Ayesha was torn between two worlds…And he was just an outsider trying to
hold on.
He whispered to himself:
"Why do I still love her?Why do I still hope?"
For the first time in days, he let himself cry—quietly, painfully.
Every memory came rushing back:
Her voice.Her messages.Her promises.Her saying "I'll be the best wife for
you."Her saying "Our relationship will be the purest."Her morning texts.Her late–
night confessions.Her love.Her betrayal.
He pressed his hand against his chest.
"It hurts… so much…"
He couldn't breathe properly.
Meanwhile, Ayesha stood outside Umair's house.
Her hands trembled as she knocked.
Umair opened the door with a soft smile.
"You came," he said gently.
Ayesha swallowed hard. "I came because I need answers… not because I
chose you."
Umair stepped aside. "Come in. I owe you truth."
Inside, he told her everything:
How his family forced him to move…How he had no control…How he tried to
return but couldn't…How he always loved her…How seeing her again brought
all feelings back.
Ayesha listened quietly, confused, emotional.
Umair stepped closer, lowering his voice:
"Ayesha… you still love me. I can see it in your eyes."
Ayesha backed away instantly.
"No… stop. Don't assume that."
"But it's true," he whispered."The way you came running to me… the way you
cried… you still belong to me."
"I don't belong to anyone," she said firmly."I'm lost, Umair. Not yours. Not
anyone's."
Umair tried to hold her wrist gently.
"Ayesha, don't leave like this."
She pulled her hand away.
"Umair, when you left me years ago… I shattered.When Yasir came into my
life… he healed me without even trying.He gave me peace. You gave me pain."
Umair's eyes softened.
"I'm not the same man."
Ayesha shook her head.
"But Yasir… he's still the same man who loved me purely.I hurt him so badly."
Umair's expression tightened.
"So… is Yasir the one you choose?"
Ayesha's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know… but I can't repeat the past."
And she walked away… leaving Umair standing in silence.
Yasir's phone rang again.
This time Ayesha was barely able to breathe.
"Yasir… I'm coming to see you. I need to talk to you. Right now."
Yasir's heart skipped.
"Are you okay?"
"No…" she whispered.
He could hear tears in her voice.
"I think I made a mistake. I think I broke everything. I think Umair—"
The line suddenly cracked.
"Ayesha? Ayesha!"
He heard chaotic sounds.
Then her voice, terrified:
"Yasir… please… come…"
The call ended.
Yasir froze.
His blood turned cold.
Something was wrong.Terribly wrong.
He grabbed his keys and rushed outside.
Yasir reached the old street near the academy where Ayesha said she'd come.
He saw her standing alone under the streetlight—shivering, crying, broken.
"Ayesha!" he called out.
She looked up… and suddenly ran toward him.
Before Yasir could react, she threw her arms around him, shaking
uncontrollably.
"Yasir… I'm scared… I don't know what to do… I feel lost… I can't breathe—"
Yasir slowly wrapped his arms around her.
"It's okay. I'm here. No matter what happens… I'm here."
She clung to him like she was drowning.
Her tears soaked his shirt.
"I'm sorry, Yasir… about everything. I hurt you. I broke you. But tonight I realized
something—"
"What?"
She lifted her face.
"I don't want to lose you."
Yasir's heart stopped.
He didn't speak.
Ayesha whispered:
"Please… don't let me go."
Before Yasir could answer, a loud voice cut through the night—
"Ayesha!"
They turned.
Umair stood a few steps away, eyes burning, chest heaving.
And in that moment…
The past stood on one side.The future on the other.
Ayesha stood between two men—one who left her…and one who held her when
she fell apart.
And this night was about to change all their lives forever.
Ayesha stood trembling between Yasir and Umair under the dim streetlight.Her
fingers were still wrapped around Yasir's sleeve, but her eyes—confused,
scared—shifted toward Umair.
Umair walked closer, slow, calm, almost too calm.
"Interesting," he said with a cold smile."So this is where you ran off to?"
Ayesha whispered, "Umair, please… don't start—"
He raised a hand.
"No, no. I should speak. I deserve that much, don't I?"
Yasir stepped forward, jaw tight.
"Don't talk to her like that."
Umair's eyes flicked to him, mocking.
"Oh look, the hero speaks.
Yasir clenched his fists, but stayed silent.
Umair smirked as if he enjoyed this.
"Ayesha," he said softly, "you just left my house crying. You hugged me,
remember? You said you were scared of losing me. And now—just one hour
later—you're in his arms?"
Ayesha froze.
"I… I didn't say that—"
Umair interrupted sharply.
"Really? Should I repeat your exact words?'Umair, don't leave me alone
again.'Wasn't that you?"
Ayesha's eyes widened in shock.
"Umair! I never said that! You're twisting—"
But Umair kept going, voice smooth like poison:
"Tell him, Ayesha. Tell him how you were hugging me on my doorstep. Tell him
how your tears were for me. Tell him how you begged me to explain everything
because you still care."
Yasir felt something heavy in his chest.
He looked at Ayesha.
"…Is that true?"
Ayesha turned toward him, terrified.
"Yasir, no! He's lying! He's manipulating—"
Umair laughed softly.
"Manipulating? Me? Ayesha, come on. If you didn't care about me… why did
you run to my house the moment I returned? Why didn't you call Yasir? Why
didn't you choose him?"
Ayesha opened her mouth, but no words came out.
And that silence…That single moment of speechlessness…Was enough.
Umair seized it.
He stepped closer to Yasir.
"You see? She came to me. Not you. She cried for me. Not you. She chased
after me. Not you."
Yasir's heart felt like it cracked again.
Ayesha grabbed Yasir's hand.
"Don't listen to him, please! Yasir, look at me—"
Umair smirked.
"Why so desperate now, Ayesha? Because he heard the truth?"
Ayesha turned toward Umair, furious.
"You're twisting everything! I went to your house for closure, not because I love
Love in the Shadows
"Did Ayesha's silence do wrong?"
"If you like the story, please add it to your library 💙"