******

"So the reason for telling you this story is that I know exactly how you feel and that you are not alone, not anymore. I know when I was your age I was in a hassle, trying to grasp everything around me, trying to be my best and trying to understand the theories of the world. I forgot on my way I was just a child and that I too can enjoy things. That's my only regret. I don't want you to do the same even when you feel like you have to act like an adult, you don't. I want you to stop for a moment and try understanding from your actual thinking instead of using an adult thinking to understand things. I want you to grasp things slowly. I want you to enjoy the small things around you and love small things. That's the only thing I am asking you to be a kid again".

Her words seem to leave a mark on Afifa young mind. She sits in her room now alone thinking over the things she has done so far.

Was she happy?, no.

She wouldn't be here if she was happy. So what exactly made her unhappy?.

Everything and everyone.

Mostly people. Because the people she trusted to guide her were all snakes in the end. They were using her to gain access to her father.

Was Sun doing the same?.

That thought hasn't occurred to her and then she heard the door open once again.

She looks at her father a little embarrassed about her yesterday act. Fears grip her senses as she takes slow steps towards her making her small heartbeat differently.

In fear.

"I-I am sorry". She whispers

He didn't say anything.

She can feel him looking at her and then shaking his head. She wonders if yesterday has finally managed to push him to his limits and that he might throw her away too.

"I am sorry please don't abandon me". She said choking, "I- will-".

She finds him leaving the room but she called him making him stop.

"This is the paper my doctor asked to give you". She said handing him the small paper

He walks outside with a heavy heart watching just how much his precious daughter is hurt by his presence. She always goes on alert and he didn't want that to happen.

He looks at the paper in his clench fist, "I know you are a busy person who doesn't have time but I would like if you can take just a few minutes for me to talk over your daughter case. Thank you. Sun".

He cannot believe the woman is hell-bent on meeting him. He wonders if she knows that he is the one of the best business who has an umpire of his own then again she probably do know that.

He looks at the time and her letter said 11 PM and he has so many hours to spare.

He needed to meet her for his daughter sake. No other reason.

He waited for hours watching how she looked around to various patient not even a bit of annoyance at the yelling people on her face. If it was him he would have put them in their place.

He watched how attentively she does her work in in the most chaos and just how many surgeries she had lined up.

At last, 11 PM rolled in and he saw her walking outside of the surgery with exhaustion clearly written on her face.

She sighs.

"Excuse me". She heard someone say

She turns to look at the man standing in front of her and she frowns, "Can I help you?".

"This". He said forwarding the paper

She looks down at the paper then back at him with a sweet grin, "You are her father. Finally, I can meet you. Please, let's go to the cafeteria".

They sit opposite each other and she looks at him.

"Thank you so much for your time". She started softly, "I wanted to talk about your daughter. I am sure you saw a glimpse of how much stress she is under?". He nodded, "I know for sure she is an amazing kid with even more amazing skills and she can do whatever that she wants to. There is absolutely no doubt that she can be better and I have been on her case for a while but haven't had a chance to meet you". She pauses, "Since I am on her case I would say to trust me with her. I will do my best and I know she will be fine in no time. I just need your help a little".

He nodded.

Probably going to ask me for money or power.

"Well, I know you have lots of money but she doesn't need to be reminded of that". She started

"What?". He said taken back

"She doesn't need to stay in the room she is staying in right now. I know that room has everything but it lacks major element". She pauses looking at his blank expression, "Emotions. She needs to be in touch with them to be able to control them. Even when I am with her she needs people her age and to be able to socialize with them. I can only stay a few hours so she spends most of her time alone in that big room which is not healthy".

"What do you suggest?". He asked

"Move her to children ward". She suggested dropping the bomb

******

"Why am I here?". Afifa asked nervously

Surraya holds her shaking hand in her own," Beta (daughter), it's just for a while until your room in repairing".

"B-But I can stay in another room!?". Afifa asked

"Unless you want another hospital there is no room available in this one". Surraya said moving back, "All the kids here are my favourite so while you are here try speaking to them nicely".

Surraya walks outside sighing when she knows Afifa won't ask more questions.

He looks at her, "Is she going to be ok?".

She looks at him nodding, "It's her first time because of which she will be nervous. I know the kids will make her feel comfortable in no time".

"But it's too loud here". He said frowning at the shouting going around

"It's children ward for a reason". She said softly grinning as she finds her favourite kid- Azhar

She grins looking at him running towards his wheelchair and bending down, "Azhar, my love, how are you?".

He can swear her expression and habit changes just like that. She looks all strong-headed when she works then when she talks she is firm but when she turned to children she has a 360-degree change in her personality.

Well, he can understand that in some way. He didn't intend to listen to her story but he ended up listening to it. He thought it was someone else so he wasn't intruding to privacy until she really did say it's her.

He had so many questions running in his mind now. How did she survive?. What happened next?. Where is her mother now?.

The series of question unanswered and the questions never stop. Not even when he is home alone. He still is thinking about her.

Abandoned .

He didn't understand it truly he was abandoned by his wife so if that's count. He withdrew from things even his own child handing her to other people.

She turns to look at his face filled with hurt and with a goodbye to Azhar she walks back to him.

"Can I help you?". She asked softly

His eyes turn to her, "What can I do?".

He was desperate.

She smiles genuinely, "Come on, let's go somewhere else to talk".

They walk towards the bench outside the hospital.

"You can do more than what anyone else can do, sir". She started, "She is your daughter and I know you have been a great father to her. But it seems while providing the best for her you both have created some wall between yourself. She seems to always be alert and scared of you. I won't judge but I have a feeling someone stored fear in her of you".

His eyes widen, "What?. No, everyone near her was people I know".

"Trust me, people, you know and trust hurt you the most". She said shortly, "There is something that triggers her when you are beside her. A child is never scared of their parents no matter what at least not to her level until they are stuffed with things to make them scared of you. She is just a child who is scared of things and you need to make her see that the world is good. She will believe you. You need to be more expressive towards her. Like often hug her even if she whines or pushes you away, tell her you love her and hold her all the time. Physical contact with her and loving gestures will help her anxiety".

"How do you know this?. I mean I know you are a doctor but I don't think you are a physician?". He asked

She shrugged, "It's mostly from my experience".

He understands.

"Thank-". He started

"Hi, Sun". They heard someone say

She turns around looking at Nadir, "It's not sun for you, it's Dr.Surraya"

"We are colleagues I am sure we don't have to be formal". He replied

Unconsciously Abdullah clenched his hand.

"No, we might be colleagues but the people I allow gets to call me that". She said sharply

"Fine. So you can't eat with me but you can with him?". Nadir accused

"Look Nadir, you are no one who I should be explaining as to why I am speaking to this man so leave". She said angrily

"I-". Nadir started

"She said to leave". Abdullah said having enough

Nadir glare at her moving away and she sighs tiredly.

"Are you ok?". He asked worriedly

"Yeah, I will be fine. If you need any help please let me know and I hope you do your best like you always have". She said softly walking away

*****

Afifa looks at the boy who has been looking at her for a long time making her conscious.

"My name is Azhar, you?". He speaks softly

"I don't want to talk. Can you leave?". She said nervously

He shakes his head, "You are Sun's new favourite so I have to be here to see it".

"I am her favourite?". She asked curiously

He nodded, "She said you are the most beautiful soul she has ever seen and that you are just lost".

"Lost?". She asked confused

"Yeah, she says all beautiful souls sometimes get lost so we have to bring them back. I was one". He replied

"How?". She asked

"Well, when I first came in on wheelchair I was scared. She helped me into knowing that even if one ability is gone I have a lot more. It took me time but I understood". He replied smiling,"I can't do anything about my problems you can and you are avoiding it".

The door opens and Abdullah walks in and Azhar moves outside. She sits alert on his presence.

"Beta (daughter)-". He started but he saw that word he had said for the first time seems to shock her to no end, "How are you?".

"I-I am good". She said stuttering

"That's good. I want you to be good. I miss you when I am home alone". He said kissing her forehead hearing her gasp

"Did I do something wrong?". She asked worriedly

He places his hand on her cheeks lovingly, "No, beta, I think I might have done something wrong. How about we start from the start?. You can speak to me about anything and I promise I will listen. I will always be here for you".

She merely nodded.

He smiles kissing her forehead one more time before sitting beside her talking about anything he can think of.

*******

Surraya heard whispering around her going on for at least a week now but she didn't pay any mind to it working all day and night.

"I heard she is trying to seduce him". She heard a nurse say

"Abdullah Reham is a rich man she has a big chance while pretending to take care of his girl". She heard the other one say

"She sure knows how to capture men". Someone else says, "And she is using a child for her motives".

She feels her cheeks dampen and realise she is crying. She wasn't hurt by most words besides that her intention to nurture a child back to health was accused.

She never would have care about herself but she wasn't using a child. She didn't even speak to her father after that day.

She took a step but stops when she find someone standing in front of her. She raises her tears filled eyes looking at none other than Abdullah standing looking directly at her with anger in his eyes.

"You didn't do anything wrong to lower your head". He said his voice strained

She nodded walking away when she sees the people were throwing glances at them.

******

"You cannot do this anymore". Her senior said

"But why?". Surraya asked

"Because if you continue this your future is at stake. Everyone is doubting your intentions, Surraya". Her senior explained

"I don't care". She said desperately, "As long as I can save someone life I will do anything".

"But-". Her senior started

"Please". She said and her senior nodded

******

"I don't want you near me, go away". Afifa yelled angrily glaring at Zoya

She started to panic again screaming as everyone around her tries to calm her down.

Surraya walks in looking at the nurse trying to put her down and her throwing things around.

"Afifa". She said loudly

Everyone stopped moving back and she directed them outside.

"I-I-". Afifa started

Surraya walks near her hugging her tightly.

"It's ok". Surraya whispers softly

After she calmed her down she walks outside knowing that someone came to visit her who she didn't like.

Something trigger her.

She walks outside and sees Abdullah with a woman who is clinging to him crying and saying how his daughter is going crazy.

"She needs a psychiatrist". The woman cried

"No, she doesn't". Surraya said sharply

They turn to her and she moves to stands in front of them.

"Who do you think-". The woman started

"You visited her right now right?". Surraya asked and she nodded, "Well, you are not allowed to visit her from now on. You cannot at any cost go near her".

"Who do you think you are?". That woman yelled angrily

"I am her doctor and since you are not related to her by blood I can stop your visits anytime if my patient is being disturbed by it. I don't know what you did but you are not allowed to go near her". Surraya said walking away not before glaring at Abdullah

Abdullah stayed surprised by the tone and how her eyes look at him.

"Did you see how she spoke to me?". Zoya said looking at Abdullah

Abdullah removes her hand from his, "You cannot come near me or my daughter anymore. Stay away from us".

He walked away to find Surraya to clear her misconceptions.

****

"You should tell them". Afifa heard Azhar say

She looks at him confused.

"I know what she said. I heard about the threats". Azhar said

Her eyes widen, "Please, don't tell-".

"I won't. But you know you have to tell someone". Azhar said, "I know you are doing this to save your father but he needs to know to be able to save himself. That woman is always around her so you need to tell him so he can prevent it".

"But-". She started

"I know you know who you have to tell". Azhar said, "Just try one time. I will go and bring them in".

A moment later Surraya walks in.

"You wanted to see me?". Surraya asked

Afifa opens her hands for her and she hugs her at once.

Surraya wraps her arms tightly around her when she heard her sobbing for the first time.

Abdullah enters inside at the same time and the sound of crying halted his steps.

"Beta (daughter), what happened?. Tell me, I promise I will help you". She said concerned

Afifa pulls away looking at her, "Will you?".

Surraya nodded wiping her tears, "I promise".

Afifa explained how since she was young Zoya threatened her to do things in her way by saying her father asked her to make Afifa do it. How she used to threaten that she will hurt Abdullah if she ever spoke to him and more.

By the ending, they both were crying.

"Beta (daughter), you need to tell your father". Surraya said wiping Afifa's tears

"I am scared". Afifa said

Abdullah heard all of her words and the anger and hurt he felt couldn't be described in words.

Trust me, people, you know and trust hurt you the most

Now he understands and guilt grips him that he trusted people other than himself who was her family to raise her.

It was all his fault.

He removes the curtain behind which he was hiding to find his trembling daughter. Surraya moves back allowing him to hold his daughter in his arms after so long.

"Beta (daughter), she cannot do anything. I promise". He said patting her back to calm her down, "I am so sorry for everything. I am so sorry, beta".

******

After a confrontation with Zoya and her agreeing to everything, he cannot believe how a woman can be so cruel to a child.

Even if it's not her child.

He sighs.

The most she said is she will hurt him but she cannot even reach anywhere near him or his child. Who can she possibly hurt?.

He enters Afifa room to find her sleeping peacefully and then his head turns to look beside her to find Surraya holding her hand and sleeping too.

They both look peaceful.

That's when it clicks, she is going to hurt Surraya.

He cannot let that happen but there is no way he can protect her. None that he can think of.

He needs to keep her safe.

She had done nothing but connect him back to his daughter and give his daughter a second chance at life. He never thought after everything he or his daughter would ever have another chance.

She helped them.

It's his turn.

He calls her name a few times being mindful that his daughter doesn't wake up. After a few tries, he managed to have her up and asked her to walk outside because he needs to talk to her.

"Is there something wrong?". She asked confused

"Marry me". He said dropping the bomb