13. HOW DO YOU KNOW?

Murad was deep in a restless sleep, his dreams filled with fragmented images of Taliya and their tense encounter in the elevator. The buzzing of his phone on the nightstand went unnoticed until the door to his room flew open with a loud bang.

“Murad sir! Wake up!” Fahad’s voice cut through the haze of sleep, sharp and insistent.

Murad groaned, blinking against the harsh light that streamed in through the open door. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the grogginess that clung to him. “Fahad, what the hell?” he mouthed, his throat thick with sleep.

Fahad stormed over to the bed, his expression a mix of frustration and concern. “Get up. Now.”

Murad sat up slowly, his head pounding. “What’s so urgent?” he asked, his face laced with irritation.

Fahad folded his arms, glaring down at him. “I heard you went to see Taliya last night. What happened? What did you accomplish?”

Murad’s mind raced to catch up with the conversation. He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, trying to gather his thoughts. “I talked to her. Tried to explain myself.”

“And?” Fahad pressed, his impatience evident.

Murad sighed, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. “And it didn’t go as planned. She’s... resistant. Guarded. It’s like she’s built a wall around herself and I can’t get through.” He signed with his mind travelling to the pieces of his memories from last evening.

Fahad’s eyes narrowed. “So you didn’t make any progress?”

Murad stood up, his frustration flaring. “I don’t know, okay? I thought I was getting somewhere, but she’s so damn stubborn. It’s like she doesn’t want to let anyone in.”

Fahad shook his head, his expression softening slightly. “Murad, you need to understand where she’s coming from. She’s been through a lot. You can’t just bulldoze your way into her life and expect her to open up.”

Murad clenched his fists, the anger and helplessness he felt bubbling to the surface. “I know that, Fahad. But what am I supposed to do? I’m trying to show her that I’m not the enemy, but she won’t even give me a chance.”

Fahad sighed, placing a hand on Murad’s shoulder. “You have to be patient. If you really care about her, you need to give her time. Let her come to you on her own terms. And why are you behind her, you could get anything in the world.”

Murad looked at Fahad, the frustration in his eyes slowly giving way to resignation. “I just... I don’t know if I can do this. It’s like I’m fighting a losing battle. I don't even know why I want to talk to her. And my amnesia isn't making anything good for me.”

Fahad’s grip tightened slightly. “You’re not alone in this, Murad. We’re here for you. Just don’t give up. Sometimes, the hardest battles are the ones worth fighting. You said, she helped you to hospital, right?”

Murad took a deep breath, nodding slowly. “I’ll try. But it’s not easy and yes she did helped me.”

Fahad smiled faintly. “Nothing worth having ever is. Treat her to dinner.” His advise was like a cold bucket on him.

How could Murad treat her like that? "How could I do that, we are not even friends." He signed and rubbed his face with frustration.

"To treat anyone with kindness, we don't need to be friends. Just like you and me, see how good of a friends we are." He smiled dreamily at him.

"We are not friends, you are my assistant and you are just helping me with something, I don't even know if I want it." His hands slowed down making Fahad sigh at him.

As Fahad left the room, Murad sank back onto the bed, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. He knew Fahad was right, but the path ahead seemed more daunting than ever. Patience was never his strong suit, but if he wanted to reach Taliya, he would have to find a way to endure.

Staring at the ceiling, Murad resolved to keep trying. For Taliya, and for himself. The road ahead was uncertain, but he was determined to see it through, no matter how long it took.

~☆~

Murad felt a restless energy coursing through him as he drove towards Rose Peak. The events of the day had left him feeling on edge, and he hoped that a walk in the fresh evening air would help clear his mind. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the landscape as he parked his car and started up the familiar path.

As he walked, he noticed someone moving alongside the bushes, their figure partially obscured by the foliage. He paid little attention at first, focusing instead on the distant view of the peak, but a nagging sense of familiarity tugged at the edges of his consciousness.

He kept walking, trying to shake off the feeling, when suddenly, he was struck from behind. Murad stumbled, his reflexes kicking in as he turned to face his attacker. But instead of a man, he found himself looking into the wide, startled eyes of Taliya.

“Taliya?” he gasped, his surprise mingling with confusion.

Taliya's breath came in short, sharp gasps, her eyes wide with fear and recognition. “Murad, I didn’t mean to—I thought you were someone else.”

Murad's mind whirled, trying to process the unexpected encounter. The closeness of Taliya, the feel of her hands on his arms, sent a jolt through him. In an instant, fragmented images and dark, blurry memories surged to the surface of his mind. The memories were like a hard brick falling on him as he tried to stay still.

He staggered back, clutching his head as the pain of a sudden, intense headache overtook him. Shadows and flashes of indistinct faces, disjointed voices, and a sense of overwhelming fear and confusion flooded his thoughts. He groaned, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to make sense of the chaotic visions.

“Murad!” Taliya's voice cut through the haze, sharp with concern. “Are you okay?”

He tried to steady himself, his breathing ragged. “I... I don’t know. It’s just... my head.” Even his hands movements were slowed down by the impact of his headache.

Taliya reached out, her touch gentle on his arm. “Sit down for a moment. You need to rest.”

Murad allowed her to guide him to a nearby rock, sinking down with a heavy sigh. The headache continued to pound in his skull, but Taliya's presence, her concern, provided a small measure of comfort.

“What happened?” she asked softly, her eyes searching his face.

Murad shook his head, wincing at the movement. “I don’t know. I was just walking, and then... when you got close, these... these memories, or whatever they are, just hit me. It’s like my mind is trying to remember something, but it’s all dark and jumbled.”

Taliya's expression hardened, a mix of fear and regret. “Maybe you’re starting to remember things from your past. Sometimes, it takes a trigger to bring those memories back.”

Murad looked at her, his eyes filled with a desperate longing for clarity. “I want to remember, Taliya. I want to understand what’s going on, but it’s all so confusing.”

She nodded, sitting down beside him. “I know. But pushing too hard might only make it worse. Take it one step at a time. You’re not alone in this.”

Her words, though simple, offered a small beacon of hope in the midst of his confusion. Murad took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm in his mind. He looked at Taliya, gratitude mingling with the lingering pain.

“Thank you,” he signed quietly. “For being here.”

Taliya smiled faintly, a glimmer of warmth in her eyes. “You will figure it out, Murad. You’re stronger than you think.”

As he sat still , trying regain his composure. Something in his mind clicked as he narrowed his eyes on Taliya's form.

"How did you know that I forgot my memory?" His hands gesture made Taliya's face go pale. She looked at him and opened her mouth to answer but, Murad furiously stood up making Taliya stand up to with him.

"Who are you and how did you know that?" His hands moved pretty fast making Taliya curl her fingers into a fist.

"Your uncle-" he gripped her jaw in his long and thick fingers making her wince in his hold.

"Nobody was allowed to know about it then how a stranger like you knows about it?" He mouthed the words with his eye burning in rage. His headache went nasty as he winced leaving Taliya with jerk and clutching his head as more memories hit his mind. A blurred sight of a boy making fun of a girl hit his head making his sight blur and stumble on his feet.

"M-Murad," her shaky hand reached out to him but he jerked away his hand from his arm.