Obscured Affection (Slow Updates)

Azlaan silently listened to Alex, who was explaining why Aydin and he were part of Azlaan’s life.

"I am your positive side, Azlaan. You are the neutral one, and Aydin is the negative. If the three of us work together, everything will be fine... your life will be balanced."

Azlaan remained silent, still holding his head, listening carefully when suddenly he began to hear voices.

"Sir? Sir?"

Azlaan suddenly opened his eyes.

"Sir, you parked your car on the highway and fell asleep… You shouldn’t do that," the man said.

Azlaan, still holding his head, looked around. Then he turned the car around and started driving back home.

***

Ishaq and Mahnoor were sitting, each engrossed in their work. Ishaq sat at his desk reading something on his computer, while Mahnoor, sitting a little distance away on the sofa, was writing something in a file.

It was the first time they had spent this much time together. She was happy but also a bit nervous. As for Ishaq… he himself wasn’t even aware of what he was feeling.

There was a knock at the door, and upon Ishaq’s signal, the watchman entered and placed a parcel near him, glancing briefly at Mahnoor before leaving.

Ishaq got up and came to sit beside Mahnoor on the sofa. Opening the parcel, he gestured toward the food, moved all her files aside, and started eating with her.

Both began to eat silently. After finishing the meal, Ishaq turned to Mahnoor and asked,

"Noor… Was the food good?"

"Yes!"

Mahnoor quickly replied.

Ishaq smiled, got up, and returned to his seat. Both of them got back to work.

***

Night was falling, and Arsalan had just stepped out of Aijaz's room and entered his own.

As soon as Sara heard his steps, she stood up quickly and tried to hide something behind her hands.

He smiled gently and walked over to her, pulling her into a warm hug. She was slightly startled at first, then smiled and rested her head on his chest. That’s when Arsalan took the box from behind her hands.

"First-aid box? Why were you hiding this from me?" he asked as he pulled away slightly.

"No... I wasn't really hiding it," she said softly, lowering her eyes.

"What happened to you? Did you get hurt somewhere?" he asked, checking both her hands.

"I was just cutting a mango… and my finger got..." she showed him her finger, which had a small cut with a little dried blood.

"Where was your attention?" he asked worriedly, gently cleaning her finger with a cotton swab.

"I just wanted to do something for you," she said with a light smile.

"But I never asked you to do anything," he said while softly blowing on her finger.

"Yes, but I’m your wife… it’s my duty to do things for you. My mother taught me that a wife should serve her husband," she replied sincerely.

"But you’re my wife… the queen of my heart, not a servant. You don’t need to do anything like that," he said firmly, looking into her eyes. She made a mock frown and smiled playfully.