Chapter 10: Sixth sense
A few months later
Life seemed to have returned to normal. Fajr and Zahra continued attending university, while Kashaf had gone back abroad.
During these months, Zahra repeatedly experienced an uneasy intuition that something terrible was happening. She knew that whenever such feelings came to her, they usually meant something was wrong—but she couldn't understand what.
She had also noticed another change.
Fajr's behavior toward her had become cold and distant. She barely spoke to Zahra at the university anymore, and whenever she did, their conversations were brief. Instead, she spent much of her time talking privately with Sir Sarwar.
Whenever Zahra approached them, they would politely ask for privacy, saying they wanted to discuss something alone.
Zahra couldn't help feeling ignored, though she remained silent.
Only one thought echoed constantly in her mind:
“Stay alert.”
A few days later
Dressed in a black abaya, black hijab, niqab, and her usual hijab cap, Zahra walked toward Sir Sarwar's office to tell him about Hadi and Fajr's wedding.
Sir Sarwar was wearing a black printed shirt with black jeans and looked as handsome as ever.
“Assalamu Alaikum.”
“Wa Alaikum Assalam.”
“I wanted to tell you something.”
“Go ahead, I'm listening.”
“Guess.”
“What is it, Zahra? Please tell me directly. Don't make me guess.”
His straightforward reply slightly annoyed her, so she simply informed him about the wedding.
After he left, Zahra found herself thinking…
Why had she never noticed anyone the way she noticed him?
That thought quietly settled deep inside her heart.