Then today, he saw her running away from him again. It was like a cruel repeat of their last encounter, but this time, the sight of her fleeing hit him harder. She hadn’t changed much, still the same Umeed—clumsy, fragile, and running from something she shouldn’t have to.
The realization that she had been so close, yet so desperate to avoid him, stirred something deep within him. All these years, he had been torn between anger and confusion, not knowing why she had left, why she had pushed him away. But seeing her now, the fear in her eyes, the haste in her steps—it only made him more determined to find out what had happened.
Farjaad stood there for a moment, catching his breath, staring at the spot where she had disappeared. The memories of their past flooded back—how she used to light up a room with her laughter, the way she used to tease him, and how they once shared everything, no matter how small. And now, she couldn’t even face him.
He knew she wouldn’t talk, not willingly. But her running away wasn’t just about avoiding a conversation—it was about hiding something. Something she was terrified he might discover. The brief sight of her brought back his resolve, stronger than before. He had come to Islamabad searching for answers, and now more than ever, he was determined to get them.
Taking a deep breath, Farjaad decided he couldn’t just sit back anymore. He had to confront her, no matter how painful it might be for both of them. But it had to be on her terms; he needed to approach her in a way that wouldn’t send her running again. If that meant being patient, giving her space, or even pretending to move on, he would do it. 
But tonight had shown him that Umeed was still haunted by whatever had happened. And he knew that until he understood what had driven her away, neither of them could truly move forward.
The next morning, Farjaad decided to change his approach. If Umeed wasn’t ready to talk to him directly, he would need to find another way in. He thought back to Kashaf, the only person Umeed seemed to trust. Though he didn’t want to involve her, it might be the only way to reach Umeed.
So, Farjaad’s starting visiting Pasha’s Café more frequently knowing her friend also visits the café once in a day, though the visits were short, just long enough to catch a glimpse of Umeed before leaving. Each time he entered, Umeed would flinch, her body tensing as if bracing for something she couldn’t control. She never looked at him directly, and every interaction, no matter how brief, left her visibly shaken. 
Despite his intentions to give her space, Farjaad was growing increasingly disturbed by Umeed’s reaction to him. He couldn’t understand why she was so afraid—what had happened to make her this way? Wasn’t she the one who let herself fall in his arms few nights back? The more he saw her like this, the more desperate he became to get to the truth.
One afternoon, during one of his brief visits, Kashaf cautiously approached him again, her usual protective demeanor softened by concern. She sat down across from him, lowering her voice so only he could hear.
"Mujhy kuch batana hai aapko."
"Kahiye?" Finally, maybe this could lead him somewhere.
“Wo aapko avoid nae kr rahi.” Kashaf began, her voice laced with worry. 
“Umeed’s been having frequent panic attacks, aapko bataya tha maine shayad, but now they’re getting worse. I don’t know what’s triggering them, but... seeing you here doesn’t seem to help.”
Farjaad’s heart sank at Kashaf’s words. He felt a wave of guilt wash over him, knowing that his presence was contributing to Umeed’s distress.
"I think aap bss yahan na aaya karen mazeed." She was a confident woman and a protective friend.