chapter two ....the stranger she left behind
874 Words
The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor echoed through the private hospital room.
Dr. Farhan pulled the syringe away after injecting the antidote into the unconscious man's vein.
"He'll be alright now."
Ayla finally let out the breath she'd been holding.
She hadn't realised she'd been praying under her breath the whole time.
"Thank God..."
The doctor looked at the blood-soaked sleeve covering the man's arm.
"He did this to himself?"
Ayla nodded slowly.
"There was a knife on the table."
"He... he hurt himself."
The doctor frowned.
"I've seen people under the influence of this drug before."
"They become violent."
"They lose control."
"But this..."
He looked at the unconscious stranger.
"...I've never seen someone choose pain over harming another person."
Ayla looked at him too.
For some reason...
Her heart felt heavy.
An hour later...
The bleeding had stopped.
The wound was stitched.
His fever slowly began to settle.
Ayla sat quietly beside the bed.
She didn't even know his name.
Yet...
She couldn't bring herself to leave.
The nurse smiled warmly.
"He's lucky."
Ayla looked up.
"Hm?"
"If you hadn't found him..."
She hesitated.
"...things could have been much worse."
Ayla lowered her eyes.
"I just did what anyone should do."
The nurse chuckled.
"You'd be surprised."
It was almost dawn.
The first rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains.
Ayla stood from the chair.
She had promised her friends she'd return before morning.
She picked up a notepad from the bedside table.
After thinking for a moment, she wrote:
You don't know me, and I don't know you.
But I'm glad you chose kindness even when no one was watching.
I hope your arm heals quickly.
Take care of yourself.
— A stranger.
She folded the note neatly and placed it beside the glass of water.
Before leaving...
She looked at him one last time.
His face looked peaceful now.
Nothing like the man who had been fighting himself only hours earlier.
A small smile touched her lips.
"Goodbye..."
She whispered so softly that even she barely heard it.
Then she walked away.
Two hours later...
The man slowly opened his eyes.
His head throbbed.
His throat felt dry.
He looked around the unfamiliar hospital room.
Fragments of the previous night flashed through his mind.
The hotel...
The drug...
A girl...
His breathing stopped.
He immediately checked himself.
His eyes widened.
"No..."
His heartbeat became erratic.
"I..."
He remembered pulling her close.
He remembered losing control.
After that...
Nothing.
His gaze dropped to the bandage wrapped around his arm.
Then...
He noticed the folded note.
With trembling fingers, he opened it.
As he read each line...
Silence filled the room.
His jaw tightened.
"A stranger..."
He whispered.
"You saved me."
He closed his eyes.
"If I really..."
He couldn't even finish the sentence.
His chest tightened with guilt.
"I have to find her."
"No matter what."
"If I crossed that line..."
"I'll take responsibility."
His phone vibrated.
His best friend, Rayyan, was calling.
"Where are you?"
Rayyan asked the moment the call connected.
"We've been looking everywhere."
"I'm at City Care Hospital."
"What happened?"
"I'll explain later."
Rayyan arrived twenty minutes later with Haider and Daniyal.
The three friends looked at the bandage on his arm in disbelief.
"What on earth happened to you?" Haider asked.
Zayan stayed silent for a long moment.
Finally, he spoke.
"I was drugged."
All three froze.
"What?" Rayyan exclaimed.
"Who did it?"
"I don't know."
"And this?" Daniyal pointed to the bandage.
"I did it."
"You what?"
"I couldn't risk hurting someone innocent."
Silence settled over the room.
Then Zayan looked at the folded note in his hand.
"There was a girl."
His voice was quieter now.
"She stayed."
"She saved my life."
"But..."
He looked down.
"I don't know if I ruined hers."
At the same time...
Miles away...
Ayla entered her family home carrying bags of fresh bread.
The smell of breakfast drifted through the house.
"Mama, I'm home!"
Before anyone could answer...
A little whirlwind crashed into her.
"Meeeera!" Ayla laughed.
Her younger sister hugged her tightly.
"You left us!"
"You were gone for only one night."
"It felt like one year."
Another voice came from the kitchen.
"Don't be dramatic."
Alina rolled her eyes before hugging Ayla too.
Their mother smiled from the dining table.
"My three girls together again."
Just then...
Two men walked through the front door carrying grocery bags.
"Ayla!"
Aariz grinned.
"Our favourite sister is back."
"Excuse me?" Mira folded her arms.
"What about us?"
"You two are my favourite troublemakers."
Saif laughed.
A playful argument erupted instantly.
The living room filled with laughter.
Watching them...
Ayla smiled.
She wanted to forget the strange night forever.
She truly did.
But every time she closed her eyes...
She saw a stranger with pain in his eyes...
Choosing to wound himself rather than hurt her.
And somewhere else in the city...
That same stranger stared at the small handwritten note, making a silent promise.
"I'll find you."
"No matter how long it takes."
End of Chapter 2
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...............
Three weeks later, fate is about to bring Zayan and Ayla face-to-face again—but this time, he'll discover she's the beloved sister of one of his closest friends.
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