Doctor Nazeer sank deep into thoughts about his wife Hajara, the mother of Khairat, while at the same time feeling pity for himself and for his daughter who had been deprived of the pillar of her life since childhood. In his reflections, he found no woman who could be trusted with his daughter’s wellbeing—except Zainab. He admired her upbringing, her composure, and above all, her deep knowledge of religion.

He adjusted his position on the bed. Just then, like in a dream, tears of love and a flood of pure affection for Zainab streamed down his face unexpectedly. Surprised, he touched his soft hand to his tears. Never in his life had he fallen so helplessly into the trap of love as he had with Zeey. Yes, he loved his wife Hajara, but the love he felt for Zainab had already overshadowed everything else in his life.

He didn’t even bother to wipe the tears still rolling down his cheeks. A little while later, his mother entered the room, carrying a tray filled with food. Because Nazeer was already lost in his ocean of thoughts, sailing in the river of love, he didn’t notice her arrival.

As soon as she reached him, she bent down and gently placed the tray before him. That was when she saw the tears glistening in his eyes, and her heart was filled with compassion. Alarmed, she said loudly:

“Nazeer, are you alright? What’s wrong with you that you’re crying…!?”

Her words startled him like a dream. He quickly tried to cover his feelings and replied,

“Momy, when did you come in? I didn’t even notice…!”

“How could you notice, when you were drowning in your thoughts?” she answered.

He released a heavy sigh and said,

“I wasn’t thinking, Momy, I was almost falling asleep…”

Momy frowned slightly. “Don’t deceive me. Tell me what thoughts are troubling you so much that they’ve brought you to tears, like someone who has lost his parents?”

“There’s nothing troubling me, Momy. I don’t even know when the tears started falling.”

She pouted in frustration, almost upset:

“Well, if you won’t tell me your troubles, here is your food. Eat it yourself. I’m leaving.”

As she stood to leave, Nazeer quickly grabbed her hand, his face pleading.

“Please, Momy, forgive me. Don’t go.”

“Let go of my hand, Nazeer. If I don’t go, what do you want me to do for you? You’re hiding something from me—me, your own mother!”

“My being here is pointless if you can’t share your troubles with me.”

“I’ll tell you, Momy, please sit down again,” he begged.

Because of her deep love for him, she didn’t argue long. She sat back down, dished the food onto his plate, and ordered him to eat before they talked further. Respectfully, Nazeer obeyed. He ate slowly until half the plate was finished, then drank some cold water.

Finally, he wiped his mouth and said quietly, “I’m full.”

She adjusted her sitting position, her face glowing with warmth.

“Good. Now tell me the reason for your tears. If you don’t, my heart will never rest, and I won’t have peace of mind.”

Nazeer fixed his eyes on her face for a long time. Inside, he felt a painful heat searing through his body and his mind. A sad smile curved his lips as he confessed:

“Momy, all this trouble you see me in is because of the love I feel for Zainab. It has gripped every part of me.”

“I love her beyond imagination. Losing her a second time would be like losing happiness itself in this world of love.”

“But she doesn’t understand how deeply her love has wounded my heart. She doesn’t see that without her, I can’t continue to breathe on this earth.”

“Truly, a person doesn’t willingly bring the sickness of love upon himself. If I had chosen this, I could have plucked it from my heart long ago, and I might have found peace again. But this love has overpowered me completely.”

As he spoke of the place Zainab held in his heart, tears of longing poured down his handsome face. With difficulty, he swallowed the lump of grief choking his chest and continued:

“