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The sounds arent real...

Chapter 35

I walked into the room, blinded by exhaustion...Zafar was standing in front of me with a rose in his mouth, the room filled with lights, and a candlelit table. He walked over to me asking for my hand as he placed the flower in my hair, I take his hand and following him to the table.

He looked shy, just as shy as the day he first started feeling something for me. My favorite food was set out on the table, as he gently passed me a wrapped envelope. With the moody expression on my face softening up with every single word I came across on the letter…I began eating the food set out in front of me.

“ im such a jerk…I hope you forgive me.”

“ I was never upset with you in the first place. Just disappointed, ” I say passing him something from the fridge.

“ it’ll never happen again, I won’t even look at any other woman in this life besides you.”

I smile thinking about how possible that is, “deal if you insist on doing it who am I to reject it?”

“ thank you for trusting me…”

He was right, I trusted him blindly…

~Elham~

“ don’t tell me that you’ve forgotten me?” I say passing a note to him, “ I was the short girl with a teddy bear at hand, I always sat behind you.”

“ofcourse I remember you, ” Mutaq says grabbing the photo, “Must be destiny meeting you after so many years.”

“jee(yes), you probably heard about my terrible past, news travels fast in this small town, but I hope that doesn’t affect our cooperation.”

“ You were the victim most of the time there's nothing to be ashamed of, besides no personal feelings gets mixed with work.”

“ that’s the nicest thing someones said to me over these years, thank you for your understanding.”

“ No need to thank me, I’ll be seeing you more often, wouldn't want to see you uncountable,” he said leaving the table after answering a call…

After closing the meeting I left the restaurant. it's been such a long time since I’ve met a sincere man. It was refreshing...

“ How have you been doing lately?” she asks opening the take-away wrapper.

“I feel like a million dollars Shukar( all praises due to Allah)”

“ that’s good to hear, why did you want to see me?” She asks handing me a plate

“ do you remember that kid you use to go to karate with, the one in my class?”

“ there were quite a few, be more specific.”

“ Mutaq? Im sure you know him.”

“ oh, yes of course I know him. What about him.”

“ I’ll be manufacturing majority of his machinery in the future, he told me that he knows you.”

“ We were good buddies in class, he even accompanied me to Japan.”

“oh I see, would you say that he's a good man?” I say squeezing the soda can between my hands.

“He's an unbelievably amazing person…whats with all the questions?" she smiles leaning into me, “ do you like him?”

“ like him, I just met him!”

“Ohh, my bad so it’s a crush.”

“shut up and eat your food.”

“I’ll take that as a yes dear Elham.”

A crush, im not sure if that’s what you can call it?

***

“ Nura are you listening, ” Zafar says pulling me towards the counter. “ I told you to go choose a ring.”

“I'm listening, that one,” I say biting onto my nails.

It was time that I wore a ring, I wanted to use the wedding bands our parents got us but Zafar insisted on getting me a much more expensive one, even if that was far from the point but as long as he was happy doing it.

Earlier today I received a call from my brother, he mentioned something about the business and my father's current health... Apparently, he wanted to discuss the will...of course, the majority of the property went to him. After picking a ring that matched Zafar's taste, I rushed over to have lunch with him.

“ let’s get down to business, ” he says opening his briefcase. “ these are your properties, but you’ll only fully own them once your mother passes away.”

“our mother,” I say furiously… “if that’s all I'll get going then.”

“ wait…here's the address to where fathers being hospitalized. His days are numbered, hope you behave in front of him.”

I watch him leave the restaurant we were never this distant when we were younger. After informing Elham and the rest of my mother's family I rushed over to the hospital my father was at...

He had troubles with his lungs, typical for a heavy smoker. He had to get a lung transplant…but according to his condition, he had very little time left knowing that he to wait in line just like everyone else. Funny how all the money he made meant nothing during those moments.

I walked into his ward, my mother who fell asleep beside him holding his hand…the oxygen mask on his face, his pale wrinkling skin, his eyes shut…I walk over to him watching my every step, gently wiping the tears I had on my face.

I grab his other hand, sitting beside him as I began praying for his recovery. The doctor walked in to check on him, apparently, he was in there for months…in the critical condition, he was.

The machine that monitored his heart rate began to drop, with my mother waking up, and me being pushed to the side as the doctors go in trying to fix the complications that were occurring, my pulse dropped at the sound of his heartbeat stopping. I froze, everything around me went silent, I couldn’t hear the screams of my mother or the panic of the doctors around me. I was numb...with the doctor patting me on my shoulder telling me that he's tried his best to save him. I rush out of the ward with my hands shaking.

Death took away the most important person in my life, my mother handed me a letter before going over to complete the formalities…

I saw my brother rush into the ward with my sister behind him, a woman I’ve never seen since I've started high school. I place the letter into my bag, walking away from all the commotion happening around me.

Goosebumps filling my body, as I take a seat outside letting out a sigh, I couldn’t believe that he was gone…Zafar rushing out of the cab still dressed in his coat rushed over to me, shaking me. I look over to him with the little tears in my eyes, “ Zafar, this isn’t real right? I’ll see him tomorrow right?” I say holding onto him, he looked at me shaking his head slowly before calming my tantrum.

I wish I had spent more time with him, the only words running through my mind, as I began shivering at the constant image of him lying in bed helplessly. How cruel of him not allowing me to spend time beside him before he met the dust. After being sent to a mosque (Islamic church) and many being informed. He was buried that very night. My mother insisted on me staying with Zafar as she was going to live with Elhams mother for a few days.

I arrive at home with my eyes all bloody looking. I sat there with the piece of jewelry he gave me on my wedding night before bravely opening the letter.

To Nura, the light of my world.

When I first met your mother after going through a devastating loss, I never thought that I would love her as much as I do. She gave me constant happiness and eventually you came along, I remember watching you fall as a child but laughing as you laid on the ground…I remember watching you stay up all night drawing you really are a hard worker…I remember watching you face the hardships your siblings put you through, without complaining or asking for help. Although in this life I couldn’t give you the amount of love and protection you deserve I knew I was doing the right thing by marrying you off to Zafar. Most of the time I regretted how little time I was left with as I wished to see you grow into a prosperous woman, I am very proud of you…stay by his side. And please don’t hate me for keeping my illness a secret all these years, I am the cause of my own death. Don’t forget to pray for me, every creation has to meet his maker, your loving father will always be thinking about you from the other side, take care, and please stop crying…sadly im not beside you otherwise I would be wiping away your tears just like the old days…we will meet again, one day my dear.

With me sitting on the floor, unable to stop my eyes from pouring, I blindly watched Zafar rush over to me with a glass of water. Instinctively I rush into his arms holding onto him…as I let out screams and sobs of regret…

The following weeks were there most difficult to deal with, and sometimes little reminders of him would put me in a state but I had his arms…his arms, Zafar's arms to keep me safe.