Zimal smiled faintly and went back home.
She entered her room and sat on the bed.
A strange silence filled her heart.
She felt as if all her feelings for Zaroon were slowly disappearing… like they had never existed.
But deep inside, in a hidden corner of her heart, a small feeling still remained for him.
Yet she chose to ignore it.
Suddenly, a voice came from her mother’s room.
”Zimal… come here, I need to tell you something.”
Zimal replied, “Mom, wait a minute.”
She quickly got up and went downstairs into her mother’s room.
”Yes, Mom?”
Her mother took a deep breath.
”Zimal… I want a divorce.”
For a moment, everything stopped for Zimal.
It felt as if the ground had slipped beneath her feet.
”Mom… are you in your senses?” she asked in shock.
“What are you talking about?
Are you joking with me?”
Her mother’s eyes filled with pain.
“I’m sorry, dear… but you know everything.
I have no one to share my emotions with anymore.
I don’t have any bad intention.
I told you because you are the one who takes care of your brother.
Right now, I’m not in a position to take care of you both.”
Zimal looked at her helplessly.
“Mom… are you okay?”
She stepped forward and hugged her mother tightly.
Her mother cried silently, trying hard to hide her pain, not wanting Zimal to see how broken she truly was inside.
Zimal whispered softly, “Okay, Mom… as you wish.”
Her mother quickly looked at her.
“Aren’t you going to ask why I’m doing this?”
Zimal shook her head gently.
“I know, Mom… you must have a reason.
I’m with you.”
She held her hand and added softly, “Just take care of yourself.
Sleep early.
Don’t overthink.
Everything is in Allah’s hands.”
—
Zimal returned to her room that night and went to sleep.
The next morning, she went to college with her brother.
She dropped him at school and then met Afifa on the way.
”Is everything okay?” Afifa asked worriedly.
”I’ll tell you later… I don’t want to talk about it right now,” Zimal replied quietly.
”Okay,” Afifa said softly.
“Whenever you want, I’m always here for you.”
—
At college, both of them entered the classroom.
Zimal sat on her chair… and beside her was Zaroon.
Zaroon looked at her and said lightly, “Hello, Miss… do you remember what you said?”
Zimal’s expression changed instantly.
”Shut up.
Don’t talk to me,” she said coldly.
Zaroon frowned.
“Why are you acting like you don’t remember anything?
You said something… and now you’re ignoring me?”
Zimal lowered her head and said nothing.
Afifa noticed the tension and pulled Zaroon outside.
”Please don’t talk to her today,” Afifa said seriously.
Zaroon’s expression softened.
“What happened?
Is she okay?”
”I don’t think so,” Afifa replied.
“So just stay away from her today.”
—
Back in class, Zaroon sat silently next to Zimal without saying a word.
The lecture continued… but Zimal looked completely lost.
Her eyes were tired, as if she hadn’t slept all night.
She looked like she was physically present but emotionally far away.
Afifa later came and asked her to take a break.
Zimal quietly went with her to an empty room.
The room felt cold… silent… almost lifeless.
”Zimal… you can share with me.
What happened?” Afifa asked softly.
”No,” Zimal replied.
“If something serious happens, I’ll tell you.
Don’t worry about me.”
”Okay… as you wish,” Afifa sighed.
Silence filled the room, broken only by the ticking clock.
Tick… tick… tick…
The sound felt heavier than usual… like time itself was standing still.
Suddenly, a staff member entered.
”Sir is calling you for the lecture.”
They both got up and returned to class.
—
Zaroon looked at Zimal again and said quietly,
”So this is your new way of expressing feelings… by not saying anything?”
Zimal ignored him completely.
Zaroon continued, a bit frustrated, “Fine… Miss… Madam… whoever you want to be.”
And then he stopped talking.
—
After class, Zimal turned to Afifa.
”Today… I don’t want to go home.
Please don’t tell anyone.
You can go.”
Afifa frowned.
“Then where will you go?”
”I don’t know,” Zimal replied.
”Should I come with you?”
”No… I want to be alone.”
”Okay,” Afifa said softly.
“But stay in contact with me, okay?”
”Hmm… okay.
Bye.”
Zimal took a bus and left—going anywhere her heart took her.
—
From behind, a voice called her name.
”Zimal!”
She turned.
“You?”
”Did Afifa tell you?” she asked immediately.
”No,” he replied.
”Please… I want to be alone,” she said.
”Okay,” Zaroon answered calmly.
But instead of leaving, he followed her quietly.
”Stop it, Zaroon,” she said sharply.
”Who are you, Miss?” he asked, walking beside her.
Zimal took a deep breath but said nothing.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
”Dad…”
”Hello dear, where are you?
Are you safe?
Your mother said you didn’t go home.
Are you okay?” her father asked worriedly.
”I’m okay, Dad.
Don’t worry.
I’ll come home before night.”
”Okay… are you with someone?”
Before she could answer, Zaroon spoke loudly from behind,
”Yes, uncle, I’m with her.”
”Who is there?” her father asked immediately.
”No one, Dad,” Zimal quickly replied.
Zaroon laughed bitterly.
“Now I’m ‘no one’ to you?”
Zimal’s eyes filled with tears.
Without warning, Zaroon took the phone and ended the call.
”What are you doing?” she cried.
He gently placed his hand on her head.
”Relax… I’m with you.
Nothing bad will happen, Miss… Mister… Madam…”
”Let’s go,” he said softly.
”No… I don’t want to.
Leave me alone,” she said, pulling back.
But Zaroon held her hand firmly and started walking with her.
—
”Zimal…” a voice suddenly called.
She turned quickly.
“Yes?”
The door opened.
”Zawar?”
”Are you not happy to see me?” he asked softly.
”It’s not like that… come inside,” she said.
”No… next time,” Zawar replied.
“I just came to give you this.”
He handed her a bag and left quietly.
”Bye.”
”Bye…” Zimal whispered.
She closed the door slowly and placed the bag on the table.
The room fell silent again.
Then suddenly, her emotions broke completely.
Tears filled her eyes as she whispered painfully…
”Zaroon… I miss you… I miss you so much… how could you leave me like that?”