Veil of Truth

Chapter 18

Zayd's POV

I woke up with a pounding headache and sat on the edge of the bed, holding my head. It felt like someone was hammering my skull. Glancing at my wristwatch, I saw it was 9 a.m. I realized I was still in my office attire, and then it hit me—I remembered everything that happened last night.

I sighed deeply, my gaze falling on the side table. A bowl of hangover soup was there. I sighed again, wondering, Is she really this kind, or is it just another one of her acts? Then I thought, Of course, it's an act.

Dragging myself to the bathroom, I took a hot shower to ease the throbbing in my head. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I returned to the bed, sat down, and picked up the soup. I hesitated but eventually took a sip. She really does make delicious food, I admitted grudgingly. Yesterday's breakfast had been amazing too.

After finishing the soup, I headed to the dressing room and pulled on something casual—I decided to take the day off. When I stepped out, I walked toward the dining table. It was already set, but there was no sign of her.

Where could she be? I wondered. Just then, I heard a faint noise from the room opposite mine. She must be in there, I thought, a flicker of confusion crossing my mind.

Why didn't she come out? I wondered. Then I shook my head. Anyway, it's better this way, I thought, dismissing the question.

I pushed the thought aside, took a seat at the table, and without waiting any longer, started eating breakfast.

After finishing my breakfast, I went to my study and started working. A call from my secretary interrupted me.

"Good morning, sir. When should I schedule the meeting with the Japanese client?" Mrs. Ahmad asked.

"Schedule it for tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.," I replied.

"Okay, sir," she said and ended the call.

I dove back into my work, completely engrossed, losing track of time. When I finally glanced at my wristwatch, I realized it was already lunchtime.

I stepped out of the study and, once again, didn't see her anywhere. Curiosity nudged me toward the kitchen.

I froze in the doorway, my eyes locking onto the scene before me. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. She stood by the stove, completely absorbed in her cooking, her soft voice filling the air as she recited verses from the Quran. The melody of her recitation was unlike anything I had ever heard—gentle, soothing, almost as if it had the power to calm the chaos constantly churning inside me.

Her long, straight black hair fell freely over her back, its silky strands catching the light that filtered into the kitchen. Her pale skin seemed almost luminous, untouched, radiant. There was a glow about her, but it wasn't just physical—it came from within, a noor that softened every feature of her face.

For the first time, I saw her without her niqab and hijab. The sight left me stunned. Her delicate features were so perfectly proportioned, her beauty so serene and pure that my chest tightened. There was no pretense, no artifice—just a natural, effortless beauty that seemed to reflect something deeper.

She was completely lost in the moment, her movements fluid and unhurried as she stirred the pot, unaware of my presence. It was the combination of her devotion, her quiet focus, and that ethereal beauty that made something shift inside me.

This is what a true servant of Allah looks like, the thought came unbidden, startling me. She wasn't just reciting the Quran—she was living it. And for the first time in a long time, I felt something unfamiliar settle over me. Peace.

I swallowed hard, a lump forming in my throat. I had seen countless women in my life, each one striving to outshine the next with their looks, their charm, their allure. But Amina... she was different. She didn't even try, and yet she eclipsed them all effortlessly. She wasn't just beautiful—she was something else entirely, something I couldn't quite name but couldn't stop staring at.

And for a fleeting moment, I forgot the resentment I had carried for her, the bitterness I had convinced myself was justified.

I clenched my fists, trying to anchor myself. Don't let her fool you, I tried to remind myself, but the thought rang hollow, meaningless. The way she stood there, the way she carried herself—it wasn't for show. It was for something greater, something I had turned my back on long ago.

Just as I stood there, unable to tear my eyes away, she turned her face toward me. Our eyes met—just for a second—but it was enough to send a jolt through me. Her wide, startled gaze held mine before she quickly looked away, panic flashing across her features.

I saw her hands fumble as she reached for her dupatta, hastily pulling it over her head and across her face, hiding the beauty that had left me shaken moments ago. The cascade of her black hair disappeared beneath the fabric, and all at once, the luminous glow of her face was veiled.

"When did you come?" she managed, her voice trembling as she clutched the edges of the dupatta.

I forced my expression into one of indifference, willing my voice to sound colder than I felt. "What do you mean?" I replied, my tone sharp, even though my heart was still racing.

She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "I M-Mean... when did you come from the office?"

"It's not necessary for you to know." I said curtly, keeping my eyes averted now, unwilling to let her see any trace of the storm raging inside me. Without waiting for her response, I turned and walked away.

The moment I reached my room, I shut the door behind me. And sat on the edge of the bed.

Why had her presence unsettled me so much? Why had just one look—a mere glance—been enough to shake the control I prided myself on? I clenched my fists, my knuckles whitening as I willed my heart to calm down, but the memory of her eyes meeting mine refused to leave me.

I had spent so long keeping her at a distance, convincing myself that she was nothing more than an intruder in my life. And yet, in that moment, she hadn't felt like an intruder at all.

No, she felt like something else entirely—something I wasn't ready to face.

A knock on the door broke my chain of thoughts. I sighed, a deep breath escaping me, and slowly got up, and made my way to the door, already knowing it's her.

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