Yusuf pulled out his gloves and removed his scrubs and dumped them into the bin as he walked out of the OT. The surgery had been a success.

"Congratulations sir." A second year PG student who had had the opportunity to watch the surgery said.

Yusuf have him a small smile and a nod before walking towards the locker room.

The past week had been a bit of a challenge for him, first his past Alia waltzing into his present had been an unwelcoming surprise and then the words she had thrown at him had him left with a lot of thinking.

Yusuf had been ignoring Arham and Meher completely in the past week, he need some space to clear his mind and sort his feelings.

After a quick warm bath Yusuf was out of the locker room and headed for the parking, he was done for the day.

Familiar faces greeted him as he walked past the OPD, but one particular all too familiar but unexpected face made him stop.

"What is she doing here ?" He said to himself and made his way towards the waiting lady.

"What are you doing here ?" He said monotonously as he stood in front of her.

Hooriya was busy replying back to Meher when she heard the familiar voice. She took a moment and looked up to meet the familiar warm brown eyes.

"Salam Yusuf."

"Cut the crap Hoor." Yusuf hissed. "What are you doing here ?"

"I ... I'm. Yusuf can you please not -."
Hoor was interrupted by the compounder announcing her name.

"Mrs Hooriya Arham, please collect your prescription."

Yusuf turned around and smiled at the compounder. "I'll take that." He said and took the file from him.

"Morphine injections ?" He asked in a whisper. "For Hooriya Ajmal ? Why do you need them, Hoor why do you need them tell me." He asked his voice raising by a pitch.

"Can we.. can we go somewhere and talk about this Yusuf, please." She pleaded.

"Sure hoor." Yusuf scoffed and marched ahead with hooriya in tow.

A quick car ride to Yusuf's house later Hooriya sat across the watchful eyes of Yusuf, playing with her fingers.

"Speak." He said and all the restrain Hooriya had came undone.

Hooriya broke into sobs and said. "I'm dying Yusuf, I have a few months to live."

"Uh what ?" Yusuf said uncrossing his leg and adopting an attentive posture.

"The cancer from my uterus had spread before it was taken out, it somehow went undetected and just two months back .. I .. I don't have long." She said as tears flow freely now, confiding in someone close to family had liberated her of the weight she had been carrying all alone for all these months.

Yusuf on the other hand felt like he had been electro-ducted, the bomb Hooriya had broken on him had left him momentarily paralysed and all his senses on overdrive.

How in the name of God did this happen, how could he not know?

"Yusuf, Yusuf are you alright ?" He felt a hand on his shoulder. Coming out from the daze he saw Hooriya standing near him looking down at him with concern.

'Was this woman a joke ?' He thought, here she had broken the news about her forthcoming death and here she was asking him if he was doing fine.

Yusuf sprung up from the sofa and engulfed Hoor in a tight embrace.
"I'm so sorry Hoor, I'm so sorry for what I've said, I'm sorry that I wasn't there, I'm sorry that I couldn't help you while we had time." A lone tear rolled down his cheek.

Hooriya rubbed his back as he embraced her. "It's life Yusuf, it's fine, I don't blame you or anyone and I'm not upset with you or even with my stars." She said as she pulled away from the hug.
"I'm just worried for what I'm leaving behind, I'm just worried for him. I -."

"Is that why you brought Nur Jahan ?" Yusuf asked even though he knew the answer himself.

"I did." She said and Yusuf took in a sharp breath. "And I know I was selfish in doing so, but I love him too much Yusuf." Hoor cried. "I love and I can't leave him alone."

"She isn't you Hoor, she is a different person, her own person." Yusuf said.

"He'll have someone when I'm gone."

"You should have given him a choice Hooriya, you should have given them both a choice."

"You won't understand Yusuf, I -."

Yusuf was interrupted by the ringing of his video door bell.

"Open the door Yusuf." The familiar chirpy voice made the two being on the other side of the door look at each other in surprise and shock.

"What is Nur doing here ?" Yusuf said to himself.

"She can't see me." Hooriya said in panic.

"Meher stop playing with the buttons." Arham's voice made hoor stop in her track.

"Why isn't he opening the door ? Yuuussuff open the door." Meher sang.

"You need to move Hoor." Yusuf whispered and touched her shoulder to bring her out of the trans. "Go to my bedroom and lock the door from the inside."

Hooriya nodded and did as told while Yusuf walked towards the door and punched in his code.

"Yusuf !!" Meher chirped and hugged the tall man in front of him.

"How are you." He said as he held her.

"I've been better." She complained as he let her go to meet Arham who was patiently waiting for his turn.

"How are you ?" Arham asked as he clasped Yusuf's hand in his and have a manly shoulder hug.

"I.. I am I'm good." Yusuf stuttered.

"Sure ?" Arham asked cocking his eyebrow, he was sure his best friend seemed off.

"Positive." Yusuf gave a small smile and followed Meher who had made herself comfortable on the couch.

Yusuf sat on the couch opposite to Meher and Arham sat beside him.

"So ? What brings you here ?" He asked trying to sound as casual as possible.

"You sir have been avoiding me all week." Meher said crossing her arms across her chest and looking at Yusuf with narrowed eyes.

"I .. uh .. I've .. I've been busy." He said with a lot of difficulty.

"Sure you have been." Meher said completely oblivious to the nervousness in his voice. "I'm sorry I believed we were friends and friends have time for each other but I'm sorry I was wrong." She said haughty.

Arham sat beside Yusuf and watched the two amusingly. He knew for sure that Yusuf was extremely nervous and uncomfortable, the reason he had no clue about, but had decided to find out soon and this completely different side of his wife had been fairly surprising for him.

Meher had been surprisingly him a lot today, since the past three days she had been pestering him about Yusuf and requested him to check on him, however today her request had turned into an order when she ordered him to drive her to see Yusuf herself.

"... no Nur, trust me I've had some really complicated cases and elaborate surgeries."

"It takes 60 seconds. Just 60 seconds for you to let me know that you are alive." Meher said. "If you don't consider me important enough at least Arham know."

"I'm sorry okay, I will call and report to you everyday. I promise." Yusuf accepted defeat.

"Good and you can come drop by as well, I'm all alone, aunty too left for Islamabad last Friday, so it's just me and Gul." Meher complained.

"Why did aunty go to Islamabad ?" Yusuf asked.

"Dad's decided to stay there and sort the deal, so she will give him company for the few weeks he is there." Arham informed him. "I think now that we have found you in one piece, it's time to leave."

"Oh." Meher sighed. "Do you want to have ice cream on the way ?" She asked Yusuf.

"In this cold weather ?"

"Yesss."

Yusuf chuckled at her response and shook his head. "I'm sorry, not today but soon." He said with a tight lipped smile.

"Okay." Meher said with disappointment laced in her voice.
"Take care and don't ignore my calls."

"I won't." He said as she walked out past him.

"I don't know what you are hiding, but it's written all over your face." Arham said before giving Yusuf a manly hug, he got into the elevator and pressed the button.

Yusuf sigh as the doors shut. Yusuf was sinking with the weight of guilt.
Guilt of hiding the truth from his best friend. Two truths.

One that his first wife was dying.

Two that Yusuf was positively in love with his second wife.

AN: just wrote and published it.
Sorry if there are mistakes
I hope this story is heading somewhere
Please share your thoughts
Lots of love
Stay safe
xoxo