It was dark place...
Low oxygen...

" I won't... "

" You will have to... "

" Rose, she won't understand. Look at her, she didn't even deliver a child. That's why she is so active and with an attitude... " Rochelle suggested.

" Then let's make her feel the pain we felt... " Rose looked at Eiram who was tied to the wall now.

" You didn't deliver a child... I did...You don't know how much pain one goes under C section...let me show you... " Rose said gritting her teeth.

She made a cut on Eiram's abdomen making a scar.

" Aarrrghhhhhh " Eiram screamed.

" Shut up!! Your scream may attract Iyan or Ryan or Brian or anyone on his team... " Rose slapped her hard that made Eiram unconscious.

" Ahhh " Eiram Khala woke up gasped...

" Ahhh " Mehr woke up gasped and all sweaty having the nightmare of what her Khala narrated to her.

It was One and half years past that incident. Mehr took a deep breath after closing her eyes. Since then, she has nightmares of anything related to the incident.

After freshening up and she walked downstairs for breakfast.

" Assalamualaikum " Mehr wished.

" Walaikum assalam, my Cutie pie " Khala replied and kissed Mehr's cheeks.

" I have made your favorite pancakes. " Khala said and Mehr smiled sitting in front of the dining table.

" Assalamualaikum  "

" Walaikum assalam " Alfaiza entered and said salam to which they replied.

" Mehr, where did you go from the hospital after lunch? You even came home late last night. " Alfaiza asked.

Mehr glared at her and replied,

" I was with Iqra. "
" No you were not. " Iqra who was arranging fruits in refrigerator, stood up and answered.

Khala became suspicious and asked,

" Where were you Khala? "

" I was at Iqra's... Iqra Construction centre. I am planning to build a farm house on the land we bought last ywar. " Mehr replied in singke tone and others nodded.

" But before that... Let's plan a party... "

" But we can have party after its construction... "

" No, Khala. We didn't celebrate much this year. So, let's... "

" Fine... Let's eat out this weekend. " Khala announced and everyone nodded except Mehr who was busy imagining what happened after she left for lunch yesterday.

Mehr was on her way to reach the Iqra's Construction centre for her appointment to make a deal but near the traffic light, she saw a person wearing the same black jacket with black mask she once gifted Miran.

" Miran... " She whispered and walked as the light turned green. She ran after him. But stopped for a second.
Though she blamed him for all the pains and sufferings, her Khala and she herself suffered but internally she knew. He went through much to save her Khala. And she blamed him instead of thanking him for bringing her Khala back. Mehr blamed herself for the causation that separated her from Miran.

Mehr looked at the man taking a cab from the end of the road. She looked at him and then in the cab coming in the same direction.

" It's now or never... " Mehr whispered and took a cab ride in the same direction the man went to.

Hoping to see Miran again, was making her excited but also nervous. Mehr wanted to ask him why he left. Was it because of her? was the question that haunted her the most.

In the past year, she asked and hinted Alfaiza to tell her about Miran but she didn't give her any clue where he was. Though she knew that he contacted Alfaiza once or twice every month.

The cab stopped after about an hour of travelling and she walked out of the cab following the man again. It was a secluded area outside the city where the plans to build mansions were being made. And as she walked further, she saw a white coloured mansion. The man went inside.  She was about to walk inside following him when she saw Alfaiza coming out of the main door of the mansion. She hid behind the main gate and the wall attached.

Mehr peaked and saw Miran from afar. He looked dull while talking to Alfaiza.

" She met him? Does that mean every half day she took from hospital was to meet him? " Mehr asked herself and peaked again.

This time, the man saw her. Alfaiza was about to turn her face to see Mehr when Mehr hid again and looked here and there before running away.

The man followed her or that was Mehr's assumption because of the footsteps she heard from behind. But Mehr was determined to run as fast as she could to save herself.

" Mehr!! "

" Mehr!! "

" Huh? " Mehr asked.

" We are calling you for a minute. What are you thinking so deeply? " Khala asked.

" Nothing... "

That very moment, her phone rang.

" It's an emergency. " Mehr heard and walked out with big steps.

She rushed to the hospital and changed into a sterile Apron and gloves for safety. As she entered the operation theatre, she looked at the case once again. Noticed the vital signs and other detailed investigation reports before starting to perform the surgery.

She started piercing the skin layers. The patient was shot with around 5 or 6 bullets and he was in a critical conditions. She took about 3 bullets when a man entered.

" No outsider is allowed... " One of the assistant students said.
Mehr looked up and her heartbeat changed. Her hands started to tremble as her soul recognised the person in front of her.

Mehr wanted to talk to Miran but suddenly all those incidents played in her mind.

" Sorry, I cannot do this. " Mehr announced watching her trembling hands and the others gasped.

" Doctor, what are you saying? " The nurse asked in whisper.

" I need some time. Look at my hands. " Saying that, Mehr walked to the adjacent room to relax. The room had a wash basin and two sofas with 4 cupboards for storage.

Her heart started crying sitting in the corner of the sofa. The tears flow down like a river.

She couldn't understand her hysterical condition. All the past events just flashed back in front of her eyes. She felt anger, guilt and sadness at the same time.

Miran entered the room and saw Mehr crying.

" Listen, Mehr... " Miran approached her.

" Don't come near me... " Mehr said in loud voice sending daggered through her eyes at his direction.

" Fine. But atleast hear me out. "

" I don't want to. And I am not obliged... " Mehr stood up towards the wash basin and washed her hands.

" Mehr... " Miran called her cutting her sentence in middle.

" It's Dr. Mehr. " She shouted pointing her finger at him.

" Fine... " Miran walked towards the door but turned and pulled Mehr towards him by holding her wrist.

" Miran, are you out of your mind? " Mehr yelled at him and started pushing him.

" Listen, Dr. Mehr. " Miran said tightening his hold and Mehr stopped resisting.

" Mehr. My man needs you. He's Zemad. You need to save him and get these bullets out of him. Do you understand? "

Miran looked at Mehr. Mehr just sent daggers at his direction through her eyes while replying arrogantly,

" No. If he's your man, then never. He's one of you. "

" But he is here because of you... " Miran said in a loud voice.

" What do you mean? " Mehr asked in loud voice.

" You followed Zemad and Alfaiza, didn't you? " Miran asked and the change in her expressions made her answer the question indirectly.

" You followed Alfaiza and one of the employee of Rose followed you. Fortunately, Zemad saw that. And he ran after you to save him. He didn't return until midnight after killing all the team members of that employee of Rose. But he was suffering with the shots he took for you... " Miran gulped and looked away.

" They can take the remaining bullets out..." She said after a few minutes of silence, referring to the internees.

" You are a specialist, Mehr. Or is it that you hate me so much? " Miran asked gritting his teeth as the end.

Mehr pulled away from him but Miran held her again in his arms.

" Is that so much hatred for me that you're backing off? Huh? " Miran asked looking at her eyes.
She looked at him, at his eyes directly and said,

" Yes. "

" Listen Mehr, I know when your heart beat increases. I know whom your heart craves for. I know what your mind advised you and I know what your soul wants... Still.., Are you gonna lie in front of me? He asked in a sweet loving voice.

" Please... " Miran pleaded.

" Yes, I hate you still. "

" Okay then. " Miran took a deep breath and pulled away. Mehr adjusted with her steps and stood still in front of him.

Mehr felt like loosening the battle.

And that's when Miran pushed her against the wall of the door and kissed her. Aggressively and lovingly.
Mehr started to push him back, but unknowingly her lips replied, which was a shocking sensation for her mind to receive. All her cravings for him were returning back.

But she broke and sat on the chair nearby. Miran came forward and put his hand on her shoulders.

" You can do it. I trust you. " She nodded unknowingly as she was engrossed in the thoughts of the action that happened a few minutes ago.

" Let me help you dress up for surgery. " Miran said and helped her get the gloves and apron.
He announced,
" Dr. Mehr will now continue the surgery. "

After a few minutes the operation was successful. The patient, Zemad, was sent to the room while Miran entered the room next to operation theatre. He was standing looking at the mirror. Mehr looked at him while entering the room knowing Miran would be there. The miss they had earlier released the suppressed affections for him in her heart. And those affections wanted more.

Mehr looked directly into his eyes and removed the apron and gloves and threw it in the dustbin. She washed her hands and face and stood behind him. He turned to look at her.

" I heard you joined a hospital... Are you practicing surgery? What changed your mind? " Mehr chuckled at the end while asking.

" Remember, a medical student told me to follow my passion as a surgeon and business on the other side. "

" Yeah, that's me. " Mehr replied placing her hands over his chest.

" I missed you... " Miran whispered near her face while taking a deep breath.

" I missed you too. " Mehr replied after a minute teasing Miran with her breath on his face. And they kissed hungrily again.

*****      *****      *****