Zimal sat in her cabin, lost in thought, wondering what reply she should give to Zaroon.
”Are you okay?” Yahiya asked.
”Why?” Zimal looked up.
”I’ve called your name three times already.”
Zimal sighed lightly.
“Nothing.
I was just thinking.”
”Okay.” Yahiya placed a file on her desk.
“This is the file for a new client.
Review it, meet him, and ask what he wants for his project.”
”Okay.
When?”
”Tomorrow at 8:00 PM.”
”Fine.”
Just then, Zaroon appeared at the cabin door.
”Mr.
Yahiya, maybe you forgot that Miss Zimal is now a manager, not an employee like you.
This isn’t her job.”
Yahiya immediately straightened.
“Sorry, sir.
Sorry, Manager.”
”It’s okay,” Zimal said.
“I can handle it.”
Zaroon frowned.
“This is not your work.”
”I’ll do it.”
Before Zaroon could say anything else, Zimal picked up the file and walked away.
Zaroon watched her leave, his jaw tightening in frustration.
”That girl…” Zaroon muttered.
Yahiya looked confused.
”Sorry, sir.
I forgot.”
”Shift her cabin to the manager’s office floor,” Zaroon ordered.
”Okay, sir.”
Without saying another word, Zaroon walked away and entered his office.
A few minutes later, he pressed the intercom.
”Send Zimal to my office.”
Soon there was a knock on the door.
”Sir, may I come in?” Zimal asked.
”Come in.”
Zimal entered and stood in front of his desk.
Zaroon looked at her for a moment before speaking.
”You are my manager now, which means you will only handle my work.
Understand?”
Zimal frowned.
”Sir, please don’t mix our personal matters with office work—”
Before she could finish, Zaroon interrupted.
”This is an order.”
His voice was firm.
”And it’s not because I like you.”
For a second, something flashed across Zimal’s face, but it disappeared quickly.
”Okay, sir.”
She turned and left the office.
After finishing her work, Zimal packed her belongings and left the company before Zaroon came out of his office.
Outside, she found Zawar waiting beside his car.
”You’re here?” she asked.
Zawar smiled.
”Yes.
I wanted to see you.”
”Why?”
He raised an eyebrow.
”Can’t I?”
Zimal laughed softly.
”I was just asking.”
”Then stop asking and get in the car.”
A few minutes later, they were driving toward a restaurant.
After ordering dinner, they sat across from each other.
Zimal looked at him.
”So, what have you been doing these days?”
”Nothing special.”
”Why?”
Zawar smiled sadly.
”Because you’re not with me.”
Zimal froze for a second.
”Oh.”
An awkward silence settled between them.
Zawar took a deep breath.
”I actually wanted to tell you something.”
”Hmm?”
He opened his mouth, then closed it again.
”Nothing.”
Zimal looked at him suspiciously.
”You were definitely going to say something.”
Zawar chuckled nervously.
”Maybe another day.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Zimal leaned back in her chair and smiled.
For the first time that day, she felt relaxed.
Unfortunately, neither of them noticed the black car parked across the street.
And inside that car, someone was watching them carefully.
Zimal took a long breath and smiled.
After dinner, Zawar dropped her in front of her house.
”Good night, Zimal.”
”Good night.”
Zimal entered the house and threw herself onto the sofa.
”Ughhhh…”
”Hello.”
”Aaaaa!” Zimal jumped in shock.
Afifa burst out laughing.
”Oh God, you scared me!”
”You know I’ve been waiting for you,” Afifa said.
”I went to dinner with Zawar.”
Afifa’s smile faded slightly.
”Please don’t choose him.”
Zimal frowned.
”What do you mean?”
”Nothing.” Afifa quickly changed the subject.
“So, what did you reply?”
”Nothing.”
”Miss Manager.”
”Stop it.”
”Why?” Afifa grinned.
“Do you really not like Zaroon anymore?”
Zimal’s expression changed instantly.
”What do you mean?”
Afifa shrugged.
”I’m just asking.”
Zimal looked away.
”I only loved one person in my life.”
Afifa became serious.
”And he rejected me.”
Silence filled the room.
”Okay…” Afifa said softly.
“Why are you yelling?”
”I’m not yelling.”
”You are.”
Zimal groaned and covered her face with a cushion.
”What should I do?”
”What happened now?”
”Nothing.”
Then she sighed heavily.
”But I want to disappear.”
Afifa rolled her eyes dramatically.
”Then disappear.
What are you waiting for?”
The next second, a pillow hit her face.
”Stupid!” Zimal shouted.
”What?!” Afifa yelled.
Zimal laughed for the first time that evening.
A few minutes later, Afifa spoke again.
”Zimal.”
”Hmm?”
”Zimal.”
”What?”
”I want ice cream.”
”No.” This chapter is updated first at g.com.
”Please.”
”No.”
”Pleaseeeee.”
”I don’t have any.”
”But I want some.”
Zimal groaned.
”Fine!
I’ll buy it.”
Afifa immediately sat up.
”Really?”
”Yes.”
”You’re the best.”
”I know.”
”Go then.”
Zimal pointed a warning finger at her.
”Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.”
Afifa saluted dramatically.
”Yes, ma’am.”
A few minutes later, Zimal bought ice cream from a nearby shop.
As she walked home, she suddenly felt someone watching her.
Her steps slowed.
The street was unusually quiet.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
”If I keep running from my fears,” she whispered to herself, “I’ll never get out of this.”
She turned around.
A man dressed completely in black stood a few feet away.
His face was hidden beneath a black cap.
Zimal’s heart skipped a beat.
”Who are you?”
The man chuckled.
”Oh…
have you forgotten me already?”
Her eyes widened.
”The hospital…”
The man smiled.
”Yes.
The same person.”
Zimal took a step back.
”What do you want?”
”You.”
Fear spread through her body.
Without another word, she turned and ran.
The ice cream fell from her hand.
The man ran after her.
Zimal tried to scream.
Before she could, the man grabbed a metal rod and struck her head.
Pain exploded through her body.
She fell to the ground.
The world spun around her.
The man kicked her hard in the stomach.
”You bitch.”
Tears filled her eyes.
She tried to move.
Tried to fight.
But her body wouldn’t respond.
Everything became blurry.
Slowly, her eyes closed.
The man looked around nervously before running away.
Back at home, Afifa was getting impatient.
”That girl takes forever.”
She walked outside to look for Zimal.
A few streets away, she noticed a dropped ice cream on the ground.
Her heart sank.
”Zimal?”
She looked around.
”Zimal!”
No answer.
Then she saw a figure lying on the road.
Blood.
So much blood.
”ZIMAL!”
Afifa screamed and ran toward her.
Her hands trembled as she reached Zimal.
”Please wake up…”
Crying uncontrollably, she immediately called Sahriar Sikander.
”Hello?” he answered.
Afifa couldn’t speak.
She kept crying.
”Afifa?
What happened?”
Still no answer.
His voice became urgent.
”Afifa!
Tell me what happened!”
Finally she managed to speak.
”Zimal…”
Sahriar’s heart stopped.
”What happened to Zimal?”
”Blood…
there’s blood…”
Sahriar was already running toward his car.
”Where are you?”
”I’m behind Zimal’s house.”
The call ended.
Sahriar drove at full speed.
Within minutes he reached the location.
The moment he stepped out, his world shattered.
Zimal was lying motionless on the road.
Blood stained her hair and clothes.
Afifa sat beside her, crying helplessly.
”Zimal!”
Sahriar ran toward her and dropped to his knees.
His hands shook as he picked her up.
”Are you coming?” he asked Afifa.
She nodded weakly.
Sahriar placed Zimal in the back seat and drove straight to the hospital.
The entire journey, Afifa cried continuously.
”She’s going to be okay,” Sahriar kept repeating.
As if he was trying to convince himself.
At the hospital, doctors immediately rushed Zimal into the emergency room.
Hours later, she was shifted to the ICU.
Sahriar sat outside the room.
His hands were covered with her blood.
For the first time in years, tears rolled down his face.
Afifa sat nearby.
”This is all my fault.”
”It’s not,” Sahriar whispered.
Just then Ibrahim arrived.
”Sir.”
Sahriar looked at his hands.
”Look at this blood, Ibrahim.”
His voice broke.
”How can I not worry?”
Ibrahim had never seen Sahriar Sikander cry before.
”Sir, please stay strong.”
Sahriar closed his eyes.
”Take Afifa home.”
”I can’t leave!” Afifa cried.
”Please,” Ibrahim said gently.
After a long struggle, Ibrahim finally convinced her.
The corridor became silent.
Sahriar remained alone outside the ICU.
Then suddenly—
Footsteps echoed through the hallway.
A familiar figure appeared.
Zaroon.
His face was pale with fear.
He looked around desperately.
”Where is Zimal?”
Zaroon ran to Zimal’s room and froze when he saw her lying on the hospital bed.
Several drips were attached to her arm, doctors surrounded her, and an oxygen mask covered her face.
Unable to control himself, Zaroon dropped to the floor and burst into tears.
”Zimal…
Zimal…”
He called her name again and again.
On the other side of the room, Sahriar Sikander sat silently on a hospital bench.
It felt as if his world had stopped.
He couldn’t hear or see anything around him.
A few moments later, the doctor came out of the emergency room.
”Doctor!” Sahriar immediately stood up.
The doctor gave him a reassuring look.
”She is stable now, but she needs complete rest.”
Sahriar let out a deep breath of relief and cleared all the hospital bills before heading toward her room.
Before he could enter, Zaroon stopped him.
”What are you still doing here?”
Sahriar looked at him coldly.
”That’s none of your business.”
Zaroon clenched his fists.
”Zimal is my responsibility, so it is my business.
And what right do you have?
You don’t even have any relationship with her.”
A flash of anger crossed Sahriar’s eyes, but without saying another word, he turned around and walked out of the hospital.
Zaroon entered Zimal’s room and sat beside her bed.
A few minutes later, Zimal slowly opened her eyes.
”I’m awake…”
Zaroon immediately leaned forward.
”Are you okay?”
Zimal nodded weakly.
”Hmm…
How did I get to the hospital?
Did you bring me here?
Thank you…
I already owe you so much.”
Zaroon shook his head with a small smile.
”Don’t talk too much.
Just rest, okay?”
”Okay.”
Zaroon smiled softly at her.
Zimal returned the faint smile before resting her head on the pillow.
Within moments, she drifted back to sleep while Zaroon quietly watched over her.
At the same time, Sahriar Sikander sat in his office, his face dark with anger.
Ibrahim entered the room.
”Sir, I dropped Afifa at her home.”
Sahriar didn’t respond immediately.
His jaw tightened as he remembered Zaroon’s words.
”That man told me I have no relationship with Zimal.”
Ibrahim frowned.
”What?
Who said that?”
Sahriar leaned back in his chair.
”Zaroon.”
For a moment, silence filled the office.
Then Ibrahim spoke carefully.
”Sir, I think you should go to the hospital.
Zimal might be awake by now.”
Sahriar laughed bitterly.
”Why should I go?
Do I have any relationship with her?”
”Sir…”
”She is not my business.”
Ibrahim sighed.
”Okay, sir.”
After a few moments, Sahriar spoke again.
”You stay with her.”
Ibrahim blinked in surprise.
”But sir, I don’t have any relationship with her either.
Why me?”
”Shut up and do what I said.”
Ibrahim immediately straightened.
”Okay, sir.
I’ll stay there.”
A while later, Ibrahim returned to the hospital and entered Zimal’s room.
”Are you feeling better now?” he asked politely.
Zimal smiled softly.
”Thank you for coming.
I’m okay now.”
”Good to hear that.”
He glanced toward the door.
”You should rest.
I’ll sit outside.”
Zimal shook her head.
”You don’t need to.
Zaroon is already here with me.”
Ibrahim smiled awkwardly.
”That’s exactly why I’m here,” he muttered in his mind.
”No, it’s fine.
I can stay here for a while.
You just rest.”
”Okay.”
A few minutes later, Zaroon entered the room carrying lunch.
As soon as he noticed Ibrahim, he stopped.
”You?”
Zimal looked between them.
”You’re here.”
Zaroon’s expression hardened.
”What are you doing here?”
Without saying a word, Ibrahim stood up and quietly left the room.
Zimal frowned.
”He only came to check on my health.
Stop behaving like that.”
Zaroon crossed his arms.
”No one has the right to stay with you except me.”
”Shut up, Zaroon.”
”Okay, okay,” he said with a grin.
“But first, eat your lunch.”
Zimal rolled her eyes while Zaroon placed the food on the table beside her bed.
Zaroon sat beside Zimal as she quietly ate her lunch.
”You know,” he suddenly said, “you’re mine.”
Zimal almost choked on her food.
”What?”
Zaroon grinned.
”I mean, I’m the way I am today because of you.”
Zimal shook her head.
”Because of me?”
”Yes.
You’ve always been my reason to move forward.”
Zimal rolled her eyes.
”You’re impossible.”
Zaroon leaned back in his chair.
”And if Sahriar Sikander comes here again, kick him out.”
”Why?” Zimal frowned.
“He helped me a lot.”
”Maybe he did,” Zaroon replied, “but now I’m back.
You don’t need him anymore.”
Zimal narrowed her eyes.
”Why are you talking like that?”
Zaroon looked at her for a moment before answering honestly.
”Because I like you.”
Zimal groaned.
”Not this again.”
”Okay,” he laughed.
“But I still like you.
That’s your fate.”
Despite herself, Zimal smiled and continued eating.
Seeing her smile, Zaroon’s expression softened.
He gently placed his hand on top of her head and ruffled her hair.
Then he handed her a small piece of fruit.
Zimal blinked.
”What are you doing?”
At that exact moment, Sahriar Sikander arrived at the door.
His steps froze.
From where he stood, he saw Zaroon’s hand resting on Zimal’s head and the smile on her face.
For a second, something painful flashed through his eyes.
Without saying a word, he turned around and walked away.
Inside the room, neither of them noticed him.
Zimal immediately pushed Zaroon’s hand away.
”Take your hand off my head.”
Zaroon laughed.
”Okay, okay.”
But the smile slowly disappeared from his face as he glanced toward the door, unaware that Sahriar had just left with a heavy heart.