After Zayn and Faqair left, Inaya layed in her hospital bed, her gaze fixed on the window. A faint smile lingered on her lips as she replayed the earlier moment in her mind — Faqair's clumsy attempt to help, the way he had bumped into the tray, and how it had fallen with a loud clatter. The memory drew a quiet laugh out of her.
The door creaked open, and Meher stepped in, her arms crossed and a teasing glint in her eyes.
"So… your new friend made you that happy?" she said, raising an eyebrow.
Inaya blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Umm… no, it's not like that. I just… found him cute."
Meher smirked. "Ohhh, so?"
"So?" Inaya repeated, confused.
"So… it looks like someone won't be single for long."
Inaya rolled her eyes. "First of all, I just said he's cute. That's it. I'm not interested. And second—I haven't even broken up with Nabeel yet."
Meher's expression changed instantly. "Wait, what? You're still not done with that bastard?"
"No, I am," Inaya replied, her voice calm but deliberate. "I just don't want it to be boring. The breakup should be… grand."
A devilish smile curved on her lips. Whatever she was planning, it clearly amused her. Meher wasn't sure what that expression meant, but something in it told her not to worry. She sighed, deciding to let it go.
"Can you please cut an apple for me?" Inaya asked, her tone soft but playful.
Meher gave a dramatic groan. "Well, it's your turn for some princess treatment, so how could I say no?"
Rolling up her sleeves, she reached for the fruit basket she had brought earlier and picked out a shiny apple along with a small knife.
"Still trying to look cool while helping me?" Inaya teased.
"Obviously," Meher said with a grin.
Just then, Meher's phone began to ring. She glanced at it but her hands were full, the apple half-peeled.
"Can you pick it up and put it on speaker?" she asked.
"Sure."
Inaya tapped the answer button and set the phone on the bedside table. A man's voice came through the speaker.
"Hello?"
Meher froze for a moment, recognizing the voice immediately. Her cheerful expression vanished. "Yes. Speak," she said in a clipped tone.
"I looked into Zoya," the man reported. "Her mom's been sick lately. That's probably why she's been acting off."
Meher's movements stilled. "What happened to her?"
"She needed surgery," he replied. "But Zoya's short on money."
Meher frowned. "What? I just paid everyone. Even raised salaries. Isn't that enough?"
"We're all happy with our pay, ma'am," the man said carefully. "But… Zoya had a habit of blowing her money on branded stuff. By the time her mom got sick, she didn't have much left."
Meher resumed slicing the apple, her expression unreadable. "Alright," she said after a moment. "I'll transfer some money to your account. Give it to her and tell her it's a bonus. Say everyone's getting it."
"Got it."
The call ended, and silence settled in the room.
Inaya turned to her with raised brows. "You have a spy in your own company?"
"Yeah," Meher admitted easily. "Zoya's been acting strange and skipping work. I had to find out what's going on."
Inaya studied her quietly for a few seconds. "You remember what she did to you in college… when you were alone in that foreign country?"
Meher didn't flinch. "That's why I keep my distance," she said calmly. "But her mother… her mother didn't do anything wrong. Ignoring someone who's suffering—that's not who I want to be."
A small smile touched Inaya's lips, her eyes soft with admiration. "You…" she began, but before she could finish, Meher handed her the plate of apple slices.
"Eat," Meher said simply, taking the phone from her hand.
Inaya smiled in defeat. "Okay, as you wish. Just… be careful. Don't fall for her tricks."
"I won't," Meher replied, her voice firm.
She quickly transferred the money and made another call, her tone all business. "I've sent the amount. Handle everything today."
"Will do, ma'am."
When the call ended, Meher's serious demeanor melted into a mischievous grin. She plucked a slice of apple from the plate.
Inaya looked surprised. "Wait, you don't even like apples."
"If it annoys you," Meher said with a teasing smile, "I love them."
Inaya laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
To be continued...