Umeed

Chapter 25

Thank you so much to everyone who is reading my story and adding it to your reading list. Your support means a lot to me.

- Your Author

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As the days passed, Noor found herself torn between her feelings. Deep down, she still cared, but fear held her back. The last thing she wanted was to be a burden to Shahzain. Every time she thought about their marriage, she couldn’t shake the belief that he still loved Rania. To Noor, it seemed like Shahzain had only married her out of anger and because of Ayesha’s manipulations.

Her emotions were a tangled mess—confusion, anger, and frustration building up with each passing day. She didn’t know what to do, or how to break free from this emotional trap.

One morning, as she busied herself in the kitchen preparing breakfast for Hoor and Ayaan, Noor tried to focus on the task at hand. The clinking of utensils, the gentle simmer of the stove, and the quiet hum of the house filled the silence. Despite the calm, her mind raced.

Just then, Shahzain walked in. His presence, usually commanding, now brought a tension she couldn’t ignore. He stood by the counter, watching her, clearly wanting to speak.

"Noor, mujhe tumse baat karni hai... you know maine yeh sab jaan-bujh ke nahi kiya tha," he began softly, his voice holding a mix of hesitation and frustration.

Before he could continue, Noor’s bottled-up anger surged to the surface. Without turning to face him, she snapped, her voice sharp and cutting. "What is it now? Do you need something, or did you just come here to remind me again?" She gestured to the space between them. "Yahi na ke aap gusse mein kar diya, aap nahi karna chahte the yeh sab?" Her words spilled out, bitter and accusing. "Or are you here to tell me you're regretting this whole marriage, just like I do every single day?"

Her voice echoed through the kitchen, startling Shahzain. He stood frozen, his expression hardening. For a moment, he opened his mouth to speak, but the weight of her words stopped him. His eyes flickered with a mix of frustration and something deeper—hurt.

Faris hurried into the kitchen, his steps quick, having overheard Noor’s raised voice. Shahzain immediately backed away, stepping out of Faris's path.

Shahzain’s jaw tightened as he swallowed his response. His fists clenched, and without another word, he turned and walked out of the kitchen. The front door slammed moments later as he left for work, leaving behind an untouched breakfast and the bitterness of the exchange.

Noor gripped the counter, her hands trembling as the adrenaline slowly drained from her. She took a shaky breath, staring blankly at the stove. The regret hit her almost immediately, but her anger still burned too fiercely to let it fully sink in.

She hadn’t meant to explode like that, but the weight of her fears, her insecurities, and the ever-present feeling that she was nothing more than a mistake in Shahzain’s life had finally overwhelmed her.

The kitchen felt unbearably still. She turned back to the stove, flipping the eggs with jerky movements, forcing herself to focus on the task. Hoor and Ayaan would be down soon, and she couldn’t let them see the aftermath of what had just unfolded.

As she plated the eggs, her thoughts drifted, unbidden, to Shahzain. She still longed for the man she had once loved—or perhaps still loved deep down. But now, she wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore.

-ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ-

After breakfast, the house was quiet. Noor stood in the kitchen, cleaning up as everyone else was at work. Hoor and Ayaan were playing in the living room, their laughter occasionally drifting through the space, filling the air with warmth. The calm was comforting, but it was soon interrupted by the doorbell ringing.