet corner of my mind.

My phone buzzed on the table, and for a moment, I hoped it was Musa—an apology, maybe an explanation. But when I glanced at the screen, it was just a notification, nothing from him.

I wrapped my hands around the coffee cup as it arrived, the warmth offering some comfort. I didn’t know how long I could keep pretending that everything was fine, that this distance between us wasn’t tearing me apart. Taking a sip, I wondered how we’d fix this, or if he even wanted to.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed the soft drizzle starting outside, the rain tapping against the window like a melody that matched the somberness I felt inside.

❤️❤️❤️

I'm so so sorry for not uploading yesterday. I'm in my first year in Architecture university and it's overwhelming. Sooo much work!! 🥹