Zara's POV

I am running breathlessly on a deserted and untenanted arena, with the every passing instant, the faint yet sharp heart wrenching muffled sound of footsteps is inducing my all senses and perceptions to be lost. The touch of hot grainy sand under my barefoot is causing the sweat glands in my skin to expel whatever the amount of water has existed in my body.

With each ray increase in the sun's blazing volcano, I can feel my death coming nearer to me as my pace is getting slow and in addition to footsteps, I can see the faded silhouette of something unknown behind me. So this is the end?

My eyes pop out when the silhouette transfer into a somewhat living creature and it clenches my neck hard. The raised tension on my neck with no entry of air in my trachea is giving me an acknowledgment that I will die soon.

My eyes flutter open as I find myself drenched in sweat. So it was a dream? I rest a hand on my throbbing chest still not fully understanding anything at all. My eyes drift from ceiling to the place where my hands are place- a soft and satiny thing. I sit up astonish at where I am lying- bed. How I have come here? If I remember correctly, I was laying on the couch the last night and if I were to sleep then of course I would sleep on the same couch. Have I walked in my sleep yesterday?

I groan when a throbbing pain emerges in my head. I clench my head hard in both hands. Whatever has happened, I don't know how it has happened. But what about Armaan, where has he slept? Of course not on the bed as I was there. My eyes wander towards the couch and there is a pillow there. So he sleeps on the couch.

I pick the panadol from the drawer of the bed's side table and gulp it. My eyes search for water in the room. Thank God, a jug and glass are present on the side table. With trembling hands, I pour the water into the glass and gulp it quickly. My ears perk at the sound of the bathroom door's cracking opening sound and with that, the glass in my hand falls hard on the floor. The small pieces of glass dash on the ground is enough for increasing my headache more. So he is still here, I assumed he has left. I promptly stand up from the bed and bend down to collect the chunks of glass by my hand quickly. He will surely make a fuss about it. He gives me an abrupt glance while stroking his wet hair with a towel and goes in front of the mirror.

A small moan left my mouth when a piece of glass poke in my index finger. I recklessly roll the corner of my dupatta on it. Still, my headache has not gone and now another pain is greeting my immune system. Great!

"Why you are so clumsy?" I lift my head up abruptly on this. He is standing across me with both arms folding on his chest. Does he just call me clumsy? I stand up while I blow on my finger in an attempt to lessen the pain but it is bleeding. He sighs and grasps my shoulders making me surprise by his sudden act.

"Sit here, " he orders while making me sit on the corner of the bed and starts searching something in the drawer of the same bedside table from which I have taken the medicine. After a while, he has a tube in his hand most probably ointment. Is he going to apply the medicine on my bruise? Why he is acting so concerned for me from the day Dad has gone? As much as I don't want to give him the credit, but if it wasn't for what he has said, I won't be able to come out of the trance of Dad's loss.

The trains of my thoughts end when he softly grabs my hand and starts applying the medicine. His wet hair from earlier now starts getting dry provoking them to fall on his forehead. His eyes are fully concentrated on what he is doing with his lips purse in a thin line. I starlet when he looks up. I immediately turn my head to another direction. I hope he doesn't find me ogling over his face. I glimpse at him from the side of my eyes, his lips curl up to form a smirk. This is so embarrassing. He finishes bandaging my finger and strolls towards the mirror with the same stupid smirk on his face.

"I..I don't know how I end up sleeping on your bed, maybe I walk in my sleep so..." I intentionally leave the sentence in between. Should I say sorry? But why? I have not come there in my awakened state. His moving hands on the towel stops and he glimpse at me through the mirror without turning back. He rolls his eyes and starts rubbing his hair more hardly with the towel. Is he mad? Of course, he would be. I have just taken his precious bed and he has to sleep on the couch due to me. It is painful for me to sleep on a small couch and he is hella taller than me. It would really difficult for him to sleep like that.

"So I am sorry, I guess, " I say while tiptoeing on my heels to peek at him as I am not able to look at his face.

"It's okay, I didn't mind, " he replies with a poker face straight away and goes to wardrobe who his suit in hand. My attention diverts to my phone when it begins ringing. I lift the phone up, my forehead furrows to find an unknown number on the screen.

'Zara, it's me, your father's friend and attorney Wajahat Ali. I have to talk to you regarding his will. Can we meet today? I know I am calling you so early, it not even a few days since your father has passed but it's really important.'

What happens, uncle? Is everything okay?

I inquire with concern. I really don't want to indulge in property and will process right now. It will give me more pain.

'Something terrible has happened. I'll tell you everything once you come to my office and don't tell anyone that you are coming here.'

With that, he disconnects the call. What has ensued? I blankly stare at the phone screen trying to remind what he has just said. He is the lawyer who has made Dad's will too.

"What happens? You are looking lost."

I came out of my thoughts when Armaan asks me. I don't acknowledge when he comes back after dressing up.

"No..nothing, I am fine, " I say hastily.

"Okay then, come for breakfast quickly." He says while buttoning his shirt.

"I am not hungry, " I reply, my mind still occupied by what Mr. Wajahat has said.

"Just come." He grabs my wrist and pulls me forward.

"Hey, you are hurting me, " I say trying to remove his strong hand from my wrist.

"You are hurting yourself more than this, " he mumbles and pulls me along with him.

He leaves my arm once we enter the dining hall. His father is already sitting there. I smile weakly at him prior to greet him.

"How are you, Zara? Have a seat, " he asks me. I hesitantly sit next to Armaan while rubbing my wrist with my other hand. I glare at him who is busy eating. Why he has to clench my wrist so tightly? I wasn't running away somewhere. Or perhaps I was.

"I am fine uncle, " I reply in a soft voice.

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I toss my phone inside the handbag and stroll out of the room. Uncle and Armaan have already left for office and I can easily go to Mr. Wajahat's office. I don't understand why he has told me to not tell anyone about this. I rush towards the garage where the driver professionally asks me where I want to go. I have to do something so that I can drive the car myself. I don't want anyone to tell this to Armaan or his father.

"I want to drive the car myself, give me keys of this car, " I say pointing towards the white car in my front.

"Sorry ma'am but Sir Armaan won't allow me to do that, he has ordered me to not permit you to drive for now, " he replies.

I furrow my eyebrows at this in confusion. Why he has done this? It's not like I can't drive.

"He won't say you anything, I'll talk to him and now give me the keys already, " I raise my voice in the end.

"Just give it already or should I make you talk to him?" I say in frustration. He is now getting on my nerves.

"No ma'am! I'll give you, " he says apologetically and gives me the keys. Thank God.

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Asslam o Alaikum! I hope you are doing fine. As I announced in my profile message, I will try to update this book 3 times a week as I am having a lot of free time these days due to lockdown. I know as soon as lockdown will uplift, it will again be the same hectic routine that won't allow me to concentrate fully on Wattpad so I want to give this book proper time and hardwork.

This chapter is short, I know but I want to unfold the secret in a separate chapter, and also I was feeling a need to give Zara's insight on the events happening in her life recently. I hope you like it. Don't forget to vote and comment. Allah Hafiz.