2 MONTHS LATER

MARYAM'S POV

"You're the most beautiful girl on this planet, you are....you are gorgeous, indescribable..."

A smile creeped up my face when I saw Sohail's new text on my phone. Since my honeymoon, we have been chatting and this guy seems real nice to me. Zeeshan got back on his routine, office, work and work. I wonder how he manages.

 I'm alone right now because Aminah and Zeeshan's mom have gone out for shopping. To entertain myself, I decided to chat to my new friend Sohail. Ofcourse I haven't told Zeeshan about him yet but I'm sure he won't mind. Right?

This guy Sohail understands me alot, he always knows how to cheer me up and what I want. He even knows about Zeeshan's beard problem and my marriage story. I never told anyone but He somehow knows. 

"Aw thanx, but you know you're not supposed to say all this :p"

I decided to tease him a bit. He's really sweet sometimes.

"Really? Then who is?" Came the reply.

"um...apparently my husband XD" I typed smiling because I knew he didn't like the mention of  Zeeshan.

"Aw c'mon Mano...you know you didn't deserve him"

 I was stunned when I saw his next message. All the memories of past flooded my mind. The time when I first saw him...my wedding night....all the times I cried because of him...my nervous breakdowns...everything! My eyes filled with tears. I just blankly stared at the screen of my phone.

"Mano?"

He texted again.

No reply.

"look I'm sorry if I hurt you but...."

I couldn't take it anymore. I shut my phone and threw it wildly on the bed. The old Maryam in me was rising again. I needed fresh air. I grabbed my jacket and purse and went out. I didn't even take my scarf with me.

Walking aimlessly on the road with my hair flying in every direction and my eyes washing down tears continuously, I must've looked like a maniac. But I didn't care. I didn't care about anything then. All I cared about was WHY ME?

I don't know how long I walked when I reached an almost empty park. The Sun was setting now and it was getting darker. I knew I should've been home by then but like I said, I didn't care. I sat on the grass instead of the bench and let my feelings flow. Flow through my eyes.

This world is too mean for me. I can't live anymore. No, I can't.....

What do you do when life is cruel? 

Always life is cruel...

No matter what it beats you down....

Life is cruel...

You try to get free of its grasp...

But life is cruel...

You always try to win, but it wont let you...

Life is cruel...

But somehow there's a shred of hope...

Ant it's a light at the end of the tunnel...

Somehow life isn't cruel...

But now and then there's a shred of hope...

And life is cruel...

Life is cruel! ! ! 

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ZEESHAN'S POV

"Zeeshan try calling her...Oh Allah please let her be fine..oh my" Mom ordered circling the whole house for the thousandth time. She was also panicking like all of us. 

Maryam was not at home and we all were worried like hell. I had already sent a search team after her and I was continuously calling her until I realized that she had left her phone home. Extremely worried and frustrated, I did not know what to do except to call for help...help from my ever best friend, the friend who has never let me down.

I performed ablution and offered SALAH-TUL-HAJAH (The Prayer Of Needs). Raising my hands for Dua (benediction), I was only able to say "Oh Allah please protect her...she doesn't know what she means to me..." before tears started to roll down from my eyes and my beard became wet because of them.

I was just done with my prayers when I received a call from one of my search team members.

"Asalam-O-Alaikum Sir! Madam has been found in the City Park, 25th lane....unconscious..."  There was a pause. Probably, he was waiting for me to say something but I hadn't digested the news properly yet so stuttering and stumbling over clothes while walking, I was only able to say:

" I-I'll be there in a minute"

"Roger sir" came the brief reply before the line was cut off. I walked around the room aimlessly deep in my thoughts then abruptly stopped and called our family doctor before leaving.

"Zeeshan? any sign of her yet?" asked mom once again peeping through my door.

"y-yes...I'm bringing her home." was all I said before I sped past her in order to avoid any further questions. I was not in a state for inquiry. There were thousands of my own questions flooding my mind that time.

Only Allah knows how I drove to the City Park with my mind in such state. I wished I could somehow teleport and get to her. Sometimes these barriers of time make you very helpless. As soon as I reached, I saw my team members and a crowd of local people circled around a concrete bench on which a feminine silhouette was lying. Maryam! I couldn't see her properly due to the darkness (it was around 11 PM) but I knew it was Her. I could identify her anywhere.

Stumbling over rocks and almost falling everytime, I somehow reached the bench. My team members  and the crowd paved way for me.  As soon as my eyes landed on her frail self, tears left my eyes.

"sir, we tried to bring her back to consciousness but no use" informed one of my employee.

"We have to take her home....Saad you come with me and the rest of you try to find out what happened" I instructed.

"and Dave..." I called the head of my Search team,

"yes sir?" 

"Thanks bro..you don't know what you've done for me" I said

He smiled.

I scooped Maryam in my arms and headed towards the car with Saad following me. I placed Maryam gently on the back seat while Saad drove. My head was throbbing with pain but I was very much concerned about her at that time. God knows what happened with her. This was the second time she had a breakdown.

To say that mom was shocked was an understatement, she was traumatized! She didn't say a word, all she did was to stare at Maryam. The doctor did a regular checkup on her, as soon as she arrived and what he told was a shocking news for all of us.

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SALAAM MY DEAREST READERS, HOW WAS THE CHAPTER? WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NEWS IS? ANY IDEA? PLZ GIVE ME YOUR COMMENTS.

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