★★Your wait gives sweet tingles in my heart★★

Third person's POV.
Third Person's POV

"Hurry up. Hitler is coming!" a group of interns whispered, racing toward the briefing area.

"You’ve killed us today," Saad said, glaring at his friend Mobeen, who was struggling to slip into his white overall while running.

"I didn’t do anything. My bike got stuck," Mobeen replied breathlessly.

Maheen glanced at them, visibly annoyed by their banter.
"Shut up, you two. Just hurry!" she snapped, and Hania nodded in agreement. Together, they all rushed toward the area where their senior doctor was expected to brief them.

Once they arrived, they looked around, relieved. Catching their breath, they wiped their faces with their handkerchiefs.

"Thank God, we're saved," Saad said, and the others nodded, still panting.

"You all are late."
Their hearts sank. They turned slowly toward the voice, only to find her standing there—Dr. Zoya—with an expression so stern it made them freeze.

"We’re sorry, ma’am," Saad managed to say, but her piercing glare made him lower his eyes immediately.

"I hate latecomers. I told you on the first day—if you want to work with me, you must be on time," she said coldly, and all of them looked down.

"This is your last warning," she added before beginning the briefing. They silently took notes.

Fifteen minutes later, she walked away, leaving the interns exchanging glances.

"Does she ever smile?" Hania whispered as they headed toward the children's ward.

"God, she’s scary," Maheen added, and both girls giggled nervously.

"Come on, let’s get to work before we get scolded again," Mobeen told Saad, and the two boys made their way toward the laboratory, their least favorite assignment.

Meanwhile, Maheen sighed in exhaustion.
"Hania, I’m so tired. We've been on our feet for five hours," she complained.

"It’s just the beginning. You love kids, right? So handle them now," Hania replied, rushing off toward the operating theatre to assist Dr. Zoya and Dr. Khan.

"I’m so scared," she muttered, her heart racing.

As she entered the operation theatre, Dr. Zoya spoke sharply, "Hurry up. We’re about to start." She was already masked and at the patient’s side.

Hania quickly prepared herself and moved to assist, silently praying, "Allah, help me."

But Zoya heard her.
"If you're scared, then please leave," she said without turning, making Hania bow her head in shame.

"Sorry, ma’am," Hania whispered and focused on assisting her through the surgery.

After the operation, Zoya left for her cabin while Hania headed to the cafeteria.

"What happened?" Mobeen asked, noticing her downcast expression.

"I did well during the surgery, but Dr. Zoya didn’t say a single encouraging word," she replied, sipping water.

"She’s terrifying, man. I swear, when she looks at me, I feel like I’ll drop dead. She’s so young and beautiful, but I wonder if she forgot how to smile. Still... I’d love to see what she looks like when she smiles. That’s got to be a rare sight," Maheen said, biting into a sandwich, and everyone nodded in agreement.

---

Zoya's POV

Resting her head back on the chair, Zoya closed her eyes. And just like that, his face appeared before her—Zain.

His name slipped past her lips in a whisper.

Every beat of her heart echoed his name. Her eyes welled up as memories flooded her mind.

You’ve got a killer smile, Zoyi.

Her eyes snapped open at the memory of his words.

"I forgot how to smile, Zain," she murmured, closing her eyes again, lost in the past.

"I love you, Zoyi."
"Will you go out on a date with me?"
"You’re my life."
"Jaan-e-Zain."

At the echo of that last phrase, her eyes flew open and she looked around desperately. But she knew she wouldn’t find him. He wasn’t here—not anymore.

Two silent tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Call me again..." she whispered and rested her head on the table, surrendering to the dreams where he still existed.

---

Zain's POV

"Jaan-e-Zain," he whispered as he opened his eyes.

She truly was his life. Taking out his wallet, he looked at the photograph inside—the face that still made his heart ache.

His eyes filled with tears as he gently caressed her image.

"Zoyi..." he breathed.

"I'll never forgive you," he added bitterly, remembering her betrayal.

"Dr. Zain."
He looked up at the voice. It was his junior.

"Dr. Jason has arrived. It would be better to study the case with him," said Dr. Blake.

"I'm coming, Blake," he said. Giving her photo one last look, he slipped the wallet back into his pocket and picked up the file.

He met Dr. Jason and discussed a complex heart surgery with him. Jason was an expert, and Zain trusted his opinion.

After the discussion, Zain returned to his interns.

"Lisa and Imraan will assist me in this surgery. Get ready, and don’t be nervous. It’s always the first time when we truly learn," he encouraged, and they nodded with shy smiles.

Later, Zain left the hospital, needing space. He drove aimlessly until he reached the beach.

"Zoyi..." he whispered, parking the car and gazing at the darkening horizon.

She had loved the beach.

Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes. Her laughter, her blush, her smile—they haunted him.

---

Ten Years Ago – Third Person's POV

"Aapi, get up!" Ruhi’s loud voice yanked Zoya from her sleep.

"Ruhi, how many times have I told you not to disturb my sleep?" Zoya groaned, trying to pull the blanket over her head.

"Oh ho, forget your prince charming for now! Come and see what’s going on downstairs!" Ruhi said, yanking the blanket away.

"Why do you have a problem with my prince? I was just about to see his face!" Zoya pouted.

"Seriously, you and your dreamland. By the way, did he tell you when he’s coming to take you away?" Ruhi teased.

Zoya glared but smiled, pulling her sister into a hug. Together, they left the room.

"What’s happening, Ammi?" Zoya asked, seeing their mother busy instructing the maids.

"Nothing. Just step aside. So much to do," her mother replied while changing sofa covers.

Ruhi and Zoya exchanged confused glances and followed her.

"Who’s coming, Ammi?" Zoya asked impatiently.

"Your Chachu Ahmad is coming with his family," she finally revealed.

Both girls shouted in excitement.

"Shh! Don’t yell!" their mother scolded.

"But we hardly know him," Ruhi said, curious.

Their mother sighed and sat down, telling them about Ahmad’s dream to go abroad, his secret marriage, and his son, Kashif. Now, after years, he was returning to live in his homeland.

"How many kids does he have?" Ruhi pressed.

"Two daughters and four sons. One is Zoya’s age or a year older," her mother answered.

As they left the room, Ruhi whispered to Zoya, "Your London prince is coming to steal your heart."

Zoya blinked, stunned.

"She’s mad," she muttered, but her heart fluttered at the thought.

---

Present – Zoya's POV

"Zoya, you home?" Hoorain called from the living room.

"Hoorain!" Zoya greeted warmly and hugged her.

"I missed you. I came to invite you to my son’s birthday—no excuses allowed," Hoorain said sternly.

"I’ll come," Zoya smiled. "But only for a few minutes."

"Why?" Hoorain asked gently.

"Because I can’t bear to see the sadness in his mother’s eyes," Zoya whispered, eyes moist.

"You still think about him?" Hoorain asked.

Zoya looked away. "I’ll go change," she said, avoiding the question.

Back in her room, the pain came flooding in.

"Zain," she whispered.

She knew she had ruined everything—his trust, their love. It was all her fault.

"Zoya, open the door!" Hoorain’s voice called from outside.

Zoya opened it, tears still fresh on her face. Hoorain entered, silent.

"You don’t have to hide from me," Hoorain said gently. "But Zoya, you have to move on."

"How? He’s not letting me," Zoya cried. "I’m still standing at the place where he left me."

Tears flowed freely as she broke down in her friend’s arms.

"I hurt him... I broke us," she sobbed, her heart still chained to the past.

Zain's POV.
.
Stepping out of the operation theatre, I glanced at the interns who had assisted me. They were smiling—relieved, proud—and their expressions made me nod with silent satisfaction.

“Dr. Johnson, thank you so much. You really helped me,” I said, shaking his hand firmly before walking down the corridor with my team.

“In my cabin, after half an hour,” I instructed, and they nodded obediently. I made my way to my cabin, each step heavier than the last.

The moment I sat in my chair, I leaned back and closed my eyes. And there she was—her beautiful face flashing before my closed lids, so vivid it felt like she was right there with me. A smile tugged at my lips, even as my eyes grew wet.

“You’re so bad,” I whispered to her image, as if she could hear me from wherever she was.

She still lived inside me, beating through my heart, maddening me with her absence. Just thinking of her was enough to send my pulse racing. Her scent hadn’t left me. Her laughter echoed in the deepest corners of my heart. The softness of her touch still lingered on my skin. Her love—her memory—flowed like blood through my veins.

“Sir?”

A voice cut through my thoughts. I opened my eyes to find the six interns standing before me.

“You okay, sir?” Fred asked.

I nodded. “I’m good.”

“I called you all to congratulate you. You’ve done well this week—especially Emily and Imraan during surgery. Good work.”

They smiled, visibly pleased.

“Thank you, sir. Actually… I wanted to invite you,” Imraan spoke up, a little hesitant.

I raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

“I’m getting engaged tomorrow. Just a small function at home. It would mean a lot if you came.”

I smiled, watching the joy on his face. “Congratulations. I’ll surely come.”

I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the table. “So? Is this love or arranged?”

Imraan’s smile answered before he spoke. “I’ve loved her since we were in school.”

My smile softened, but deep inside, something ached. “Then congratulations again. I’m happy that at least someone is getting his love.”

Without thinking, my hand slipped into my pocket, brushing against the ring I still carried—the one I never got to give.

“Have you ever been in love, sir?” Emily asked.

I chuckled, the sound hollow. “Ever? I’m still in love. Deeply. Crazily. Madly.”

Their eyes widened in surprise. I didn’t blame them.

My gaze shifted to the photo frame on my desk. Her face stared back at me, still shining in that picture… and even brighter in my heart.

“She’s my life,” I murmured, running my fingers across the glass. “She’s the reason I’m still breathing.”

I pulled the ring out of my pocket and stared at it.

“What happened, sir?” Imraan asked gently.

I looked at him for a second, then back at the ring.

“She broke me,” I said quietly. “She broke everything—our dreams, our love… us.”

“And you still love her?” William asked, shocked.

“What can I do?” I shrugged slightly. “This heart’s still crazy for her. And this ring,” I said, holding it up, “I bought it for our engagement. But she… she never let it happen.”

A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it.

“Sir, will you tell us what happened? Why did she leave?” Imraan asked.

I closed my eyes. The past came rushing back in vivid colors and blurred emotions—those days so full of love, of hope, of promises we thought we’d never break.

---
A/N:: Assalam-u-Alikum readers.

How are you all??

Another chapter.  Hope you liked it more than the first version of this chapter.  Few chances in the story will make it more interesting and i know you'll love that too.

Tell me how's story going. I need your comments and lots of votes. I want my every readers to vote and comment on every chapter of this book. Please.

Thank you for reading.

Kerp reading...
Keep smiling...