Aisha sat alone on the edge of the bed, phone in her hand.
She had just finished wiping her face when it vibrated again.
'Nuha.'
Her heart clenched.
She inhaled deeply, cleared her throat, and answered.
"Salam alaykum, my love."
"Walaykum salam, Ummi!" Nuha's voice was bright, warm, familiar. "I've been calling you since. How's work? Are you tired?"
Aisha smiled, though her eyes burned. "Work is… fine. Just busy."
"You say that every time," Nuha laughed lightly. "Where exactly are you now? You didn't even tell me you'd travel."
Aisha looked around the unfamiliar room, then toward the window. "Out of town. Meetings here and there. Nothing serious."
"Hmm," Nuha hummed. "You always make everything sound small."
Aisha swallowed. "How was your day?"
Nuha didn't need to be asked twice.
"Oh my God, Ummi, today was… a lot," she said, settling into her seat in the car. "First of all, remember that meeting I told you about yesterday? With those big clients?"
"Yes," Aisha replied softly.
"They praised me," Nuha said, unable to hide the excitement. "One of them even said I was elegant and intelligent. I wanted to disappear, Ummi. Everyone was looking at me."
Aisha closed her eyes, a tear slipping down. "You deserve every word."
"And guess what?" Nuha continued. "My boss Rayyan he noticed how stressed I was. He reduced my workload today."
"That was kind of him," Aisha said carefully.
Nuha lowered her voice slightly, smiling to herself. "He won't say it, but… he cares. In his own way. Very professional, though."
Aisha pressed her lips together, forcing her voice to remain steady. "I'm glad someone is looking out for you."
"Oh! And Ummi…" Nuha paused dramatically. "Don't shout."
Aisha's heart skipped. "What happened?"
"He gave me a car."
Silence.
"A… car?" Aisha asked.
"Yes!" Nuha laughed. "A Lexus. He said it was from the company. For diligence. Can you imagine?"
Aisha's hand trembled. She gripped the phone tighter. "Alhamdulillah," she whispered. "Alhamdulillah."
"I knew you'd say that," Nuha smiled. "I wanted to tell you earlier but you weren't picking."
Aisha wiped her face quickly. "I'm proud of you, Nuha. So proud."
There was a brief pause on the line.
"Ummi?" Nuha asked gently. "Are you okay? You sound… tired."
Aisha straightened, forcing lightness into her tone. "I'm fine, my dear. Just long meetings."
"Are you sure?" Nuha insisted. "You didn't even scold me about the car."
Aisha chuckled softly. "Do you want me to start now?"
"No, no," Nuha laughed. "Please don't."
They both fell quiet for a moment.
"Ummi," Nuha said, her voice softer now, "when are you coming back?"
Aisha's chest tightened. "Soon," she replied. "In shaa Allah."
"I miss you," Nuha said simply.
Aisha closed her eyes. "I miss you more than you know."
"You always say that."
"Because it's always true."
Nuha smiled on the other end. "I'll cook when you're back."
Aisha's throat closed up. "I'll hold you to that."
"Please rest, Ummi," Nuha added. "Don't overwork yourself. I learned from you."
Aisha turned her face away as tears finally fell freely. "I will. You too."
"Goodnight, Ummi."
"Goodnight, my heart."
The call ended.
Aisha stared at the dark screen, her tears dripping onto her lap.
"She sounds so happy," she whispered to herself.
Zafir, standing by the door, said nothing, only handed her a tissue.
Aisha took it, pressing it to her eyes.
"How do I tell her," she murmured, "that the man she never knew… loved her enough to die trying?"
The room remained silent.
And far away, Nuha smiled to herself, unaware that the ground beneath her life was slowly shifting.
Shan leaned back on the leather couch, one ankle resting over the other, phone in his hand but unread.
Irfan watched him for a while before smirking.
"You've been quiet since we got back."
Shan didn't look up. "Have I?"
"Yes. And you don't go quiet unless something....or someone.....is sitting in your head rent-free."
Shan scoffed lightly. "You exaggerate."
Irfan chuckled. "You stared at your phone for ten minutes without unlocking it."
"That's called thinking."
"That's called trouble."
Shan finally looked at him. "You always assume the worst."
"Because I'm usually right." Irfan leaned forward. "So. Who is she?"
Shan paused.
That alone told Irfan everything.
"Ah," Irfan said slowly, smiling. "There *is* a she."
Shan exhaled. "Her name is Nuha."
"Nuha," Irfan repeated thoughtfully. "Sounds… calm."
"She is," Shan said without thinking.
Then he stopped, realizing he'd answered too quickly.
Irfan raised an eyebrow. "You sound sure."
Shan shook his head. "Not calm like quiet. Calm like… she knows herself."
Irfan leaned back. "That's new. You usually like chaos."
"I don't like chaos," Shan corrected. "I tolerate it."
Irfan laughed. "Okay, philosopher. Where did you meet her?"
"Today," Shan replied. "Well. Yesterday, technically."
"That fast?" Irfan whistled. "You work fast."
"I wasn't trying to," Shan said. "She just… stood out."
"How?"
Shan thought for a moment. "She listens. She doesn't rush to fill silence. And when she speaks, it's intentional."
Irfan nodded slowly. "You're describing someone you respect."
Shan's jaw tightened. "Exactly."
"That's dangerous for you."
Shan glanced at him. "Why?"
"Because when you respect someone, you don't play games."
"I don't play games," Shan said flatly.
Irfan burst out laughing. "That's the biggest lie you've told this year."
Shan smirked faintly. "Fine. I play fewer games."
"And she?" Irfan asked. "What does she think of you?"
Shan shrugged. "Hard to tell."
"Did she laugh?"
Shan hesitated. Then nodded. "Once."
Irfan grinned. "You're finished."
Shan rolled his eyes. "It wasn't like that."
"You remember it though."
Shan went quiet.
"She laughs like she doesn't do it often," he admitted. "Like she forgets she's allowed to."
Irfan's teasing expression softened. "You're actually serious."
Shan leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "She's focused. Driven. But there's weight behind her eyes."
"Ah," Irfan said gently. "Pain."
"Maybe," Shan replied. "Or responsibility."
"And you want to be what?" Irfan asked. "The distraction?"
"No," Shan said immediately. "The… ease."
Irfan smiled knowingly. "You're already gone."
Shan shook his head. "I'm careful."
"You've always been," Irfan said. "But careful men fall hardest."
Shan stared ahead. "She doesn't even know me."
"That's how it starts."
Shan picked up his phone at last, glancing at the screen.
"I don't know if our paths will cross again."
Irfan smirked. "If you're thinking about her this much, they will."
Shan exhaled, a quiet smile tugging at his lips.
"Then I hope she doesn't mind someone who notices too much."
Irfan stood. "Trust me. Women like that want to be seen."
Shan remained seated, thoughtful.
Nuha.
The name settled comfortably in his chest...uninvited, but welcome