Chapter 100: Where Is Your Ring?

"Shhh Amna. Keep quiet. You know, there was no other way out for me. Just a blind alley

was what I got left with, and I had no path except to follow that blind alley to the end. It had

to happen one way or another. If I wanted you alive, then there was no option left for me

but just that. In the end, I knew I would have to opt for it. Time was short. You were at

death's door. You know how your treatment is still going on, Amna? Because of that money.

Otherwise, you too would have left me just like everyone in my life did. You are not the one

at fault for this, Amna. This was supposed to happen. It was my fate," Sheharzaad tried to

console her. "There was no other way I could get money in such a short time. And even if we

had gotten that debt, it would have taken us a lifetime to repay it. So don't cry. I accepted

this as my fate. I wasn't forced. It was my choice. But what I didn't expect was his interest

growing for me."

Amna's cheeks had gotten wet with tears by now. "I wish I could have died instead."

Sheharzaad was expecting such words from Amna. She cleaned the tear from her face. Amna

has always been like that. She always self blamed herself.

Then what about me? What about me, Amna?" Sheharzaad turned Amna's face towards her.

"I know you're guilty. I know you don't feel good. But I prefer that pain instead of going

through the same pain of losing a loved one. What about me, if you've died? What about me

if I'd left you on that deathbed? Where would I have gone? My life would have been nothing

but striking my head against these four walls. The only family I have is you."

"You don't understand, Sheharzaad. It kills me to know this, that you've had to spend a night

with someone just to save my life. I feel like I'm nothing but a useless weight placed on

everybody's shoulder. I feel as if my existence is so useless. I feel so useless. I know you are

my friend. Rather, a sister. But every breath I take reminds me of what you did. It feels

heavy on my heart. I do owe you. It increases the burden on my heart. I wish I could return

the favor because with such a great favor, I can't live. My life has become a burden on me

since the moment of truth."

"Amna? Amna, please. Everything will get alright once we move away from here. You don't

need to think of me like that. Do you remember the moment we became friends? When you

saved my life from that psychopath in our university? Don't think that way. I just returned

your favor."

Amna rubbed her hand on her chest. "Thank you," was all she could say, yet the burden in

her heart didn't lessen. "You're very strong, Zaad."

Zaad.

His grey eyes flashed in her mind.

....

As if luck was on her side, the next day she received his call to come to the office as he

wanted details of certain files. She agreed and tried to show her hesitance, yet from inside,

the case was different. This was the first time she was looking forward to meeting him. Not

him, particularly—she wanted to be in his office and that too without him.

After getting ready, she called a taxi, reached the company, and then reached the door to his

office. The hesitance in her steps was still there. She fixed herself, cleared her throat, and

then stared at the door. Forming a fist, she at last knocked and heard his permission.

"Assalam alaikum," she muttered upon entering. Her hands held each other as she fidgeted

with her fingers.

"Wsalam," he replied to her.

Her chest constricted in that moment. Her face began to turn pale. Her limbs were shaking

as realization hit her hard.

The ring.

She wasn't wearing her ring.

Her throat bobbed as she quickly tucked her hand behind her back.

"What happened?" he asked, noticing her changed demeanor.

"Nothing. I-I just feel nauseous," It was the truth. Upon not noticing the ring around her

finger, the first thing that hit her was nausea.

His eyes narrowed as he leaned forward on the table, lacing both his elbows. She could feel

her breath getting stuck in her throat.

"Sit," he said before taking the pen from the table and swirling it between his fingers. His

grey eyes were on the pen, so it calmed her a little as she jolted her feet and propelled

forward towards the chair, sitting in front of him. She sincerely hoped he couldn't see her

hands.

The last time she was without his ring, she was thrown off a building. She didn't want him to

test that. Sweat began to accumulate around her upper lip, and she instinctively moved her

hand to clear it with the tissue that she had fisted in her palm.

"Sheharzaad," he said, and she lifted her lashes to look at him.

"Yes?"

"You seem off." This time, his eyes, which had been on the pen, moved from it towards her

and locked with hers.

Sheharzaad could feel her eyes getting slightly widened. "No," the word came out as a

whimper. His eyes were doing their job perfectly. Despite her being seated, her knees began

to buckle.

"No," she said, clearly.

"Okay. Bring me the files that I asked for," he told her and then leaned back in his chair. The

tick-tick sound was produced in the silent atmosphere as he pushed in and out the thrusting

device of the pen, making the nib appear and disappear.

"Okay," she said and stood up from the chair, looking at him, moved to her left, and was

about to turn around when her ears caught his voice.

"Where is your ring?" he questioned.