In the Depth of the Heart - Chapter 46: Chapter 46
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Tariq’s House – Evening
Kamal had spent the entire day locked in his room, refusing to come out. When Munir returned from school, he climbed the stairs with a sheet of paper — their psychology assignment. He pushed open Kamal’s door.
Kamal was seated on the bed without a shirt, writing in his diary. His legs were folded, his eyes puffy — signs of little or no sleep.
> Munir (softly):
“Kamal… we’ve got that psychology assignment. It's due today.”
> Kamal:
“You can start it. I’ll join you later.”
> Munir:
“Are you sure you haven’t taken anything again?”
> Kamal (with a bitter laugh):
“I haven’t. But the pain… it hasn’t stopped.”
Munir paused for a moment, then quietly left the room.
Kamal picked up his diary again and continued writing:
> “Letting go of love is easy. But what do you do with the hatred that has no escape?
My father… I wish I could say I’ve forgiven him, but I can’t.
I don’t even know who I am anymore.”
He closed his eyes in silence.
Hospital – Zuhra’s House – Night
Zuhra returned home exhausted. Zainab was seated at the dining table waiting for her to eat. Brigadier Imran was in his room, having asked for his dinner to be kept aside.
Zuhra sat down wearily, rubbing her hands.
> Zainab:
“What’s wrong, Zuhra? You haven’t seemed like yourself since yesterday.”
> Zuhra:
“Nothing, Mom. Just… the pressure from training.”
Zainab set down her spoon.
> Zainab:
“Zuhra… you’re very strong. But love and life — they both have their own seasons. Listen to your heart. If there’s something bothering you more than this job, say it.”
Zuhra looked at her mother, her eyes filling with tears, but she wiped them away with a small smile.
> Zuhra:
“I just miss poetry… I miss him…”
Zainab didn’t fully understand, but she gently held her hand.
> Zainab:
“It’s going to be okay. Everything will work itself out.”
Hospital – The Next Day
Zuhra returned to the ward with renewed energy. Though the work still didn’t fulfill her, she made an effort to smile, to stay focused. She was trying.
Dr. Ragav came through for ward rounds and noticed the change.
> Dr. Ragav (in his thoughts):
“Hm. She’s improving. But she’s still hiding something deep inside.”
Tariq’s House – Evening
Munir and Kamal were working on the assignment together. Then Munir said:
> Munir:
“I think the poetry night will return next week. Will you go?”
> Kamal (quietly):
“If my heart still has the strength to recite the verses I’ve written… I’ll go.”
> Munir:
“You and Zuhra…”
> Kamal:
“She’s no longer mine.
But I can still spill love
on the same stage
where she first recognized me.”
Final Scene – Kamal’s Diary
> “If you have a father, but no sense of fatherhood — what are you?
If you have love, but no strength to hold it — what kind of love is that?
I’ll write it all.
I’ll speak it all.
And maybe I’ll see you again… even if it’s from afar.”
Kamal had spent the entire day locked in his room, refusing to come out. When Munir returned from school, he climbed the stairs with a sheet of paper — their psychology assignment. He pushed open Kamal’s door.
Kamal was seated on the bed without a shirt, writing in his diary. His legs were folded, his eyes puffy — signs of little or no sleep.
> Munir (softly):
“Kamal… we’ve got that psychology assignment. It's due today.”
> Kamal:
“You can start it. I’ll join you later.”
> Munir:
“Are you sure you haven’t taken anything again?”
> Kamal (with a bitter laugh):
“I haven’t. But the pain… it hasn’t stopped.”
Munir paused for a moment, then quietly left the room.
Kamal picked up his diary again and continued writing:
> “Letting go of love is easy. But what do you do with the hatred that has no escape?
My father… I wish I could say I’ve forgiven him, but I can’t.
I don’t even know who I am anymore.”
He closed his eyes in silence.
Hospital – Zuhra’s House – Night
Zuhra returned home exhausted. Zainab was seated at the dining table waiting for her to eat. Brigadier Imran was in his room, having asked for his dinner to be kept aside.
Zuhra sat down wearily, rubbing her hands.
> Zainab:
“What’s wrong, Zuhra? You haven’t seemed like yourself since yesterday.”
> Zuhra:
“Nothing, Mom. Just… the pressure from training.”
Zainab set down her spoon.
> Zainab:
“Zuhra… you’re very strong. But love and life — they both have their own seasons. Listen to your heart. If there’s something bothering you more than this job, say it.”
Zuhra looked at her mother, her eyes filling with tears, but she wiped them away with a small smile.
> Zuhra:
“I just miss poetry… I miss him…”
Zainab didn’t fully understand, but she gently held her hand.
> Zainab:
“It’s going to be okay. Everything will work itself out.”
Hospital – The Next Day
Zuhra returned to the ward with renewed energy. Though the work still didn’t fulfill her, she made an effort to smile, to stay focused. She was trying.
Dr. Ragav came through for ward rounds and noticed the change.
> Dr. Ragav (in his thoughts):
“Hm. She’s improving. But she’s still hiding something deep inside.”
Tariq’s House – Evening
Munir and Kamal were working on the assignment together. Then Munir said:
> Munir:
“I think the poetry night will return next week. Will you go?”
> Kamal (quietly):
“If my heart still has the strength to recite the verses I’ve written… I’ll go.”
> Munir:
“You and Zuhra…”
> Kamal:
“She’s no longer mine.
But I can still spill love
on the same stage
where she first recognized me.”
Final Scene – Kamal’s Diary
> “If you have a father, but no sense of fatherhood — what are you?
If you have love, but no strength to hold it — what kind of love is that?
I’ll write it all.
I’ll speak it all.
And maybe I’ll see you again… even if it’s from afar.”
End of In the Depth of the Heart Chapter 46. Continue reading Chapter 47 or return to In the Depth of the Heart book page.