Zianna's Secret Behind Her Bucket List.

Ever since Azhar read the bucket list, he knew that something serious was going on with Zianna. The main problem was that he needed to learn how to ask her about the list.

She would get angry with him for many reasons, one being that he lied to her about not knowing where the list was and photocopying it without her permission.

As a lawyer, Azhar knew Zianna was entitled to file a case against him.

What if I ask Uncle Khalid for help? No, I can't do that...

He didn't even hear Zianna walk inside his office and placed the cup of coffee on his desk. She cleared her throat trying to get his attention but couldn't, so she just spoke up as clients were waiting for her boss outside of his office.

"Sir, the client is here to discuss about the case," Zianna says interrupting his chain of thoughts.

"Send them in," he says.

Zianna nods and walks out of the office to let the clients in the office.

Something is wrong with Mr. Muhsin today. Maybe he is sick or something is bothering him. What am I even saying? He is just my boss, who gave me a bunch of useless rules to follow. I can't follow any of them as they are absurd. Besides, why am I the only one to get rules from my boss?...

"Asalam Aleikum, Zian..."

Zianna looked up to see who was greeting her only to find her older brother was standing there smiling at her.

"Waleikum salaam, Tay. What brings you here?" She asked with a huge smile.

"Well, I was planning on getting lunch at our favourite cafe and I wanted you to join me, if your boss would let you?" Tayyal explained to her.

Meanwhile, in the office, Azhar was almost done with the meeting, he looked outside his office to find Zianna talking and laughing with a guy.

Something inside him started building up, but Azhar quickly shut it down as he remembered Her.

But Zianna isn't her. She is very different and doesn't take your crap.

His conscious says to him but all Azhar felt was mixed emotions of anger, jealousy and rage.

"Okay, then that settles it, right?" One of the clients asked Azhar who nodded.

"Yes, for now, we just need to keep the case a low-profile as you don't want the other party to get to know what kind of evidence we have to put them where they belong," Azhar says while looking at Zianna and that man who was smiling.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Muhsin, for your help. We will keep in touch. Goodbye."

"You are welcome and see you."

As the clients walked out of the office, Zianna then noted down when their next meeting would be.

"So, now can we go for lunch or are you stil busy?" Tayyal asks his sister.

He noticed that his sister's boss was looking at them intensely and didn't even blink.

Azhar Muhsin, my sister's boss or maybe something else. Sorry, sis. I need to do this to make sure of something. I hope I am right about this and we need to talk about what medical condition you have my dear sister.

"Let me just inform my boss that I am now taking my lunch break, okay?"

"Sure, I will wait for you."

Zianna got up from her desk and then knocked on her boss's door.

She then opened it and walked inside.

"Sir, I am heading to lunch. Is there anything else I can do for you?" Zianna asks.

"No, you may go," Azhar says with glancing at her.

"Thank you, sir."

After that, Zianna walked out of the office to let her brother know that they could go ahead for lunch.

After watching Zianna and Tayyal leave the office, Azhar decided to follow them.

He didn't know why but he needed to. But Azhar needed a disguise for Zianna not to notice him wherever they were going.

Azhar took a baseball cap and sunglasses and put them on.

Zianna and Tay decided to walk instead of taking his car as the walking distance to the cafe wasn't far.

As they continued walking Azhar started noticing how carefree Zianna was with that man. It was like she knew him and it didnt even bother her what people would say if they met in the street.

Well, Zianna never did care about anyone's opinion about her. She never even followed the rules except for a few. I wrote those rules not for her but for myself. I didnt want to end up like I did when I was in university. Each day, I spent with Zianna, made me realize that they are completely different people.

Azhar was surprised when he saw them stopping at the Marie's Cafe.

"They couldn't be having a date, could they?" he asked himself as he walked inside the cafe and took the booth that was opposite Tayyal.

"How's Zoya and the wedding preparations? I am sorry, I know that I promised her that I will try my best to be there while picking up the outfits for your Nikkah and reception," Zianna says to her brother. "Please apologise on my behalf to her," she added smiling.

"Zoya misses you and she understands, Zian. Plus, she knows that you will be there for the Nikkah and also the reception. You promised her, remember?" Tayyal asks his sister.

"Yes, I do remember. You know what? I am thankful to have a big brother like you in my life and now I have the best sister-in-law. I will just wait for you to give me nieces and nephews to spoil them before I leave this world," Zianna says hoping Tayyal didn't hear the last statement that she said.

"What do you mean by that, Zian? Don't lie to your big brother," Tayyal asks surprising her.

"Why don't we get some lunch before we talk...?"

"Zian, stop stalling and tell me what is wrong with you?" Tayyal asks his sister angrily.

Zianna knew that she couldn't delay the truth about her medical condition any longer.

The doctor did tell her that she might not have long to live if she didn't get treatment right away.

"I have a heart condition, Tay. And if it isnt treated, I might die. I need a heart transplant because my heart is dying on me," Zianna explained to her brother with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.

Zianna started explaining how she started getting weak and weaker every day.

"I asked my friend to accompany me to get a check-up and the doctor explained that I have a heart condition which needs to be treated immediately. Thats why I have been working extra hard to pay for the surgery and you know why I cant ask Hussein to pay for me as he never did care about me," Zianna explained.

Tayyal couldn't hold back his tears, knowing that she was right about their father not caring about her or her health.

Zianna started calling him by his first name because of the memory she had as a child. The memory was when he told Hania that Zianna was no longer his daughter and that he had no obligations towards her.

"Why did you not tell me? I would have helped you in the medical expenses..."

"It isn't that easy to tell someone that you might die. I didn't want to be a burden to anyone, it was enough that your mother allowed me to live in your house but that doesn't mean that I can take advantage of what you guys have given me since my mamma died. I know that you will say that you will always be my big brother but we can ignore the fact that both of your parents hate my entire existence. I can't blame your mother, Tay but hearing the word 'burden' is just too much for someone like me. An orphan, if even I do have a father who will never care or even love me. I will figure it out, big brother. Dont worry about me, just worry about your future with Zoya. All I ever wanted was for someone to love and I did get it through you and Zoya," Zianna says in her teary voice. "I love you guys so much and thank you for accepting me as your sister even though you didn't have to. And whatever happens, it is what Allah wanted not me and not you, she added wiping her tears with her hands.

Azhar listened to what Zianna had explained to Tayyal and couldn't help but feel sad for her. Inside Zianna was beyond broken but on the outside, she was the bubbly, cheery assistant/secretary he always sees every day of the week.

He now understood what his mother Hayat said to him about someone's character reflecting or hiding who they are from the inside.

"Zian, I could talk to Dad and maybe he will agree to help you..."

"Tay, no, thanks. I appreciate it but sometimes you can't force people to be in your life when they only see you as a burden couldn't get rid of. I know that what you want is for me to get better but I can't accept Hussein's help, especially after what he did to me after divorcing my mother. And leaving us without a care in the world," Zianna says trying to keep her voice steady. "I do not want to owe him anything. I don't want him to think that I need him in my life, in which case I never did," she added smiling sadly.

Tayyal knew that his parents would never help her, especially his mother. The hatred that Nadia has for Zianna was something that built up for many years before she even came to live with them.

Azhar listened as the two talked and realized that he had been unfair to Zianna at the office by giving her the set of rules.

Zianna opened her handbag and handed her brother a paper.

"For now will you help me fulfil my bucketlist?" She asked him with a sad smile.

Tayyal took the paper and started reading it. He smiled as soon as he saw that Zianna wrote about having a cat.

"I will help you with this and also with your medical treatments, and I will not take no for an answer. You can consider it a loan but you know, you dont need to pay me back. You are and will always be my sister just like Nour and Dahlia are," Tayyal says to her. "As for having a cat, I could get one just for you. Give me two days and I will bring it to you," he added promising his sister.

Not if I can help it. I will help you, Zia, without you knowing it is me. As usual, Mamma was right about you. I just wish that this didn't happen to you.

"Thank you, Tay and could you not tell Hussein or your mother about this. I know that you can hide anything from Zoya. You can tell her," Zianna says.

"I promise to help you, Zian. And I know that Zoya would too and you are right I cant hide anything from her," Tayyal answers his sister with a smile on his face.

After the conversation, it was time for them to order their food.

I will do everything in my power to get you the best doctors, my dear sister. I know that you aren't to blame for what happened between our parents. You didnt know neither did your mother that our father was married first to my mother. And I pray that both Nour and Dahlia will accept you just like I did and always will.

Someone's character might not be hers but a cover-up of who they truly are. Don't be so quick to judge people by how they are or how they act. Sometimes the truth is far from what the eyes can see.