Distanced By Fate, Mended With LOVE..

8. The Dreadful Revelation

Not edited.

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"Nick! You and I need to have a talk." Sherry sounded serious and not at all comfortable.

Nazia was surprised how Nicky gave no cents to her husband. She was so busy with Yousuf with no regard for the societal boundaries. For heaven's sake she was a married woman, and Yousuf was her husband's friend! How could she be so unmindful?

"Now!"

Nazia felt relieved when Sherry dragged Nicky away from Yousuf.

Yousuf too had no idea why Nicky was conducting herself in such a strange manner. But he gave a shrug to his thoughts. He would rather focus on his wife, who stood in his room after what felt like decades. The room now felt complete with her presence.

"Take care of Naaz, Yousuf!" The wink from Nicky made him realise what she had created there. Maybe a little time spent in the bedroom that Nazia once shared with him, might help her a little to remember something at least.

He looked up to catch Nazia's gaze, unsure of how to proceed.

There she stood in a turquoise maxi dress. Her hair was different now, much shorter than earlier, and styled in a distinct fashion. The locks fell freely, bounced over her shoulder as she moved a couple steps towards him. As she got closer he tried to look out for the scar that was once covered from her forehead to the temple. It was much lighter now, impossible to notice at first glance.

The memory of her at the hospital when he finally got to see her, after she had suffered that accident was horrifying. That image of her was something that shattered all his strength into pieces. It made him terrified, and weak, that he couldn't gather the courage to have a proper look at her lifeless body that lay on the hospital bed, with the drips connected on her sides. She was all disheveled in her own blood, dressed in the hospital gown.

The surgery was long, that each minute of those hours he spent in ache, passed like an eternity. And he prayed and prayed, for the sake of his own self, as he couldn't bear another loss. He was selfish that he prayed for her life only for the sake of his sanity, for his own life.

Even if she didn't remember him and their marriage after she had gained consciousness, he was content with the fact that she was alive. He didn't find it in him to fight with her mother, as she took her away from him, believing it was all because of him that it happened in the first place. And he did believe the same too. That was the reason he let her go and be unaware of their relationship. He prioritised only her recovery. Staying away was only the option though he did check upon her through her doctors.

That was the least he could do. Maybe that was how he could repent over his actions. The first time she did enter his house he was cold towards her. He didn't care much and always disregarded her and their marriage. He was forced into this relationship by his mother and in such a cruel manner he took it out on Nazia. Always keeping himself engrossed in his professional life, he did make her feel only alien and unwanted at his place.

He regretted every single second of that time.

He hated 'that' every single part of him.

Nazia being young and new to the family never complained. She was soft, and patient. Every time he dismissed her, she only offered a smile in return. She never failed being a wife. The naivety and innocence gradually melted his heart. And then, there was no going back. She was imprinted in his heart like gold.

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The room was huge with the beige and maroon curtains running through the walls. She stood rooted by the maroon couch, that had its contours painted in the colour of gold. Her legs pleaded with her to take a seat on it. Her knees just began to tremble in his presence that was so tall and prominent. Being alone with the man she had a wildest dream of, made her all wobbly. She balanced her feet steady by fisting the sides of her dress in her sweaty palms.

"Please take a seat."

Nazia took her seat on the couch instantly. His gaze fixed at the king sized bed. She sensed uneasiness from his side too as he took his seat at the corner of the bed. The mattress and the pillows were all covered in solid maroon. Moments passed but there wasn't a word said from his side too. Silence prevailed with only a nightstand placed between the couch and the bed.

And if he wished he could reach her only with two steps. Her thoughts began to go wild again. She dared not to look into his brown eyes, even not at the mole near his brow, afraid that he could read over her thoughts, instead she wandered her eyes through the room.

The furniture and the decor gave the room a royal touch, exhibiting a certain kind of comforting warmth and peace. The restlessness inside her started to fade. She found the dresser wide and long and noticed some female accessories scattered on them. The lipsticks and nail products were put on show.

Nazia glanced at her right, at the night stand and found a certain delicate piece of metal resting there so carelessly. She had nothing much to do but to only keep herself distracted from her thoughts going astray. So after having a good look at it from afar, she stretched her hand and picked it up gently.

It was a bracelet. A gold one with diamonds studded on it. It's mesmerizing design of vines made it to look more beautiful. She took one glance at Yousuf. His eyes with an unspoken emotion were stuck on the ornament in her hand.

"It's my wife's."

He tried sounding so casually, but failed. His eyes gave away all the sentiments he held for this particular piece of metal. It was this bracelet that he had gifted her for their first anniversary. He was unsure then, it was his first time buying any jewellery for a woman. He was apprehensive that his wife would even like it. But Nazia loved it. She never took it off since the day he made her wear, until that one fateful day.

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"It's my wife's."

There was a clung sound that boomed through the walls of the silent room. Soon after the words slipped out of Yousuf's mouth, Nazia lost her control over the bracelet. It fell down and spun over the shining marble, and settled after hitting a leg of the bed.

Nazia was still in a daze, yet she was quick on her faltering steps to reach that bracelet and put it back at its rightful place. The comfort and solace that she did feel a few moments ago, dispersed so suddenly. There were different kinds of emotions filling in her.

Her heart abruptly began to ache now, her head too, throbbed terribly.

Yousuf was quick on his steps too. Nazia, as frail as she had become, he noticed her fumbling on her feet. He was right at her back, ready to hold her form. It seemed to him like she was going to collapse any second.

But she didn't.

Nazia sensed the distance between them with his breath sweeping on her nape. She steadied herself hastily and picked up the bracelet from the floor. She was quiet, yet there was a havoc of emotions overwhelming inside her heart. The tension budding with the proximity was too much. But the ache her heart held was more loud, as it waited to gush out of her body.

She couldn't allow her welled up eyes to blink. The tears must be held back.

He was just a stranger she met twice. It'd be foolish of her to exhibit her hurt.

"Where's she?" Turning around to face him, she put her eyes down to her feet, and asked in a weak and lumpy voice that barely resembled hers.

"I mean, I haven't met her at the party yet." She gathered her courage. Her green eyes with dried up tears, stared right into his brown ones. She was also curious.

"We don't live together." Yousuf answered her. He stretched his hand, as she had forwarded the bracelet towards him. Her fingers brushed his'. The touch hardly lasted a second.

"She lives with her mother now." His eyes spoke the truth too. The hurt was so visible in them.

"Why?" The word slipped abruptly, that she didn't realise it, that it could be too personal. She hoped her question wouldn't hurt him more.

"Because I--I've hurt her a lot." He admitted. His husky voice stammered for the first time. The same set of emotions were prominent in his eyes. Her eyes travelled to his Adam's apple as it bobbed when he gulped air with the lump that had formed there.

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Amreen.