LOVE WITHOUT DESTINY

part 31

The hospital lights flickered above like a cruel reminder that life could change in seconds.

Noah burst through the sliding glass doors, her breath ragged, eyes wide. Panic drenched her voice as she rushed to the receptionist's desk.
"Where is Zain?! Tell me-where is he?!"

"Madam, please calm down," the nurse replied, standing up quickly. "He's in the emergency room. They've already taken him in."

But Noah was already gone, her heels echoing against the sterile floor. Her heart thudded against her chest as she reached the ER doors. Through the small glass window, she saw chaos-doctors in motion, machines beeping, a body on the table.

Zain.

Her hands flew to her mouth. A sob escaped, violent and raw. Her legs gave way and she collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks as her voice cracked.
"Zain... no... what happened to you?"

Her fingers clenched the cold floor as her body trembled. Then, her blurred vision caught movement nearby. She turned.

Junaid.

She forced herself up, limbs trembling, and stumbled towards him.
"What happened? Tell me, how did this happen?"

Junaid froze like a deer caught in headlights. "I-I don't know. I was heading home when I saw a crowd gathered. Someone had... someone had an accident. I went closer, and... it was Professor Zain."

Noah staggered backward, dazed, before dropping into a chair. She buried her face in her hands, trying to breathe through the agony. Then suddenly, something clicked.

She looked up at Junaid sharply.
"Which road? Tell me the name. Where exactly did this happen?"

Junaid hesitated, then muttered, "Street 73, G-9, Islamabad."

Noah's eyes narrowed. Her voice dropped into a whisper.
"But... Zain wasn't supposed to be there. He was coming from the opposite direction... heading home. Why would he be on that road?"

Junaid's heart skipped a beat. He looked away, his fingers twitching. He knew what she didn't. That this wasn't just an accident-it had been planned. Cold, calculated.

Before Noah could complete her thought-"What if someone-"
-the glass doors opened again with a soft ding.

Two officers entered, walking straight to the reception. Their conversation was hushed, but Noah's eyes followed them like a hawk. When the nurse pointed toward the ER, both officers turned and approached.

"Who brought the victim to the hospital?" one of them asked.

Noah stood up, confused.
"Victim? What do you mean victim? What are you saying?"

Junaid's breath hitched. And he was like _ "jis baat ka darr thaa wohi huwa."

The officer looked at her with careful seriousness.
"Ma'am, this wasn't an accident. We just reviewed the CCTV footage from the street. Someone tampered with the car. It was intentional."

It hit her like a bullet to the chest. Noah stumbled backward, her knees weak, then collapsed into the same chair, gasping.

One of the officers stepped forward, his voice firm but composed.
"Sir, aap unhe yahan laye the?"

Junaid nodded slowly, barely meeting the officer's eyes. "J-ji... main hi laya tha."

The officer exchanged a look with his partner, then turned back to him.
"Humein aapse kuch zaroori sawal karne hain. Jab tak victim hosh mein nahi aata, aapka statement zaroori hai. Aapko hamare saath thane chalna hoga."