Kabhi main, kabhi tum, kabhi yeh, kabhi voh

Part 13: Breaking the news

Sharjeena woke up feeling slightly disoriented, reaching over to the empty space beside her. She let out a quiet sigh, scanning the room and calling softly, "Mustafa?" There was no response, just the stillness of the morning around her. After steadying herself and taking a deep breath, she slipped out of bed, her brows knitting as she searched each room, hoping he might still be somewhere around.

Finally, when she noticed his bike keys missing from the holder, she felt a little dejected. A small part of her wondered if he hadn't returned home at all since yesterday. Could he have stayed at the office all night? she thought, the question bringing a slight flicker of concern.

Picking up her phone, she quickly recorded a voice note: "Mustafa, tum kal se ghar nahi aaye? Kya saari raat office mein hi the? Kuch khaaya tumne?" She paused before sending it, her voice laced with a mixture of worry and tenderness. A moment later, she noticed his response to her Instagram story from last night. She smiled, realizing that despite everything, he'd been thinking of her. Somehow, it made her feel lighter.

She went about her morning routine with newfound energy, showering, dressing, and even humming softly as she prepared a simple breakfast. The memory of her promotion conversation with Mr. Hussain replayed in her mind, and pride surged through her. "This is just the beginning," she murmured to herself, confidence building with each thought.

Once she was ready to leave for work, she glanced around the quiet house and smiled softly, mentally promising herself to share her day's little victories with Mustafa later. Feeling excited for the day ahead, she picked up her bag and headed out, already thinking about her goals at work and the small steps she was taking toward her dreams.

Mustafa felt like he'd already lived a full day by the time breakfast arrived. He'd been at the office since dawn, his nerves wound tightly as the meeting time with the investor drew closer. This was it—the shot to secure the future he wanted so badly for Sharjeena and their child. Danish tried to reassure him, nudging him to calm down, but Mustafa felt the weight of the moment in a way he knew Danish couldn't fully understand. For him, it was more than business; it was personal, a matter of love, responsibility, and dreams.

Just as he started eating, his phone buzzed with a notification. Seeing it was a voice note from Sharjeena, he immediately set his food aside, clicking to listen. Her soft, concerned voice asking if he'd stayed out all night, and whether he'd eaten, made him feel both warmth and guilt. He cursed himself for not leaving her a message earlier, regretting that she had to wake up wondering about him.

Without hesitating, he recorded a reply. "Main aaya tha raat ko, Sharjeena. Tum so rahi thi toh uthaya nahi. Subah jaldi nikal gaya ek bohot important kaam se. Tumko baad mein sab kuch batata hoon, promise. Main abhi breakfast hi kar raha tha. Tum bhi please time se kha lena, theek hai?"

He pressed send, and before putting his phone down, his eyes lingered on his wallpaper—the picture of her. He took a deep breath, grounding himself in the reminder that all of this was for her. This moment, this chance—it had to work.

With renewed resolve, he finished his breakfast quickly, standing up and stretching before returning to his desk. "Alright," he murmured, "uske liye, hamaare liye." He felt a fresh surge of motivation, ready to dive back into work and make sure everything was perfect for the upcoming meeting.

With her music playing softly in her earphones, Sharjeena leaned back in her seat, letting the melody ease her nerves as the office van made its way through morning traffic. The message notification from Mustafa blinked on her screen, and she clicked to listen to his voice note, her heart softening at the sound of his voice explaining his late night and early start. She felt a surge of worry, trying to make out what it could be that he had to leave so early this morning. Whispering a small prayer, she thought, May he succeed in whatever he's doing today. May he stay safe and healthy.