Primed For Guilt

continuation...

'take care of yourself Zoya, it's all you from this point onward', Ali said and drove away.

'I really don't want to do this', I whispered and started sobbing. I couldn't take it anymore, all of my emotions were bursting out.

'hey Zoya look at me. Where's that brave pathan girl I know?'

'she's gone', I looked at Zain with teary eyes.

'She's inside here, you just have to find her'. 

''you're not real!'', I didn't realize how loud I was. I opened my eyes to everyone at the airport starring at me. 

I sat on my seat and when I opened my eyes I saw Zain sitting right next to me. He seemed so real and I knew for sure he wasn't just in my imagination. He seemed mature and tidy with a suite and a neat tie on. The same brown unruly hair neatly combed He looked at me trying to remember if he knew me from somewhere.

''why are you back?''

'sorry but I didn't recognize you', he finally spoke. I blinked and realized it wasn't Zain and I was just hallucinating, again.

'I'm sorry. I... I just though you were someone I knew'.

'No worries at all' 

I opened my purse and took my medication. My mental health was getting worse, I was seeing things I wasn't supposed to see. I secretly got my pills out of my purse and gulped it along with water. I closed my eyes with Zain's voice saying 'goodnight'. 

'goodnight', I whispered back. 

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My eyes opened to the stranger eating his food. He moved a single curl from his forehead and looked at me. I was glad he didn't look like Zain anymore, thanks to my medication.

''you might want to eat that before it gets cold'', he pointed at my tray.

''Oh right'', I sat straight on my uncomfortable seat and remembered how long I was asleep for. Both of us finished our food before he broke the silence.

''Would you know how long it take to reach defence from the ariport?'', He asked looking up from his notepad.

''Thirty minutes'', I answered back while playing with my food

''Thanks. This is actually my first time flying to Karachi so I have no idea about the directions. What about you?'', I was in no mood of talking

''It's not my first time''

''Where are my manners? Hi I'm Jamal. I actually got offered a job here at a medical university. Not gonna lie I am kind of nervous'', He waited for me to reply

''okay'', I answered back.

''I teach Anatomy to be spe-'', his hand hit the water cup and it fell on me. I was already mad at him and this made things worse.

''I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to. Here take this napkin. I'm so sor-''

''Can you just maybe, not say a word? it'll help a lot'', I knew it came off rude but I was annoyed

''oh yeah sure. I can do that'', the plane landed shortly and I was glad this had ended.

''goodbye'', I heard him say as I got up and went towards exiting the plane.

Little did I know my phone was dead and I had no ride home. I was supposed to call my friend to take me to the hostel. I looked around to borrows someone phone. But it was hard to find someone at 3 am in the morning. I ended up in an empty parking lot I felt a hand on my shoulder from behind me and i gasped.

''Salam Baji. Would you like to ride my taxi'', his smile scared me and I knew if I didn't run now, i would regret it. From the corner of my eye I saw the same stranger sitting alone on the bench. I sprinted towards him and sat next to him.

''come on i'll give you a ride for free'', he caught up behind me. The stranger understood what was happening and got up from the bench.

''why don't you leave her alone? It'll be better for you and your bones''

''okay sir calm down. I was just being nice'', he turned around to leave

''Thank you'', I told him as he sat down.

''No worries at all. I had to make up for the water spillage earlier'', The person I had been rude to just stood up for me which made me feel worse.

''Can I assist you in any other way?'', he asked politely

''I just need to borrow your phone for just one phone call''

''here you go'', he handed the phone to me

''I'm Zoya by the way''

''nice to meet you Zoya''