𝐙𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐌𝐀+𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐀𝐍 𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐊
A rollercoaster romance between Zaina Fathima, a determined 23-year-old surgeon, and Armaan Malik, a confident 25-year-old CEO. What begins as a tale of enemies-turned-lovers, filled with witty bante...
"Life is too unpredictable to live by a schedule."
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Life has been feeling like a fairytale for way too long; this dunya is made to be a test, not paradise, so of course the trip is coming to an end. It is going to end, and I'll be on a flight back to London.
"We'll be at the beach. Come meet us there once you're ready," Aliza is shouting, walking out of the room hand in hand with Nafi.
As I am strolling towards the beach, I spot a group of girls laughing and diving. I start to walk away. I hear the girls giggle again; this time their tone shifts. One of them swims closer, a playful yet mischievous glint in her eyes. "Hey you, why don't you join us?"
I pause, feeling a mix of annoyance and discomfort. "I'm good."
"Oh, come on! Don't be such a prude! Just join us!"
Another girl, her smile fading, is pushing her hair back and stepping back onto the ship, crossing her arms. "What's the big deal? It's just swimming!" She rolls her eyes, her expression turning.
Their energy feels invasive now. "Look, I'm not here to argue," I reply.
As I try to walk away again, trying to shake off the encounter, before I can, she grabs my arm, and I'm taken by surprise as another girl joins in.
"Wait, what are you doing?" I protest, pulling away, but it is happening all too quickly.
"Just a little splash!" they are laughing, but their words are filled with a hint of malice.
With a final shove, I am losing my footing, and it feels as if time has stopped. I can't react; I'm already falling. The air is rushing past me, and for a brief moment, I'm suspended in weightlessness. The cold then envelops me as I hit the water; the shock is taking my breath away. Panic is surging through me as I struggle to gasp for air, water filling my lungs, and I feel myself sinking. I try to call for help, but the water is muffling my voice. I kick my legs, reaching out for anything to grab onto. All around me, the world is a blur of blue and white, and the surface is seeming impossibly far away. My lungs are burning, and my heart is racing in terror, and each crashing wave is pulling me deeper into the abyss.
As the panic escalates, my limbs are feeling heavy, and my vision is starting to darken. Each desperate kick is becoming more sluggish. The world around me dims, and I feel myself slipping away, the weight of exhaustion pressing down.
My arms can no longer fight, and I feel my consciousness wavering. I can't tell if I'm sinking or floating—everything feels heavy and distant. With one last effort, I reach out, but my hand meets only water. The light above me flickers, and as my vision blurs, I succumb to the darkness, the sound of the waves fading into silence.
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As I settle onto the warm sand beside Aliza and Nafi, I can't shake the feeling that something's off. Zaina hasn't shown up yet, and I'm starting to worry. Aliza is laughing with Nafi, splashing water playfully, but my thoughts keep drifting back to her.
"I'll be right back," I say, standing up and scanning the beach. "I'm going to look for Zaina."
"Good idea," Aliza replies, glancing at me with concern. "She should have been here by now."
I nod, making my way along the shore, calling out her name. "Zaina! Where are you?" My voice carries over the sound of the waves, but there's no response. I feel a knot tightening in my stomach.
"Zaina!" I call again, louder this time. The waves crash rhythmically behind me, but still no answer.
As I walk further down the beach, I catch sight of a group of girls laughing, their voices mingling with the sea breeze. One of them looks over at me, a playful smirk on her face. "So that's her name," she chuckles.
"Where is she?" I stare at her, not in the mood for jokes; she wasn't in her room or the restaurant; she wasn't anywhere on the cruise.
"Oh, she just went for a swim; she'll be back in no time," the girl grins as soon as I hear that I take off my shirt and dive into the water. She doesn't know how to swim.
"Zaina!" I shout, my voice echoing beneath the surface. I kick harder, the saltwater stinging my eyes. I'm determined to find her, no matter what.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see movement. I push myself faster, my heart racing as I swim towards it. As I break through the surface, I gasp for air, my focus narrowing on the spot where I thought I saw her.
"Zaina!" I call again, urgency flooding my voice. I can't shake the feeling that I need to reach her before it's too late.
As I swim closer, I spot her, struggling beneath the waves. Panic surges through me, and I push myself harder, reaching out to grab her. My hand closes around her arm, and I feel the weight of her body as I pull her towards me. "Zaina! I've got you!" I shout, my heart racing as I hold her tight.
With one arm wrapped around her waist, I kick powerfully, propelling us both towards the surface. Breaking through the water, I gasp for air, relief flooding me as I see the sunlight glimmering above.
I pull her out of the water, dragging her onto the deck. I quickly check to see if she's breathing, and I'm flooded with relief when I hear her coughing and sputtering..
Just then, I hear Aliza and Nafi rushing over; their faces pale with concern. "Oh my God, Zaina!" Aliza cries, falling to her knees beside her.
I look up, and that's when I see her mom and aunt sprinting towards us, their expressions frantic. A small crowd of other guests gathers nearby, drawn by the commotion. I could hear whispers and gasps.
"Zaina!" her mom calls, reaching us
Her aunt kneels beside her, gently brushing Zaina's hair away from her face. "Ya Allah, you're safe!" she exclaims, relief washing over her features. The worry in her eyes is palpable.
Her mom wraps her arms around her, holding her tightly. "Alhamdulillah," she whispers, her voice shaking with emotion.
I step back slightly, giving them space but remaining close, still feeling the weight of the moment. There were many whispering and gathered around, but all I could focus on is the relief in Zaina's gaze as she begins to recover, surrounded by the people who care for her.
Arsh hands me a towel, his expression a mix of concern and relief. Zain helps me get back on my feet, steadying me as I shake off the lingering shock. I glance back at Zaina, who is being supported by her friends, her steps unsteady.
"Are you okay?" Arsh asks softly, giving me a reassuring smile.
"I'm fine," I reply, though my gaze remains fixed on Zaina. She looks shaken, her hair clinging to her face as she tries to regain her composure. Her friends are surrounding her, their arms linked protectively, guiding her back toward her room.
I watch as they move slowly, Zaina's usual confidence replaced by vulnerability. It tugs at my heart, and I can't shake the feeling of worry. I want to go to her to make sure she's really okay, but I know its best to keep space.
"Let's get you dried off," Zain says, gently nudging me in the direction of our cabin. I nod, forcing myself to turn away from Zaina.
A/N
This chapter is the last filler chapter and a birthday month special since I rarely write in the MMC POV and I have for this chapter (yes, my birthday is this month, november 10 hehe) I hope you enjoyed this chapter I assure you that better, more interesting ones will be written moving forward Thank you so much for your patience, If you want to motivate me to write a better next chapter, vote and comment on this one Also, follow my Instagram account I'll be posting spoilers for the upcoming chapter's.
