Daniyal didn't move.
His head rested lightly against Saaniya's shoulder inside the moving van, but he wasn't asleep. Not really. His eyes were closed, yet his mind was louder than ever.
For the first time in days—maybe weeks—there was silence.
Not the kind outside.
The kind inside.
And that silence felt dangerous.
Because in that stillness, everything he had been avoiding came rushing in without permission.
You shouldn't be here.You are engaged.This is nothing.This is just a moment.
But then another thought—quieter, more honest—slipped through:
Then why does this feel like peace?
A faint fragrance surrounded him. Soft. Subtle. Unintentional. It wasn't perfume that announced itself; it was something warmer, more natural—something that belonged to her presence.
Her hair brushed slightly against his temple when the van turned. The scent followed again, settling into his awareness like it belonged there.
He shifted slightly, as if to escape it.
But didn't.
Because he couldn't decide whether he wanted to leave it… or stay in it.
The van jolted suddenly.
A brake.
A stop.
The moment broke instantly.
Voices filled the space again.
"We're here!""Everyone get your stuff!""Careful stepping down!"
Reality rushed back like cold air.
Saaniya turned her head slightly.
"Daniyal."
No response.
"Daniyal," she called again, firmer this time.
His eyes opened slowly, as if waking from something far away.
"Yes?"
"We've reached."
"Oh."
He straightened quickly, almost too quickly, running a hand through his hair as though resetting himself.
"Right."
He stood up, took his bag—and without thinking, picked up hers too.
Outside, the atmosphere shifted immediately.
They were back at the dock area. The water was calm now, reflecting the fading evening light. The group began dispersing, laughter returning in pieces, conversations overlapping.
Usman stepped out first. Sabuhi followed quietly, avoiding eye contact, taking her bag and walking straight toward Saaniya's car.
No one commented.
But everyone felt something was off.
Something unsaid.
Daniyal stepped down next.
Instinctively, he turned back toward Saaniya.
He extended his hand.
"Careful."
She looked at it.
And without hesitation, brushed it aside.
She stepped down on her own.
"Don't try and be my daddy."
Her tone was sharp—but not playful like before.
It had distance now.
Daniyal let out a short laugh, but something inside him didn't settle the same way.
Saaniya didn't stay.
Her attention had already shifted.
She could feel it before she saw it—the tension.
Usman and Sabuhi.
Two people standing close, yet emotionally miles apart.
Without waiting, she walked straight toward Usman.
Nearby, Imran and Shanaya were collecting their things.
Shanaya leaned slightly toward Imran.
"I'll tell Saaniya to drop me," she whispered.
Imran frowned. "I can drop you."
"You don't understand," she said quickly. "If my father finds out I came with you—"
He exhaled. "Still… I want to."
Her eyes softened. "I know. But not today."
And just like that, he stepped back—not because he agreed, but because he cared enough to.
Saaniya reached Sabuhi first.
"What happened?" she asked directly.
Sabuhi avoided her gaze.
"Nothing."
"Sabuhi."
A pause.
Then quietly, "Usman is unreasonable sometimes."
Saaniya narrowed her eyes slightly. She didn't believe it. Not fully.
But she didn't push—yet.
Daniyal approached from behind.
"All good?" he asked casually.
Saaniya didn't look at him.
"Yes," she said flatly. "We're fine. See you."
And walked away.
That was it.
Just two words.
But they hit differently this time.
Daniyal stood still, watching her leave.
Something tightened in his chest.
Not jealousy.
Not anger.
Something more confusing.
Something unclaimed.
Sabuhi noticed the shift and gently touched his arm.
"They're like that," she said softly. "Both of them. Don't take it personally."
Daniyal forced a small smile.
"I'm starting to think nothing with her is personal… but everything feels personal."
He didn't mean to say it out loud.
But he did.
Meanwhile, Saaniya grabbed Usman's wrist and turned him toward her.
"Are you going to tell me," she said firmly, "or should I break your jaw?"
Usman smiled faintly—but his eyes didn't.
"Do you have time?" he asked instead.
She softened instantly.
"I have all the time, partner."
She scanned the group quickly.
"Imran can drop them. We'll sit and talk after."
But immediately—
Sabuhi and Shanaya protested.
"No," Sabuhi said quickly.
"I can't," Shanaya added.
Their reasons overlapped.
Marriage. Family. Secrets. Fear.
The same invisible walls.
Saaniya and Usman exchanged a glance.
They understood each other without words.
"Go," Usman said quietly. "We'll talk later."
Saaniya hesitated. "Promise?"
He nodded. "Promise."
On the drive, silence filled the car.
Saaniya glanced at Sabuhi through the mirror.
"Do you want to say something?"
Sabuhi looked out the window.
"No."
And that was louder than anything else.
That night, Daniyal lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
The day replayed in fragments.
Her shoulder.
Her fragrance.
Her refusal to take his hand.
Her cold goodbye.
And worst of all—
the way he didn't stop thinking about it.
He sat up suddenly.
"This is stupid," he muttered.
He ran a hand through his hair.
"I don't even understand her."
But the truth was worse.
He didn't want to understand her.
He wanted her to make sense in a way that suited him.
And she didn't.
His phone vibrated.
Komal.
He answered instantly.
"Hello."
Her voice was calm—but sharp underneath.
"You missed me?"
"I did," he said quickly.
"Really? Because I didn't get a single message."
He paused.
"I was busy."
"With who?"
The question landed harder than expected.
"The boys," he replied.
Silence.
Then—
"You sound different," she said.
He exhaled. "Nothing is different."
But even as he said it—
he knew he was lying.
Because somewhere in the back of his mind…
the silence of Saaniya's presence still hadn't left.
Across the city, Saaniya sat at her desk, calm, composed.
Unaware.
Completely unaware.
That without trying—
without even knowing—
she had already become the reason
someone else couldn't think straight anymore.
And worse—
he hadn't realized it yet.