When Anabiya finally opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Urhaan and Mahir standing near her bed.
Her lips curved into a smile, but Urhaan knew better. That smile wasn't real—it was the same practiced mask she wore whenever she didn't want people to see her pain. He turned to Mahir.
"Mahir, you should go back to class. I'll stay with Biya."
Mahir hesitated, his brows furrowing as though he wanted to argue. But before he could, Anabiya spoke quickly, her voice faint but firm.
"Yes, Mahir… you should go. I'm fine now anyway."
Something in the way she said it made him stop. He looked at her one last time before finally turning to leave. As soon as he reached the door, Urhaan bent down and pulled Anabiya into a hug.
That was when her mask broke. Heavy, unrestrained tears rolled down her cheeks, soaking Urhaan's shirt. Mahir froze at the doorway, his chest tightening with an unfamiliar ache. Jealousy? Restlessness? Something nameless burned in him, a feeling he didn't know how to define. Without understanding it, he walked away, carrying the weight of that strange heaviness with him.
Inside, Anabiya clung to Urhaan, her voice trembling.
"It hurts so much, Urhaan. They hit me so hard… again and again…"
Urhaan slowly pulled back, looking at her tear-streaked face, his jaw clenched.
"I know, meri jaan(My love). Don't worry. I'll deal with them—you'll see what I do to those girls."
But Anabiya placed her trembling hand over his, shaking her head.
"No. I don't want revenge. I want an apology. I want to see them say sorry to me with my own eyes."
Urhaan's gaze softened, pride flickering in his expression at her strength even through pain. He cupped her face briefly.
"Of course. You'll get that apology, I promise. But right now, you need to rest. I'll bring you some hot chocolate, okay?"
She nodded weakly and lay back down.
When school ended, Urhaan dropped both Anabiya and Mahir home in his car. At Anabiya's gate, he was about to step out too when she stopped him with quiet firmness.
"No, Urhaan. Not until those girls apologize. Don't show me your care until then."
Her words were sharp, laced with hurt. Mahir, standing beside her, caught the storm in her eyes—anger, betrayal, stubborn pride. There was so much emotion there that it unsettled him. Without a word, Urhaan got back into the car and told the driver to go.
Mahir slipped an arm under her shoulder, helping her stand as she leaned against him.
"You get angry too, don't you?" he said lightly, trying to break the heaviness.
Anabiya gave a faint smile, her voice low but edged with fire.
"It's my habit. When I'm good, I'm good. But when I turn bad… even the devil asks for shelter. So make sure, Mahir, that you never give me a reason to hate you."
Mahir instantly raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Ok, my lady."
Her lips twitched into a genuine smile this time, and for a moment, the pain in her eyes dimmed. Just then, the lift door opened, and the two of them stepped out together. Mahir offered to help her further, but she shook her head.
"I'll manage from here."
She walked into her apartment, wincing slightly but determined. As she entered, a soft fragrance filled the house, one that tugged at her heart with familiarity. Confused, she followed it to her mother's room.
There, sitting on the bed, completely absorbed in typing on her phone, was a figure she hadn't seen in so long—Miss Zoya.
Anabiya didn't think twice. She rushed forward and hugged her tightly. Miss Zoya was startled at first, blinking in surprise, but then her arms wrapped around her daughter with warmth.
For a long moment, neither moved. When Miss Zoya gently tried to pull away, Anabiya clung tighter, her voice breaking.
"No… I won't let go. What if you disappear again? Just let me believe for once that you're real mom.