Next day Carol invites me for her floral shop inauguration. I decide to take Zoya with me there. It will be the perfect occasion to let my friends see her.I reach just on time to the address Carol texted me yesterday. Grabbing Zoya's hand in one, I hold the small, cute flower bouquet in my other hand that I have bought on the way for Carol.I step inside Carol's shop and look around. The smell of fresh flowers strikes my nostrils and I breathe deeply to inhale more of the fragrance. Different species of flowers are displayed on their respective racks. There is an array of greenery spread over vertically on the mint green walls with the multi-color fairy lights for the decoration. On my right, at some distance there is a cash counter and two padded, rolling chairs in front of it.Overall the place looks colorful and eye-refreshing. I would want to live in that scented environment all day. There isn't much crowd here because Carol has invited only few people for

Anger, horror and guilt pulse through my veins as soon as I storm inside the police headquarter. I move my eyes around and observe that no one in particular has paid attention to me or Zoya. All the constables are busy in their respective tasks. I put Zoya down from my arms and hold her hand.I amble forward and speak to the first policeman I encounter with. His eyes are glued to the computer screen in front. He's trying to stay awake, but his heavy eyelids are keep shutting down. Zoya stands beside me, observing her surroundings."There's a person inside the lockup named Ashar Hobsons. I filed the complaint against him." I begin speaking to get his attention."So?" He looks up at me with sleepy eyes."I want you to release him."He chuckles, "Come back tomorrow." He ruffles his buttercream blond hair lazily, "It's late.""Listen." I persist, "He has been in the lock up since three days on a false complaint. He is innocent."He rolls

When Zoya succumbs to sleep, I silently walk out of the room and see Ashar is sitting at the same chair, scrolling down his phone's screen.I walk to him and stand in front to get his attention. He looks up at me, placing his phone down on the table, "Did she sleep?""Why?"He lifts up his brows in confusion, rising on his feet."Why did you wait for me? Why you stayed in the lockup when you could come out of it?""Because," He rubs his temples, "I got angry on one of the cops because he kept provoking me so he got angrier and confiscated my phone and even locked me in a cell with real criminals to punish me.""What..." I trail off."I really had a horrible time there. You've no idea how impatiently I waited for you because you were the only one who knew where I could be." He exhales out a loud breath, "I'm tired now."I move my face to my side, trying to picture the scenarios that could have happen to him. Those criminals woul

A week later at my office, Derek and Laila are sitting with me on my desk to discuss the progress of Hobsons's assignment. Almost half of the work is finished and approved by Watson."The content is ready." Derek pronounces, looking at me."That's cool. It means the most difficult task is completed." I muse, nodding my head."Here is the list of all those companies who'll be interested in Hobson's gadget." Laila places the plastic file on my table.I'm about to grab that file, when I feel my phone begins vibrating in my jeans' pocket. I pull it out and see Ashar is calling. I exasperate, cut the call and put it back in my pocket.Since past week, I have been avoiding his calls. He tries to talk to me, but I shut him up through warnings and fury.I can't bear him anymore after his confessions. He can't just do as he pleases. First he annoys me to the highest level then expects me to go easy on him by listening to his mere sorrys."Let'

It's not easy. It's not easy to forget my dreadful past and start over. I'm scared, but seeing Ashar like this being generous and sugary has weakened me to be angry on him, to push him away, to tell him to stop his sweet torture on me. And the hurt I observe on his face every time I taunt him or reject him leaves me ashamed, especially when he do not react to my temperament and deal with me patiently, as if he understands my inner battles and fears, as if he can now finally understand my suffering. His love confession took me to another world and forced me to sink deep into the feeling that's once again has erupted in me.  But I'm not an impulsive and foolish teenager anymore so I won't take any decision thoughtlessly this time. I'm scared to fall in love again. I'm not certain if I would be able to survive another heartbreak or not. I'm not even sure if I want to try this marriage or not. Ashar and I are worlds apart and what he did to me back then, how