The car sped down the highway, a blur of asphalt and passing scenery. Muiz, a whirlwind of energy, bounced in his seat, bombarding Shahana with questions. "What's that big thing?" he'd ask, pointing at a distant wind turbine. Shahana, her voice gentle as the breeze whispering through green fields, explained each landmark, patiently expanding his young mind.Azlan, at the wheel, was a study in patience. He pretended indifference, a mask stretched tight over his features. However, his eyes continually moved to the rearview mirror, betraying him. Their eyes met once. Shahana's, a carefully constructed mask, held no hint of emotion. But in Azlan's eyes, a storm raged. Reproach battled with resentment, a wordless appeal for a flicker of regret in Shahana's eyes. Defeated, he looked away, the silence in the car growing heavier, thick with unspoken words and the rhythmic whoosh of wind against the windows.Azlan's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. The frustration gnawing at him mirrored the emptiness in his stomach. He hadn't eaten breakfast, and the silence in the car was a growing ache. Pulling into a roadside eatery, he hoped a break might ease the tension.Muiz, lulled by the rhythmic hum of the car, had drifted off to sleep. Azlan gently scooped him up, his anger momentarily eclipsed by his nephew's weight in his arms. Shahana followed silently, a ghost in the passenger seat.He ordered food, a silent offering on the table. Muiz was awake now.Flatbread and omelet for himself, a familiar comfort. Fried chicken for Muiz. And the samosa, a memory on a plate.Shahana refused them all, her gaze fixed on a point beyond the window. Silently, she began feeding Muiz, a small act of defiance in the face of the storm brewing between them."Why don't you eat?" Azlan finally asked, his voice taut with frustration.Some habits are deeply ingrained. Incredibly stubborn. They cling on, despite one's best efforts to shake them off. Azlan was no exception. And among Azlan Samiul Amin's worst habits was his unwavering concern for Shahana Parvin. This habit had been with him since childhood. Even after Shahana's demeanor changed, even after she began veiling herself from non-mahram men, Azlan never ceased to care for her. Even when he went to America, he held onto this habit. And after marrying Shahana, this habit only intensified. Now, as their relationship teetered on the brink of collapse, on the verge of breaking apart, Azlan Samiul Amin couldn't let go of looking after Shahana Parvin."Not hungry," Shahana replied, her voice a flat echo.Azlan wanted to lash out, to break through the mask she wore. But the sight of Muiz, nestled in her lap, held him back. He forced himself to remain silent. Later, as they packed the leftovers, a bitter comment escaped his lips."I'm not your driver. Sit in the front with Muiz."Shahana followed silently.The journey stretched on, a seemingly endless ribbon of asphalt. Muiz slipped back into sleep, leaving Azlan and Shahana in a suffocating silence. Shahana stared out the window, her face an unreadable map. Azlan, a storm of emotions brewing beneath the surface, gripped the steering wheel tighter.Suddenly, the car lurched to a halt. Shahana whipped her head around, startled. Azlan was also startled. He came out of the car. His face etched with surprise and frustration, popped the hood. A deep crease formed on his forehead as he surveyed the engine.They were stranded. A dense jungle swallowed them on either side of the highway. Azlan pulled out his phone, his hope dwindling as he saw the dreaded symbol – no signal. He took a deep breath, the weight of the situation settling on him. He approached the passenger side and tapped on the window.Shahana rolled it down, a question hanging in the air. "There's a problem with the car," Azlan said, his voice strained. "Stay here with Muiz. I'll find help." Shahana nodded and leaned against the car. This journey reminded her of a beautiful memory. A memory that once filled her heart with warmth was now, painful.Shahana squeezed her eyes shut, but the image remained, sharp and unyielding: A smiling Azlan. His eyes were so different back then. Filled with bright colors of life and a sea of love for her. Free from every grudge. Free from every hatred.Shahana felt a familiar ache bloom in her chest, memories, like a swarm of angry bees, buzzing in her head. Memories are so strange !!! Once beautiful memories, the source of love.The carefully constructed dam within her threatened to burst, unleashing a torrent of emotions she'd buried deep.Azlan returned with a mechanic, his face etched with frustration. The car, it seemed, needed a garage, and the only good thing was they were very close to the village. Soon, they were walking along the unpaved village path.Muiz, his face alight with joy, skipped ahead, peppering Shahana and Azlan with questions about every tree and bird they encountered. He bounced between them, his laughter a stark contrast to the heavy silence that hung between Azlan and Shahana. Their gazes met briefly, a spark of something unreadable flickering in Shahana's eyes before she looked away, the silence deafening.The wind picked up, whipping at Shahana's veil, mirroring the turmoil within. A low rumble echoed in the distance, a warning growl from the approaching storm. The sky, once a clear blue, was now bruised with ominous grey clouds.Suddenly, the first drops of rain fell, fat and heavy. They scrambled for shelter under a nearby tree, but it offered little protection. Soon, the rain was coming down in sheets, soaking them to the bone."I don't know why I came here today," Azlan blurted out, his voice raw with frustration.Shahana's response was a sharp retort. "Who said to come?" she taunted, her voice laced with a bitterness that had been simmering for a long time.Azlan bristled. "Dad said so. Otherwise, I had no interest in this trip.""Get us a rickshaw," Shahana snapped. "I can take care of the rest with Muiz. You can go back.""Don't tell me what to do," Azlan countered, his jaw clenched.Shahana turned away, a silent storm brewing behind her tear-filled eyes. Muiz, oblivious to the tension, splashed in the puddles, his shoes turning a muddy brown."Oh no, Muiz, what have you done, dear? Look, you've spoiled your shoes," Shahana said affectionately."Don't worry, I will wash them in the rain," Muiz immediately suggested."How easily she talks to everyone else," Azlan thought bitterly. "But with me, it's like she's chewing on chillies."He couldn't stop his heart from aching for her, even after the wounds she had inflicted. But the memory of those wounds fueled a fresh wave of anger. How could he still love this woman?Just as his frustration threatened to boil over, a figure emerged from a nearby house. The storm had driven them inside, but someone had spotted the stranded trio."What happened, sir? Why are you standing in the rain? Come inside!" the man beckoned.Azlan hesitated, but seeing the relentless downpour, he picked up Muiz and followed the man. Shahana trailed behind, clutching her handbag, while the man insisted on carrying their luggage despite Azlan's protests."Where are you headed?" the man inquired."Humayun Villa," Azlan replied."Humayun Villa... Oh...Master Humayun Akram's home. We know him well," the man said with a smile.Shahana's voice, barely a whisper, answered him. "I am his granddaughter.""Really? You're Master Humayun's granddaughter?" The man's eyes widened in surprise. "Then you and your family are our honored guests as well!" He cast a curious glance at Azlan. Though he'd assumed Azlan was Shahana's husband, a flicker of doubt sparked in his eyes.Azlan met his gaze. "I am her husband," he finally managed, the words scraping against his throat.A jolt of something akin to surprise flickered across Shahana's eyes before she schooled her expression. Her own heart hammered a chaotic counterpoint to his.The man boomed a welcome announcement as they entered the house's courtyard. "Master Humayun's granddaughter has arrived from the city with her husband and son! They are our esteemed guests today. Let there be no lack in their hospitality!"The warmth in the man's voice contrasted sharply with the icy distance between Shahana and Azlan. Azlan and Muiz were ushered into the drawing room, while Shahana was shown to a bedroom by two kind-faced women.The room was a pleasant surprise – a well-maintained space in a single-story brick house, complete with an attached washroom. As the afternoon call to prayer, Johar, echoed through the village, Shahana found solace in her ablutions and prayers.A soft knock startled her from her reverie. It was Muiz, his eyes sparkling with excitement. The city boy had become a star attraction among the village children, his initial shyness melting away as they welcomed him with open arms and playful banter."Mami, this is amazing!" he exclaimed, a wide grin splitting his face. "They have chickens and chicks, even ducks! Mami, have you ever seen a duck walk?"Muiz's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper as he mimicked a duck's gait, waddling forward with a comical pout and quacking sounds escaping his tongue – "Pak...pak..."A genuine smile, long absent, touched Shahana's lips. The sight of Muiz's unbridled joy brought a flicker of warmth to her heart."Are you having fun here, my love?" she asked, pulling him close and gently stroking his hair."The best! This place is so much fun," Muiz chirped, his eyes wide with wonder.Just then, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile entered the room. "Haven't changed yet, dear? This storm won't be ending anytime soon. Why don't you all stay here tonight? You can leave for the city tomorrow when the weather clears up.""Really? We're going to stay here today?" Muiz asked excitedly.The woman had left after saying that. But Shahana was in a dilemma. Just then, Azlan entered through the door."We'll have to stay here today. We can't travel in this storm."Shahana nodded silently.Azlan had probably come to say this and then leave. Muiz's happiness knew no bounds. He ran back to those curious children. Those children had said that when a hen lays an egg, a baby will hatch. And Muiz couldn't believe his ears. After all, both hens and eggs come from supermarkets. So, out of curiosity, Muiz went with them.Shahana stood by the window for a while, looking out. The sky was now completely covered with dark clouds. Even in the afternoon, it felt like night. She went to the window and closed it.Then she took out a salwar suit from her bag and went into the bathroom. After changing her clothes, she came back to the room. Her hair was wet from the rain. She stood in front of the mirror and started drying her hair.Just then, there was a knock on the door. And, Azlan entered the room. His eyes immediately fell on Shahana and he stood rooted to his spot. There, bathed in the soft light, stood Shahana. A bittersweet pang of love shot through him, a poignant reminder of what they once shared. Memories flooded back – stolen glances, whispered secrets, the warmth of her hand in his.Some loves are such that they make you feel absolutely helpless and weak. Azlan's love was perhaps like that. Even after Shahana had repeatedly hurt him, he still felt helpless in front of her. His love for her never ceased to exist. No matter how many times, he told himself that he should hate her, he just couldn't. He only distanced himself from her thinking in this way, he would be free from her memories. His heart would be free from her clutches. but, it never happened.Shahana, who was looking at her reflection, met Azlan's eyes. He was also looking at her reflection. He wasn't just looking at her; he was seeing her, truly seeing her, and the intensity of that gaze sent a jolt through her.What was not there in his eyes? Love, pain, desire, complaints... There were so many emotions in his dark brown eyes. For a moment, Shahana's heart beat faster. But, in the very next moment, Shahana looked away. And once again, Azlan felt as if someone had clenched his heart, squeezing it until it was crushed completely.