In the Depth of the Heart - Chapter 28: Chapter 28
You are reading In the Depth of the Heart, Chapter 28: Chapter 28. Read more chapters of In the Depth of the Heart.
Munir’s House – Night
Kamal’s room no longer felt like his. It was as if his breath had vanished into the air of his thoughts. The phone in his hand gave off no light — only darkness, just like his heart. His eyes were closed, but his mind was filled with a single image: Zuhra.
Her laughter.
The way she said, "I feel like we’ve known each other forever."
The way her eyes held a silence that spoke louder than words.
Then he opened his eyes suddenly, feeling the pain — but the true ache was not in his body. It was inside.
Kamal (quietly, to the wall):
"They used fists to separate us… but they forgot: my heart doesn’t recognize pain."
He paced the room slowly — like someone wading through a sea of memory. At times, he clapped his hands against his knees. At other moments, he sat and stared at nothing — two eyes, one soul: focused entirely on Zuhra.
Morning – Munir’s House
The knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. When he opened it, Munir’s parents were standing outside.
Mommy:
“Kamal! Subhanallah… what happened to you? Munir said you weren’t feeling well, so we came to check on you.”
Kamal (adjusting his posture, forcing a small smile):
“I just fell… from the stairs last night. But I’m feeling a bit better now.”
Daddy (studying him):
“You should’ve called us earlier. This doesn’t look like a fall to me… Were you attacked? Got into a fight with someone?”
Kamal:
“No, nothing like that. Just a fall, Daddy. I really appreciate your concern.”
Daddy:
“Even so, we have to call a doctor. I won’t let you stay in this state.”
Mommy (stepping closer, touching his forehead):
“Can you eat something? I’ll make you something light.”
Kamal (embarrassed):
“Thank you so much, Mommy… I’ll eat something soon.”
At University – Noon
Zuhra was seated in her Physics class, but her spirit was elsewhere — far removed from the lecture. Her notebook lay open before her, but her eyes stayed fixed on the door — hoping for someone she wasn’t sure would walk in.
Zuhra (thinking to herself):
"It’s been days… I haven’t seen him — not in the cafeteria, not in the hall, not even in the library. Is he okay? Did… did Daddy find out who he was?"
She slowly closed her eyes. Her mind felt heavy, like her thoughts had built a wall inside her. John and Usman were nearby, like secret agents — watching her every move.
Her friend (worried):
“Zuhra, are you alright? You’ve lost so much weight this week.”
Zuhra (holding herself together):
“I just have a headache… I’m going to step out and rest a bit.”
She rose and left the classroom before the lecture ended. But everywhere she turned, it felt like John and Usman’s eyes were right behind her — two eyes, one order: protect the general’s daughter.
There was no way she could ask Munir about Kamal — every path to him had been blocked.
Zuhra’s Room – Night
She sat on the edge of her bed. Her scarf was off, hair falling tiredly to one side. She leaned against the wall, staring at her phone with a quiet mix of hope, fear, and longing.
No new messages.
No calls.
No Kamal.
Zuhra (closing her eyes and breathing deeply):
"Where are you, Kamal...? Are you safe...? Sometimes, someone feels so close… then suddenly they’re gone, like they never even existed."
She opened her eyes, pressing her hand against her chest — her heart pounding with silent pain.
Zuhra (in a weak whisper):
"Why didn’t you come back, Kamal? Did you change your mind…? Have I become a burden to you?"
Kamal’s room no longer felt like his. It was as if his breath had vanished into the air of his thoughts. The phone in his hand gave off no light — only darkness, just like his heart. His eyes were closed, but his mind was filled with a single image: Zuhra.
Her laughter.
The way she said, "I feel like we’ve known each other forever."
The way her eyes held a silence that spoke louder than words.
Then he opened his eyes suddenly, feeling the pain — but the true ache was not in his body. It was inside.
Kamal (quietly, to the wall):
"They used fists to separate us… but they forgot: my heart doesn’t recognize pain."
He paced the room slowly — like someone wading through a sea of memory. At times, he clapped his hands against his knees. At other moments, he sat and stared at nothing — two eyes, one soul: focused entirely on Zuhra.
Morning – Munir’s House
The knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. When he opened it, Munir’s parents were standing outside.
Mommy:
“Kamal! Subhanallah… what happened to you? Munir said you weren’t feeling well, so we came to check on you.”
Kamal (adjusting his posture, forcing a small smile):
“I just fell… from the stairs last night. But I’m feeling a bit better now.”
Daddy (studying him):
“You should’ve called us earlier. This doesn’t look like a fall to me… Were you attacked? Got into a fight with someone?”
Kamal:
“No, nothing like that. Just a fall, Daddy. I really appreciate your concern.”
Daddy:
“Even so, we have to call a doctor. I won’t let you stay in this state.”
Mommy (stepping closer, touching his forehead):
“Can you eat something? I’ll make you something light.”
Kamal (embarrassed):
“Thank you so much, Mommy… I’ll eat something soon.”
At University – Noon
Zuhra was seated in her Physics class, but her spirit was elsewhere — far removed from the lecture. Her notebook lay open before her, but her eyes stayed fixed on the door — hoping for someone she wasn’t sure would walk in.
Zuhra (thinking to herself):
"It’s been days… I haven’t seen him — not in the cafeteria, not in the hall, not even in the library. Is he okay? Did… did Daddy find out who he was?"
She slowly closed her eyes. Her mind felt heavy, like her thoughts had built a wall inside her. John and Usman were nearby, like secret agents — watching her every move.
Her friend (worried):
“Zuhra, are you alright? You’ve lost so much weight this week.”
Zuhra (holding herself together):
“I just have a headache… I’m going to step out and rest a bit.”
She rose and left the classroom before the lecture ended. But everywhere she turned, it felt like John and Usman’s eyes were right behind her — two eyes, one order: protect the general’s daughter.
There was no way she could ask Munir about Kamal — every path to him had been blocked.
Zuhra’s Room – Night
She sat on the edge of her bed. Her scarf was off, hair falling tiredly to one side. She leaned against the wall, staring at her phone with a quiet mix of hope, fear, and longing.
No new messages.
No calls.
No Kamal.
Zuhra (closing her eyes and breathing deeply):
"Where are you, Kamal...? Are you safe...? Sometimes, someone feels so close… then suddenly they’re gone, like they never even existed."
She opened her eyes, pressing her hand against her chest — her heart pounding with silent pain.
Zuhra (in a weak whisper):
"Why didn’t you come back, Kamal? Did you change your mind…? Have I become a burden to you?"
End of In the Depth of the Heart Chapter 28. Continue reading Chapter 29 or return to In the Depth of the Heart book page.