A quiet melancholy seemed to linger in the air when Maya woke that morning.
After freshening up, she made her way toward the kitchen. As she stepped into the lounge, the faint fragrance of Zain's perfume still hung in the room. It was a clear indication that he had already left for the office.
Her eyes drifted toward the wall clock.
Ten o'clock.
A frown crossed her face.
"How did I sleep for so long?" she murmured. "Something is changing within me."
Instead of preparing breakfast, she returned to her bedroom.
The previous day's emotions still weighed heavily on her mind. Negative thoughts began creeping in once again.
"No," she whispered to herself. "This isn't who I am. I cannot allow these thoughts to take root."
Hoping to distract herself, she picked up her phone, unlocked it, and opened the family group chat.
For a few moments, she stared at the screen.
Then, almost unconsciously, she typed:
"A woman spends years building a home for others, only to realize one day that she has forgotten how to build a life for herself."
She read the words twice before pressing the send button.
Then she locked her phone and placed it beside her, unaware of the impact her message might have on those who read it.
Maya immersed herself in household chores, hoping to keep her mind occupied.
By noon, however, the familiar boredom began to creep in. She made her way to the library, her favorite corner of the house. Whenever sadness weighed heavily upon her heart, this was the place where she sought refuge.
She had built the library over fifteen years of dedication and perseverance. The shelves were lined with her most cherished books—psychology, fiction, drama, and self-improvement. Each volume carried memories of a different phase of her life.
Her gaze settled on an old diary resting on one of the shelves.
She picked it up carefully and opened it.
The pages were filled with fragments of her past—moments she had once lived and later preserved in ink. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she turned the pages.
Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind.
She reached for her phone and checked WhatsApp.
The message she had posted in the family group remained unanswered.
For a brief moment, disappointment flickered across her face.
Half the day had passed, yet not a single reply had appeared beneath her words.
Maya shook the thought away and returned to her diary.
Hours slipped by unnoticed.
Evening arrived quietly, but the silence in the family group remained unchanged.
By the time the wall clock struck eight, she had stopped checking her phone altogether.
Just then, she heard the front door open.
Zain had returned home.
He greeted her with a small wave as he stepped inside.
A faint smile appeared on Maya's face, and she returned the gesture.
After taking a shower, Zain joined her at the dining table. Maya had already arranged dinner before he arrived.
For several minutes, they ate in silence.
When the meal was nearly over, Zain cast a hesitant glance in her direction, as though trying to read something hidden behind her expression.
Maya noticed his gaze but lowered her eyes without speaking.
After a moment, Zain cleared his throat.
"Maya, is everything alright? You seem less energetic these days."
Surprise flashed across her face.
She had not expected him to notice.
"I'm fine," she replied briefly.
Silence settled between them once again.
Then, in a gentler voice, Zain spoke.
"Maya, I've been thinking of taking a couple of weeks off from work."
She looked up at him.
There was something unusual in his tone.
"I've been feeling exhausted lately," he continued. "I thought perhaps we could spend a few days in the northern areas. A change of environment might do us both some good."
For the first time that evening, Maya looked at him attentively.
The suggestion had caught her completely off guard.
After a brief pause, she finally spoke.
"Zain, what suddenly made you think of that?"
Her eyes searched his face.
"As far as I know, you've never preferred leisure over business."
Zain offered no response. Instead, he quietly rose from the dining table and walked away.
That night, as Maya lay in bed, she found herself thinking about him.
The concern she had noticed in his eyes at dinner resurfaced in her mind.
A quiet voice stirred within her.
Was Zain genuinely concerned about me?
She stared at the ceiling.
Perhaps I should never have posted that message in the family group.
A faint sigh escaped her lips.
I've always considered myself strong enough to face life's challenges alone. I don't need anyone's sympathy.
Yet another thought quickly followed.
But what surprises me is that an entire day has passed, and neither of my children has responded.
The unanswered message lingered in her mind, refusing to let her rest.
Questions drifted endlessly through her thoughts, one after another, until exhaustion finally overtook her.
Before she realized it, she had fallen into a deep sleep.
Chapter 4 coming soon......15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWq7YCQOho
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