The following morning, Maya woke to the sound of laughter drifting through the house.
Only two days earlier, silence had occupied every corner of the home. Now, the same walls echoed with cheerful voices and lively conversations.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
After freshening up, she moved toward the kitchen and began arranging breakfast for the family.
A short while later, everyone gathered around the dining table.
For the first time in many months, Maya found herself enjoying a meal
surrounded by the people she loved most.
As they ate, Azan looked at her with an affectionate smile.
"Mama," he said, "I haven't enjoyed breakfast like this in ages. Living abroad has made me realize how much I miss your cooking."
Maya's eyes softened.
Before she could reply, Azan's phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen and immediately stood up.
"Excuse me for a moment," he said before stepping away to answer the call.
Meanwhile, Sara repeatedly checked
her phone.
Notifications continued to appear on her screen. Even while trying to focus on the conversation, she seemed distracted by messages, emails, and missed calls.
Maya quietly observed both of them.
For the first time, she began to notice something she had overlooked for months.
Although her children were physically present, a part of their minds remained occupied with assignments, deadlines, examinations, and responsibilities.
A wave of guilt passed through her.
Perhaps she had been unfair.
Perhaps she had mistaken busyness for indifference.
When Azan returned to the table, Maya looked at both her children and spoke gently.
"Azan, Sara, I don't want your studies to suffer because of me. The constant phone calls and messages make it obvious that you've left important work unfinished."
Both of them fell silent.
Maya continued,
"You don't need to prove your love by putting your future at risk. Education should always remain your first priority."
Sara immediately shook her head.
"Mama, that's not true," she said softly.
"We missed you. Nothing is more important to us than spending time with you."
Azan nodded in agreement.
"Exactly, Mama. You are the most precious person in our lives."
Maya lowered her gaze, trying to hide the emotions rising within her.
At that moment, Zain looked at her and smiled.
"For me as well," he said quietly.
For a brief second, the room fell silent.
And for the first time in a very long while, Maya felt truly seen.
The TV lounge was filled with laughter. Every corner of the house seemed alive with warmth, happiness, and the comforting presence of family.
Sara and Azan were engrossed in conversation, while Zain actively joined in, occasionally teasing them and turning even the simplest stories into moments of laughter.
Maya remained unusually quiet.
Rather than participating in the conversation, she listened attentively.
For the first time, she truly understood the demands of her children's lives.
Every few minutes, one of their phones would ring.
Sometimes it was a classmate.
Sometimes it was a professor reminding them about a pending assignment.
At other times, it was a notification about an upcoming examination.
As she watched them balancing family time with endless responsibilities, a wave of guilt washed over her.
Perhaps she had been unfair.
Perhaps she had mistaken busyness for indifference.
Lost in thought, she barely noticed Azan calling her name.
"Mama?"
She looked up.
"Have you packed everything for tomorrow's trip?"
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Yes," she replied softly.
The following morning, the family set out for the northern areas.
As they travelled through winding roads, dark clouds gathered above the mountains. Soon, a gentle thunderstorm welcomed them.
Maya gazed through the window.
The excitement on Sara and Azan's faces reminded her of the days when they were children, eagerly waiting for family vacations.
A quiet gratitude settled in her heart.
I am fortunate, she thought. Fortunate to have such caring children and a husband who still worries about me.
Throughout the journey, Zain made repeated efforts to involve Maya in the family's conversations. He had begun to notice how often she drifted away into her own thoughts.
For the next few days, the family explored breathtaking landscapes, shared meals, captured countless photographs, and created memories that Maya knew she would treasure for years to come.
Yet time, as always, moved too quickly.
Before anyone realized it, the day of Sara and Azan's departure arrived.
The atmosphere at the airport felt noticeably heavier.
Although both children tried to hide their sadness, it was evident that neither wanted to leave.
Maya forced a smile and encouraged them to focus on their studies.
Inside, however, a storm of emotions raged within her heart.
Standing at the departure gate, Sara and Azan turned one last time and waved.
Maya waved back with a smile.
Only after they disappeared from sight did she realize how empty the world suddenly felt again.
When the plane finally disappeared into the clouds, Zain and Maya slowly made their way back to the car.
Neither of them spoke.
The silence felt heavier than usual.
Throughout the drive home, Zain kept his eyes fixed on the road while Maya stared absentmindedly through the window.
Thirty minutes later, they arrived home.
Maya unlocked the front door and stepped inside.
The moment they entered the lounge, an unfamiliar stillness greeted them.
Only a few hours earlier, the house had been filled with laughter, conversations, and the warmth of family.
Now it felt strangely empty.
Maya tried to suppress the sadness rising within her, but the tears gathering in her eyes betrayed her.
Zain noticed.
Yet he pretended not to.
He understood that some emotions needed silence more than comfort.
That night, as Maya lay in bed, sleep refused to come easily.
The memories of the past few days replayed in her mind—the laughter, the shared meals, the family photographs, and the happiness she had almost forgotten existed.
A voice seemed to rise from somewhere deep within her heart.
Accept reality, Maya.
Your children are building their future.
You cannot ask them to sacrifice their dreams simply to fill the emptiness in your life.
You must find a purpose of your own.
The thoughts continued to drift through her mind until exhaustion finally pulled her into sleep.
The following morning, Maya woke to the same silence.
Zain had already left for the office.
The house felt larger than usual.
And lonelier.
She spent several minutes gathering herself before leaving her room.
After breakfast, she walked toward her library—the one place where she had always found comfort.
She settled into her chair and unlocked her phone.
Absentmindedly, she began scrolling through her notifications.
Then her finger paused.
A familiar application caught her attention.
ChatGPT.
For a moment, she stared at the screen.
Then, almost without thinking, she opened it.
After a brief hesitation, she typed:
"I am afraid that my loneliness is slowly pushing me toward depression and anxiety."
Within seconds, a response appeared.
She read it carefully.
Then she typed another question.
And another.
Time slipped away unnoticed.
For the first time in many months, she felt as though someone—or something—was listening.
Next Chapter coming soon.......47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecMCQwNagd
and then Add to home screen.