Chapter 5 - Whispers Of The Past

A cold breeze rustled through the streets, carrying with it the scent of rain-soaked earth and the distant aroma of fresh coffee. The city was alive with movement—cars rushing past, people engaged in their own worlds—but for him, everything seemed distant. He wasn't really here. His body was standing outside the café, but his mind? His mind was trapped in the past. 

Haider Khan stood still, his hands tucked deep into the pockets of his black coat. His heart pounded, but his face remained unreadable. The neon café sign flickered above him, its dim yellow glow reflecting off the wet pavement.

This place… it hadn't changed.

The same soft, buzzing conversations. The same warm lights spilling through the glass windows. The same scent of cinnamon and vanilla that lingered in the air.

But he had changed.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward, pushing open the café door.

The soft chime of the bell overhead barely registered in his mind because the moment he stepped inside, his eyes found her.

She was already there.

Sitting at the farthest corner of the café, just like she used to, her posture straight, her expression unreadable. The dim lighting cast a soft glow over her delicate features, making her look almost surreal—like a memory brought to life.

She hadn't changed much. And yet, she was different.

Her hair was longer now, falling in soft waves over her shoulders. Her skin, always fair, had a slightly paler touch, as if the years had stolen a bit of warmth from her. The golden bracelet on her wrist caught the light every time she moved her fingers—a habit she had since college. She always played with her jewelry when lost in thought.

Haider swallowed, his throat dry.

Three years.

Three years since he last saw her. Since he last spoke her name out loud.

And now, here she was. As if time had never passed.

His feet felt heavy, but somehow, he moved forward.

She knew he was here before she even looked up.

It wasn't his footsteps or the sound of the door that gave him away. It was something else. A shift in the air.

For the past three years, she had built walls around herself. She had convinced herself that the past was just that—the past. Something to be left behind.

But as he stood there, she felt the cracks forming in those walls.

Her fingers traced the rim of her coffee cup, a small attempt to steady herself. But the moment his voice broke the silence, her grip on reality wavered.

"You still drink the same coffee."

She looked up.

Her heart stopped.

Haider.

He looked... tired. Older. Worn out in a way that had nothing to do with age.

His dark brown hair was slightly longer, messier, like he had stopped caring about perfection.

A faint stubble lined his sharp jaw, making him look different from the clean-shaven boy she once knew.

His deep, piercing eyes still held the same intensity, but they carried something new now—a weight.

She blinked. Focus.

Her lips parted slightly before she responded. "Some habits don't change."

Her voice was calm. Too calm.

Because inside? She was drowning.

Haider pulled out the chair across from her, hesitating for just a second before sitting down.

Silence settled between them like a ghost from their past.

There were a million things to say. But where could they start?

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table. His fingers tapped against the wood, a nervous habit she recognized.

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THREE YEARS AGO 

Laughter echoed through the night as they walked down the empty street, the city lights flickering above them.

"You're impossible," Abrish said, rolling her eyes, but the smile on her lips betrayed her annoyance.

Zayan smirked, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. "And yet, you still put up with me."

She shook her head. "I don't know why."

He stopped walking, tilting his head. "Maybe because you like me too much?"

Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly turned away. "In your dreams."Zayan chuckled, stepping closer. "Are you sure?"

Her heart pounded. "Yes."

But even as she said it, she knew she was lying.

Because she did like him. Too much.

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PRESENT DAY

He finally spoke.

"Why now?"

She exhaled. Looked away for a second. Then met his gaze again.

"Because it's time."

Time for what?

But he didn't ask. Maybe he already knew.

The café felt too quiet now. Or maybe it was just the weight of their unspoken words that made it feel that way.

Haider cleared his throat. "How have you been?"

It was a simple question. An easy one.

But she hesitated. Because the real answer was complicated.

She thought of the sleepless nights, the endless questions, the versions of herself she had to destroy just to survive. But she wouldn't tell him that.

Instead, she gave a small smile. "I've been fine."

Lies.

He tilted his head slightly, studying her. "Have you?"

Her fingers tightened around her cup. She hated how easily he could see through her.

She could throw the question back at him. Ask him if he had been fine. But she already knew the answer.

He wasn't.

Because neither of them were.

The minutes ticked by, slow and heavy.

Finally, Haider spoke again. "Why did you text me?"

She took a deep breath. This was it.

"Because we need to talk about what happened."

A shadow crossed his face. "There's nothing to talk about."

Her jaw tightened. "You don't get to decide that."

His fingers curled into fists. He opened his mouth to argue but then stopped.

Because deep down, he knew she was right.

The past had come knocking.

And this time, neither of them could run from it.

They had unfinished business.

And no matter how much he wanted to erase the past, it refused to be forgotten

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TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO

Abrish sat on the bench, staring at the ground as the rain poured around her.

Her clothes were soaked, her hair clinging to her face, but she didn't care.

Because the pain in her chest was worse than the cold.

"You don't mean that,"

she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of raindrops hitting the pavement.

Zayan stood in front of her, his expression unreadable.

"I do."

She shook her head, refusing to believe it.  "You're lying."

He exhaled, running a hand through his wet hair. "No, Abrish. I'm not."

Her breath hitched. "After everything—this is how it ends?"

Zayan looked away. "It has to."

Tears burned her eyes, mixing with the rain. "Why?"

He didn't answer. Because the truth? It would destroy her.

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PRESENT DAY

Silence stretched between them.

Haider wanted to leave. Wanted to pretend this conversation wasn't happening. But he couldn't.

Not when she was looking at him like that.

"What happened to you? " Her voice was softer now, hesitant.

His throat tightened. "You don't want to know."

She tilted her head slightly. "Maybe I do."

A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. "You won't like what you find."

Her fingers tapped against her cup. "I don't think I ever did."

He froze.Because that hurt.And yet, he knew he deserved it.

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TWO YEARS AGO

Zayan sat in the dark, the only light coming from the streetlamp outside his window.His phone buzzed.

Abrish: I need to talk to you.

He stared at the screen, his chest tightening.He wanted to reply.

But he didn't.Because he knew—If he talked to her again, he wouldn't be able to stay away.And he didn't deserve that.Didn't deserve her.

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PRESENT DAY

Abrish exhaled, setting her coffee down. "I need to know the truth."

Haider hesitated. "The truth won't fix anything."

She gave him a sad smile. "Maybe not. But at least it'll set us free."

His heart pounded.Because he knew she was right.

But was he ready to face it?To face her?Or was the past better left buried?

To Be Continued…