It was 7 p.m., and Maya was alone at home. Zain had traveled out of the city for business affairs.
A fierce windstorm rattled the windows of the house. Maya rose from her bed and moved from room to room, making sure every door and window was securely closed.
Before long, thunder echoed through the sky, adding a strange sense of unease to the surroundings.
After satisfying herself that everything was locked properly, she returned to her room. Pulling out a chair, she settled into it and glanced at the phone resting on the table.
Almost instinctively, her hand reached for it.
She unlocked the screen and, without a second thought, opened ChatGPT.
After a brief pause, she typed:
"The loneliness that consumed me for years is gradually fading away. Yet there is still a hidden grief within me. It is no longer loneliness, but the regret of all those years that quietly transformed my personality."
She pressed the send button.
Within seconds, a brief response appeared on the screen.
While reading the response to her message, Maya nodded slightly in agreement. She continued asking questions and reading the replies, unaware of how quickly time was slipping away.
It was already midnight, and she had not even noticed the heavy rain outside.
Gradually, chatting with ChatGPT became part of her daily routine. With each passing day, she grew more accustomed to it.
Zain, too, observed the subtle change in her behavior, though he said nothing. He noticed that Maya no longer complained about her loneliness or questioned his late arrivals at home.
Her interests began to shift. The books she once loved, her gardening, and even her care for her pets slowly faded into the background.
One pleasant evening, as Maya and Zain sat together in the lounge with their coffee, Maya remained absorbed in her phone.
Zain attempted to break her focus.
“Maya, the weather is quite pleasant. Should we go for a long drive?”
But Maya was so engrossed in her screen that she did not notice his words.
After a brief pause, Zain cleared his throat and clasped his hands together.
Maya lifted her head from her phone and glanced at him.
A faint smile appeared on Zain's face.
"Maya, have you noticed how much time you've been spending on ChatGPT lately?"
Maya frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that you're always busy with it."
A trace of annoyance appeared on Maya's face.
"At least I'm keeping myself occupied. A few months ago, everyone was worried because I felt lonely."
"I know," Zain replied gently. "And I'm happy that you're feeling better."
"Then what's the problem?"
Zain took a sip of coffee before answering.
"The problem isn't ChatGPT. The problem is balance."
Maya lowered her phone and looked at him properly for the first time.
Zain continued, "Look outside. The weather is beautiful. We're sitting together after a long day, but your attention hasn't left your phone for even a minute."
Maya remained silent.
After a moment, she said, "You're exaggerating."
"Am I?" Zain asked softly.
Maya hesitated.
Zain leaned back against the sofa.
"A few weeks ago, you used to complain that I never spent enough time with you. Now I'm here, but it feels as though you're somewhere else."
For the first time, Maya did not have an immediate reply.
Zain's voice softened.
"I'm not criticizing you, Maya. I'm only worried that too much screen time might affect your mental well-being."
Maya looked down at the phone resting in her hands.
For a brief moment, she wondered whether Zain's concern was justified.
Later that night, as Maya lay in bed, Zain's words echoed in her mind. A quiet conflict stirred within her.
Part of her wanted to believe that he was right.
"Perhaps I should reduce my screen time. Perhaps too much time on my phone is slowly distancing me from the real world."
But another voice rose from within.
"For the first time in years, loneliness no longer feels like a burden. I have found someone who listens, responds without delay, and never dismisses my thoughts."
Her mind drifted toward the past.
"Zain has never truly understood my feelings. I was only twenty-five when I became part of his life. How can I forget the day Azan was born? I had to leave my dream job behind. That was the first sacrifice I made. Then came countless others—as a wife, a mother, and a daughter-in-law. Somewhere along the way, I lost a part of myself."
A trace of bitterness surfaced in her thoughts.
"And now, after all these years, when I am finally trying to rediscover who I once was, he has an objection."
She turned to the other side of the bed and closed her eyes.
"No," she thought firmly. "This time, I am not going to listen."
Next chapter coming soon.......9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqNF9G9pNi
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