Zimal, are you okay?” Zawar asked gently, his eyes filled with concern.
Zimal looked out of the car window before answering.
”Yes, I’m okay.”
Although she said she was fine, her expression told a different story.
Zawar tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
”Should I drop you home?”
”Okay.”
The rest of the journey passed in complete silence.
Neither of them spoke another word.
A few minutes later, the car stopped in front of Zimal’s house.
”We’re here.”
”Thank you.”
Without saying goodbye, Zimal stepped out of the car and walked toward her house.
Zawar watched her disappear behind the door before driving away.
After entering her home, Zimal placed her bag on the sofa, took a shower, changed her clothes, and had dinner.
However, her mind was restless.
Too many thoughts were running through her head!
She felt as if she was missing an important piece of a puzzle.
Just then, her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
”Ibrahim?”
She immediately answered.
”Assalamu Alaikum, Ibrahim.”
”Wa Alaikum Assalam, Madam Zimal!” Ibrahim replied.
His voice sounded unusually worried.
”Madam Zimal, are you okay?!”
Zimal frowned.
”Yes, I’m okay.
Is something wrong?”
”No, Madam.”
”Then why are you asking?”
”I just wanted to know who picked you up from the company.”
”Oh…
it was Zawar.”
A brief silence followed.
”I see.”
Ibrahim’s expression darkened.
”Sorry, Madam.
I think I misunderstood.”
”Hmm.”
After a few more words, the call ended.
Meanwhile, inside Sahriar Sikander’s office…
Ibrahim placed his phone on the desk and looked at Sahriar.
”Sir, why are you so concerned about Madam Zimal?”
Sahriar remained silent for a few moments.
Then he spoke in a low voice.
”I’m jealous.”
”What?!” Ibrahim almost shouted.
Sahriar leaned back in his chair.
”She’s still in contact with Zawar!
And I’m the one protecting her!
Yet she doesn’t even have my phone number!”
Ibrahim stared at him in disbelief.
”Sir!
First you fired her!
Then you started worrying about her!
Now you’re upset because she doesn’t have your number?!”
”I don’t like that Zawar.”
Before Ibrahim could reply, his expression suddenly became serious.
”Sir, the man you assigned near Madam Zimal’s house found something suspicious.”
Sahriar immediately sat up.
”What happened?”
”A parcel arrives at Madam Zimal’s house every thirty minutes.”
Sahriar’s eyes narrowed.
”And?”
”The delivery man always knows exactly when Madam Zimal returns home.”
The atmosphere inside the office became tense.
”Did you find out what was inside the parcel?”
”No, Sir.”
”Why not?”
”Because every time Madam Zimal rejected the delivery, the delivery man took it back.”
”Did you catch him?”
”Yes, Sir.”
”Then?”
Ibrahim’s face became grim.
”Before we could question him…
he killed himself.”
Sahriar froze.
”What?!”
”His name was Farhan.
We investigated his family.”
”And?”
”He had a mother, a wife, and a daughter.”
”Where are they now?”
”They died in an explosion.”
”When?”
”Two minutes after Farhan died.”
The room fell silent.
Both men understood what that meant.
This wasn’t an accident.
Everything had been planned!
”The mastermind is dangerous,” Sahriar said coldly.
”Very dangerous, Sir.”
Sahriar clenched his fists.
”From now on, Madam Zimal’s security becomes the highest priority!”
”Yes, Sir!”
”If anything happens to her, you’re responsible!”
”I understand, Sir!
I’ll protect Madam Zimal even if it costs me my life!”
Sahriar nodded.
”Good.”
A mischievous smile appeared on Ibrahim’s face.
”Sir…
do you like her?”
”What nonsense?!”
”I knew it!”
”Ibrahim!”
Don’t worry, Sir.
I’ll take care of my future sister-in-law very carefully!”
Sahriar down her head and smiled.
”You’re becoming more annoying every day.”
”And you look cute when you smile, Sir!”
”Get out!”
”Hahaha!”
Chapter 18 (Part 2): The Return
On the other side of the city, Zimal lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Her mind was filled with countless thoughts.
”Should I tell Sahriar Sikander about it?” she whispered to herself.
”But what if he makes things worse?”
She closed her eyes.
For some reason, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Eventually, exhaustion took over, and she fell asleep.
The next morning, Zimal got ready for work.
After leaving her house, she called a cab and sat inside.
Throughout the journey, her thoughts remained occupied.
The mysterious parcels…
The strange feeling in her heart…
And Sahriar Sikander.
Everything was becoming complicated!
A few minutes later, the cab stopped in front of the company building.
Zimal paid the fare and entered the company.
After greeting a few employees, she walked toward her cabin.
The moment she entered, Elaf approached her.
”Zimal!
I think you forgot your parcel.”
Zimal frowned.
”My parcel?”
”Yes!
It was delivered this morning and placed inside your cabin.”
”Oh.”
”Anyway, have a nice day!” Elaf said with a smile before returning to her own cabin.
”Thank you.”
As soon as Elaf left, Zimal turned toward the package lying on her desk.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
Slowly, she picked it up.
There was no sender’s name.
No address.
Nothing.
Only her name.
Her hands trembled slightly as she opened it.
Inside was a small box and a folded letter.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She unfolded the letter and began reading.
The moment her eyes landed on the words, she froze.
”Zimal…
I’m back.
Back to you.
And this time, I will never leave you again.
Miss…
Mister…
Madam…”
The paper slipped from her trembling fingers.
Tears instantly filled her eyes.
”No…”
Her voice broke.
”It can’t be…”
For nearly thirty minutes, she stood there silently crying.
The pain she had buried deep inside her heart suddenly resurfaced.
A wound she thought had healed had been ripped open again.
Eventually, she wiped her tears.
Her gaze shifted toward the small box.
With trembling hands, she opened it.
Inside was an old diary.
A diary she recognized immediately.
Her breathing became uneven.
”No way…”
Just as she was about to open it, a voice came from outside.
”Madam Zimal!
The meeting is about to start!”
Startled, she quickly placed both the letter and the diary inside her bag.
”I’m coming!”
Taking a deep breath, she left her cabin.
Meanwhile…
Inside the meeting room.
Sahriar Sikander sat at the head of the table.
Everyone was discussing business matters.
But Sahriar wasn’t paying attention.
His thoughts were somewhere else.
How can I protect her?
Who is targeting her?
And why?
Suddenly—
Thud!
An elbow struck his side.
Sahriar looked beside him.
Ibrahim was glaring at him.
”Sir!”
”What?”
”I told you I’ll take care of Madam Zimal!”
”So focus on the meeting!”
Sahriar sighed.
”Fine.”
After the meeting ended, everyone left.
Soon, only Sahriar and Ibrahim remained in the office.
Ibrahim crossed his arms.
”So, Sir?”
”What?”
”What are you thinking?”
”Nothing.”
Ibrahim rolled his eyes.
”That’s a lie.”
Sahriar sighed.
”I know.”
A few moments later, Ibrahim suddenly stood up.
”Come on.”
Sahriar looked confused.
”Where?”
”You’ll see.”
A short while later, both of them were sitting inside Ibrahim’s car.
Sahriar looked outside.
”Can you finally tell me where we’re going?”
”No.”
”Ibrahim.”
”Just wait.”
Several minutes later, the car came to a stop.
Sahriar looked outside and froze.
”What is this?!”
In front of Zimal’s house stood over thirty armed bodyguards.
Ten CCTV cameras had been installed around the property.
Every corner was being monitored.
Ibrahim smiled proudly.
”Now do you trust me?”
Sahriar blinked.
”How did you arrange all this?”
”Sir, are you underestimating me?”
For the first time that day, Sahriar relaxed.
”Is she safe now?”
”Completely.”
”And the CCTV footage?”
”Connected directly to your phone.”
A small smile appeared on Sahriar’s face.
”Good.”
”So can we leave now?” Ibrahim asked.
”No.”
”What do you mean no?”
Sahriar cleared his throat.
”I mean…”
”What?”
”What if she’s still angry with me?”
Ibrahim stared at him.
Then he smacked his forehead dramatically.
”Oh my God!”
”What?”
”I told you to go home, not visit Madam Zimal!”
Sahriar coughed awkwardly.
”I was just asking.”
”Sure, Sir.
Sure.”
Just then—
”Sir?”
A familiar voice came from behind them.
Both men turned around.
Sahriar’s eyes widened.
”Zimal.”
Zimal looked surprised.
”Sir?
What are you doing here?”
Ibrahim immediately stepped forward.
”Madam Zimal!
We were just checking something.”
”Oh.”
A small smile appeared on her face.
”Then why are you standing outside?
Come in.”
Ibrahim looked at Sahriar.
Sahriar looked at Ibrahim.
Neither of them expected that invitation.
Finally, Zimal spoke again.
”Come inside.”
And this time…
Neither of them refused.
Sahriar Sikander’s gaze stopped on a framed photograph hanging on the wall.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied it.
”Who is this?” he asked, pointing toward the picture.
Zimal followed his gaze and looked at the frame.
The moment her eyes landed on it, her expression changed.
”It was taken years ago,” she replied softly.
The photograph showed a young Zimal standing beside a handsome young man.
Both of them were smiling brightly at the camera.
Sahriar’s jaw tightened unconsciously.
”Who is he?” he asked again, his voice calm but carrying a hint of curiosity.
Zimal hesitated for a moment before answering.
”A friend.”
”A friend?” Ibrahim repeated, trying to hide his smile.
”Just a friend,” Zimal said firmly.
Sahriar remained silent, but something about the picture bothered him.
He couldn’t explain why.
Ibrahim noticed the change in Sahriar’s expression and leaned closer to him.
”Sir, are you jealous?” he whispered.
Sahriar shot him a cold glare.
”Mind your own business.”
Ibrahim chuckled and stepped back.
Zimal walked toward the kitchen and returned a few moments later with drinks for both of them.
”Here.”
”Thank you,” Sahriar said.
As he took the glass, his eyes drifted once more toward the photograph.
For some reason, he didn’t like seeing another man standing beside Zimal.
Meanwhile, Zimal noticed his repeated glances toward the frame.
”Sir, why are you looking at it so much?” she asked.
”Nothing.”
”Doesn’t look like nothing.”
Sahriar cleared his throat and looked away.
Ibrahim struggled to hold back his laughter.
”Madam Zimal, please forgive him.
Our boss suddenly becomes very interested whenever your name is involved.”
”Ibrahim!” Sahriar warned.
”Okay, okay, I’m quiet.”
Zimal couldn’t help but smile slightly.
For the first time that evening, the tense atmosphere in the room became a little lighter.