AbrarAs I came back to the office reception, I saw Zoya coming inside. She had worn the purple suit today which she almost avoided for a month. She was looking simply beautiful as always. However, my sanity drags me out of the fantasies and forced me to look at the distress on her face. She was looking numb. I was sure that something happened after I left the apartment today. I decided not to ask anything about it right now. She said would tell me after the party. And there was no way I was ruining this moment for us.This day meant a lot to me. When I was planning to make the most important decision of our lives, she was going to tell me what the actual mysteries were? I felt nervous for a while. What if her fear turned out to be true? What if there was something actually wrong that I might not digest? But I trusted myself. My entire life was filled with agony and struggles. I was used to it. But it was Zoya.Ammi used to say that we never get hurt by those wh

 Abrar"Perfect", I said, looking at the beautiful ring glistening inside the box. I wondered how it would look in her thin finger. Would she love it? She would, I know. She loved the bracelet I gave her when she didn't even like wearing bracelets. "Thanks a lot""Here's your bill", the man passed me a memo. I looked at the numbers and couldn't believe I spent so much on this still, I wasn't having any regrets. It happened the first time to me.I paid him the amount and came out of the shop. It was dark all around. The party might have started. I had to rush. Mr. Ali would be disappointed with me if I made it too late. I walked to the nearby florist and brought a beautiful bouquet, red roses! I wanted to buy 223 roses since it had been 223 days since we met. So many days passed! However, I couldn't handle them right now and thought to give this surprise later.I hired an auto and left for the office.My heart was pounding faster. Just

ZoyaI pinned myself with the wall, my head becoming heavy. I knew the truth because it was I who did this. But never before did I feel like a culprit. When Irtaza spoke the truth, those words felt terrible and I sensed myself to be the worst girl in this world. I couldn't speak though I tried to force myself."Tell me, Zoya. I'm not wrong, right?", he walked towards me and came closer, so much that I could never imagine him to be. But I was out of courage to drive him away.He showed me a mirror.Abbu used to say, "we know what mistakes we have done. But we take them lightly. But when someone else shows us what we did, we become cowards to see the truth""Say it, Zoya. Didn't you?", his face was hell close to mine but I didn't dare to move. I was facing myself. The mirror which showed what I was and what I did. "There's no point of lying because I got to know everything about you and your so-called acts. Now, I'll just go and tell the

ZoyaEvery word coming out of his mouth was hurting me and pinching me like hell. He couldn't do this and I would not let him. I gulped down and tried to cry, holding the knob tightly."It's not your heart that's asking me to leave. Is it? I know you can't live without me. The way I can't. Please don't hurt yourself for me", I pressed my forehead against the door and cried out again.I had no explanation, no justification to give him for whatever I did. I was his culprit and all I could do was to plead to him."Please Abrar. I'm begging you. Talk to me once", I sobbed.He was silent again and I kept ranting and crying. The next moment, my body slid down and I gathered myself against the door. I want to be closer to him as much as possible. That was the only distance that made me feel he was there."Don't cry", his words came harsh but filled with concern and love. While whimpering I couldn't help smiling and brushing off the tears."I

 ZoyaMy eyes ached when I opened them and rolled them around. My breathing got faster when I found myself in the room. I clearly remembered that I was outside. It meant he brought me here?My lips curved into a smile, though the agony was still killing me. My back, my stomach, my hands, and legs, whole body ached as I tried to get up and look at the couch to find him.He was not there.My eyes drifted to the clock. It was still too early. He didn't wake up so early. I jumped off the bed and walked out of the room.My legs stopped near the table when I spotted him sleeping in the living room. He slept here, leaving me inside. He still maintained the distance I didn't want anymore. I felt happy when I woke up, but now sadness surrounded me again."Stop being selfish again, Zoya", I screamed at myself. "It's not about you now. It's about him. Stop victimizing yourself"I pushed my legs to walk near the couch where he was fa