The sequences of her first accident, in which she was hit by a car, consumed my mind as I drove back home. Then the memory of the truck flashes. It is only by happenstance I was able to save her. She is going blank in those moments, no matter how smart or daring she is. For the next few minutes, she is out of her mind, and her brain-heart interaction appears to be frozen. She returned to normalcy only after the hug. Our hug. We hugged for the first time by accident, not on purpose. This is also an unintentional hug. But the thing is, none of us felt uncomfortable or weird, and it's not really what's depicted in romance movies; instead, it's pure comfort and tranquility. She has begun the mission of reuniting me with my family shortly after our first hug. When she sets her mind to anything, she is unconcerned about the outcome and is ready to give it her all.
Flashback:
Jazlaan's firm was a two-storey structure two kilometres from Mumbai's city centre. Saba serves on the company's board of directors. Their firm specialises in the export of electronic items.
She told the receptionist, "I want to meet Mrs. Saba Jazlaan."
"Madam, do you have an appointment?"
"No"
"Excuse me, but I'd like to know your good name."
"You can tell her I'm Mr. Shahrul's wife," she said.
Saba was told about it by the receptionist. Saba was not ready to see her; she was hurt and enraged that I had kept everything hidden from her.
'I don't want to meet you, but I'll annoy you by having you wait all day.'
Saba noticed she was patiently waiting. After five o'clock in the evening, Saba emerged from the cabin.
"Can you tell me your name?"
"Farhat"
"I have to leave right now. Come here at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning to meet me."
She had driven straight from Jazlaan's office to Shravya's dinner in the evening. I was not aware I woke her up the next morning, and she curled up with a pillow and rolled in the opposite direction to continue sleeping.
"It's already 8:15 am. Aren't you supposed to be in class today?"
She remembered Saba's words and prepared herself in fifteen minutes. Her usual radiance was missing on that particular day.
"I have to leave now. Please have your breakfast in a nearby hotel. Sorry"
"I'll do it. But you didn't eat breakfast at home yesterday, and now you're going to skip it today?"
"I'll get something from the university canteen."
I leaned forward to check the temperature on her forehead as she walked past slowly, which was abnormal. I was able to check on her despite her attempts to escape.
"Oi! You're not feeling well. Stay back and take a rest"
"No, I have to go today."
"You'll never give heed to what I'm saying. Fine. But, I will drop you off because you are unable to drive your scooty."
"The taxi has already arrived. Bye, I'm getting late."
I agreed half-heartedly.
At half-past nine o'clock, she approached the reception.
"Would you please tell Mrs. Saba that Mrs. Farhat has arrived?"
"I asked her to come by 9," Saba screamed at the receptionist. "Do you believe I'm always idle and workless? If she can wait, tell her to do so; otherwise, tell her to leave."
"I'll wait," she said, stumbling about for a seat because she was tired.
'She isn't ready to leave, no matter how long I make her wait,' Saba observed. 'Is Shahrul able to discover the appropriate partner for him? But if he had told me sooner, I would have joyfully married them; why lie to me that he is going for Singapore?'
"Hey Saba," Jazlaan said as he walked inside Saba's cabin. "So, what are you thinking now? Why are you keeping her waiting such a long time? Just have a conversation with her."
"I'm in love with this girl, and I'm awestruck. But right now, all I can think of is Shahrul's behaviour. He should not have lied to me and should not have stayed away from me."
"I understand"
"Let's talk to her. Please don't interrupt me while I'm speaking. Okay?"
He agreed, and they proceeded to walk towards her. She didn't notice them approaching her.
"Can you tell me what you want to talk about? We have more work to do." Saba stated angrily.
"Saba didi, the thing-" she slowly stood up.
"Didi? I'm not your sister."
"All right, ma'am. Sorry. I came here to discuss Shahrul."
"What?"
"It was not Shahrul ji's fault. I proposed marriage to him. If you're upset about it, you can punish me. He adores and esteems you tremendously. That's for you, I saw him cry for the first time. So please accept my request and deliver your rage and frustration at me rather than at him."
"Are you prepared to put up with my rage?"
"I'm ready," she said, shaking her head in agreement, but she was woozy.
"Then abandon Shahrul and his life for good."
Jazlaan was taken aback when he heard this
She was shocked, she couldn't control herself any longer, and she passed out on the sofa where she was sitting.
Saba and Jazlaan immediately took her. Saba attempted to rouse her. When water was splashed on her, she opened her eyes for a split second before losing consciousness again. Jazlaan dialed the doctor's number. Saba checked her phone and received a call from Shravya at the same time, so she invited them to their office. Saba became tense and worried about her.
"Shall I call Shahrul?" he inquired, to which Saba agreed.
"Jiju," I said cheerfully when I got a call from Jazlaan. "How are you? How are Didi and Sana?"
"Everything is fine. Saba wants to meet you right now, so come to the office."
"Saba didi isn't mad with me anymore?"
"Mm"
"I'll be there in ten minutes."
I walked in excitedly after parking my car in their lot. They were in the waiting area, according to the receptionist. I smiled at Jazlaan as I entered the waiting area, then my gaze drifted to Saba, who looked nervous.
"Didi. What went wrong? What's the matter with you?"
She gave me a sidelong glance and stepped aside a little. I shifted my gaze to the side, where I could see the doctor and Farha who was lying unconscious near him. Running towards her in concern, I attempted to wake her up.
"Don't bother the patient right now," the doctor instructed.
"Can you tell me what happened to her? Is she all right?"
He could tell I was tense by the tone of my voice.
"Wait a minute, Mr. It's not really a problem; she's just frail. All she has lost is her stamina and vitality. Simply keep an eye on her eating."
"Thank you very much, doctor. Isn't she going to be alright soon?" Saba inquired.
"Of course. Allow her to rest for a while."
Saba revealed all that had transpired to me after the doctor had departed. I inferred that she had skipped breakfast the day before and that food poisoning from yam was the cause of her illness. I was upset, but I couldn't decide whether I should be anxious about Saba for making her wait so long or about her for being so irresponsible with her health.
Miksha and Shravya had also arrived. She opened her eyes and was taken aback by the sight of us all.
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The most unexpected thing that has happened is that she was able to persuade my mother and successfully mend the gap in my mother's connection with me. Saba and I are still baffled as to how she did it. She possesses significant power. Despite her icy demeanour toward me, the immense delight of saving her is enough to keep me awake tonight.
I'm walking to my cabin the next morning and she's already there. I can hear her talking on the phone to someone
"I'm fine. How about you?"
I'm unable to hear the other person on the other end of the line.
She smiles, "Good. Tell me, Sher"
I walk in via the cabin door. I believe she's talking to her best friend, Sheraz, so I stroll over to my place, where she notices me and hastily turns away.
There's a long pause; they don't appear to be having their regular cheerful conversation. All I can deduce from her responses and quietness is that there is a serious or upsetting talk going on. My complete attention is on her, even though I am staring at my computer. I don't typically listen in, but when I see her upset, especially with Sheraz, I can't work peacefully.
"Please Sher. Let's not go there. At least, you make an effort to understand me," she replies gently.
Then there's a brief pause, and she becomes visibly more upset.
"Sher… Sher…"
But he has cut the call.
She calls him several times, but he rejects. She is on the verge of breaking; she exits the cabin, possibly towards the restroom.
What did he say? What was the source of her distress? Why was he upset with her? I'm not sure, but I couldn't imagine a schism between them; whatever is going on between them, I hope they mend soon. I pray.
I would have enjoyed a day with Sheraz if the neighbor's drama hadn't occurred that day. He's a really cool guy, and we get along really well.
Flashback:
She was dozing off on the couch in the living room. I attempted to rouse her.
"Please let me sleep; it's Sunday," she begged.
When I was getting ready to leave, I asked her to lock the door. Unsatisfied with her response, I said, "I am locking the house, you have the key, right?"
"Mm"
The doorbell rang fifteen minutes after I'd left.
"He just left after locking it; he can open it himself; why bother ringing the bell?" she murmured as she approached the door.
When she opened the door, she discovered that no one was there. She came out to double-check, then decided to return to the residence. He yelled behind her, causing her to jerk. Hearing this, the neighbours came out.
"Sher?" she asked, turning around. Her face sparkled with delight and surprise.
"Look at your face, aren't you horrified?"
"You're seriously stupid. Who would do something like this in the morning, I was half asleep, and you robbed me of my sleep?"
"Are you going to make me stand out like this and question?" he laughed.
"I'm sorry. Please come in, sir. Actually, Shahrul has just left."
They came in laughing at each other, and she closed the door as usual, oblivious to the neighbours staring at them.
"He would have stayed back if you had arrived a few minutes earlier." Not a problem. Sit down; I'll be right back."
She returned from her shower wearing a purple salwar kameez
"Would you like tea before breakfast?"
"Tea? You don't like to do that."
"Fate. You're my guest today, and it's my moral responsibility to look after you. You've also traveled a long distance from Coimbatore to Mumbai to meet with me. That's the only reason, boss."
"Wow, Ms. Farhat, I'm impressed. Oh no! Mrs. Farhat. Then I'd like to have a ginger tea."
She gave him tea and went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
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