In the Depth of the Heart - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Munir’s House – Night
Munir stepped out of the study room with files in hand. He found Kamal sitting in the parlour, staring at an old photo — one from a group presentation where he and Zuhra stood close. Kamal kept zooming in on her face, locking eyes with her frozen gaze.
> “You’re still on this?” Munir asked.
Kamal didn’t look away.
> “I need to know what happened. She stopped attending lectures. Then I heard she’s at Osmania Hospital. But no one knows how the switch happened. I want to see her — just once.”
Munir adjusted the stack of papers and sat beside him.
> “Why not just call—?”
> “Munir.” Kamal cut him off.
> “I’ve sent twenty voice notes. Nineteen texts. She’s read them. Then she switched off her phone. After my last message — ‘I haven’t forgotten you’ — nothing.”
Munir went silent. At last, he said:
> “Then go. See her at the hospital. Tell her in person. If she doesn’t want to hear it — let her say it. But don’t walk away without hearing it from her mouth.”
Kamal looked at his friend. His heart thudded. One part of him whispered: “I can do this.”
Another murmured: “This could break me.”
Zuhra – Night After Work
She sat at the edge of her bed, still in her clinical uniform. Her hand held a medical textbook, but her eyes were fixed on the wall. Beside her, her diary lay open — untouched.
Her father’s voice echoed:
> “You’re a doctor now.”
And then Kamal’s voice followed:
> “Zuhra… have you forgotten me?”
She covered her eyes with her palms. Then drew a breath and wrote in her diary:
> “I will keep walking.
Even if I leave no one behind…
Even if no one comes after me.”
Osmania General Hospital – Sunday Morning
As usual, she rose early, dressed in her white coat, draped the stethoscope around her neck, and clipped on her “University of Hyderabad” ID. But today, her heart was unsettled. A quiet tension filled her, like a storm waiting in silence.
At the ward, Dr. Priya handed her case files:
> “Zuhra, we’re doing rounds today. You’ll present the patient you followed up with yesterday. Be ready.”
Zuhra nodded, then walked off to check the older man with diabetes and ulcers. She scribbled notes, but her hand trembled slightly.
Kamal – The Decision
Kamal woke with a heavy but determined heart. In the next room, Munir was revising his notes when he heard Kamal moving around.
> “Kamal! You’re really going?”
Kamal zipped his bag and answered:
> “I need to hear it from her. This pain weighs more than the beating John and Usman gave me.”
Munir turned, his jaw tight.
> “You remember what they did at the open mic? If they see you near her again… this time you might lose more than bruises — maybe dignity.”
Kamal paused. Slung his bag over his shoulder.
> “Sometimes, love demands a risk greater than the safety of the body.”
Munir shook his head. But just before Kamal stepped out, he said, solemnly:
> “If anything happens… this time I’ll tell Mommy and Daddy. I’ve woken up twice from dreams of your blood running like ink. I won’t just sit and watch it come true.”
Kamal turned, looked into his friend’s eyes, and replied softly:
> “I’m not asking for your approval, Munir. I’m asking for the right to feel.”
At the Hospital – A Glance That Shook Time
Zuhra stood in the ward, trying to present her patient. Her voice wavered. Dr. Ragav stood nearby, correcting a few things.
Then… at the ward’s entrance, someone appeared. Tall. Fair-skinned. Familiar scent.
Zuhra caught the shadow from the corner of her eye. Her breath caught.
She looked up — and saw Kamal.
Their eyes locked.
Time froze.
Dr. Ragav turned, confused.
> “Zuhra? What’s going on?”
Zuhra quickly averted her gaze, pretending she hadn’t seen anything. But her heart felt like a fragile glass ready to shatter.
Kamal turned and quietly left.
And Zuhra whispered to herself:
> “Why now?
Why… in front of everyone?”