Zayn wasted no time in going over to Sabrina's home to look for Hanif. He doesn't know where the man work. All he knows is that he is a doctor too, just like his brother. However, a part of him felt the need to go home and check whether he was there.

He really wanted answers at the moment. He had enough questions brewing up. It was about time he gets some answers at least.

He didn't go into the house though, he simply asked the gateman who seemed skeptical when giving him answers. The rational part of him didn't blame the old man because he doesn't know him, yet the part that was restless couldn't care less.

All it took was a glare and the old man told him all he needed to know. No one could deny the fact that a glare from an irked man wouldn't intimidate the old man.

Zayn found out that Hanif wasn't around, but the gateman gave him his work address. He wasn't sure how Zayn is related to either Hanif or Sabrina, mostly because he didn't look like Sabrina or anyone in the family one bit. Hopefully, they won't find out and get irked.

Zayn revved the car away from the house and headed to the hospital he was addressed to. He had never been there before, for it is one of the new hospitals built since he left the country. Using the GPS, he got there eventually.

Unlike the other hospital, he didn't hesitate to go in. Once he was in, he made his way over to the receptionist's table to ask about him.

"Which doctor?" The male receptionist asked, looking from the computer situated infront of him.

"Dr. Hanif Abdou Hussein"

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No" Zayn didn't see the point in beating around the bush.

"I'm sorry Sir, but--"

"Zayn?"

Zayn's brows furrowed, as he turned around to glance at the person who called him. He was taken aback because he wasn't expecting her to be there. But then, her husband might be working there too since his brother is, it wouldn't be surprising then. "Hayra"

She offered him a smile, shifting her bag from one hand to the other, "It really is you" Her eyes glanced at the receptionist, "I'll take it from here"

The man nodded, "Okay Ma'am"

She then turned back to Zayn, who was tapping his fingers on the table continuously, "Let's go"

A part of him wanted to ask whether she knows why he's there, but he figured she might've overheard him asking about her brother-in-law. So, wordlessly, he followed her over to the elevator she was leading them to.

Once in, she pressed the third floor button, before stepping back and glancing at Zayn, "Would it seem nosy if I ask why you're looking for Hanif?"

"Yes" He replied, not sparing her a glance. In all honesty, he really doesn't get why she chose to marry Aasim after knowing his history with Kulsum. Is she on a suicide mission or something?

Hayra nodded slowly. She wished she could say she was offended from him being that straightforward but it would be a lie. It would be hypocritical of her to do so, because she was like that too not too long ago. "I know I've said this before, but I'm sorry about your loss" For some odd reason, since she had met him, she had felt as though the death affected him the most.

And hence she couldn't resist sympathizing with him.

For the first time since they stepped into the elevator, Zayn glanced at her. And then that feeling came again. The one where she looked oddly familiar. But he couldn't pinpoint where exactly. "Were you two that close?"

Hayra shook her head, "No. I wish we were though" She added the last sentence as a whisper, "I owe her my life because without her, I wouldn't be here today"

Zayn gulped. He hated the situation he is in. He hated how he's getting more and more questions. Can't they all not talk in riddles and be straightforward for once? "What did she do to you?" He couldn't resist to ask that though.

Hayra blew out a low breath through her mouth, eyes flickering to see that they are about to reach the third floor. "She saved me after I had given up completely and so, I meant what I said earlier. I owe her a lot, hence, why I'm doing everything I can to pay back"

Zayn wanted to comment on her words, but he held his tongue back. He still didn't get how Kulsum saving her equate to her getting married to her ex-husband.

As if reading his thoughts, she chuckled. "I know what you're thinking" The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. The two stepped out, but made no further movement as she turned around to face him completely, "This isn't the right time to tell you this, but I don't think there ever will be a right time"

"Tell me what?"

"She introduced me to Aasim"

His brows drew in deeply, mouth slightly hung ajar. "What?" When did all that happen?

Hayra nodded, "Yes. She introduced me to him when I was at my lowest point because I guess, she trusted him for that little bit that he would take care of me. I don't know the precise details; you'll have to ask him that yourself but she is the genesis behind us" Her gaze flickered to a door at the end of the hall, "Last door there is Hanif's office" She glanced back at him, "When the time comes, I promise, I'll tell you everything"

She didn't wait for his response, before she turned around and headed back into the elevator, disappearing as the doors closed.

Frankly speaking, Zayn didn't know if she eased some of his questions or gave him more. Truth be told, it might as well be both. He couldn't help but wonder why Kulsum did that. Trust Aasim? That didn't sound like her one bit.

Sighing, he shook his head and made his way over to the last door as she had directed. He knocked on the door, and when he heard the 'come in', he didn't waste a second in opening the door and stepping in.

The first thing his gaze landed on was the figure of Hanif who had just returned from visiting his father-in-law, Zayn's father. The man had his back facing Zayn, as he was shrugging on his coat. When he finally turned around, his eyes dilated slightly. "Zayn..." He released a low breath, preparing himself for what's about to come, "Come in, have a seat" He gestured to the seat in front of his table.

Zayn nodded, and made his way over to the seat. Once seated, he faced Hanif who had also settled down.

Hanif offered him a smile, "What brought you here? Are you sick or something?"

Zayn shook his head, "No" He kept his eye son Hanif, taking note of any movement he made, "There's something I want to ask, and only you can give me the answers I need"

Hanif took in a sharp breath, though he tried to be discrete about it but Zayn did not miss it. The man still managed to maintain his smile, "Go ahead, I hope I know the answers"

"It's about Kulsum"

"What about her?"

"I heard, that you two were close" Zayn waited for Hanif to deny it, but the man never did.

Instead, Hanif nodded, "Yeah" His smile disappeared, "She and I were close"

Zayn blinked, shaking his head. "I just don't get how it never seemed like it. For as long as I can remember, you two have been acting like strangers. And what? Apparently you knew her before Aasim did?"

Hanif released a long sigh. Their story is a long one, and quite a bit complicated too. "It's not as simple as it sounds"

"Then make me understand. I have all the time" Zayn leaned back, a brow raised slightly.

"Zayn it's the past for a reason, we've all moved on"

"I didn't" How could he move on? "So I need to know"

Hanif covered his face with his palm for a brief second. He didn't like to think about the past or what happened then. But with Zayn sitting there, he doesn't have a choice but to go down that memory lane. When he looked up, Zayn was still in the same position as earlier. "She and I met in her first year in medical school. And ever since then, we got along pretty well. Actually, we were good, perfect perhaps. And eventually..." He knew he promised Alhaji Danbatta that he wouldn't let Zayn know, but this wasn't what he promised anyway.

Zayn understood what came next before Hanif continued, "Aasim came into the picture"

Hanif nodded, "You know the rest of the story"

Zayn scoffed slightly, shaking his head. "No I don't. If that was it, then why did you and her become, well, practically strangers? Shouldn't you two get along more because she married your younger brother?"

It was Hanif's turn to shake his head. "I couldn't stay in the picture anymore"

Zayn observed Hanif for a while, carefully picking out his next words. "You loved her, didn't you?"

Hanif gulped, but nodded nonetheless.

"Why didn't you tell her?"

"Because she loved Aasim. Besides, he's my brother. If they both are happy then it's okay"

"No it's not" Zayn didn't know why but he felt something is missing, "You should've told her at the very least"

Hanif scoffed lightly, "And what? Risk losing my relationship with my brother along with my friendship with her?"

"The minute you kept quiet, you lost your friendship" That was a fact, and they both knew it. "You should've at least, made an effort"

Hnaif sighed, shaking his head, "Why do you care so much?"

"Because maybe, all of this would've been avoided if you ended up with her and not your brother. Maybe, she would've be happy with you. Maybe, she would still be here with us" There it was, the reason why he felt like Hanif should've fought for her rather than being a coward and stepping away from the picture.

"Maybe won't change the past Zayn. Nothing would. It's better to accept and move on"

Zayn gulped, then looked away; his fist clenched. "I just have one last question" His voice came out low, but Hanif heard him.

"What is it?"

"Do you love Sabrina at all?"

Hanif kept shut, looking away. Did he love her? Honestly, he doesn't know the answer to it.

Zayn however nodded, chuckling humorlessly. He got his answer from Hanif's silence. "I guess she's just a replacement of Kulsum to you" He muttered, getting up from the seat and heading out.

Hanif said nothing to stop him, not even when he went out.

Zayn got the answers he wanted, but the last revelation irked him more. Yes, he cared about Kulsum more than anyone but Sabrina is still a sister to him, and he cares about her too, a lot. And if there's one thing he's sure of is that she loves Hanif. How would she feel if she finds out it's one-sided? And that she might've been living a lie for years?

His fingers were still clenched shut by the time he reached his car—or more like, Kamal's car that he had taken away before his gets fixed. Releasing a deep breath, and taking in a long one, he repeated the action to calm himself down.

His phone pinged in his pocked, but he didn't pick it up until he was sure he's calmed down. Eventually, he slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the phone.

It was a text from an unknown number, and one name.

'Aisha Liman'.

And that was it.