Forever His

Chapter 42: Nightmares

Shahmeer's POV:

I sit still as I cradle her in my arms like a child and my head rests on hers. I catch a glimpse of her sleeping form in the moonlight. Her face looked peaceful but I felt she was in agony.

She stirs, the peace on her face fracturing as her eyes fluttered open, scanning the dark room. Her gaze lands on me, and her expression turns from confusion to sheer terror. "No—no, get away from me!" she gasps, her voice trembles. She shoves herself back against the pillows, hands pushing up as if to create a barrier.

"Mahnoor, it's me," I say, hands half-raised, trying to keep my voice steady. But she doesn't listening; she was already hitting against my chest, her palms shoving as she struggle to free herself.

"No! Stop, please—why are you here again?" Her voice breaks, frantic and filled with fear as she tries to push me away. "Leave me alone!"

I catch her wrists, keeping her from hurting herself—or me, though her fear cut deeper than any slap. "Mahnoor, listen to me," I murmur, still holding her wrists gently but firmly. "It's Shahmeer."

She shakes her head, barely hearing me, her eyes darting across my face, searching for something she wasn't finding. "No, he... he said that before." Her voice is hoarse, raw, and she keeps shaking her head, trembling in my grip, her fingers still trying to pull away.

I had to find a way to break through. Holding her gaze, I lowered my voice, steady and calm. "Mahnoor, think. Remember that time in Karachi? We were in the car going to the party and you played a song called 'Fearless' and you went quiet because it reminded you of us" I say, squeezing her wrists just enough to ground her.

Her eyes flicker, a hint of recognition coming through, but she still looks uncertain. Her breaths are heavy, fast, but I see the fear start to soften, even if only slightly.

"And then in the mall when we went shopping for Farjaad's baby," I continue, keeping my tone low and steady, "when you spilled chai all over the floor and nearly started crying? You said I should be grateful you didn't spill it on me."

She blinks, the memories starting to come back, the tension in her body slowly easing. Her hands stop trying to pull away, though they still shook, and I felt her breath hitch as she searches my face, the panic fades to confusion, then something close to relief.

"Shahmeer..." she whispered, as if she was testing my name, still not entirely convinced.

"Yes, love" I answered softly, letting her hands drop but staying close, in case she needed proof, some touch to keep her grounded. "It's just me. I'm here, sweetheart." I use the nicknames as a another factor authentication, because it seemed to be what she needed.

She lets out a shaky breath, her hands coming to rest against my bare chest as she takes in her surroundings, her gaze falls down as she finally registers where she was. Her fingers stay against my skin, her breathing slowly returns to normal as I felt the tremors subside. 

She looks around. "Do you want me to turn the lights on?" She shakes her head. But she doesn't thank me, doesn't give any indication of reassurance, just slumps her head back on my chest, eyes squeezed shut as she tries to catch her breath. And, without thinking, I reach out, brushing a stray tear from her cheek, watching her lashes flutter as her breathing finally steadies.

Her breathing has finally settled, but she's still tense, still trembling a little under my hand. I don't loosen my hold on her, not yet, not until I'm sure she's okay. When she looks up at me, her eyes glisten, fear still lingering there.

"I thought... I thought it was him again," she murmurs, her voice barely more than a whisper. Her words hang heavy in the air between us, like a cold weight pressing down.