Hearing his words, Hooreen felt anger along with helplessness. Gathering all her courage, she spoke:
"To... whom... will I... keep... giving... explanations? Everyone... will... call... me... wrong."
"Why do you care about the world? And while I am here, no one can call you wrong,"
He spoke in a serious tone. Hooreen spoke again:
"Look... please... not... now... I will do whatever you say. But please, let everyone remain unaware for now."
Inadvertently, she said what she hadn't wanted to say.
"Think about it..."
Kayan said, looking at her with great interest.
Nothing could be done now; she had already spoken and couldn't take her words back.
"Yes, I've thought about it,"
She spoke in a low voice with her head bowed. Her heart was thumping loudly, wondering what Kayan would say now. Thousands of thoughts were swirling in her mind.
"Fine. Whenever I call, wherever I call, as many times as I want to call, you will leave everything and come to me."
Hearing Kayan's words, while she felt relief, she also fell into a conflict, and in that conflict, she began biting her lips again.
"This... all...?"
"Look, Mrs., I cannot tolerate distance from you, but for your happiness, I stayed away for so long, but not anymore. Don't force me to do anything wrong, and never misstate facts or lie to me."
After saying his piece, he placed a very elegant diamond bracelet on Hooreen's hand.
"I want to see this on your hand at all times."
There was a clear warning in his tone. Seeing Hooreen continuously biting her lips, his restraint gave way. He placed his lips on hers and began to quench his thirst. Hooreen tried to push him back, but Kayan took her hands into his grip. A little while later, when he pulled away, Hooreen, trying to catch her breath, said:
"You... are... very... bad... I hate you!"
Saying this, she hid her face in both hands and began to cry. Meanwhile, there was a knock on the door, and Amna asked for permission to enter.
"But I love you."
Kayan replied to Hooreen's remark, straightened himself, and gave Amna permission to enter. Coming inside, she saw Hooreen crying and immediately rushed to her with concern.
"Hooreen, what happened...?"
In response to her question, she only said:
"Amna, I want to go home..."
"Okay, let's go, but what is there to cry about...?"
Amna was about to take her away when Kayan's words came to Hooreen's mind—that his permission and will must be included in everything she does. As she was leaving, she stopped and turned back to look at Kayan, who was staring at her. for a few moments, she made the mistake of looking into his enchanting eyes, but immediately lowering her gaze, she asked:
"May I go home...?"
At her asking this way, while Amna was surprised, a smile appeared on Kayan's lips, which he hid with great skill. Keeping his tone serious, he said:
"Yes, you may go..."
Having received his permission, she grabbed Amna's hand and quickly came out.
Outside, the entire staff was standing, waiting for her. As soon as she came out, everyone asked about her health, and many people had the question in their hearts—is Sir really so kind to everyone? She was about to leave when Sumaira said to her sarcastically:
"What's the matter? As soon as Sir arrived, you started hitting on him? Obviously, if someone is so rich and handsome, who would let them go...?"
At her words, some people looked at her with distaste, some with suspicion, and some burst out laughing at Sumaira's remark.
"My Hooreen is not fallen like you. Don't consider everyone like yourself,"
Everyone fell silent at Amna's angry response.
"Amna, she is your senior; talk with respect. Sumaira didn't say anything so wrong that you're getting so worked up,"
How could Mahjabeen stay without saying something? Tears came to Hooreen's eyes.
"It's better if you people don't teach me respect. I know exactly how much respect you have and what you are capable of,"
Amna spoke rudely.
"Oh, Madam, no need to fly so high. Keep your tone right."
At the Principal's (Ma'am's) intervention, Amna spoke bitterly:
"Ma'am, why is everything mandatory for us? You should occasionally pay attention to your favorite teachers, too."
Amna left from there with Hooreen without listening further. Meanwhile, Kayan was standing near his office door listening to everything. His blood was boiling. He called Waleed and said:
"Waleed! I need information about three people. Each and everything, as soon as possible."
She came into the staff room with Hooreen and, speaking angrily, began taking her and Hooreen's bags out of the locker.
"I don't know when you will understand that people only shut their mouths when you give them a crushing reply, but no, you just stand there silently like you have bells in your mouth. There is a limit to everything." Amna slammed the locker door shut and came over to Hooreen, who was still busy crying.
Amna sat down beside her and, looking at her affectionately, said:
"I told you to be careful, lest Sir faints upon seeing you, but here, it was you who fainted. Did you find Sir that handsome...?" At her words, the image of Kayan's enchanting eyes appeared before Hooreen. Reprimanding herself, she looked at Amna angrily and slapped her on the arm.
"Hey, don't hit me... I only spoke the truth, that's why you took special permission from Sir before coming." She said this while nursing her arm.
"We... we are... his employees, so we had to ask him before leaving...?" Hooreen said, glaring at her.
Amna's purpose was fulfilled; she simply wanted to distract Hooreen, and she succeeded.
"I'm just joking, don't grace me with such murderous glares. I know Sir is married." At this, Hooreen looked at her in surprise, to which she replied:
"Why are you looking at me like that? Don't you remember we accidentally went to Sir's wedding...?""Amna, let's go home...?" Those bitter moments flashed before Hooreen at her words. Hooreen ignored her remark, took her bag, and walked out.
"How will you both go home?" They were passing the reception area when their steps faltered at the sound of Kayan's voice.
Both turned back to see Kayan standing before them with a completely blank expression. Seeing his commanding and elite personality, even a confident girl like Amna became confused.
"Sir… we… by booking a cab...""Why a cab...?""Sir, the van uncle won't come at this time." Amna said in a confused tone.
"Come, I will drop you. Your friend isn't feeling well." Amna and Hooreen looked at each other in astonishment at his offer. At this kindness from her boss, Amna looked at Kayan in wonder and then at Hooreen, who was looking back at her. Hooreen signaled 'no' to Amna with a slight movement of her eyes and head, which Kayan's sharp eyes noticed.
He walked ahead, which clearly meant they were to follow him. They were forced to go with Kayan. The whole way passed in silence. They didn't even have to give Kayan directions. He stopped the car exactly in front of their house, and they both got out and went inside. Kayan kept watching Hooreen until the very end.
"Hooreen, how does Sir know the way to our house...?""Go and ask him yourself." Hooreen replied with a grimace at Amna's question and went inside her gate, while Amna also ignored everything and went to her own home.
After coming home, she remained locked in her room all day. She didn't even come out for dinner. When Mr. Ilyas returned and asked about Hooreen, Mrs. Haleema said worriedly:
"Hooreen has been locked in her room since she returned. I went several times, but she is neither eating nor coming out. You ask her what happened...? She will surely tell you.""Begum, you should have called me immediately. I would have come. My daughter has been hungry for so long." He also became anxious and concerned. Then he went to Hooreen's room, who was lying flat on her back staring at the ceiling; it was obvious she was lost in deep thought. Mr. Ilyas placed his hand affectionately on her head. Hooreen closed and opened her eyes as if building a dam over her tears. As she sat up, he spoke with concern:
"Son, what happened? You haven't eaten and have been locked in your room all day...? If there is any trouble, tell your Papa." Hooreen took his hand and affectionately kissed his kind hands. Suppressing the confusion within her, she said:
"Papa! What if it happens that even if I want to, I can't tell you something? What if I hide it from you...?" He kissed her forehead lovingly and said:
"And why would that be...?""Papa... there is one thing... I want to tell you but..." Hooreen didn't know what to say or how to say it, but Mr. Ilyas was her father; he knew her every nerve. He understood the state of her heart.
"Is this matter about that person because of whom my daughter stopped laughing and still wakes up startled at night...?" Hooreen looked at him at his correct guess but remained silent. He spoke again:
"Hooreen, you can tell me what's in your heart.""Papa... I can only tell you what's in my heart, but right now I don't know myself what is happening to me?? Papa... I don't understand anything right now. I don't know what is going on in my heart... even if I want to, I can't say anything... I don't have the courage... I want to say so much to you, but..." Leaving her sentence unfinished, she began to cry. He was aware of the meaning of her words. He knew how troubled her little heart was. Kissing his precious daughter's forehead again, he said:
"I will wait for the time when my daughter can tell me what's in her heart. For now, forget everything you're thinking and let's eat. Today, your Mama and I will both feed you together, and no excuses.""Yes, Papa..."
"Hooreen, how long will you keep lying down? Get up. You'll be late for school." She had been lying there for a long time. She had no intention of going to school. She said with exhaustion:
"Mama, I don't want to go today. I'm not in the mood.""What happened to your mood? Are you feeling alright?" She said, touching her forehead with concern.
"No, Mama, I just don't feel like it, and I have a headache.""Alright, bravo, you rest. I'll make some breakfast for you." Mrs. Haleema went to make breakfast. She lay down again. Her Mama's phone rang; she saw it was a call from the Principal because since she had been working, it was her routine to arrive early, but today she was quite late and hadn't arrived, so they called. She received the call and apologized to the Principal, saying she couldn't come today.
A little while later, the phone rang again. She received the call without looking at the number, knowing only Amna would call her at this time.
"Amna, I'm not coming today. Now don't ask the reason and don't force me to come by calling repeatedly. Allah Hafiz!""I won't call repeatedly, nor am I asking the reason, I've just come to pick you up myself." She was about to hang up after speaking when, hearing Kayan's voice, the mobile slipped from her hands onto the bed. She quickly put the phone to her ear again.
"Y... Yes... Sir...?""Come outside the house in five minutes, otherwise, I will come inside the house to get you." Having said his piece, he hung up. Hooreen was paralyzed with fear. She got up quickly, put on an Abaya over her nightdress, washed her face, and stepped out of the room. Mrs. Haleema was coming toward her room with breakfast.
She said:
"Mama! I'm going to school. The children have an essential test."
" If you're not well, what is the need to go?" She spoke with concern. Ever since all that had happened with Hooreen, Mrs. Haleema's behavior toward her had become very good. She had become a very loving and caring, soft-hearted mother. The love Hooreen had yearned for for so long, she finally received. She had found her mother.
"No, Mama, the Principal called, so it's necessary to go.""Why don't you leave this job? Do those people not trouble you enough already that they are calling you even in sickness...?" At Mrs. Haleema's words, she said:
"I will leave, Mama, just let the contract end.""At least have breakfast.""No, I'll eat something there." Then, saying goodbye to them, she hurried outside. Coming out, she saw Kayan leaning against the car a short distance away. Black jeans, a white shirt with the top two buttons open, the sleeves of his black dress coat rolled up to his elbows, white shoes; standing with pride, a straight nose, blue enchanting eyes hidden behind glasses, thick brown hair set with gel—he stood there in a royal manner, oblivious to everything.
Undoubtedly, he was extremely handsome and full of masculine grace. His personality and every manner could overpower anyone, and such a man was her husband. If it were someone else in her place, she would not tire of offering prayers of gratitude. If Kayan hadn't done all that, perhaps her feelings would be different. Hooreen was afraid of him. This fear of hers dominated all her other emotions.