11. HAROON

Taliya's day had started with the usual routine—checking emails, reviewing designs, and preparing for her meeting with the principal and students of Redwood High School. But as the morning wore on, a familiar sense of dread began to creep in. Her mind buzzed with the pressures of her responsibilities, the weight of expectations pressing down on her chest, but in the middle of her everything she remembered Murad's words which only worsened her situation.

After her jogging session, she came back home with fury lacing underneath her nails. Her bad habit of breaking things in anger made it worse, picking out the white fabric plates she threw them all one by one shattering on the marble floor. Every plate shattered with Murad's reflection on it and it only made the things worse for her. After a while when she felt her anger dissipating into thin air she decided to start working for the day. After a shower and cleaning her mess, she sat down in her living room checking her to-do-list as she waited for Haroon. At one point she was successful in forgetting Murad's words.

She had tried to push through it, to focus on the tasks at hand, but the anxiety only grew stronger, suffocating her. But everything came back stronger making her drown in confusion. Her therapist had told her to let out her feelings and she did the same then why she felt the pain resurfacing again.

Her breathing turned harder making her tablet slip from her grasp as she looked up at the ceiling but nothing worked. She even counted backwards but that didn't worked too. Angry tears lined her vision as she fell on the sofa feeling helpless. The more she tried control the more her breathing worsened.

Haroon arrived at her penthouse and her panic attack had fully taken hold. Taliya found herself in the middle of her living room, her breath coming in shallow gasps, her vision blurring with tears. The walls seemed to close in around her, and she felt like she was drowning, unable to find solid ground.

Haroon entered the penthouse, his cheerful greeting fading as he took in the sight of Taliya's distress. His heart lurched, and he rushed to her side, his concern etched on his face. "Taliya!" he called out, his voice gentle but urgent. "What’s wrong? Talk to me."

Taliya couldn’t respond, her throat constricted with panic. Her body trembled, and she hugged herself, trying to hold herself together. Haroon didn’t hesitate. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, offering her a lifeline in the storm of her emotions. The tears she tried to keep at bay flew out, running down om her cheeks with freedom.

"Shh, it's okay," he murmured, his voice soothing. "I'm here. Just breathe, Taliya. Take deep breaths with me."

Taliya tried to focus on his voice, on the steady rhythm of his breathing. She clung to him, burying her face in his shoulder as sobs wracked her body. Haroon held her tightly, his presence a grounding force in her chaos. He stroked her back, his touch gentle and comforting her violent shaking sobs.

For a while, they stayed like that, Haroon providing silent support as Taliya's tears flowed. Slowly, the panic began to subside, her breathing evening out as she took deep, shaky breaths. She pulled back slightly, looking up at Haroon with tear-filled eyes.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse as she cascaded down her eyes feeling the sudden shame burning up her body. Taliya never let anyone see her vulnerable but Haroon had seen her going up and down with her life.

Haroon gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Anytime, Taliya. You're not alone, okay? We'll get through this together."

Taliya nodded, her gratitude evident in her eyes. She wiped at her tears, trying to regain her composure. Haroon helped her to her feet, guiding her to the sofa where she could sit and catch her breath.

"Let's take it easy for a moment," Haroon said softly. "Just focus on calming down."

As Taliya settled into the sofa, Haroon moved to the kitchen to get her a glass of water. He returned and handed it to her, watching as she took a few sips. The cool water helped to ground her, to bring her back to the present.

"Thank you," she repeated, her voice stronger now. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Haroon sat beside her, his expression gentle. "You don’t have to face everything alone, Taliya. I’m here for you, no matter what."

She nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. Haroon's presence was a balm to her frayed nerves, a reminder that she didn’t have to carry the weight of her world by herself. But, she was Taliya and she always stayed alone so Haroon's mere actions of care wasn't so working on her.

After a few moments of silence, Haroon gave her a playful nudge. "Alright, let's get you ready for your meeting. We can't have you looking anything less than perfect, can we?"

Taliya managed a small smile, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood. "I suppose not," she replied, a hint of humor in her voice.

Haroon stood and offered her his hand. "Come on, let’s pick out an outfit that screams 'confident and in control.' You’ve got this."

Taliya took his hand, allowing him to help her up. Together, they went to her bedroom, Haroon rifling through her wardrobe with a practiced eye. He pulled out a sleek, navy-blue dress with a tailored fit and held it up for her approval.

"This one," he declared with a grin. "It’s perfect for showing those Redwood High folks who's boss."

Taliya laughed softly, the sound a welcome relief after the intensity of her panic attack. "You always know just what to pick."

Haroon’s grin widened. "What can I say? I have a knack for fashion."

As Taliya changed into the dress, Haroon busied himself with finding matching accessories and shoes. By the time she was dressed, she felt more like herself, the earlier panic a distant memory.

"How do I look?" she asked, giving him a twirl.

Haroon clapped his hands together, his eyes sparkling with pride. "Absolutely stunning. You’re going to knock them dead."

Taliya took a deep breath, feeling a renewed sense of confidence. "Thanks to you, Haroon. I couldn’t have done it without you."

He shrugged modestly. "Hey, we’re a team. Now, let’s go show Redwood High what Taliya is all about."

With Haroon by her side, Taliya felt ready to face whatever the day would bring. As they left her penthouse, she glanced at him, her gratitude shining through. Haroon had pulled her back from the edge, his unwavering support a beacon in her darkest moments. And for that, she would always be thankful but wouldn't be able to return what he was giving to her.