Beyond the game

Azra felt her entire world tilting. Her heart pounded against her ribs, and her grip on Ameer tightened as if she could somehow shield him from the inevitable. But it was too late.

Yuzarsif had seen.

The recognition in his eyes, the way he was staring at Ameer—it was all crashing down too fast.

For six years, she had prepared for this moment, convincing herself that she could handle it if it ever came. But standing here now, with Yuzarsif watching her like a man seeing a ghost, she realized she was completely unprepared.

Her throat tightened. She wanted to speak, to push him away, to say something—anything—that could erase the last few seconds. But no words came.

Yuzarsif took a step forward. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, as if he was holding himself back.

"Azra…" His voice was hoarse, raw with emotion. "Is he…?"

Azra inhaled sharply.

She couldn't let this happen. Not here. Not now.

She forced her expression to harden. "You shouldn't be here."

Yuzarsif barely reacted to her cold tone. His gaze was fixed on Ameer, who was staring back at him with wide, uncertain eyes.

"Who is he to you, Azra?" His voice was quiet but sharp, cutting straight through her defenses.

She hesitated for a split second. A fatal mistake.

Yuzarsif stepped forward again. "Azra. Answer me."

Azra forced herself to stay calm. "You have no right to ask me anything."

"Tell me the truth!" His voice rose, his emotions slipping past his control. "Is he my son?"

Ameer flinched at the sudden intensity, his small fingers clutching Azra's dress.

Azra's heart broke.

"Yuzarsif, lower your voice," she said sharply, her protective instincts kicking in. "You're scaring him."

Yuzarsif exhaled heavily, rubbing his face. His hands trembled. "Azra… please." His voice cracked on the last word. "I need to know."

Azra squeezed her eyes shut for a brief second. He can't know. He can't take Ameer away from me.

She opened her eyes and faced him. "Leave."

Yuzarsif's jaw tightened. "I'm not leaving until you tell me the truth."

Silence stretched between them.

Ameer, sensing the heavy tension, tugged at Azra's sleeve. "Mama?"

Azra immediately looked down, her expression softening. "It's okay, sweetheart. Everything is fine."

But it wasn't fine.

Yuzarsif saw the way she looked at Ameer—the way a mother looks at her child with unconditional love.

And suddenly, he knew.

The truth slammed into him with the force of a hurricane. His breath caught, and his entire body went rigid.

He's mine.

Ameer was his son.

Yuzarsif took a shaky step back, as if the realization had physically struck him. His heartbeat roared in his ears. His vision blurred for a moment as emotions crashed over him like waves.

Six years.

For six years, he had been living his life, completely unaware that he had a son.

And Azra… she had kept him a secret.

Betrayal burned through him like fire.

"Why?" His voice was barely above a whisper. "Why did you keep him from me?"

Azra turned away. "You need to leave, Yuzarsif."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Leave?" His voice shook. "You expect me to just walk away? After everything? After what you've done?"

Azra flinched but didn't turn to face him. "You don't understand."

"Then make me understand!"

His voice was filled with a desperation he hadn't felt in years.

Azra remained silent.

Yuzarsif clenched his fists, struggling to control himself. He wanted to shout, to demand answers, but Ameer was watching—his big, innocent eyes flickering between them, confused and frightened.

Yuzarsif forced himself to take a deep breath.

This wasn't just about him.

It was about Ameer.

He turned his gaze back to Azra. "We need to talk. Not here, but somewhere private."

Azra hesitated. She didn't want to, but she knew Yuzarsif wouldn't back down.

"After I close the shop," she said quietly.

Yuzarsif exhaled. "Fine." He looked at Ameer one last time before stepping back. "I'll be waiting."

Then he walked out.

Azra barely held herself together as she turned to Ameer. She forced a smile. "Let's finish organizing these books, okay?"

Ameer hesitated, then nodded slowly. But he kept glancing toward the door, as if he knew something had just changed forever.

---

The Past Resurfaces

The evening air was cool as Azra stepped out of the bookstore, her heart pounding. Yuzarsif was leaning against his car, arms crossed. The street was quiet, the glow of streetlights casting shadows around them.

Azra took a deep breath and walked toward him.

"You wanted to talk," she said stiffly. "Say what you need to say."

Yuzarsif lifted his head, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Why, Azra?"

She sighed. "Because I had to."

"That's not an answer," he snapped.

"It's the only one I can give you," she shot back. "I did what I thought was best for Ameer."

Yuzarsif's jaw tightened. "Keeping him from his father was best?"

Azra swallowed. "You wouldn't have wanted him."

The words were like a slap to the face.

Yuzarsif stepped closer, his voice low. "How dare you say that?"

"Because it's the truth!" Azra's composure cracked. "You gave me the reason to believe that"

Yuzarsif froze.

Memories of their past resurfaced—of him leaving, of the fight that had torn them apart.

"You could have told me," he said, his voice quieter now.

Azra shook her head. "I couldn't risk it."

Silence stretched between them.

Yuzarsif exhaled slowly. "I missed six years of his life." His voice was filled with regret. "Six years, Azra."

Azra's chest tightened. She had expected anger, but hearing the pain in his voice made it harder to hold onto her defenses.

"He deserves to know me," Yuzarsif said. "You can't take that away from him."

Azra looked away. "I don't know if I can trust you."

Yuzarsif inhaled sharply. "Then let me prove it."

Azra let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "I trusted you once, but what did I get in return?" Her voice wavered, but she forced herself to keep going. "I was just part of your bet."

Yuzarsif flinched as if she had struck him.

Guilt flashed in his eyes, but Azra didn't give him a chance to respond.

She stepped back. "We'll talk. But only for Ameer's sake."

Yuzarsif nodded. It wasn't enough, but it was a start.

And as they stood there, the truth finally exposed, they both knew that nothing would ever be the same again.