Second hand hearts

Chapter 16 (Reality hits hard)

"Daddy look i can fly!"  Zarah yelled from up in the swing distracting Bassam from his rivery. It has been a fortnight since his encounter with Amal and thinking about her is all he has been doing ever since. It annoys him much how he itches to pick his phone and give her a call or text her but a better part of him always wins over, the part that tells him that she needs time just the way he needs time too.

"Yaay Zarah is a super girl, you go baby girl!"  He said clapping his hands as a full smile stretch on his lips. Apart from remembering the moments he shared with Amal, nothing makes him smile like seeing his little girl happy, active and healthy. He jogged to where she was happily swinging high to take hold and make sure she doesn't fell because if she does, that would be another story entirely because they will definately end up in the ER and she will definately start crying and he hates seeing her cry. He's so soft for Zara because she is a sore reminder of the beautiful thing that he once had and lost that is her mother. But he has no cause to complain since he has an adorable angelic sweet child in his life now.
He pushed the swing gently and they played for another half an hour at the park before they both got drained and headed to the ice cream vendor to get Zarah ice cream that she insisted on having. Not that he likes her having too much cold things because he fears she might be asthmatic like him but he can't help with the tantrums she'll throw if he refuses. So, off they went to get ice cream for the little thing.
Soon they were done and he cleaned her up and tuck her up in the back seat where she dozed off in no time. He smiled and drove them home. Even though it was a fulfilling day, it still felt like there was something he didn't do, still felt like there's something important he has left out.

"Shit, here we go again" , he muttered as he  changed into a pair of grey sweatpants and a black cotton t-shirt. 
He knew it was her, he's frustrated and angry at how he was fine before she came into his life like a storm and scattered his ocean of thoughts.
He walked into the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea to calm his nerves. He's so craving to hear her voice, to see her text pop up in his phone and at the same time he is desperate to get her out of his head.

He finished the tea in minutes and rinsed the cup, headed straight to his painting room to see if it can help get himself together and get some control over his thoughts.  Because painting has been something he had done and found santuary in when Ameerah, Zarah's mother died during child birth. The first 3 years of Zarah's life had been the loneliest days of his life. It wasn't easy coping with losing the love of his life and having to be a single father at the same time. Even though his parents and siblings have been very supportive and helpful through those trying times and for that he will forever be grateful.

Looking at the blank canvas in front of him, he dipped his brush inside the paint as his mind raced through what to paint. Without a waste of time, he found himself painting the only thing he knows and feel lately... pain, loneliness and her. She's such a toxic drug.
He didn't know for how long he has been there but his body and system alerted him that he needed to get off and give it some rest. His throat felt dry and his head a little bit hazy, his legs a little unsteady and his eyes too tired. He headed straight to his kitchen making sure to take light steps so as not to wake sleeping Zarah up. Retrieving a bottle cold of water from the fridge, he screwed the cap and took large gulps of it. Feeling the tiredness draining out of him a little he sat in one of the chairs and set out to cook them dinner before Zarah wakes up hungry.

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The loud blaring of her phone for the fifth time made her glare at the phone as if it was a human being. She hasn't been in the mood to talk with anyone for days now. She started off the week in anticipation of hearing from him, days passed by and with each passing day her anticipation faded and her fear being confirmed. She has lost him before she even knew him as a result of her insecurities that occupy more than half of her as a person.
The phone rang again and she extended ber hand to retrieve it, she knew it wasn't him but a small part of her was silently hoping and wishing  that it would be Bassam.
She saw that it was Hafsah calling and she quickly hit the answer button.

"Girl i been calling you for like a thousand million times. Why aren't you answeing!"  , Hafsah demanded.

"Uggh Hafsah I'm so sorry, haven't been feeling too well lately" , Amal answered

"You scared me, are you okay there. No I think the funk not because your voice sounds nothing like okay" .

Amal rubbed her tired kohl free eyes in an attempt to sooth off the itch in them. The last thing she wanted was to tell Hafsah about how she's worrying over a man who she doesn't even know, and worst still she thinks she may have a thing for him. Not that she is sure but she hasn't felt slumpy and wrecky like this ever since Malik happened.

"Hafsah it's crazy, I haven't heard from Bassam in days and I am worried if it's his asthma or something that has happened to him" , she sugarcoated the little white lie. She knew she can tell Hafsah everything but she is just not comfortable with having to tell her that she thinks she might have a little thing for this Bassam guy.

"Oh so, why are you been miserable Amal? Call him, visit his office, or that place where he paints or sings or whatever he does. Don't just sit there while life passes you by,pass through life too".

Hafsah has always been by her side, making her see things from an entirely new light which is one of the many things that Amal values so much in the beautiful friendship they have built over the years. But this time, Hafsah doesn't know that her best friend has faltered and is getting herself into something she doesn't even know it's gravity herself.

"Actually, you're  right I will call him immediately after we're done with this call. So how's our baby baking in there?"
She further asked trying to divert the conversation from having to do with Bassam and hoping Hafsah doesn't get where she was heading to.

"Uhmmmm I'm so tired,heavy, bulky, fat like a cow and so puffy Amal. I just can't wait to get rid of this pregnancy, like pop out this baby and be done with it" , Hafsah sighed.

"It will be over soon. Can't wait to see my little munchkin Hafsah. I just can't " , she said excitedly grinning from ear to ear.

"In a few weeks but i tell you it feels like in forever. I just want to finish this phase."

They talked for some more minutes and hung up after. Amal felt a little lighter after that phone call and decided to do take a walk to the library nearby to borrow some books so she can do some assignments since school has resumed.
She took a quick shower and dressed in a soft chiffon shirt dress and put her scarf in place.  Put on a pair of slides and headed out to the library.

The walk to the library didn't take much of her time and she immediately walked in to the book stalls to borrow the books she deemed fit. She passed them to the registrar and had them stampped, tucked them in one arm and headed home.

The car she saw in front of the lawn gave her mixed feelings, she didn't know whether to jump in joy or to run away from the reality because all of this is a trap that she is about to fall in and lock herself in.  As she walked in slow steps, her legs were shaking,  her mind racing and in shredded thoughts and her eyes, eager to land on him. Coincidently he turned around and faced the direction she was coming from, their eyes immediately locked and reality hits them like a cold wet blanket in the face. He has missed her around him and so has she. Her steps became slower because she needed to steady herself, she wondered if he felt what she was feeling, but with the way his fierce yet warm eyes were set on her, if he doesn't feel what she feels at that moment then she is surely bumped. Reality really hits you hard like a bad bitch.

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Okay guys here's an update,  so i have a ship name for these two. #Basmal or #Malsam which do you think fits more?
Feel free to reply or suggest any other ship name if you have. In the mean time, this is it for today.  I will update soon in shaa Allah. Thank you for the patience and for keeping up with my absence. Much love ❤