A Tale of Hearts

Chapter One

Zoya's POV:

Her lifeless body thumped on the ground before me. Her empty eyes stared into my soul as blood pooled around her. I covered my mouth almost immediately to stop myself from screaming. The two men stood beside the body looking down at it without any remorse. A boy who looked only a few years older than me joined the two men and looked at the body while ruffling his head.

"I told you to be discrete. Were there any witnesses?" The boy's voice sent fearful shivers down my spine. His voice held such power and anger that it chilled my bones. When the two men shook their heads, he grinned as he looked back at the body. "Bury the body somewhere. Make sure nobody finds out. If someone does, you know what to do." He ordered the two men who bowed at his order.

It was hard to see the boy's face since darkness concealed it. I had to escape. Where was Sher? I felt my head spinning as I took a step back and stepped on broken glass. The boy's head whipped to my side and almost immediately I froze in place. Charcoal black eyes made contact with my brown ones.

I had to run but my feet weren't moving. I stood paralyzed.

"Ah, little girl, where did you come from?" The boy stepped towards me, his handsome features scaring me even more. "Come here, let's talk." He beckoned me but I shook my head.

"It will be fun, Anushay. You won't be able to get far." The moment his face appeared right before my eyes, I jolted awake. Shit, another nightmare. I calmed my raging heart beat as I grabbed a water bottle from the side table. Cold sweat dampened my hair as I wiped it off with the back of my sleeve. The thing I hated most about this entire scenario was how I would end up forgetting most parts of my nightmare. I tried to recall the boy's face but it was useless. It was a faded mess.

Only one thing stuck this time.

Sher. What was Sher? Was it a thing or perhaps a person?

There was no point thinking about it. I was glad my brain had erased everything from that dreadful time. It didn't matter who or what Sher was. Because if I remembered Sher, I would have to remember all those painful parts too. I still don't know how I managed to get away back then but I didn't care.

That chapter of your life is closed. Anushay never existed and she will never come back. Kamran's face flashed before my eyes. I closed my eyes to let the darkness delete his face. It doesn't matter if Kamran wants it back. He is irrelevant. Nothing matters except my life. I remember him telling me something like he was my 'Sher' a while ago but I am sure he was just using it to harm me. There was a ringing sound in my head when he had said that word. This confirms it. It is all just a trap.

You know better Zoya. Forget and avoid. It's for your own good. Live on as Zoya. Even my name, Zoya, means being alive and life itself. It is the only way to survival. Forget a past that you have erased. There is no need to probe at dead ends or hold unto severed ties.

I dialed Rubab's number. She picked up on the first ring as usual. "We still down for tonight right? Misha can't come because she has a date with Ibraheem."

"Yes, pizza and Netflix?" Rubab confirmed and I grinned. Nothing was better than Netflix and Pizza. Elite combination.

"What shall we watch? You? A Korean Drama? Or you want to watch something haram?" I joked and I could feel Rubab rolling her eyes on the other side of the phone. "That reminds me, I have to show my hot friends to you so you can forget that player." I was referring to Fahad but I didn't want to mention his name.

"Ammi Abbu are going out for a wedding so they won't be back till late. We can watch whatever you want and sure." Rubab replied as I heard shuffling in the background.