8

"Since when have you started waking up so early?" he asked, watching her. She gave him a glance and headed inside the house. He followed her, and she entered the kitchen, starting to prepare breakfast.

"Why are you doing this? Mom or someone else will make it for me," Arsal said with a grin, but she glared at him.

"You have a lot of misunderstandings, Mr. Arsal," she said, looking at him.

"Oh, thank goodness you spoke. I thought you'd gone mute," Arsal said, starting to eat her breakfast.

"Arsal... this is mine," she told him, but he was Arsal. Samra ignored him and went to her room. He followed her. Her phone started ringing, and he looked at the caller ID. She answered the call.

"Sam, where are you? Come quickly, there's an emergency," Hadi said.

"Yeah, I'm coming... where are you?" she asked, with Arsal looking at her.

"I'm out of town for an important task, that's why I called you..." he asked.

"Okay... I'll just go," she said and hung up.

"Who's Hadi?" he asked, but she was about to go into the washroom when he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. She bumped into his chest.

"Samra, who is Hadi?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Mr. Arsal... who do you think you are to question me? Just stick to your own business, it's better for you and everyone else," she said in anger and pushed him away.

"Samra, don't argue, just tell me," he asked.

"You get out of my room... if you've come for some time, then keep to your work. It's better for you and everyone else," she said and pushed him out of the room, locking the door.

She sat on the bed and started crying.

"You're such a selfish person... after all these years of coming back, instead of asking for forgiveness, you're questioning me..." she said to him in her thoughts.

She stood up and got ready to go outside. Mona Bagum was making tea in the kitchen.

"Brii Ami, I'm going to the hospital... goodbye," she said and went outside.

Her day was hectic, and she was in her office when someone knocked at the door.

"Come in," she said, and a girl, Maryam, entered. She was beautiful.

"Hey, Maryam, come in," Samra greeted with a smile.

"How are you?" Maryam asked.

"I'm doing well," Samra replied with a smile. After some casual conversation, Maryam became serious.

"Hadi sent me... he said you were worried. He couldn't come himself, so he sent me instead," Maryam said.

"Oh, it's nothing, really. I was just a bit tired. I'll rest when I get home, and I'll be fine," she said.

"Are you sure?" Maryam asked, and she nodded. She returned home at 11 o'clock and went to Amir Sahab's room.

"It's quite late today," Amir commented.

"Yes, baba Hadi wasn't here, so I had to take care of his patients too," she explained. After some time, she went to her room and was shocked to see him there.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, tiredly.

"Waiting for you... why are you so late?" he asked, sitting on her bed casually.

"That's none of your business," she said in anger.

"Yes, it is my business," Arsal said.

"Arsal... don't show me this attitude, okay? And please, there's no need to talk to me... now, please, get out of my room," she said, pushing him away and locking the door.

Ahmad Sahab called Arsal to his room, and Amir Sahab was also present.

"Dad, you called me?" he asked, and Ahmad gestured for him to sit on the sofa.

"Why did you come back?" Ahmad asked sternly.

"Dad, I'm sorry for what I did... " he was interrupted by Ahmad's voice.

"I don't need any excuses... tell me straight, why did you come back here? You left us all for that girl... and for your dreams," Ahmad asked angrily.

"Dad... please, just listen to me once..." Arsal stood up from his place, sat on the floor, and grabbed Ahmad's hand.

"Dad... I know I made a mistake... you all tried to stop me, you all advised me... but at that time, I was lost... I thought if I got married once, my responsibilities would increase... and I wouldn't be able to focus on my career... Aliya was also saying this to me, that she would wait for me... I was confused, Dad... that's why... I left," he said with teary eyes.

"So why did you come back now?" Amir Sahab asked.

"I've realized my mistake... I want to rectify it. I love Samra deeply... At that time, I thought my dream was something else... but after leaving home, I realized... my dream is to be with Samra... at every turn in life," Arsal confessed.

"Do you think it's that easy? You left one day... and after four years, you come back and say sorry for ruining everything?" Amir Sahab retorted, visibly angry.

"Uncle, please... forgive me... I'll convince Samra... Please, support me," Arsal pleaded. Amir Sahab stormed out in frustration.

"First, seek forgiveness from the one whose life you've ruined, then think about our forgiveness," Ahmad Sahab remarked, before leaving.

"Mom, please forgive me," Arsal implored, and Bena Bagum hugged him, acknowledging his pain but also reminding him of the damage inflicted upon Samra.

Meanwhile, Samra woke up late, rushed to get ready, and found her mother, Bena Bagum, sitting with Arsal in the lounge. Trying to avoid Arsal, she pretended not to notice him.

"Bena Ammi, you didn't wake me up... I'm late from the hospital," Samra said, ignoring Arsal. Bena Bagum, sensing Samra's discomfort, recalled her fever from the previous night and canceled her meetings out of concern.

"Samra, you seemed very ill last night... I had to cancel your meetings. If you're not going today, then you're not going,," Bena Bagum asserted firmly.

Samra, knowing her mother's concern for her health and her indispensable role at the hospital, reluctantly agreed not to go but insisted on returning if the hospital called, determined not to neglect her responsibilities.

The maid knocked on Samra's door.

"Come in," Samra said.

"Samra Bibi, Bena Bibi has called you for dinner," the maid informed her, and Samra nodded.

"Uff, what do I do now? How do I ignore him? How do I convince my heart? Allah, please help me... give me patience and courage... His presence has unleashed a storm within me... what will happen next?" Samra muttered to herself, composing herself before heading out.

"Assalamu alaikum," she greeted everyone at the dinner table and took her seat. He was there too, and despite her heart betraying her, urging her to steal a glance at him, her mind scolded her not to.

She toyed with her food, aware of his gaze but choosing to ignore it.

"Samra beta, you're not eating anything," Amir said, observing her.

"No, Baba... I'm not hungry," she replied.

After dinner, Amir called Samra to his room.

"Baba, you called me?" she asked as he gestured for her to sit.

"Samra beta, I've noticed you've been disturbed ever since Arsal arrived," he said.

"No, Baba... it's nothing... I was just stressed about hospital matters," she lied.

"Alright, whatever it is, but what are your plans for the future? I've talked to you about marriage. Even that's been delayed because of you, and it's troubling me. So, I've thought that you should go stay with your aunt for a few days," he suggested, and she looked at him, surprised.

"Baba, but I can't... there's a lot of work at the hospital," she protested.

"Beta, your aunt is insisting, and you hardly ever go out... besides, Lodra Seher is very close," Amir Sahab reasoned.

"Okay, Baba... I'll think about it," she conceded and went to her room. As she passed by a room, someone pushed her inside and covered her mouth.

"Arsal," she gasped as she recognized him.

"I'm removing my hand... don't scream," Arsal whispered, standing dangerously close to her. She looked at him in shock, then pushed him away as she came out.

"What kind of insolence is this, Arsal?" she said angrily, about to leave, but he grabbed her hand and pushed her against the wall.

"You're not going to your aunt's," he declared.

"And who will stop me?" she asked in anger.

"I'm telling you, Samra, you're not going there... our cousin will be there too," he explained.

"Oh, so who are you to me... you're also just a new cousin, Arsal. So why should I shift from here?" she retorted, pushing him away.

"Samra... I am not only your cousin..." he tried to control his anger.

"Oh, really, Mister Arsal... but you know what... whoever you are to me... you mean nothing, and I'm going there. Let's see who stops me," she said defiantly and stormed off to her room, leaving Arsal to punch the wall in frustration.

The next day, she packed her bags and informed Amir Sahab.

Bena Bagum was sitting in the lounge, and Samra joined her.

"Aren't you going to the hospital today?" Bena Bagum asked with a smile.

"No... I've taken leave... I'm going to my aunt's for a few days," she replied, and Arsal entered the lounge.

"Mom, how many times has she gone here before?" Arsal asked.

"Maybe twice... in the past few years... why are you asking?" Bena Bagum replied, looking at him.

"Just curious," he said.

"Okay, Bena Ami, let me check the packing... I plan to stay longer this time," she said, heading to her room, with Arsal following her. As she was about to close the door, he forced his way in and locked it. He grabbed her arm and pulled her close.

"I told you, Samra, you're not going there," he said angrily.

"And I also asked you, who will stop me?" she replied, pulling her hand away.

"Samra... why are you leaving... please don't go... you know it hurts me... and your cousin Haris, I don't like him at all, and I know you don't either," Arsal pleaded, cupping her face, but she pushed him away.

"It's not always that we get what we want in life, right?" she said.

"Are you not going to change your decision?" he asked, and she shook her head. He rushed outside in anger.