Possession by Laila Ali (young adult books to read .txt) 📗

"Why did you save me? Huh? I should be in your place. Irtazaa!, please look don't test my endurance now. I am not that strong" said Zahra in violent whispers, her fists clenched.

When his immobile body made no signs, she closed her eyes, sat beside him and stared into nothing.

It was not the first time he saved her. The first was when he saved her from her own self. That day, she still remember it clearly, all those emotions were so distinct and different. She had never felt something like that ever before.

The thirst.

The fire.

The revenge.

Memories of that day were still vivid, producing powerful and strong feelings clear to her mind. She remembered how she had grasped the gun with the motive of killing Daniyal.

She wanted her revenge. At that moment, she found solace in hurting him. She just wanted to see him in pain, battered, shattered and weeping.

The hurt of betrayal had pulled the strings of her heart. No patience was left in her and seeing his end was the first and last thing she wanted that day.

But God knows, what would have happened if she really had killed Daniyal. No matter what, killing someone was a gunah-e-kabeera. Sins of all sins.

She didn't give this life then who was she to take it from him. When she had got back to her senses, that day, the feelings of guilt came along with it. It grieved her that she tried to take someone's life away.

The potent emotions of revenge had reduced her to a killer. It was against her morals even to hurt an insect and there she was, killing someone.

It was Irtaza who had saved her that day. From her own self. Else she was never able to meet her own eyes ever again.

Talking of revenge, she recalled those bloody, devilish eyes that belonged to none other than the man lying near her. Her first week in his mansion after marriage was nothing less than a tour of hell, he made sure of that. She would cry herself to sleep every night there and pray to never wake up the next day.

She never in her wildest dreams thought that Irtaza would turn this cruel towards her.

But after having a taste of betrayal from her beloved as well she could understand the extent of such vengeful feelings. One feels like someone has ripped their heart and breached their trust. The funny thing is it never comes from strangers but only the people who you thought were yours, who had your back just so they can butcher at right moment and leave you to die.

Irtaza's deeds can't be justified but her betrayal isn't forgivable either. She did to him what Daniyal did to her. Both share the blame of misunderstanding and tension between them. But all this was out of frame now as Zahra's mind was fixated on Irtaza.  

He knew from the start that either one of them would survive and they would shoot him yet he came to the death cave to protect her. If that's not love then what is?

Did he really love her to that extent?

Maybe it was. Her grandmother had told her he had waited for her, for years. It made her guilty that she played with his feelings like that. 

"Don't die" she whispered to him. Her eyes solemnly looking at him. 

She could feel her eyes being closed due to sleep and she placed her head on his chest. Her eyes closed and she slept, with him.

The sun was up, peeking from blinders. Zahra felt a hand caressing her hair gently. 

She frowned.

She abruptly straightened herself and jerked her head towards him.

She couldn't believe it. No. She couldn't.

Her eyes got rounded with surprise.

Irtaza was wide awake and watching her with amusement. A smile playing on his lips.

"Irtaza ..you..you are awake" she said, her voice getting shaky. 

"No" he shook his head, smiling. Zahra's heart seized on hearing his voice, seeing him all fine infront her.

She chuckled. Tears of happiness forming in her eyes.

"You are so bad" she croaked out.

"Me?" he feigned ignorance and caressed her hand, which was placed in his.

"Yes, you. What took you so long to wake up?"

"I was waiting for you to come close to me and hold my hand like this" he replied and her eyes moved towards there hands. Blush creeping up on her cheeks.

"I'll call the doctor" she said shyly and stood up, then trying to release her hand from his.

He suddenly jerked her forward, there face now inches apart. His eyes staring at her brown ones, intensely.

"Let me have a loot at you, Zahra" he whispered, placing his other hand on the nape of her neck bringing her forward. His lips descending on hers when the door suddenly opened and Shehryaar barged in.

Zahra immediately backed off and he let her go.

"I'll call the doctor" she said and left the room, embarrassed.

"Are you fine?" he asked, sitting on the sofa near his bed.

"Yes. I'm. Want to be discharged today"

"Alright"

"Where's everyone?"

"Only me, Zahra and Dua are here at the moment. Dadi was worried sick"

"Tell her that I'm up now"

"Will do"

"What about Khurram and Amman?"

"They are under our custody" he informed, "Moosa had managed to get his hands on them"

"I hope they aren't killed yet. I'd take their lives with my own hand"

"No. They are alive" he told when the doctor came in and checked on him. After a few moments Dua came with Zahra and hugged her brother tightly, informing him that her father and her uncle are coming to hospital.

Soon, both Shehryaar left to attend a call and Dua too, giving space  to both Irtaza and Zahra.

"Are you fine now?" she asked whilst sitting on the sofa when he tapped the space next to him and she sat there, beside him.

"I'm and how are you?" he asked gently taking her hand in his.

"I'm too"