Kabhi main, kabhi tum, kabhi yeh, kabhi voh

Part 2: Realizations

The night settled over their home with a heavy, uncomfortable quiet. Mustafa and Sharjeena shared a silent dinner, the clinking of utensils the only sound breaking the stillness. Mustafa tried a few times to start a conversation, asking about her day and the doctor's visit, but each attempt was met with short, polite replies, or worse, silence. She was there, yet he could feel the distance between them growing wider, stretching across the table like an invisible wall.

Sharjeena looked exhausted, and shortly after dinner, she excused herself, retreating to their bedroom. Mustafa stayed behind, staring at his half-empty plate, the reality of the day sinking in. The guilt gnawed at him as he thought about how she had been alone, vulnerable, and pregnant, trying to catch a ride in the punishing heat. She could have fainted on that street, and he wouldn't have known.

His mind kept circling back to Rehan—the man who had stepped in when he hadn't been there. He felt a pang of jealousy, imagining Rehan driving her home, offering her comfort, being the one to support her when she was in need. The thought made him clench his fists, but it also left a hollow ache in his chest.

Mustafa sank into the couch, lost in thought, replaying the day over and over. He'd thought that working hard, building a future, was what mattered most, but today had shown him the cost. He had neglected the very person he was trying to protect, and now, she seemed further away from him than ever. He made a silent promise to himself: he would make it up to her. No matter what, he would be there for her from now on. And he would start that by dropping her to work in the morning after taking her out for breakfast remind her of the good old days.

He barely noticed the hours slipping by until he finally dozed off. But the guilt wouldn't let him sleep for long.

Mustafa woke with a start, his heart racing. He grabbed his phone and saw the time—it was already 9 a.m. Panic surged through him as he realized he'd overslept. He jumped out of bed, calling her out instinctively.

"Sharjeena?"

"Sharjeena!"

No response.

He quickly searched the rooms, and his heart sank when he realized she had already left for work without waking him up.

The kitchen was neat, with a breakfast plate wrapped and left on the counter. She had prepared everything, even though she hadn't woken him up, something she had always done, no matter what. It was a small gesture that had once gone unnoticed, but now it weighed heavily on him. She had left without a word, and he could feel the emptiness in the house in her absence.

Mustafa made himself a cup of tea, putting the tea and his breakfast on the table and sank onto the chair, staring at the plate of parathas she'd made. He took a bite, the familiar taste filling his mouth, but instead of comfort, it only brought a pang of regret. She had made this for him, even after everything, and he hadn't been there to share it with her. He looked over at the wall, where a framed photograph from their wedding hung. He looked at Sharjeena's expression - lost, confused and uncertain towards the future. Yet she put all her faith in him when she barely even knew him.

He'd thought that as long as he was working for their future, everything would fall into place. But now, as he sat alone, the only thing he wanted was to bring her back to that moment. With a deep sigh, he finished his breakfast, each bite a reminder of her absence, and resolved to do whatever it took to win her back.

He finished his morning chores and left for his work with a heavy heart and guilt creeping up on him.

"Bloody loser, isase pehe ki kho de usko hamesha ke liye, jaldi kuch kar". He scolded himself and started his bike.

As Sharjeena reached her office, she still felt unsteady. Her night had been restless, and the morning had only added to her exhaustion. She'd woken up early to find Mustafa asleep on the couch. A part of her wanted to curl up beside him, spoon him, feel his warmth, and close the distance that had grown between them. But she stopped herself, the memory of his repeated absences gnawing at her resolve. A bitter laugh escaped her as she thought about how she used to be—always quick to forgive, always willing to bridge the gap. But now, the growing life within her, combined with the loneliness she felt, had hardened her.

Her morning had been routine, yet empty. She prepared breakfast, moving through each task with a lingering sense of isolation. As she set the table, memories of yesterday flickered through her mind. She hadn't done anything wrong, she knew that. But taking a ride from Rehan, someone who wasn't her husband, left her with a gnawing unease. It should have been Mustafa beside her. It should have been Mustafa who reached for her when she was vulnerable.

She remembered a time, not so long ago, when Mustafa had been the one to support her during her hardest moments. When Adeel had called off the engagement, Mustafa had been there, his presence as steady as an anchor. He'd driven her home that day, offered her water, cursed at the broken AC, and promised her he'd always be there for her in times of need. The similarities between that day and yesterday left a bitter taste in her mouth. It was Rehan, an acquaintance, a man who wasn't her Mustafa, who had offered her a ride this time, who had looked out for her. She couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness wash over her.

By the time she finished her morning routine, her resolve was worn thin. Her hand instinctively reached out to wake Mustafa, but she held back. She stared at him for a moment, sleeping soundly, oblivious to the turmoil she felt. Her hand hovered over his shoulder, but then she withdrew, her fingers curling back into her palm. She turned and walked out of the apartment, letting the door close softly behind her.

Sharjeena took a deep breath as she settled into her office chair, trying to shake the heaviness from her heart. She busied herself with work, but the ache remained, the memories replaying over and over. She missed Mustafa. She missed the way things had been. But she also knew that she couldn't keep pouring from an empty cup. Something had to change. The thought of letting him in again felt daunting, but her heart was tired of carrying the burden alone.

Just then, there was a soft tap at her desk, bringing her back to reality. She looked over, it was Rehan, the colleague who helped her yesterday.

To be continued..