LET ME HATE YOU

Raina is back

"I'm coming!" he yelled desperately, flinging open the office door and rushing to his car, his mind whirring faster than his heart could keep pace.

Hitting the gas, he navigated the streets recklessly, reality constricting his vision, only one thought consuming his mind: he had to reach her before it was too late. Punching the location Rodriguez has given in the GPS with his shaky hand, he held on to the steering wheel with the other. When the system announced it was 40 minutes away, he felt every second longer than an eternity.

The streets blurred into a dizzying array of colors as he drove, his thoughts consumed by fear for her safety, for the child they had created together. He kept dialing her number, but, as usual, it went unanswered. He barely registered the honks around him; his heart was racing too fast, a sense of urgency driving him beyond the speed limit.

"Please God, I will do anything, just let Asmaira and my child be safe; this is all my fault."

"Mrs. Hashmi, your ultrasound is done. Please step down," the sonographer said, handing her the tissue paper.

"First pregnancy?" she asked, which made Asmaira stop in mid-action.

Asmaira's turmoil was evident on her pale face, which compelled the technician to ask. Seeing her pitiful form, she couldn't understand why someone who seemed to be in agony was planning to terminate the pregnancy.

Asmaira's silence only cemented her assumption, and she continued, "Is your husband forcing you?"

Asmaira's head snapped at her in surprise, and the answer flew, "No."

Realization drawn on her, "Maybe you should talk to your husband once. This is his child, too. He has the right to know."

Letting out a shuddering exhale, she lowered her gaze to her flattened stomach.

"In a few weeks, you will be able to hear its heartbeat. For any mother, that moment holds great significance. Whatever problem you have with your husband, don't let that on an innocent soul," the technician's words hit her.

She closed her eyes, letting her tears fall, and imagined Kabir.

I was never meant to be a mother; my salvation from my guilt was being only Kabir's mother and not dreaming about having my kids. I can't force Amaan to love him because of my child. I can't betray my sister's soul and live happily.

Unable to bear any more, she rushed out of the room, grabbing her bag on the way. Amaan's surreal face flashed before her eyes, stopping her in her tracks. Something compelled her to check her phone. At the exact moment, her phone rang and his name flashed on the screen. Her body acted on its own, and her finger swiped the answer button.

"H-Hello."

"Aashi!" Amaan froze in his seat, finally able to hear her. His heart jumped to his throat when his call was answered

In that momentary distraction; he barely registered anything around. Suddenly, in a blink, a car swerved into his lane, and time itself seemed to slow down. Amaan's instincts kicked in, but his reactions lagged behind. He has taken a sharp turn to avoid, causing the tire to skid on the slippery road as he loses control of his car. The impact was sudden, a deafening crash that reverberated through the air.

As everything went dark, the last thought that flickered through Amaan's mind was one of regret—how he had let the chaos of emotion blind him when all he wanted was to be there for Asmaira, to make things right before it was too late.

All Asmaira could hear on the other end of the phone was a bang, and the line went dead.

"Amaan," was all she could whisper before passing out.