Zaroon stepped out of Zimal’s hospital room and immediately noticed Sahriar Sikander standing alone in a corner of the corridor.
His hands were tucked into his pockets, and his expression remained as unreadable as ever.
Zaroon took a deep breath and walked toward him.
”You are too much,” Zaroon said, stopping in front of him.
Sahriar slowly turned around and raised an eyebrow.
”I’m what?”
”You can’t live without her, can you?” Zaroon replied.
“Because she has become important to you.”
Sahriar stared at him for a moment before speaking.
”Interesting.
I could say the same thing about you.”
A faint smile appeared on Zaroon’s face.
”What do you think?
She doesn’t even trust you completely.”
”That’s alright,” Sahriar answered calmly.
Zaroon shook his head.
”Let’s see how long that remains alright.”
Without waiting for a response, Zaroon walked away.
Sahriar remained standing in the corridor, his eyes fixed on the door of Zimal’s room.
That night, while Zimal slept peacefully inside her room, Sahriar stayed in the hospital for hours.
On the other hand, Zaroon went out to buy medicines and some essentials for her.
Just then, Sahriar’s phone rang.
It was Ibrahim.
”Sir, I need to discuss something important with you.
Can you spare a little time?”
Sahriar glanced toward Zimal’s room.
”Alright.
Come outside.”
A few minutes later, Sahriar left the hospital and met Ibrahim.
The next morning, Zimal was finally discharged from the hospital.
Zaroon entered her room with a smile.
”Let’s go.
You’re coming with me.”
Before Zimal could respond, Sahriar Sikander entered the room.
”No.
She’s coming with me.”
Zaroon frowned.
”Why?”
Before either of them could continue, Ibrahim stepped forward.
”Miss Zimal, we need to talk about something important.”
Zimal looked at Zaroon.
”It’s okay.
You can go.
I’ll meet you later.”
Reluctantly, Zaroon nodded and left.
A short while later, Zimal, Sahriar, and Ibrahim were sitting inside Sahriar’s car.
Zimal looked out of the window.
”Are we going to the office?”
”No,” Ibrahim replied.
“We’re going to Sir’s house.”
Zimal’s eyes widened.
”Oh…
okay.”
After nearly forty minutes, the car stopped in front of a massive villa.
The moment Zimal stepped out, her mouth fell open.
”Whoa…”
The mansion looked more like a royal palace than a house.
The architecture was breathtaking, the gardens were perfectly maintained, and everything around it reflected elegance and wealth.
Sahriar walked ahead.
”Come inside.”
Still amazed, Zimal followed him.
The interior was even more beautiful.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, expensive artwork decorated the walls, and the entire place felt luxurious.
”Sir,” Zimal said in disbelief, “is this really your house?”
”Yes.”
”It’s huge!
Why don’t you stay here more often?”
Sahriar ignored the question and led them toward his private sitting room.
Once everyone was seated, his expression turned serious.
”So,” he said, looking directly at Zimal, “what do you think about the person who attacked you?”
Zimal hesitated.
”Sir, we can’t call him a killer.
I’m still alive.”
Sahriar’s cold stare immediately made her stop talking.
The room fell silent.
Sahriar looked at Ibrahim.
”What did you find?”
”Nothing special, Sir.
But I think the man from the hospital and the man from the street are the same person.”
”No.”
Both men turned toward Zimal.
”Why do you think so?” Sahriar asked.
Zimal took a moment before answering.
”When I was attacked in the hospital, I noticed something.”
”What?”
”There was a tattoo on his arm.”
Ibrahim frowned.
”A tattoo?”
”Yes.
When I fell to the ground, he kicked me in the stomach.
Then he crouched beside me and said something, but I couldn’t hear it properly.
When he tried to leave, I grabbed his arm.”
She paused.
”That’s when I saw the tattoo.”
”And the second man?” Sahriar asked.
”The second man didn’t have one.”
The room became silent.
After several seconds, Sahriar finally spoke.
”Which means there are at least two people involved.”
Ibrahim nodded.
”That makes sense.”
”What about his voice?” Sahriar asked.
Zimal looked thoughtful.
”I feel like I’ve heard it before.”
”Where?”
”I’m not sure…
but maybe in the office.”
Ibrahim immediately sat up straight.
”If that’s true, then the person is close to you.”
”Very close,” Sahriar added.
A chill ran down Zimal’s spine.
The thought that someone around her might be watching her all the time was terrifying.
Sahriar leaned forward.
”Who do you think it is?”
”I don’t know.”
”If you don’t tell me everything you remember, how am I supposed to protect you?”
Zimal looked at him in surprise.
”Protect me?”
Sahriar didn’t answer.
Ibrahim smiled slightly.
”Please trust us, Miss Zimal.”
Zimal lowered her eyes and thought for a long moment.
Finally, she spoke.
”I think it might be Zawar.”
The room instantly grew tense.
Sahriar’s expression darkened.
”Zawar?”
”I’m not completely sure.”
Sahriar exchanged a glance with Ibrahim.
”We can’t ignore the possibility,” Ibrahim said.
“Whenever something happens to you, he somehow disappears or takes leave.”
Zimal looked uncomfortable.
”But maybe that’s just a coincidence.”
”Maybe,” Sahriar replied.
“Or maybe it isn’t.”
Silence filled the room once again.
For the first time, Zimal realized how serious the situation had become.
Someone was following her.
Someone was watching her.
And whoever that person was, they were closer than she had ever imagined.
Sahriar Sikander looked at Zimal for a moment before speaking.
”Don’t take too much tension.”
Zimal forced a small smile.
Then she remembered something.
”And Afifa?”
Ibrahim exchanged a glance with Sahriar.
”Maybe she’s still not okay.”
Zimal nodded slowly.
”Okay, bye.
I should go now.”
”We’ll drop you home,” Sahriar said immediately.
Zimal wanted to refuse, but seeing their serious expressions, she simply nodded.
”Okay.”
The three of them walked out of the room.
As Zimal passed through the hallway of the mansion, her eyes suddenly stopped on a large framed photograph hanging on the wall.
A young boy in a school uniform was standing beside a smiling woman.
For some reason, the boy looked familiar.
Zimal frowned.
Maybe I’ve seen him before…
Before she could think further, Ibrahim called her.
”Miss Zimal?”
She blinked and looked away from the picture.
”Coming.”
A few minutes later, they were sitting in the car.
The journey remained mostly silent.
Soon, the car stopped in front of Zimal’s house.
Zimal opened the door and stepped outside.
”Thank you, Sir.”
She was about to leave when a voice stopped her.
”Zimal.”
She turned around.
”Yes, Sir?”
For a moment, Sahriar simply looked at her.
Then he spoke softly.
”Take care of yourself.”
A strange warmth spread through her heart.
”Hmm.”
She smiled slightly and entered the house.
The moment she stepped inside, she froze.
Afifa was sitting on the floor beside the sofa.
Her eyes were red from crying.
”Afifa!”
Zimal hurried toward her.
”Are you okay?”
The moment Afifa saw her, fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
”You…”
Without finishing her sentence, she hugged Zimal tightly.
Zimal wrapped her arms around her friend.
”Hey…
why are you crying?”
”I’m sorry…”
Afifa sobbed.
”I’m really sorry.”
Zimal gently stroked her hair.
”You didn’t do anything.”
”But if something had happened to you—”
”Nothing happened.”
Afifa continued crying while Zimal tried to calm her down.
Just then, Zimal’s phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Zawar Calling…
Without thinking, she cut the call.
A few seconds later, the phone rang again.
Afifa looked at her.
”What happened?”
”I’ll tell you later.”
Zimal finally answered the call.
”Hello?”
”Why did you cut my call?” Zawar asked immediately.
”It was a mistake.”
There was a brief silence.
”Can we meet?”
Zimal hesitated.
Then she remembered the conversation she had with Sahriar and Ibrahim.
”Okay.”
”I’m outside your house.”
”What?”
Zimal quickly walked toward the window.
Sure enough, Zawar was standing outside.
”I’ll be there in a minute.”
She ended the call and looked at Afifa.
”I’ll be back soon.”
Afifa nodded.
”Okay.”
A few minutes later, Zimal came outside.
Zawar was waiting beside his car.
”You just got discharged from the hospital and you’re already going out.”
Zimal smiled.
”You called me.”
A guilty expression appeared on his face.
”Let’s go somewhere else and talk.”
”Hmm.”
They got into the car and drove toward a nearby restaurant.
After ordering coffee, silence settled between them.
Finally, Zawar spoke.
”I’m really sorry.”
”For what?”
”For not being there.”
Zimal looked at him carefully.
”Can I ask you something?”
”Of course.”
She hesitated.
Then she decided to ask.
”Why are you never around when I’m in danger?”
Zawar’s expression changed instantly.
”What?”
”I’m sorry.
Forget it.”
”No.”
His voice became serious.
”What do you mean by that?”
”Nothing.”
But Zimal couldn’t ignore the fact that every time something bad happened to her, Zawar somehow disappeared.
The thought refused to leave her mind.
At the same time…
Ibrahim’s phone rang.
It was Afifa.
”Hello?”
”Sir, are you okay now?” Afifa asked.
”Yes.”
There was a pause.
”Sir, if Zimal asks, tell her I’ve gone back home.”
”Wait.
Where is Zimal?”
”Zawar called her.”
Ibrahim immediately stood up.
”What?”
”I think they went somewhere together.”
The color drained from Ibrahim’s face.
”Okay.
Thank you.”
He ended the call and ran toward Sahriar.
”Sir!”
Sahriar looked up.
”What happened?”
”Zimal is with Zawar.”
The moment he heard those words, Sahriar’s expression darkened.
”What?”
”Afifa just told me.”
Without wasting another second, Sahriar grabbed his car keys.
They searched everywhere.
The restaurant.
The roads.
The office area.
Every place they could think of.
But Zimal was nowhere to be found.
Ibrahim looked worried.
”Sir, maybe she’s okay.”
But Sahriar couldn’t stop.
A strange fear had settled inside him.
For the first time in years, he felt helpless.
Late at night, Sahriar’s car stopped in front of Zimal’s house.
He stepped out and looked around.
Nothing.
No sign of her.
Just as he was about to leave—
A car stopped near the gate.
Ibrahim’s eyes widened.
”Sir!”
Sahriar immediately turned around.
The car door opened.
And Zimal stepped out.
Relief crashed through him so hard that he almost lost his breath.
”Miss Zimal!” Ibrahim exclaimed.
Before Zimal could understand what was happening, Sahriar rushed toward her.
The next second, he pulled her into his arms.
Zimal froze.
Sahriar held her tightly as if making sure she was really there.
His voice was low and shaken.
”Thank God…”
He slowly pulled back and looked at her.
”Are you okay?”
Zimal looked confused and pulled Sahriar Sikander back.
Zimal: “Sir, I’m okay.”
Sahriar Sikander: “Why aren’t you picking my calls?”
Zimal checked her phone and paused.
Zimal: “Oh… I’m sorry.
My phone was on silent.”
Sahriar Sikander: “When I told you not to go near Zawar, why did you still go?”
Zimal (frustrated): “Okay… not again.”
Ibrahim (from behind): “Miss, are you okay?”
Zimal: “Yes, I’m fine.”
Sahriar Sikander: “Alright, let’s go.”
Zimal: “What?”
Sahriar Sikander: “Go home.”
Zimal: “Hmm… okay.”
Zimal went back to her home.
Sahriar Sikander (softly): “That girl…”
Ibrahim: “Sir, shall we go?”
Sahriar Sikander: “Hmm.”
Ibrahim: “Okay, I’ll bring the car.”
Sahriar and Ibrahim got into the car and returned to the office.
Zimal: “Oh, like I’m her property?”
Afifa: “Maybe.”
Zimal: “What are you doing here?”
Afifa: “You weren’t picking my calls, so I came.”
Zimal: “Okay, now go.”
Afifa: “No, I’m not going.”
Zimal: “I need some rest.”
Afifa: “So what?”
Zimal: “Ahhh…”
Zimal lay down on her bed.
Afifa: “When are you going back to work?”
Zimal: “From tomorrow.”
Afifa: “Good.
And your wound, is it okay?”
Zimal: “Hmm…”
Afifa: “Why did you meet Zawar?”
Zimal: “Because he wanted to.”
Afifa: “Stupid.”
Zimal: “What?”
Afifa: “Is he…?”
Zimal: “No, no.”
Afifa: “Okay.”
Zimal: “Now get out of my room.”
Afifa: “Ahem…”
Afifa left the room.
Zimal lay on her bed, lost in thought.
Zimal (to herself): why he hug me like that .”What does he think, … stupid idiot…”
But her heart was beating fast.
Next Day
Zimal and Afifa got ready for work and came outside.
Sahriar Sikander was standing there.
Zimal: “Sir?”
Sahriar Sikander: “You’re coming with me.”
At that moment, Zaroon appeared.
Zaroon: “Go with me.”
Zimal: “What?”
Afifa whispered in Zimal’s ear: “…”
Zimal: “Whaaat…”
Zaroon: “Come.”
Sahriar looked at Zaroon sharply.
Sahriar Sikander: “Zimal, you come with me.”
Zimal: “No thanks, I can take a cab.”
Before she could move, Zaroon held her hand and took her toward the car.
Sahriar Sikander stood there silently, watching.
Afifa: “Sir, I can go with you.”
Sahriar Sikander: “Okay, sit.”
Zaroon had already taken Zimal away.
Inside the car, Sahriar sat in anger.
Afifa: “Sir… don’t you think Zaroon is doing too much?
Zimal doesn’t like this.”
Sahriar gave a faint, cold smile.
Sahriar Sikander: “That man is wasting his time.”
Afifa: “Sir… she also gets uncomfortable with you sometimes.”
Sahriar Sikander: “What?”
Afifa: “No, I mean… both of you are acting like this, and someone else might take her away.”
Sahriar raised his eyebrow.
Sahriar Sikander: “Who?
Zawar?”
Afifa: “Maybe…”
Sahriar Sikander: “No one can steal Zimal from me.”
Afifa: “Sir…”
Sahriar Sikander: “Enough.”
At the office, Ibrahim rushed toward him.
Ibrahim: “Sir, are you okay?”
Sahriar Sikander: “What do you think?”
That night, Sahriar couldn’t stop thinking about Zimal.
Shariar SIkander get out from office and reched zimal house,He went to her house and called her outside.
Zimal came out.
Zimal: “Sir, what are you doing here?”
Sahriar Sikander: “Why did you ignore me?”
Zimal: “Me?”
Sahriar Sikander: “This morning… you went with Zaroon.”
Zimal: “So?”
Sahriar Sikander: “So what?”
Zimal: “Sir, please don’t interfere in my personal life.”
Sahriar Sikander: “I…”
Zimal: “Sir, please.”
Sahriar Sikander: “Am I nothing to you?”
Zimal: “You are my ex-CEO, and I respect you.”
Sahriar Sikander: “And?”
Zimal: “And nothing.
We have no real relationship.
Thank you for everything you did for me, but now you don’t need to do anything.”
Sahriar Sikander: “Is this because Zaroon came back?”
Zimal: “Sir, it’s my personal matter.
Why are you involved?”
Sahriar Sikander: “Because I don’t like seeing you with him.”
Zimal: “Why?”
Sahriar Sikander (after a pause): “Because…”
Zimal: “Why?”
Sahriar Sikander: “Because I like you.”
Zimal froze… then suddenly ran back inside her house.
Sahriar stood there, then softly said:
Sahriar Sikander: “Finally…”