I stood in my place watching his retreating back with quivering lips when suddenly it started to become hazy. I tried to blink but it seemed like the room was spinning around me. Feeling lightheaded, I tried to grab the couch for support but before my hand could reach it, I felt another sturdy pair of hands wrapped around my waist.

"Zaira—" The last thing I remember before passing out was the panic in his eyes.

——————————

"Zaira!" I could hear the urgency in his voice but even after trying, it was becoming impossible to keep my eyes open. After trying for a while, I finally pried my eyes open to find him kneeling beside me.

"Hey." he remarked softly with worry etched over his face. I realised moments later that I was lying on the couch and to lift my feet he had placed a few cushions underneath. Before I could say anything, he got up and left my side only to return with a glass of juice. After helping me up, he made me gulp down a few sips.

"A little more." He urged, after I tried to push away his hand holding the glass to my lips. I heaved a painful breath and took his hand to take another sip.

"Better?" He asked still watching me with alarming gaze. Barely able to nod, he helped me lie back on the sofa carefully.

"You're still running a fever. How did I not realise? I forgot to bring you meds and you weren't resting or eating either. This was bound to happen. It's my fault. I knew and yet...I should've been more careful—" He went on, without meeting my eyes and I silently kept listening to him, when he abruptly turned to me startled.

"Zaira—What—" he got up panicking and took my hand in his.

"What—why are you crying—Does it hurt—somewh—" Until he said those words, I was unaware of the sobs escaping my lips. I brought a shaking hand to my cheeks and found my fingers wet.

What?

"What's wrong?! Tell me—" he cried in shock, pulling me up and holding me at a length carefully. But I couldn't stop crying. These tears—they weren't ceasing.

"It—hurts—" I clutched at my chest and saw the colour drain from his face. But before he could react, I dropped my head against his chest, clutching at the front of his shirt.

"It hurts...." I managed to get the words out between sobs and felt him freeze under me. He didn't move an inch while I kept repeating the same thing over and over again, like a broken record.

I could neither suppress nor escape this overwhelming feeling which was making it impossible for me to catch a breath. The realisation was so unexpected and impossible that I was rendered paralysed.

All my life, after going through endless series of pain and anguish, I had given up on the hope of ever having anything remotely good in my life. I thought all I could ever achieve after burning my existence was something akin to scrapes of a mediocre life. Not good—just enough to go on.

While others around me built a life centred around love and happiness, I averted my gaze. For I knew better. Holding the mere notion of having something like love or happiness in my life, was nothing but a fool's paradise.

And yet, after spending 24 years of my life, there was someone in front of me who was behaving like I mattered. Who was trying to take care of my every need. A person who acted like he was worried about me and was concerned for my well being. Who held me when I cried, consoled me, wiped away my tears and still stayed with me through it all; instead of brushing me away or scolding me for not being strong enough.

So, how do I stop myself from mistaking this concern for anything other than what it really was? He was the very person who had broken my heart once already and had reappeared in my life only so I could leave him. If only, I didn't know better....maybe I too could have dared to hope, for once.

"Shh..It's okay. It's alright now....Everything's going to be alright...." He whispered slowly against my ear, like a magic spell and I cried my heart out as he continued to stroke my hair.

-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

"Comfortable?" I inquired without looking at her face while adjusting the duvet cover on her sides. Her response came in a soft hum. I turned to her and watched her face, weary with tears and fever. A soft smile betraying her tired profile. With a nod, I turned to leave when she caught my hand in hers. I watched her expectantly but she only silently stared at me. Her mouth opened as if to say something but then a shadow passed over her face and she averted her gaze; dropping my hand in process. Slowly, I sat beside her and gently brushed away the stray strands of hair falling on her forehead. This brought her gaze back to me but I continued to stare down at her, the back of my fingers slightly caressing her cheekbone.

"I'll stay until you fall asleep." My voice was a gentle whisper against her soft breaths. Her head moved the slightest in a nod as she gulped in response. My touch lingered on her heated cheeks for another moment, before I pulled away cautiously and got up.

It was after midnight and I was still working on the case, when I looked up to stretch. In the midst of it, I had forgotten all about the presence of another soul in this room. Something made me get up from the couch and go to her side.

Gently, not to stir her from deep slumber; I sat down on the empty side of bed. I had realised after a few nights that she was a deep sleeper. Her breath came in short shallow pauses. Although, her face showed signs of exhaustion and her eyes were puffy from crying, she seemed at peace. As if they had got a mind of their own, my hand moved to caress the frown forming between her eyes. It was hard enough to get out the image of the tortured look on her face, since the first time she broke down in front of me. But after seeing it again and again, I couldn't see past the frightened look in her eyes.

The Zaira, I knew during childhood was not here anymore. In her stead, stood a broken and scarred girl, who was scared to trust anyone. And I knew for a fact that I had played my part to make her like this. So, how could she ever trust me again?

——————————

"Oh!"

I tore my gaze away from Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde in my hand to look at the source of this voice. My face had scrunched up in annoyance until I saw the person standing in front of me. Her eyes became wide in surprise but it was hard to ignore that mischievous look on her face. With a sigh, I returned to my book, expecting her to leave me alone, like everyone else. But obviously that was asking for too much from Zaira.

"What are you reading?" She had slumped down on the ground beside me and was bending her neck at an awkward angle to catch a glimpse of the book cover. I frowned at her, wondering why couldn't she take a hint. Nevertheless, I turned the book over for her to see. She mouthed the title before snapping ber gaze to meet mine. Immediately a frown formed between my eyes and I was going to brush her away but despite feeling irritated, I couldn't bring myself to push her away.

"What?" I quirked my eyebrows at her, suddenly feeling uncomfortable under her curious gaze.

"Can I see? Please?" Her voice was pleading but there was no mistaking the glint in her eyes. I found myself giving in only seconds later. With a sigh, I leaned back against the 'banyan tree', watching her from the corner of my eyes, as her eyes quickly ran over the synopsis on the back cover.

"It seems interesting." She remarked slowly while handing me back the book; her eyes still glued to it. While watching her, I was wondering why have I let this person overstay her visit, when suddenly she jerked up to meet my gaze.

"OH! I completely forgot—! Your head—I had hit you—!" She exclaimed horrified and got up, clasping her mouth with both her hands.

"I am fine. It was nothing." I returned slowly, looking away from the shocked look on her face. It had already been more than a day since she fell on me, but even so, she was so light that I barely felt her weight. Although, my right foot did sprain from bending at an awkward angle, but it got better after Nanna rubbed ointment on it a few times.

"Here! For you." I looked back and found her holding out chocolates in her hand.

"What is this?" I eyed her skeptically and then the chocolates in her hand. She gave a sheepish grin at that before shoving them towards me.

"I have only these few left. I ate everything else." She explained slowly, without meeting my eyes. Before I could say anything, she dropped them on my book carefully.

"For helping me that day and—" before she could continue, someone interrupted her and I knew that person very well.

Harris.

"Zaira! What are you doing here—with him." He exclaimed angrily, blurting out the last part disgusted and pulled her to his side. My gaze lingered on him until he had dragged her away. I didn't take my eyes off of them retreating in the distance, until they had all but vanished.

And then my gaze fell on the candies sprawled on my lap. With a jerk, I got up to leave. Taking only my book with me.

—————————-

With a start, I woke up to the sound of alarm ringing for Fajr. I turned on my side to grab my phone when suddenly the realisation hit me. I had fallen asleep beside her.

Shit.

I got up quickly, making as little sound as possible and with few steps covered the distance to the couch, where I had left my phone. After turning off the alarm, I swept a quick glance to her sleeping figure on the bed, who hadn't yet stirred by the noise. Still, to make sure, I went to her side and watched over her. With one hand tucked under the pillow and other placed under her chin, she looked like an innocent kid. With a smile, I inched closer to her but immediately stopped when I realised what I was about to do. Instead, I fixed the blanket around her before walking out of the room quietly.

———————————

After returning from my jog, I fixed her breakfast and left for work. If it were possible to skip work, I would've stayed home and nursed her. But I had already utilised my annual leaves and had a meeting with my client that I couldn't afford to put off any longer. Still, I managed to finish off as early as possible and called a few times to check on her.

On the way back, I picked up some takeaway and made a brief stop at the bakery and bought her variety of chocolate desserts. Maybe that will cheer her up.

"Assalamualaikum." I was greeted by a surprised look, on entering the house. For a moment, I stood in my place, dazed. Her presence was obviously expected. Yet, it caught me off guard to find someone on returning from work. It was a weird, fuzzy feeling.

With a curt nod, I returned her greeting and went on to ask her about her fever and if she ate anything.

"Here. It's for you." I remarked carelessly while holding out the confectionary. She took the box with a puzzled look on her face. I stood in my place, feeling nervous all of a sudden while she opened it.

"What—oh! It's—" She remarked with widening eyes and a delightful smile erupted on her face. With a jerk, she looked up to me and opened her mouth to say something but then the smile faltered and she turned her gaze down.

"Thankyou..." She replied, chewing on her lower lip. I stood there feeling somewhat deflated and watched her for another moment taking my leave.

Please vote & comment, if you enjoyed reading. Thankyou :)