Beyond the game

The day had been long for Azra. She had just finished an intense week of exams at Capital Medical College, and though she was exhausted, her mind refused to rest. Her thoughts were often filled with the events that had unfolded over the past month—mostly about a certain billionaire who, for reasons she couldn't fully explain, had started to occupy her thoughts more than she liked.

After school, instead of heading straight home, she took a detour to the cemetery. It had become a quiet ritual for her to visit her parents' graves whenever she felt overwhelmed. As she walked past the old, weathered stones, she spoke to them in soft whispers, as if their spirits could hear her.

"Things are getting complicated, Mom. Dad," she said, kneeling beside their graves. "I've met someone. But I don't know what to do. Yuzarsif... he's different, but I can't trust anyone easily. Not after everything I've been through. What if I'm just fooling myself?"

Azra stayed there for a few moments, letting the quiet of the cemetery soothe her troubled thoughts. But she knew she couldn't stay forever. There was work to do, and people who needed her.

She finally stood up, brushing the dirt from her knees, and made her way to the orphanage.

When she arrived, the familiar smell of food and laughter greeted her. Rahma was there, as usual, helping out with the younger children.

"Azra! You're back," Rahma greeted her with a warm smile, her face lighting up at the sight of her friend. "How were the exams?"

"Exhausting," Azra replied with a sigh, wiping the sweat from her brow. "But they're done now. I just needed some peace and quiet."

"You're always welcome here for that," Rahma said with a wink. "Speaking of peace and quiet, I saw Yuzarsif again today."

Azra froze. The mention of his name stirred something in her. She tried not to react, but Rahma noticed.

"You look surprised," Rahma said, cocking an eyebrow. "I didn't know he was still coming here. He was here to make another donation."

Azra tried to maintain her composure, though her heart skipped a beat. "I see," she said casually, though the thoughts swirling in her head were far from casual. "What happened?"

Rahma smiled knowingly. "He played with the kids again. He's a good guy, Azra. I mean, I thought he was just some rich playboy at first, but he's been coming here a lot. You should talk to him more. He really cares about the kids."

Azra didn't know what to think. Yuzarsif, the man who had been trying to get close to her despite her cold demeanor, had also been helping at the orphanage? It was almost too much to process. She pushed the thoughts aside.

"I'm sure he's just doing it for the publicity or something," Azra said, though even she didn't quite believe it. "But, thanks for telling me."

Rahma, sensing her friend's discomfort, changed the subject. "So, are you finally going to let me take you out for coffee? Or are you too busy with your mysterious, perfect life as a medical student?"

Azra chuckled, appreciating Rahma's attempt to lighten the mood. "I'm not perfect, trust me. But sure, I could use some coffee. Let's go."

The two of them headed to the local café, where the warm aroma of roasted coffee beans filled the air. As they sat down, Rahma's teasing continued.

"So, what about Yuzarsif? He's been persistent, hasn't he? You've had a couple of run-ins with him. I mean, he's not the worst looking guy," Rahma said with a grin, winking at Azra.

Azra frowned, but Rahma was relentless.

"You know, I can tell there's something between you two," Rahma teased, sipping her coffee. "It's like there's this magnetism, and even though you're trying to resist, you keep running into him. What's going on?"

Azra sighed, setting her cup down. "I don't know, Rahma. I don't trust him. He's a playboy, and I don't want to fall for someone like that."

Rahma raised an eyebrow. "But what if he's different? What if you're the one who's wrong about him? You never know until you give someone a chance, Azra. You might be surprised."

Azra shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "Maybe, but I'm not ready to let my guard down yet. Especially not for someone like him."

Meanwhile, across the city, Yuzarsif sat in his office, going through the usual stack of documents. His mind, however, kept drifting back to the memory of Azra. Her aloofness, the way she had rejected his offers, intrigued him in a way that few people ever had. He had been persistent, yes, but he hadn't expected to be this drawn to her.

"She's different," he muttered to himself. "And I don't want to give up just yet."

A knock on his office door pulled him out of his thoughts. Malik and Jafar walked in, both grinning like mischievous schoolboys.

"So, how's the bet going, Yuzarsif?" Malik asked, throwing himself into one of the chairs. "Are you getting anywhere with Miss Aloof?"

Yuzarsif chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "It's not about the bet anymore. It's… different."

Jafar raised an eyebrow. "Different? What's that supposed to mean? You're still going to win, right?"

"I'm not doing this to win anymore," Yuzarsif replied quietly. "I'm doing it because I want her. For real."

The room fell silent as his friends processed his words. They had never seen Yuzarsif so serious before. Usually, he was the one who had all the answers, the one who knew how to get what he wanted. But now, he seemed almost… vulnerable.

"Well, in that case," Malik said with a grin, "I guess it's no longer a bet. But if you're serious, you better make your move. You know how these things go."

Yuzarsif nodded, his eyes distant. "I know."

Back at the café, Azra stared into her coffee cup, lost in thought. Could she really let someone like Yuzarsif into her life? Could she trust him?

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, breaking her from her thoughts. She pulled it out and saw that it was a message from Yuzarsif.

"Hope you're doing well, Azra. I have been thinking about you."

A small part of her smiled despite herself, but she quickly locked her phone and put it back in her bag. She had enough on her plate already. And as much as Yuzarsif's persistence troubled her, she knew she had to focus on herself first.

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