Umeed

Chapter 39

After the incident, Noor felt hesitant and shy whenever she was around Shahzain. She often tried to avoid him, slipping away whenever she sensed his presence nearby. But somehow, he always found her, his presence calm yet persistent. Despite the bond they shared, Shahzain was careful to ensure she never felt pressured or uncomfortable. Every time they were close, he respected her boundaries, never touching her without her permission, and always mindful of her comfort.

A few days later, Noor decided to drop Ayaan and Hoor off at school, as the children had begged her to take them. Once they were safely at school, she continued to a nearby café where she was meeting her friend, Mishal, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time. The café was close to Shahzain’s office, and Noor planned to surprise him and Faris afterward by bringing them breakfast since both had left early that morning for an important meeting, skipping their meals.

Upon entering the café, Noor spotted Mishal seated at a cozy corner table. They greeted each other warmly, and their conversation immediately flowed as they caught up on each other’s lives. After a while, Noor excused herself to go to the restroom.

After freshening up, Noor opened the door of the restroom stall, only to find a man standing directly in her path. Her heart raced with sudden panic, but she forced herself to stay calm, trying to move past him as inconspicuously as possible. However, just as she began to step forward, the man grabbed her hand. Her body froze with fear, and she attempted to pull her hand away, but his grip was tight, almost bruising. She screamed, hoping someone outside might hear her, but the restroom was isolated, and her voice was muffled.

Back at the table, Mishal grew concerned as the minutes passed, and Noor had not yet returned. Finally, she went to check, only to find the restroom door locked. Alarmed, she flagged down the café manager, explaining her friend might be in danger and demanding help. The manager tried but couldn’t open the door, admitting he had no alternate key. Panicked and frustrated, Mishal frantically dialed Shahzain, urging him to come to the café immediately, her voice shaking as she told him that Noor was in trouble.

Meanwhile, Noor struggled against the man’s grip, pushing and thrashing, desperate to escape. Her eyes darted around until they landed on a metal bar leaning against the wall. Summoning every ounce of strength, she broke free and lunged for it. In one swift, terrified motion, she brought the bar down on the man’s head. He staggered, collapsing to the floor, giving Noor the chance to flee. Shaking, she gripped the metal bar and began striking the restroom door, hoping to break free.

By the time Shahzain arrived, he could already hear her faint cries for help from outside the restroom. His heart pounded with fear and anger, and he called out to her through the door, instructing her to move back and hide inside one of the stalls. She obeyed without question, retreating as he prepared to break the door. With one powerful kick, Shahzain broke the lock, stepping inside to find Noor disheveled and visibly shaken. His usual calm composure shattered as he crossed the room, pulling her into his arms. Noor clung to him, her body trembling as sobs escaped her.

“I was so scared… I didn’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come,” she whispered, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face. Shahzain gently ran his fingers through her hair, his touch soothing, holding her as if to shield her from any harm.

He reached for her dupatta and wrapped it carefully around her face, protecting her privacy as he guided her out. Quietly but firmly, he instructed his bodyguard to handle the man who had attacked her while he helped Noor into his car, keeping her close.

When they arrived at Shahzain’s office building, his employees paused, staring in disbelief. Their usually stoic and distant boss was carrying a woman protectively in his arms, his expression grim and furious. Shahzain’s sharp gaze warned them all to look away, and he coldly ordered his assistant to ensure no one dared to look their way or risk losing their jobs. Everyone immediately looked down as Shahzain carried Noor. Ignoring the whispers, he took Noor to a private room attached to his office—a room he kept solely for himself , no one knew about it not even the family members .

Inside, he gently laid her on the bed, but as he tried to move away, Noor clung to his hand, her wide eyes still filled with fear. “I’ll just get you some water, Noor,” he whispered softly, reassuring her.

“No… I don’t want anything. Please, I just feel… dirty,” she murmured, her voice trembling as fresh tears pooled in her eyes.

Shahzain’s heart ached, feeling the weight of not being able to protect her. He softly assured her, "No, Noor, you are so pure, my angel, my innocent wife. Don’t cry… shhh."

Seeing her pain tore at him. He comforted her as best as he could, whispering gentle words of reassurance, then told her he’d only be gone a moment, just to check on the situation outside. With visible reluctance, she let go of his hand, nodding slightly, though her gaze followed him as he left the room.

Outside, he received a call from his bodyguard, who regretfully informed him that the attacker had escaped after a truck rammed into their car and a group of strangers helped the man flee. Shahzain’s anger surged, but he ended the call, deciding he would deal with it later. For now, Noor needed him.

Returning to the room, he immediately noticed she was no longer on the bed. His pulse spiked with fear until he heard the faint sound of water running in the bathroom. Shahzain stepped inside and found her standing under the shower, vigorously scrubbing her arms and hands until her skin was raw and beginning to bleed.

“What are you doing, Noor? Look, you’re hurting yourself,” he said, his voice soft but urgent as he moved toward her.

Through her sobs, she whispered, “He… he touched me here.” She scrubbed harder, her hands moving up and down her arms as if to erase the memory.

Without a thought for his now-soaked clothes, Shahzain wrapped his arms around her, his touch gentle but grounding. Taking her hand, he pressed a soft kiss on her wrist, then repeated the gesture on her other hand, whispering, “It only has my touch now, Noor. Just mine. You’re safe now.”

Slowly, he guided her out of the shower, wrapping her in a large towel, then handed her a set of his clothes—one of his shirts and trousers, the only spare clothes he had in the office. Once she was dressed, Shahzain quickly changed into a dry set of clothes as well, and when she returned, he gently led her back to the bed. He pulled her into his arms, his hand softly running through her hair as she began to relax, eventually drifting into a restless sleep.

As he held her, Shahzain’s mind churned with a mix of anger and dread. Who was that man? And why had strangers helped him escape? He knew he had to find answers, but for now, his priority was Noor. He would do whatever it took to ensure she was safe, protecting her from every shadow that dared come close. Holding her closer, he felt the weight of responsibility settle firmly over him—he couldn’t let anything hurt her again.