~°°~Held captive by the past~°°~

Army base, Abuja, Nigeria. 9th March, 2022. 7:16pm. ~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~ "Our mission was a success sir, the hostages have been rescued and handed over to the Nigerien government" Sayf reported.

They just returned back from Niger where they went on a rescue mission of two VIPs who were held captive by terrorists. The Nigerien government requested for help from Nigeria thus the army recruited the erudite team to go help.

"That's good, is anyone injured?" The Lieutenant Colonel asked. "No sir" they all replied at the same time. "Major, you're clearly injured. Get your wounds attended to before you leave" He said.

Sayf truly had some bruises and injuries that were not treated. "No thank you sir, I have a family to go back to as soon as possible" Sayf replied.

"Okay sure, you're dismissed" The Lieutenant Colonel replied, Sayf had a very good relationship with him because he once helped him when he was in need for it. The group of soldiers saluted to him before marching out of the office.

Each one of them took the cars they came with from the base garage and left.

Stepping into the house, the first person Sayf met was Abdullah. "Ya Sayf is back, ya Sayf is back....." Abdullah kept shouting going round the house.

In less than a minute, everyone in the house except Tauhida and the maids came out. Sayf exchanged greetings from each one of them before Amani went back in to inform Tauhida. Opening the door to her room, she found her by the door also trying to come out, her eyes were filled with tears waiting for the right moment to rush out.

Sayf came into Tauhida's parlour even before they left the place. It took just an eye gaze before the tears in Tauhida's eyes started to roll down on their own accord and that was when she realised just how much she missed his presence.

Sayf moved closer to her and took her into his embrace as her tears multiplied.

"Look at someone who promised not to worry about me" Sayf whispered to her hearing. Amani took that as her cue to leave so she left. The two stood there without any movement for a while before Tauhida decided to clean her tears so she left his embrace.

Tauhida gestured to his injuries with her eyes making him to know she wanted to dress them so he quietly followed her lead into her room. She took out the first aid kit in her room and sat down beside him on her bed before she started dressing his wounds. He didn't say anything but just sat there and kept staring at her.

"I broke the promise I made because I couldn't stop worrying" Tauhida typed on her phone.

"It's okay, I'm back now so everything is fine again". Yes, everything was fine again the moment she saw him. "You should go take a bath, I'll prepare something for you to eat until then".

"Never mind, I'll just take some tea, I need it more than food" Sayf said. Tauhida nodded before Sayf got up to go back to his room "take care" He said before finally walking out of the room.

Sayf felt very happy, it was like the love he had for Tauhida kept on multiplying with every passing day. When he reached his room, he didn't do what he wanted doing but instead took his journal to note down some things. He loved writing out his thoughts and feelings, it gave him hope.

Don't ask what hope, I also don't know.

Sayf slept after taking his bath, he didn't even get to drink the tea before doing that so he couldn't visit Tauhida for the night. Tauhida had a headache that night so falling asleep was easier even without the recitation.

Late at night, Sayf woke up from his sleep and decided to check on Tauhida.

Going into her room, he found her curled on the floor by the side of her bed. He quickly switched on the lights and rushed to her side where he found her shivering in fear.

She panicked when she felt the touch of hands on her body "Hey hey, it's me, it's me" Sayf said as she tried to calm down, she settled her gaze before busting into new set of tears as she fell into his arms. "It's okay" Sayf kept repeating to her ears.

It broke him to see her in that situation, the fact that he hated it when she cried. He wanted to know what made her to be in that situation but making her to calm down was way more important.

It took long enough before she finally calm down. "Let's go get some fresh air okay?" Sayf said after the while, Tauhida nodded and attempted to stand up while Sayf helped her. The two went out through the back door and went to the pool side, they sat by the pool and placed their legs inside the water, all the while Tauhida's hand in Sayf's.

Sayf brought out the book and pen he carried along with him before calling out Tauhida's attention.

"It is a star filled night Roohiie and I want to read your letters, will you write them for me?" Sayf asked, he needed to divert her attention from what she was thinking so making her write to him was the best option to do that.

Tauhida nodded and accepted the paper and pen before starting to pen down some sentences.

"There are things I really want to say but it wouldn't matter if I write them down to read. You kept the footsteps of my happiness and protection in check, I don't have anything I want other than that" Tauhida wrote down and handed it over to Sayf.

Sayf thought Tauhida would pen down many wishes that she wanted to fulfill or maybe complains but she didn't which made him speechless.

"Why were you crying then, did I fail to fulfill my promise?" Sayf asked, he needed to know if he was hurting her and how he will fix what he spoilt but Tauhida shook her head indicating a no.

She forwarded her hand and accepted the book before starting to write again, tear drops falling on the dry sheet of paper.

"They are hunting my sleep Sayf" Tauhida wrote down. "I never had that dream until today, I keep seeing the people I love shouting in pain as blood rush through their necks and they keep forwarding their hands for help from me. What scares me the most is that I didn't reach out for their hands but instead turned my back against them" Tauhida completed as the tears came back with full force.

It would have been easier for her if she said it with her voice, but writing it turned out to be more painful than it was.

Sayf held her again even before reading the note. He was hesitant because he was afraid to find out if he was behind her grief.

Sayf took a deep sigh before reading out what she wrote down as he held her even tighter, he was afraid that it will happen but was glad when it didn't. He didn't say anything to her as he kept patting her back in a comforting way.

They maintained that position for more than 10 minutes before Tauhida released herself from the embrace. She was always the one to break it first, if It was left to Sayf then they'll rather be like that forever.

"Do you know that sad faces make someone to have wrinkles at a young age" Sayf suddenly said making Tauhida to chuckle. She picked the book again and wrote something down " You have wrong sources, angry faces not sad faces" it read.

"No, there's no way I can be wrong because I'm the third cousin of the neighbours of William Shakespeare's brother's in laws" Sayf replied making Tauhida to burst out laughing.

"That's not true, is it?" Tauhida wrote. "I can't believe that you don't believe me, don't I look like an English guru?" Sayf asked. "Not one bit, you look like all those street boys" Tauhida wrote. "Ouch that hurts" Sayf said. He was glad he was able to bring a smile on her face, it was worth it. "I'm sleepy" Tauhida wrote.

Sayf wondered how she wasn't afraid of sleeping but answered anyways, he had always known her to be brave. "Let's get you to bed" Sayf said as they headed back inside the house.

"I'll stay here with you so don't be afraid and just sleep" Sayf said as he sat beside her laid figure. He started the recitation and it helped Tauhida to fall back asleep, he didn't stop until he was sure she was fast asleep.

And there and then, he also fell asleep beside her, his hands in hers.

There's no choice in love, it always comes knocking to whoever it wishes and it is always a must for the person to open up.

When the lips are silent, they tend to say more than they can. It was the same for Tauhida, she did not need to say anything before Sayf could understand whether she's happy or not, he was the only one who understood her even better than her own self.

~°°~Held captive by the past~°°~

~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~ Tauhida is being held captive by her past oo, I feel sad on her behalf. Sha, everything will be fine insha Allah.

How do you like the chapter? Did I try?

The next chapter will come with a little bit of shock, try your best to handle it.

Please vote, comment and share my book to friends and family. Lots of love,

Deedi--❤️