Nightmares.

Zianna was told, she was to stay at the hospital for a few weeks until her broken ribs healed. She didnt want to stay but she had no choice as her brother, sister and her boss stood firm by telling her that she wouldn't be allowed to leave the hospital.

Each time before the end of visitation, Azhar would come and sit with her but this wasn't something he wanted. He wanted her to be fine as she was before.

Cheerful.

A rule breaker.

In short, someone who challenged him in many ways.

His uncle had to hire a new assistant for him, but Azhar wanted Zianna. Khalid assured him, that Zianna would always have a job waiting for her when she gets better.

In shaa Allah.

Zianna told her older brother to go and have fun with his new wife on their most awaited honeymoon. But Tayyal didn't want to leave his sister alone, and due to a lot of persuasion from Hayat, he finally agreed to go on his honeymoon.

Hayat promised to take care of Zianna when she got out of the hospital. Thankfully, Tayyal and Dalia had managed to get her belongings on the same night and kept them with their brother.

It was time for Zianna to get her check up, Doctor Suhaila walked in with a smile.

"Asalam Aleikum, Zianna. How are you doing today? Any discomfort?" Asks Doctor Suhaila.

"Waleikum Salaam. I am good Alhamdulilah, much better. Just pains on my left side. When will I be discharged, Doctor?" Ziann asked.

Doctor Suhaila knew that Zianna would be asking this. She smiled.

"Zianna, when I know that you are recovering, until then, just hang in there and in shaa Allah by the end of this week I will be able to discharge you."

Zianna nodded.

"Thank you but I am worried about the hospital bill and I don't..."

"The hospital bill has been taken care of Zia," a voice says interrupting her.

Both Suhaila and Zianna looked at the door to see Azhar standing.

"I will leave you two. I will tell the nurse to come and give you your medicines. Take care Zianna," Doctor Suhaila says as she leaves the two of them alone.

"You didn't have to do that, Sir. I can't take any more help from you..."

"Zianna," Azhar walked toward the bed. "You helped when I needed it and now its my turn to help you," he says, sitting on one of the chairs. "I know that it might confuse you as to how I helped you but before you came into my life. My life was dark and now you became my light. The light I needed to have," he added.

"Sir..."

"Call me by my name, Zia."

"You are my boss and I cant do that..."

"We arent at the office, so you can call me by my name. Say my name, Zianna," Azhar insisted.

"Azhar."

The moment she said his name, a smile appeared on his face.

"Now, that wasn't hard, was it?" Azhar asked laughing. "I brought some food. I know that the hospital food can be bland," he added putting the bag on the nearby table.

"Thank you. You didnt have to do that. And I will pay you back as soon as I am able to go back to work, in shaa Allah," Zianna said.

"Okay but I would rather you dont pay me and just work for me. But I know that it will against your principle letting me take care of you. So let's come up with a compromise, okay?"

"What compromise?"

"Instead of paying me back, after you get better. You will continue being my assistant. I will deduct some money in your salary. Instead of you paying me the full amount. You can pay me monthly? How does that sound?"

Zianna was surprised at Azhar's proposal but knew it was the only way to pay her debts to him.

"Okay. I agree. But we will need a written contact stating the amount and how long I will be required to pay," Zianna said, surprising Azhar. "I read a few contracts that you asked me to file. As Mrs Hayat said, Knowledge is power," she added, smiling.

"Yes, she is right. Knowledge is power. I will get the contract ready and as soon as you are able to get back to work, you will read it and sign it. In shaa Allah."

"In shaa Allah," Zianna said.

Azhar gave Zianna the food he brought for her to eat. She thanked him and started eating.

A few minutes passed when it was time for Azhar to go home as it already passed visiting hours.

"Thank you for the food."

"You are welcome. I will come by tomorrow. In shaa Allah..."

"You dont have to come everyday. I know how busy the firm can be..."

"I made a promise and I intend to keep it. Zianna, remember when I said that I would not let you out of my sight? I meant it. Goodnight. Allah Hafiz," Azhar said, smiling.

"Okay. Goodnight. Allah Hafiz."

Azhar walked out with a smile on his face knowing that soon, he would be telling his parents to ask Zianna for her hand in marriage.

He knew that her father didn't even care about her as he had never visited ever since she was admitted to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Zianna sadly smiled knowing that Azhar might get bored of her and then he would find someone who didnt have problems just like she has.

She took the pills that the nurse kept for her beside the table. After a few minutes, Zianna started dosing off.

"Well, I should have killed you when I had the chance. But now one will stop me from fulfilling what I want. And are you dead," a voice said making Zianna scared as she knew whose voice it was.

"Please, don't do this. I am sorry. I promise that I will leave and never come back and I promise that I will never contact Tayyal or even Dalia again..."

"Your promises mean nothing, you ungrateful brat," Nadia says pulling a gun out of her handbag and pointing it at Zianna who was shaking in fear.

She prayed that someone who come and rescue her.

"Please, dont hurt me. I promise that I will leave this city and never come back..."

Azhar left his phone in Zianna's room and he had to get back for it. He quickly walked inside the hospital and entered the elevator up to Zianna's room.

As soon as he reached her room, he could hear Zianna pleading and crying for someone to stop.

Azhar rushed to her room to find her in bed, covering herself with the bedsheet while shouting. He slowly walked towards her and called her name.

"Zianna, calm down. No one will hurt you. It is me, Azhar," he said slowly moving toward her.

She opened her eyes realizing that she had been dreaming of Nadia. Without a single thought, Zianna got out of bed and jumped into Azhar's arms.

"She will kill me. Please dont let her do it. Tell her that I will leave and never come back. I will never contact Tayyal or Dalia. Please," Zianna says crying in his arms.

Azhar slowly walked toward the bed with Zianna in his arms and placed her in bed.

"Zia, look at me. No one is here except me and you. No one will ever hurt you and I promise you that," he tells her.

She didnt want to let him as she was too scared of her nightmare becoming real.

"How about I stay the night with you? I will put the two chairs together and form a bed?" Azhar asked pointing at the chairs.

Zianna nodded but didn't want to let him go. She slowly removed her hands from his and grabbed the bedsheet for support.

She watched as Azhar placed the two chairs together. Thankfully the chairs were big enough for him.

Azhar then took off his coat and placed it in one of the chairs as a pillow.

"Thank you," Zianna said, wiping her tears using her hands.

"You are welcome. Now you need to lie down and get some sleep. I will be right here, I promise," Azhar said.

He watched as Zianna placed her head on the pillow but she was still watching him.

Meanwhile, Iman was going her last round at the hospital when she saw her brother in Zianna's room. She could see him watching her as she started to fall asleep.

Nightmares are the worst, but I am glad that my brother has finally found someone. Alhamdulilah.

Iman smiles and walks away.

Azhar took his phone and sent a message to his parents explaining where he was as he didn't want them to worry. He then sent Tayyal a message explaining to him about Zianna's recovery. That's what he promised Tayyal he would do every time Azhar would visit Zianna.

He watched as Zianna slept soundly.

Why would someone hurt you? I promise that I will always protect you, Zia. And in shaa Allah one day we will be happily married. But for now, I need you to get better.