Chapter 23: part 5

The day Farhaan received the call about an emergency in New York, Shiza’s heart sank. They had just finished breakfast, sitting together in the living room, when his phone buzzed. Farhaan answered it, his expression gradually shifting from calm to serious. When he ended the call, he turned to her, his face a mix of regret and urgency.

“There’s an issue at the New York office. I need to leave immediately,” he said, his voice low.

Shiza froze for a moment, the reality of his words sinking in. “When do you leave?” she managed to ask, though her throat felt tight.

“Tomorrow morning,” he replied, running a hand through his hair. “I’m so sorry, Shiza. I know this wasn’t planned.”

She forced a small smile, though her heart ached. “It’s okay. Work is important. You have to go.”

Farhaan saw the effort it took for her to appear strong, and it made leaving all the more difficult. He reached out, taking her hands in his. “It’s just for a few months. I’ll be back before you know it.”

“I know,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

The next morning, the family gathered to see Farhaan off at the airport. Shiza stood a little apart, watching as Farhaan hugged his parents, siblings, and her family. When he finally turned to her, her heart skipped a beat.

He stepped closer, his eyes searching hers. “Come here,” he said softly, pulling her into a hug.

Shiza held on tightly, not trusting herself to speak. His familiar scent and warmth felt like an anchor in the chaos of her emotions.

“I’ll miss you,” he murmured, his voice so quiet only she could hear it.

She swallowed hard, blinking back tears. “I’ll miss you too.”

He pulled back slightly, his hands resting on her shoulders. “Take care of yourself, Shiza. And remember, I’m just a call away.”

She nodded, her smile wavering. “You too, Farhaan. Don’t overwork yourself.”

As he walked away, suitcase in hand, Shiza stood rooted in place, watching until he disappeared into the terminal. A sense of emptiness washed over her, and for the first time, she realized how deeply attached she had become to him.

New York was bustling and demanding, leaving Farhaan little time to rest. He threw himself into work, managing crises, expanding operations, and ensuring the company ran smoothly. But even in the busiest moments, Shiza was never far from his thoughts.

He would find himself staring out of his office window, picturing her smile or the way she nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. At night, his apartment felt cold and lonely, a stark contrast to the warmth of home.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day, he called her. The sound of her voice was enough to soothe his frayed nerves.

“How are you holding up?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.

“I’m fine,” Shiza replied, though he could sense the slight sadness in her tone. “How’s everything there?”

“Busy,” he admitted. “But nothing I can’t handle.” He paused, then added, “I miss you, though.”

Her breath hitched, and she replied softly, “I miss you too.”

Farhaan chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. “You better. Otherwise, I’d have to fly back just to remind you.”

Shiza laughed, the sound like music to his ears. “Don’t tempt me to make you do it.”

Their conversations became a nightly ritual, a lifeline that kept them connected despite the distance

For Shiza, the house felt eerily quiet without Farhaan. She focused on her pharmacy studies, attending classes and working on assignments, but nothing could fill the void his absence had left.

Her family teased her often, trying to lift her spirits. One evening, Suha walked into her room to find Shiza scrolling through her phone, looking at pictures of Farhaan.

“Missing your husband again?” Suha teased, plopping down beside her.

Shiza blushed, putting her phone away. “Mind your own business.”

Suha grinned. “It’s cute, though. You two are adorable.”

Shiza didn’t reply, but her heart ached at the thought of how far away he was. She found herself counting down the days until his return, each one feeling longer than the last.

After three months, the day finally came. Farhaan’s flight landed in the afternoon, and as he stepped through the doors of their home, Shiza was the first to see him. She stood at the entrance, her heart pounding as their eyes met.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Then Farhaan dropped his bags and closed the distance between them in a few long strides.

Without a word, he pulled her into a hug, holding her as though he never wanted to let go. Shiza clung to him, burying her face in his chest.

“I missed you so much,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

She nodded, unable to speak as tears spilled down her cheeks.

Farhaan pulled back slightly, cupping her face and wiping her tears with his thumbs. “No more long trips,” he said firmly. “I can’t do this again.”

Shiza smiled through her tears, her voice trembling. “You’re not allowed to leave me for this long ever again.”

Farhaan leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Deal.”

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of warmth and happiness. Farhaan’s presence filled the house with life again, and Shiza felt like she could finally breathe.

As they sat together later that night, talking and catching up, Farhaan took her hand in his. “You know,” he said, his tone teasing, “I think I missed your cooking more than anything.”

Shiza laughed, her heart full. “Liar.”

He grinned, leaning closer. “Maybe. But I did miss you more than anything else.”

She blushed, but her smile didn’t waver. “Good. Because I missed you too.”

Farhaan pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. In that moment, the months apart faded into the background, and all that mattered was that they were together again.

It was well past midnight, and the house had settled into a calm silence. Shiza lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She couldn’t sleep, her heart still fluttering from the excitement of Farhaan’s return. Every moment they’d spent together that day replayed in her mind, making her cheeks warm.

A soft knock at her door broke her thoughts. She frowned, sitting up. Before she could ask who it was, the door creaked open slightly, and Farhaan stepped inside, his expression mischievous.

“Farhaan!” she whispered, shocked. “What are you doing here?”

He shut the door behind him quietly and walked over to her, hands in his pockets, a smirk playing on his lips. “I couldn’t sleep,” he said nonchalantly, leaning against the edge of her bed. “And I figured you couldn’t either.”

Her blush deepened as she pulled her blanket up to her chin. “That doesn’t mean you can sneak into my room! What if someone sees you?”

He chuckled, sitting down beside her. “Everyone’s asleep. And besides, I’m your husband, remember?” He tilted his head, his dark eyes glinting with playful intent. “I have every right to be here.”

Shiza looked away, her heart racing. “You’re impossible.”

Farhaan leaned closer, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. “Impossible, huh? I think you like it when I’m like this.”

She turned to protest, but he was already too close, his gaze locked on hers. “You’re blushing, Shiza,” he murmured, his tone soft and teasing. “Don’t try to hide it.”

Her face turned crimson, and she pushed lightly at his shoulder. “Stop it, Farhaan.”

He caught her hand, holding it gently. “Why should I stop? I like seeing you like this.”

His words made her heart skip a beat, and she looked down, unable to meet his eyes. Farhaan reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re beautiful, Shiza,” he said, his voice sincere now.

Before she could respond, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was soft and lingering, full of unspoken emotions. Shiza’s initial surprise melted away, and she closed her eyes, her heart pounding as she leaned into him.

When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against hers. “I missed you so much,” he whispered, his breath warm against her skin.

She smiled shyly, her voice barely audible. “I missed you too.”

Farhaan grinned, his usual teasing tone returning. “You should’ve told me earlier. I would’ve kissed you sooner.”

“Farhaan!” she whispered, embarrassed, but the laughter in her voice gave her away.

He chuckled, standing up and adjusting his shirt. “Alright, I should go before someone catches me. But don’t think you’re off the hook—I’ll be back to tease you more tomorrow.”

As he walked to the door, he turned back and gave her a wink. “Goodnight, Mrs. Saiyed.”

Shiza buried her face in her hands, her lips still tingling from the kiss. “Goodnight, Farhaan,” she whispered, her heart full as he slipped out of the room.