Love Amongst the Chaos?

Chapter 2 :

With the room now settled, Safa headed back to the nurse’s station to finish up her paperwork. Her phone buzzed again in her pocket, and this time, it was a call from Zayn. She sighed, a mix of affection and frustration in the gesture.

"Zayn," she answered, trying to sound casual.

"Are you coming home, or should I send a search party?" Zayn’s voice was light, but there was an underlying concern in his tone.

Safa leaned against the counter, rubbing her temples. “I’m wrapping up now. Shouldn’t be too long.”

There was a pause on the other end. "You’ve been working nonstop, Safa. You need a break. Why don’t you take the weekend off? Sameera mentioned you might join her for a trip. I think you deserve it."

Safa smiled at the thought of Sameera’s plans, but the weight of the hospital and her family responsibilities kept her grounded. “I can’t, Zayn. There’s always something that needs my attention here. You know how it is.”

“I do,” Zayn said quietly, "but that’s why you need to take a step back. Take a breath. You don’t have to be everything to everyone."

Safa knew he was right. The pressure from work, her family, the looming uncertainty with Humain—it was starting to take a toll. But how could she stop when everything felt like it was teetering on the edge?

"I’ll think about it," she said, trying to sound more reassuring than she felt.

“Promise me you’ll rest, Safa," Zayn insisted. "Dad’s been on me about you. He misses you."

Safa closed her eyes for a moment, the sound of her father’s voice in her head. He wasn’t one to express his feelings often, but when he did, it was impossible to ignore. The expectation was always there—that she would be the perfect daughter, balancing work with her place in the family.

"I’ll be home soon," Safa replied softly. "I promise."

She hung up and stood there for a moment, the weight of her family’s expectations pressing on her shoulders. But just as she was about to push it aside, the sound of rapid footsteps approached.

"Safa, wait!" Sameera’s voice called out from behind her.

Safa turned to see her best friend rushing toward her, her expression full of mischief. Sameera’s red dress stood out against the sterile white of the hospital, and she was carrying a bag of snacks, as if she had come to rescue Safa from the chaos of the ER.

“You haven’t replied to my messages! I was starting to think you were avoiding me,” Sameera teased, tossing the bag on the counter.

Safa smiled despite herself. “I wasn’t avoiding you, Sameera. I was just... busy.”

Sameera raised an eyebrow. "Busy? In the hospital at this hour? More like running from something. You know you can’t hide behind work forever."

Safa’s smile faded slightly, but Sameera didn’t miss it. Her eyes softened, though she didn’t push further.

“Seriously though, you should take a break. I’m not letting you off the hook. We’re going this weekend, whether you like it or not.”

Safa glanced at the clock again. Zayn’s words echoed in her mind—take a breath. Maybe Sameera was right. She had to stop pretending everything was fine when it wasn’t. But how could she walk away from her responsibilities, especially when the last few days had been so chaotic?

“You’re relentless,” Safa muttered, but her tone had softened. “Alright, alright. I’ll think about it.”

Sameera grinned. “That’s what I like to hear. Now, let’s get you out of here before you start checking on patients in your sleep.”

Before Safa could protest, Sameera looped her arm through Safa’s and started pulling her toward the exit.

Beneath the Surface

"Come on, Safa. You’re not listening," Sameera said, leaning across the seat to get her attention. "Tell me you’re not still thinking about him."

Safa blinked, surprised by the question. "Him? Who?"

Sameera raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the feigned ignorance. "Humain Haroon Siddiqui. Don’t act like you didn’t just have a show-down with the guy at the hospital. Your face says it all."

Safa sighed, running a hand through her hair. "He’s just… complicated. He thinks I can convince Zayn to back down, but I’m not getting involved in his business. It’s not my fight."

Sameera leaned back, crossing her arms, clearly skeptical. "I don’t know. You’ve never been someone to just back off, especially when someone’s threatening you."

Safa clenched her jaw. "It’s not about me, Sameera. Zayn’s the one he wants. He’s the one who’s been blocking his company’s expansion plans."

Sameera didn’t respond immediately, letting the words hang in the air. After a few moments, she shrugged. "I get it, but you’re not just Zayn’s sister, Safa. You’re more than that. You’re you. And you have a way of handling things that others don’t. But you can’t keep playing the middle forever."

Safa wasn’t sure how to respond. Sameera was right, but she didn’t want to admit it. The idea of getting involved with someone like Humain—someone who was ruthless, unyielding—felt wrong. She didn’t belong in his world.

As the taxi pulled into the driveway of her family home, the sight of her father’s old car parked outside made her stomach twist. The house was quiet, but there was always an air of anticipation when she came back, as if everyone was waiting for her to be the one to restore balance. But how could she, when everything inside her felt like it was on the verge of falling apart?

“Home sweet home,” Sameera said with a playful tone, but there was a quiet understanding in her voice. “You sure you don’t want to skip out on dinner? I can always keep you company.”

Safa smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m sure. But thank you, Sameera.”

Sameera gave her a knowing look, but she didn’t push it further. "Alright, I’ll see you soon. Just remember what I said. You need to take care of yourself, too."

Safa nodded as she stepped out of the cab. As Sameera drove off, the silence of the night seemed to press in on her, the sounds of the city fading into the background. She wasn’t ready for the conversation she knew was waiting for her inside, but there was no escaping it. Her family—her father—would never let her get away with ignoring her responsibilities.

The door creaked as she entered the house. The familiar scent of her mother’s cooking filled the air, and she could hear the soft murmur of conversation from the living room. Her father, as usual, was waiting for her with a quiet intensity.

"Where have you been?" her father’s voice boomed from the living room before she could even take off her shoes.

Safa stiffened. It wasn’t a question; it was an expectation. "I had a late shift at the hospital," she replied, walking toward the living room.

Zayn was sitting next to their father, his usual easy smile replaced with a look of concern. Her father, Mr. Zubair Khan, sat in his armchair with a furrowed brow, his stern gaze fixed on Safa as she entered.

“You’ve been working too much,” her father said, his voice tinged with disapproval. "You’re not getting any younger, Safa. You need to start thinking about your future."

Safa felt the familiar tightness in her chest. She had heard this speech countless times. "I’m fine, Baba," she said, her voice steady despite the growing tension. "I love what I do. It’s my future."