The Growing Distance
The days that followed their tense conversation felt like a slow, unraveling thread in Alina's life. Though Aariz had assured her that Layla was just a colleague, nothing more, Alina couldn't shake the gnawing feeling that something was fundamentally shifting between them.
Where their evenings once brimmed with warmth and familiarity, now there was a coldness that neither of them addressed. The silences were longer, more uncomfortable. Conversations felt like tasks to be checked off a list. And though Aariz was physically present, his mind was often somewhere else—wrapped in work, in meetings, in conversations she wasn't a part of.
Alina wanted to confront him again, to ask him outright if he was hiding something. But each time she tried, Aariz deflected her questions with vague reassurances. "It's just a busy time at the office," he'd say, "You're overthinking it."
Perhaps he was right. Maybe it was just the stress of his job, or maybe she was being overly suspicious. But the nagging doubt lingered in her heart, casting a shadow over everything.
---
Alina's Escape Into Work
To cope with the growing tension at home, Alina threw herself into her own work. Her fashion brand had been doing well, but now she worked even harder, taking on more projects and responsibilities. Designing became her escape, a way to channel her emotions into something creative. The office, which had always been a place of inspiration, became her refuge.
Her employees noticed the shift. Alina, usually composed and patient, had become more intense, her drive pushing her to spend long hours at the office. She couldn't stand the thought of going home to the silence that now filled her house.
Despite the unease in her personal life, Alina's brand flourished. She was recognized in industry magazines, invited to exclusive events, and hailed as one of the top young designers in the country. But no amount of professional success could fill the growing void in her heart.
---
Introducing Zain
During one of those long work nights, Alina received a call from someone she hadn't heard from in years—Zain.
Zain Mirza had been a close friend from her college days. They had shared the same circle of friends, and he had always been there for her during tough times. What Alina didn't know, at least not back then, was that Zain had harbored feelings for her. He had watched from the sidelines as she fell in love with Aariz, never revealing his own heart.
Now, years later, Zain was still single, working as a successful lawyer in a prestigious firm. He had heard about Alina's success and wanted to reconnect.
"Alina! It's been too long," his voice boomed over the phone, as warm and friendly as she remembered.
"Zain?" Alina was surprised, pleasantly so. "Oh my God, it has been ages. How are you?"
"I'm good. Better now that I've heard your voice," he said, his tone light but laced with the same old warmth. "I've been meaning to reach out for a while. I've been following your work—you're killing it!"
They caught up on old memories, laughing about the past, but Zain could sense the underlying heaviness in Alina's voice. When the laughter died down, there was a brief pause before he asked, "Is everything okay with you, though?"
Alina hesitated. She hadn't talked to anyone about what was going on with Aariz, not even her closest friends. But something about Zain's tone, his familiarity, made her want to open up.
---
Confiding in Zain
"Honestly, Zain, things have been... difficult," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "Aariz and I... we're going through something. I don't know what it is exactly, but it feels like we're growing apart."
Zain listened carefully, not interrupting her as she laid out her worries—the late nights, the emotional distance, the creeping presence of Layla. He didn't say much at first, just let her talk, and Alina felt a strange sense of relief wash over her. It felt good to get everything off her chest.
"Alina, I've known you for years," Zain said after a long pause. "You're not the type to overthink things without reason. If you're feeling like something is wrong, maybe there is."
"But Aariz swears there's nothing going on," Alina replied, her voice heavy with uncertainty. "He says I'm overreacting, that it's just work."
Zain sighed. "Sometimes men don't realize the damage they're doing until it's too late. And sometimes... they don't want to admit it."
His words echoed in her mind, offering a perspective she hadn't fully considered. Alina appreciated Zain's honesty, and as the conversation wound down, she realized how much she had missed having someone to confide in. Zain promised to check in more often, and Alina found herself grateful for the reconnection.
---
Aariz's Increasing Absence
The weeks that followed only worsened the distance between Alina and Aariz. His late nights became more frequent, and the emotional chasm between them grew wider. Alina had tried everything to reconnect with him—planning surprise dinners, suggesting weekend getaways, even offering to visit him at work. But each attempt was met with polite excuses or outright dismissal.
"We'll go on that trip next month, I promise," Aariz had said one evening as he packed his suitcase for yet another business trip. "I'm just swamped right now."
Alina stood in the doorway of their bedroom, watching him pack, her heart heavy with a mixture of sadness and frustration. She had heard those promises before, and each time, they felt emptier.
"Aariz, are we okay?" she asked quietly, her voice almost a whisper.
He paused, glancing at her, but his expression was unreadable. "Of course we are, Alina. It's just a busy season."
But Alina couldn't shake the feeling that 'busy' had become Aariz's way of avoiding her, of avoiding the truth.
---
Zain's Role
True to his word, Zain stayed in touch. They met for coffee occasionally, and each time, Alina felt a strange sense of comfort in his presence. Zain never pushed, never crossed any boundaries. He was simply there for her, offering support without asking for anything in return.
Though Zain's feelings for Alina had never fully disappeared, he respected her marriage too much to ever act on them. But as he watched her struggle, it pained him to see the woman he once loved so deeply hurting. Quietly, without saying it out loud, Zain vowed to be there for Alina—whether as a friend or something more if her marriage truly fell apart.
---
Cliffhanger Ending
One evening, after another long day at work, Alina sat on the couch, staring at her phone. Aariz hadn't called or messaged her all day, and her heart was heavy with a growing sense of dread. She knew something was wrong—knew it in her bones.
Just as she was about to call him, her phone buzzed with a message.
It was from Aariz.
"I need to talk to you tonight. I'm on my way home."
Alina's heart dropped.