Battle of the heart

Chapter 18

The sound of her laughter reached their ears and they turned towards her. "Mummy, I was telling Daddy about your horse. " She was quick to compose herself and she came towards them. "Yes I heard you Baby, now come let's go. Aunty Mahira is taking you with her today, she will give you lots of chocolate and ice cream too, I know you will really love it"

"Yeahh mummy, I'm so happy. I want to go"

"Let's go and get ready." She called out to him.

"Let's go and get ready Mummy." He got up from his father's lap and held his mother's finger. She didn't throw even a glance his way as they began walking. But Shabab stopped midway and turned to his father. She could feel the heat of his gaze on her back, but she didn't turn back.

"Dada, please take care of Mummy when I'm gone. Don't make her cry and when she cries, hug her on my behalf too. Don't make her sad."

His smile turned to a wide grin "okay I will. Don't worry, your Mummy won't cry from today.

"Let's go Mummy."

She packs his clothes along with his favorite toys for him and she hands Mahira the bag. She collected it and she held Shabab's hand as they walked downstairs. "I will miss you Baby."

"Nayla, we're just going for a day, it's not forever. Don't make me feel guilty for separating a mother from their child"  Mahira chimed.

"No, it's not like that Mahira it's just that I've never been away from from even for a day"

Shabab looked at her and hit his palm on his face. "Mummy, don't be sad. Daddy is here. I will be back before you know it. Pinky promise." He sealed their tiny fingers together and she kissed him, before he entered Mahira's car. "Bye Mummy." He threw her a flying kiss and she dramatically caught it while making both of them crack into fists of laughter. She waved at their car till they were out of sight.

She turned on her heels and went inside, she thought about how lovely she will be tonight. She saw Arshad in the living room but she walked past him without throwing a second glance his way. "Nayl..." He called her name and heard footsteps behind her, but she quickened her pace and went inside her room Unfortunately, she was in a hurry and forgot to close the door with the lock when she banged it close.

He opened the door after her and entered. She realized what she did and threw him one murderous look. "GET OUT"  She yelled at the top of her voice but he paid no heed, instead, he closed the door and hid the keys in his pocket.

"I'm sorry if you'll hate me for this, but I have to talk to you today, I have to other way to make you listen to me."

She came towards him and attempted to remove the key from his pocket, but he held her. "Please, you're torturing me. Please listen to me." He pleaded.

"No, I don't want to. Please let me go, I don't want to listen to you. Can't you understand." She removed herself from his hold and attempted to open the door without the keys, her effort was futile and she gave up at last. "Arshad, please go, I beg you." She pleaded, her voice cracking at the end.

"I'm sorry I can't, this is the only way I can make you listen to me, please understand me" He pleaded further.

Tears began to cascade down her face and he came towards her, but she stopped him. "Please don't touch me or Come closer to me." But he was adamant and came closer. He brought her to his body and hugged her. She tried to free herself, but he didn't let her go. The current of energy rolls through her body. It's been three years and his touch still remains the same. She found herself finding comfort in his arms and held him tighter. He was silent as she cried. Her heart wrecking sobs kills him but he wants her to cry it all out.

He cupped her face and looked into her bloodshot eyes, she didn't look away too. Those brown eyes that remind him of the soil after rain have lost their warmth and beauty. He could see those dark eye bags beneath her eyes.''Do you love me no more canim? Why this punishment? You can yell at me, hit me, scream at me or do anything to me. I won't say a word " but please don't distance yourself away from me. It's killing me and I can't bear it. I don't want to be the reason for your tears, I know I'm not the best husband or father, but please, talk to me. I want to see you smile, I want to hear your laughter. I miss your touches, your kisses and everything about you. You are my home Nayla. When I come home, I only come home to you. To your arms"

She could see the bare pain and longing in his eyes. She knows he misses her as she missed him, but what can she do? She just can't run into his arms and act like he never left her. Right? Even though she refused to listen to his side of the story.

"Do you know what I hate about you, Arshad?" She began speaking and he could feel his heart drop at her words, but he kept mum ushering her to continue. She took his silence as a cue for her to continue speaking "I hate the way you make me happy with your presence that your absences hurt me Arshad. I hate the way you get so clingy and obsessed over me to the extent that I become into you. I hate the way you make me feel so loved and wanted that whenever you aren't here, I feel like I wasn't worthy of it in the first place. I hate the way I expect your call for the whole day when when nothing comes, I feel so hurt and disappointed. I hate the way I always want you to be with me and clearly know that you are a soldier and I'm not your first priority, your duty comes first. I hate how you make me feel, I hate when you are not always there. I hate the way I don't hate you. Not a little bit, not even close. I love you so much Arshad that I hate it when you aren't there. I love you so much. It's always you. You and you." She began hitting his chest while she cried. He didn't know when tears cascaded down his face. He kept silent as she cried and her words weakened him. Her confession made him elated and the happiest man alive.

"I don't Want to lose you Arshad. I'm afraid of losing you. I got so scared. I got really scared. I don't remember the number of times I cried myself to sleep. On some days, sleep just deceives me and I spend the whole night thinking about you. Everyday, every minute and every second. When I saw you all healthy, I felt like I was getting worried unnecessarily, what spell have you cast on me Arshad, I'm in oblivion. I also lost my mind."

He lifts his hands to her face and strokes her face cheeks. I'm sorry, please don't hate me when I live for you, you are the bane of my existence. I love you beyond words. I love you more than anything and I can die for you, I can even kill for you if need arises. I know you crave for me as I crave for you, please give me a chance to make things right. I want to be there, please, I'm sorry I wasn't there, I'm worried you went through a lot. I want to make things right."

She wants to tell him to stop talking, because his words are crumbling the anger in her heart, she's losing her defense. She just melted to his touch and closed her eyes. "You know I almost died, but you kept me going." She opened her eyes and looked into his.

"Tell me what happened.. Where did you suddenly disappear to?" She asked.

He held her hand and led her towards the edge of the bed, he made them sit down and held her hand. "Nayla, I was done with the operation earlier than expected and I booked the earliest flight I got back to Nigeria. I wanted to call you and tell you about it, but you know we're always surrounded by danger so our phones were all switched off. I missed you and the 3 months away from you were probably the most difficult phase of my life. But someone Poisoned my food with a dangerous poison that  affected my brain and I was in a Coma for two and half years. And the moment I got better, I ran to you. I came back to you Nayla.

*****
Good afternoon beautiful people. How are you all doing? Ya zafi and everything? Alhamdullillah kawai. Are you enjoying this story? If yes, please vote, comment and share.

Falmata AB cares♥️♥️🫶🫶