An unwavering smile

The room was heavy with silence. Zarif stood there, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts, but the words he had wanted to say had disappeared the moment Zara spoke. The confusion in his eyes was evident, but Zara, ever so composed, merely waved it off with a gentle smile.

"It's fine," she said, her voice as calm as a breeze. "You can decide later."

Zarif watched as she turned away, the door clicking shut behind her as she headed to freshen up. His feet felt rooted to the spot, as if the weight of the moment was enough to keep him from moving.

Zarif stood frozen in place, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. He had expected tears, accusations, maybe even a dramatic outburst.

Zara returned soon after, her steps light, her demeanor unchanged. She looked at him with that same neutral expression before speaking again.

"Which side of the bed do you sleep on?" she asked casually, her tone still unbothered.

Zarif blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "What?" The question seemed so mundane, yet it felt like a test. An odd one, but a test nonetheless.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "Just asking. I'll sleep on the other side then."

He didn't know what to make of it. She was so calm, too calm, as though this was just another ordinary evening. Zara lay down, her back turned to him, and Zarif stood there, frozen. His mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. But no matter how hard he tried, the confusion wouldn't let up.

His fingers twitched at his sides as he watched her sleeping form. Peaceful. Unbothered. As if this marriage, this situation, meant nothing to her. It was almost insulting.

He lay down but couldn't sleep.As the hours passed, sleep eluded him entirely. He found himself wide awake, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts consumed by the woman lying just a few feet away.Her words echoed in his mind—calm, practical, devoid of emotion.

"So when are we getting divorced?"

By morning, he still hadn't processed it fully.A dark night has passed and a new bright morning came, but nothing had changed. Zara woke up, her movements effortless as she prepared herself for the day. She barely glanced in his direction,only looking at him when necessary. Even then, it was with the same unshaken expression—calm, composed, unreadable.Her actions so casual, as if nothing had occurred the night before.

Zarif sat up, rubbing his eyes, but his gaze was fixed on her. She had already picked out her clothes, her expression still unreadable, save for that smile. The same smile she had worn since they had arrived. She caught him staring and, with that ever-present smile, asked, "Are you coming to breakfast with me?"

Without waiting for an answer, she simply turned, her pace steady and graceful, as if she hadn't noticed the tension lingering in the air. Zarif, caught off guard, rushed to catch up with her. His thoughts were a blur as they made their way to the dining room

Zara greeted everyone with that same gentle smile, as if the world could fall apart around her, and she would still remain unbothered.She spoke when spoken to, entertained guests and relatives, and lived her life unaffected by his presence. Relatives came and went, and Zara remained the same—calm, collected, and smiling. It was as if nothing could shake her, not even the weight of the situation they were both caught in.

Zarif, on the other hand, couldn't help but watch her. Every interaction, every exchange, was marked by that strange calmness she exuded. He tried to make sense of it, but no matter how many times he stared, he couldn't find an answer.

Days passed in much the same manner. Zara's smile never faltered. Whether it was during their family gatherings or quiet moments, she never showed anything other than that serene expression. It was unnerving. And Zarif found himself both mesmerized and frustrated by it.

Zarif found himself watching her more often than he wanted to admit. She was unlike anyone he had ever met. Unlike Noori, who had always worn her heart on her sleeve, Zara was a closed book. A mystery. And for reasons he couldn't explain, it was starting to bother him.

One morning, as they both prepared for work,Zarif, finishing his tie, glanced at her, then hesitated. "Would you like a ride to your office today?" he asked, unsure why he felt the need to offer.

Zara turned to him,her eyes soft,yet a bright and polite smile. "No need. I have my own arrangements."

Her tone was light, dismissive. Not rude, not cold—just indifferent. Zarif felt an unfamiliar sting at her refusal.

Just as she was about to step out the door, she paused, she turned back toward the door. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she paused and turned to him.

"By the way, what did you decide about the divorce?" she asked, as if discussing a casual business deal. "If you're ready, I can arrange a meeting today. Is that fine with you?"

Zarif's eyes widened, and for a moment, he was lost for words.He was caught completely off guard His chest tightened, and the world around him seemed to slow down. His mouth opened slightly, but words failed him.

"Ahh... huh? No... not today. Tomorrow. Tomorrow is fine," he stammered.

Zara nodded with the same easy smile. "Okay, tomorrow it is."

And just like that, she left....

Zarif couldn't help but wonder if he was the one who was truly lost, not her.