Taimoor
5 years later - Epilogue

𝕸y phone buzzed on the nightstand, I silenced it and lifted myself to sit, stretching my neck.

"It's so early," Daania groaned, burrowing her face deeper into her pillow. Rolling my eyes at her antics, I kissed the top of her head in apology.

"Alyana will be bursting into this room in the next fifteen minutes."

Bleary eyes popped open to glare at me, her mouth turned down at the corners. "I swear to God this girl has zero need for sleep... just like her father."

I schooled myself not to laugh. Daania was many perfect things, but an early riser was not one of them. All those mornings she had to force herself out of the house...every single time, I'd walk in with my coffee and iPad and find her perched on the couch, swaddled in the duvet, blinking owlishly at me when I flipped on the light. There were mornings when I had to physically pluck her out of bed and carry her into the adjoining living room so she wouldn't fall back asleep.

Running my hands along her softback, caressing the delicate span of her shoulders, her slender arms, I turned her over. She groaned as I pushed her dark hair away from her face, her eyes narrowing with a clear grudge.

"Unfortunately some of us like to wake up early babe."

Her eyes peeled open as her head turned toward me. Sleep was sacred to Daania and in the five years of our marriage, I had learned not to challenge the notion in any way.

The warm sunlight speared through the balcony doors, painting our bodies in a soft aura only heaven could create. My eyes traced the curves of our bodies, soft lines that separated her soul from mine. I licked my lips. I wanted to taste her but I forced myself to settle for trailing my fingers lazily over her. Eyes glazing, I inhaled her light rose scent as she stretched her arms.

"Yeah yeah..." she mumbled, closing her eyes and pushing her face in my chest. I leaned down and kissed her forehead, and she drew me to her as I slid my hand down her body, coasting over the new curves, appreciating the difference between now and when we met.

"Would your tea make you feel better?"

She opened one of her eyes and smirked. "Maybe something stronger?"

My body hardened at the twinkle in her eyes.

Crap.

"We've barely got ten minutes," she giggled and shifted, holding her arms on either side of my head and barring her neck. I grinned reaching over to grab the rose from the nightstand and then tucked it in her ear, whispering, "I love you."

"I know," she mumbled, fingers circling the stem, her back against my chest, face tilted towards the sun.

"Maybe we'll leave the kids with my mother-" I rasped. She pushed up on my chest and stared down at me.

"I-"

"Mama? Daddy?"

"Come in darling," she walked into the room, her arms clutched around her teddy bear, her first gift from Azaan, that she still refused to let go of, bare feet barely sinking into the plush carpet.  At three, Alyana took after Daania in her delicate features-dark cascading hair, a lovely face...but with my structure, my height, and my eyes. Her little arms tightened defiantly around her brother, and if the grey of her eyes left no doubt of the identity of her father, the fight in those steely irises came squarely from her mother. Sparkling grey eyes ringed with black, the perfect blend that could be studious and serious one moment, shining with laughter the next.

I thought I understood how fatherhood would feel, I thought I knew, but just like everything in my life after Daania, it was surprising and unexpected. Something that had to be experienced to be truly understood and nothing like what I'd experienced with my father. The depth of my love for my daughter astounded me. It made me feel invincible and...terrified.

Because there was nothing - nothing - I would not do for her.

When I'd first held her in my arms, it was like holding my whole heart in my hand, but even more precious. And yet at the same time, there was a sense of peace in it. A calm, perfect assurance that I was exactly where I was supposed to be, doing precisely what I was always meant to do. To see her never failed to take my breath away. She was our joy-the holder of our hearts and the very best of both our souls.

"Ma..." Hazem toddled into the room, one hand in a death grip by his sister, feet still unsteady on the carpet, his little fist rubbing his eye, shaking his sleepy head fiercely.

"Happy Birthday sweetheart," Daania cooed.

I reached out to grab our children and place them in the bed between us. My daughter snuggled into my chest, one arm around my neck, the other wound faithfully and tightly around that bear. I held her laughing as Hazem collapsed over the comforter, too tired to even bother getting in. Daania chortled and tucked him under her arms, her lips brushing the top of his head.

"Did you wake your brother?"

"I couldn't leave him alone..."

"Humph," Hazem grumbled from further up ahead, unable to say anything properly, wrapping his arms around his mother as if it would save him from his sister. Daania tried hard to hold in her laughter and failed miserably. I could see her shoulders moving as she patted his head.

Alyana was her life but Hazem was her baby.

"I couldn't find the presents!" I frowned fondly at Alyana, whose eyes were narrowed into light grey slits.

"You've got time until the party."

"But-"

"Did you look everywhere?"

"Yes! Do you know where they are?"

"No, your mother never tells me," probably because she knew that I wasn't going stand in my daughter's way.

If she asked for her presents, I'd just give them to her no questions asked.

"That's part of the fun sweetheart. I didn't think you'd give up so easily?" I looked up at the sound of Daania's voice and saw the tenderness that was always in her eyes when she watched us.

"Not giving up," she grumbled, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes even further.

"Come on, I'll help you search for them," I offered, getting up and gathering her in my arms. From the top of my head, I saw Daania shaking her head, a soft indulgent smile on her face.

"If you find them before the guests arrive, I won't hide the presents next year."

"Not fair!"

"I learned from the best," grinning, she winked at me.

"Come on Daddy, we don't have time!"

༻✺༺

Hours later, Hazem toddled along the shoreline, chasing the waves, with his sister never far behind. The air was warm, but the water was brisk, though he didn't care. Our boy played hard, swung high, and laughed aloud, completely high on life.

"He is utterly and completely a boy," his mother said, with adoring amusement.

"Azaan was like this when he was younger," my mother added coming out of the house, her hair, now a nice healthy white after her divorce, glinting under the sun.

"Truly?" Daania asked her eyes on our son.

"Oh yes. Hazem is a carbon copy," she answered placing her feet into her shoes, already running after her grandson.

"Well, it looks like we'll have our hands full..."

"Why did we invite her to stay?"

"Because your children like their grandmother," she laughed, and I pulled her closer, so we were both facing each other, just inches apart. "And because your daughter wanted everyone to travel to Italy for her birthday and you couldn't say no to her..."

She wanted everyone but we'd only got to have my side of the family. Daania's parents were on a cruise, planning to meet us next week and Nazia was expecting her second child; she wasn't allowed to travel.

"Like mother like daughter," my voice was rough and warm, and she closed her eyes, her face up to the sun, and breathed deeply, a contented smile on her lips.

She looked peaceful.

Happy.

Thoroughly loved and it was a wonderful look on her. My chest tightened with my soul-deep happiness, and pride because I liked to think I had something to do with that.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Daania turned her smile toward me and it was blinding. Then she gazed up at the house, out to the landscaped gardens, then back down across the beach and rocks and crashing waves.

"This is my favorite place in the whole world," she said with a sigh, almost reverently. "I still can't believe you managed to buy it."

I rest down on my elbow next to her, close enough to feel the heat on her sun-warmed skin and smell the roses in her hair. She lifted her hand and pressed it tenderly to my jaw. I brushed my thumb over the delicate veins on the inside of her wrist and kissed it.

"You liked it, so I bought it," my hand traveled over her outer thigh, across her hip, sliding up to her rib cage. There was no need to tell her about the threats to the previous owner. Or the bribery. Or the manipulation. My thumb stroked back and forth, slowly, just below her breast. "The architect is coming in with the new plans on Monday. We should finalize them before we leave. Do you want to renovate the library? Add more shelves?"

"No... but do we need a stable? The horses are fine in the village, Alyana barely rides them."

"She has to learn how."

"Okay... but do we need two more guest houses?"

"We need one more, at least. What happens when our families show up at the same time?"

"It's a lot-"

"It's not," I leaned in to kiss her when a wet, ten-month-old sand monster pounced between us. Hazem held up a small coral shell in his chubby hands, and Daania and I reacted like he'd struck gold.

"Daddy?" Alyana's thick, long-lashed gray eyes bounced between us amused by our praise. "When will they be here?"

"At six right?" I asked Daania and she nodded, her eyes on our children.

"I want to nego- ate," Alyana's whole face scrunched into a frown.

"You want to negotiate?" Daania raised her eyebrows as if to say 'Where did she learn that?'

I just shrugged in reply. She was surrounded by businessmen and women, she must have picked it up.

"I promise not to bother Hazem," she rolled her eyes at our looks. "If you give me a hint."

"That's an interesting proposal Alyana," Daania replied, not the least bit thrown off by her demand. "But I'm afraid I'll have to decline."

"Why!" she huffed and folded her arms unhappily.

"Because-"

"There's the birthday girl!"

"Aan! Aan!" Alyana wiggled out of my arms as she ran to Azaan. I fought back a grimace, a little peeved at being replaced so quickly. "Help me?" Alyana bubbled jumping up into his arms. He caught her laughing, adjusting his sunglasses to peer at his biggest fan and critic.

"Are you still searching for your presents? I think you've lost your touch."

She shook her head, eyes filled with adoration for her uncle. "Mama won't nego-tate."

"I swear she gets that stubborn streak from you," I said, my fingers brushing my wife's shoulders.

"Hello pot, it's the kettle..." she replied rolling her eyes.

"Negotiate, your mother won't negotiate," Azaan corrected gently.

"I'm glad you made it Azaan," Daania greeted getting up and giving him a one-armed side hug.

"Nothing could keep me from my girl," he said, kissing the top of Alyana's head. "Now that Zohra hates hugs, I only have one child I can smother."

"The only girl you can smother," I corrected watching my son eye the food in front of him.

"I'm your only girl," Alyana demanded, pacing her little hand on his cheek, her unrelenting and serious eyes fixed on my brother's face.

He smiled, indulging her. "Always."

"Hazem's going to hate that he's being overshadowed by his sister."

"Not if mother keeps coddling him."

As if understanding the whole conversation, Hazem giggled. Daania scooped him up and spun him around.

"I hope you don't end up with a big head," she mumbled and I laughed.

"He's a Mughal, that's pretty much guaranteed," I answered, taking our son from her. Hazem continued to giggle like it was the silliest thing he'd ever heard.

"He's also a Mansoor and God I hope that helps install some humility in him," she replied her hands on her hips. "It's badly needed."

"I don't like humility," Lya pouted and waved her hand, her thumb and pointer finger pinched together, her head on Azaan's shoulder.

"Nothing you need to worry about little star," Azaan snickered as he studied her, placing a loving tap on her nose. "I doubt you'll need it."

"Great. Thank you for spoiling my daughter. You can handle her tantrums as she grows up."

"I don't think you'll throw any tantrums will you?" ruffling her hair, he gave us all a guilty look. "She's got all of us wrapped around her finger, she doesn't need to throw tantrums."

I looked to Hazem, who happily sucked on his pacifier while watching my face. "I have no idea what he's talking about," I told him.

"Of course not," Daania said for him, her eyes sparkling at the sight of us. Alyana on the other hand had now become bored with the conversation.

"There's a carnival in the village! Can we go Aan? Please?"

"I promised I would take you," her grandmother chimed in from the door, slinging a bag over her shoulders and sliding her sunglasses on. Daania caught my eye and I could tell she was stifling her laughter. Mother was really taking this whole European vacation thing in stride.

"We can all go together!"

"Is that okay with you?" Azaan directed his question to Daania, who nodded, a little relieved to have someone else take care of the kids for a while. "Come on, let's get your shoes."

Hazem let out an enthusiastic shriek and Alyana ran towards the house, not even sparing me a parting glance. I stared at their retreating backs, confused by what had just taken place.

"Did our kids just leave us? Without a goodbye?"

"It's okay, it happens to the best of us," Daania rubbed it in before taking my glasses and putting them on my face.

"You would think I'd never taken them anywhere," I muttered, looking at my wife who was now trying and failing to look sympathetic.

"Don't take it seriously, they're kids."

"Traitorous kids."

"Think of it this way... we get some time to set everything up. The video call with my parents set us back."

"Has my father called?" Daania bit her lip and nodded, her eyes glued to my face. Haider Mughal was a complicated man. While he'd been kept far away from our family gatherings, he'd insisted on being a part of his grandchildren's lives. I could not care less, but his presence was important for both Zeenia and Daania. They had wanted Alyana and Zohra to know both of their grandparents, including the people they loved, and so, through trials and the opening of old wounds to let fresh air in to heal them, we'd found a new family harmony.

It was one of the hardest things I had had to come to terms with over the last few years - the fact that I knew what it was to sacrifice for love, for a child, but at the same time knowing, for him, I had been the sacrifice. I had been the one he'd discarded. Our relationship, for being so similar to one another, had been a much slower reparation. Each time I saw him, which wasn't all too frequent, it was hard to believe he had changed. I wouldn't say we were close, but we were better - much better than we were. And I knew life was a lot easier when you could be grateful for when things were better even if they weren't the best.

"He sent her a new saddle."

"For her riding lessons?"

"Uh-huh... custom made," I simply nodded.

"Why don't you go get ready? I'll set up the table."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, how hard could it be?"

༻✺༺

It was a mild evening so we'd collectively decided to dine out in the gardens, beneath the fiery sky, at a table set with china. I had to enlist Affandi's help to set up, once he'd arrived with my sister and my niece. True to form, Zeenia had very conveniently laughed and excused herself, leaving me in the capable hands of Zohra, who unlike like her mother, took pity on me and arranged the balloons and the teddy bears to the side before going up to get ready, while her father ended up setting up the table. Feeling inept, I used my empty glass of water as an excuse to shuffle off from the group, but instead of heading to the kitchen, I crossed the room and went out the glass door that led to the back patio. The sun was setting, painting the horizon in yellows and oranges. Below was the marina and its docks stretched out in perfect rows, decorated with boats and yachts tied at nearly every slip. Aliyaar's boat, the largest sailing vessel in the fleet, drew my gaze.

They'd be arriving in the next half an hour.

The spring chill hovered under the trees as we made our way up the narrow path away from the house, but the birds trilled and hopped around anyway, and tiny flowers pushed their way out of the soil wherever a patch of sunlight fell through the trees. I felt my wife's presence a moment before I looked up and caught her eyes.

I coughed to conceal my groan.

She was so damn beautiful - glowing with happiness. And I was so damn lucky because I felt it too - all the way, deep down into the tightest corners of my soul that I swore would never see light again; Daania had fought until love cast out every shadow. A part in the crowd revealed my whole fucking world as she played with Alyana, Hazem on her hip, a beaming smile lighting her face. My daughter squealed and danced around the giant table adorned with her favorites, courtesy of Daania and my mother, making sure to keep this whole event as intimate as possible.

It felt like it was just us.

Our small family.

A small family that was joined by a few friends. Ten minutes after six, Aliyaar and Shanzae strolled in with their daughter, appearing through the gates holding three enormous presents in their hands. Before any of us could greet them, Zohra and Lya ran out and grabbed Alisha from her parents, dragging her towards the inflatable castle.

"Well, I guess that's the welcome we're going with," Daania chimed, stepping forward to hug Shanzae. "You're looking especially lovely."

She gave us a glowing smile. "Thank you. But what did you expect? Aly has talked about nothing but meeting Zohra, playing with Zohra, meeting Zohra's little sister..."

"I think we've created a clique," Zeenia laughed, sliding in and kissing her on the cheek.

"A clique? Or a strong alliance?" I said, gripping Aliyaar's hand and pulling him in for a half hug. "Good to see you."

"It's nice to be out of the country..." he replied and scanned the place. "It's been a while since I've been here."

"I can't imagine what that would feel like."

"Affandi knows, don't you?" he asked with a grin.

"Don't remind me. There's a reason I made a vow to stay far away from politics," the man in question said, grabbing the drink and walking away to lounge lazily on one of the chairs.

The women walked to the tables, the kids weaving in and out of the crowd, and Aliyaar came to stand beside me, his gaze focused on the horizon.

"How have you been?"

I cleared my throat.

"Can't complain. You know how it is with the kids and the company."

"I never got to say it, but congratulations on getting your Ph.D."

"Thank you," his words were genuine and full of warmth. "You don't look too bad yourself, being the Chief Minister suits you."

"Just like leading Mughal Co. suits you."

"You and I both know our wives are a big part of that."

"Oh I know...but sometimes, even they can't counter what fate decides to throw at us," the muscle along my jaw flexed, and my fingers tightened on the glass, but otherwise I didn't react.

"What do you mean?"

"You know I like to keep my affairs private."

"I do."

"Shanzae's grandfather isn't well. It's not looking good. And not just for him. We suspect that his deteriorating health and possible demise would encourage Zaroon's return," I put the glass on the nearby table. What he was implying was so shocking, it turned my spine into steel. "I think that... there might be a time when I'll need your support. And for you to step in."

"You have it," no questions asked.

"I appreciate it," I knew he did. Our friendship had survived decades of turmoil and misgivings. After Affandi, Aliyaar was the only man I could trust with my secrets. While the general public wasn't aware of the depth of our connection, everyone in our circle knew that if you messed with one, you risked the wrath of the other.

The small gathering started to become loud but none of us minded. If not for our insistence that Alyana got a relatively normal childhood, we would have been surrounded by some of the wealthiest families in Asia that mingled with each other, talking and laughing and occasionally grabbing an appetizer from the silver trays that waitstaff circulated. The elite used any opportunity to climb the status ladder, strike deals, or make power moves. Even a child's birthday wasn't off-limits. When I was young, I thought this was the way of the world, but my eyes were open now. I wouldn't put my daughter through that. She deserved some semblance of freedom and normalcy. A chance to be herself with her family. To play with her cousins and friends without everyone judging and commenting on her conduct.

Or her family's conduct, I amended in my head.

Affandi stood with his arm draped leisurely across his wife, Zeenia's, shoulders. They watched Zohra, perform a dance she just made up, while Aliyaar's daughter, Alisha watched, lounging against a tree trunk. Shanzae stood beside them, chatting with my mother. Not too far off, Azaan and Daania volleyed phrases at each other engaged in a heated back and forth, both of their hands on each of Lya's shoulders. Shoulders that were attached to the arms now holding a... kitten?

"A cat? Did you get her a cat as a present? Really Azaan?"

"Kind of put a damper on my present," Zeenia muttered watching the kids abandon everything and rush towards the pet.

"She wanted one!"

"She's three... she doesn't know what she wants!" Azaan looked terrified, almost like he expected Daania to spring a subpoena on him. "I leave my daughter with you for half a day-"

"Yeah okay, try explaining that to her," Lya lay on the large cushion, snuggling with the cat, her arm thrown over its furry body, her lips parted as she hummed away. "She was very convincing. She made points and everything."

Daania pinched the bridge of their nose with her fingers. "Taimoor?"

"I mean, she's named the creature. We can't take it away now," Azaan jumped in before I could say anything.

"Named it?"

"Creature?"

"Aphrodite."

"Of course, it had to be something like that. Why would it be anything else?" Daania whispered to me, her face lined with indignation. "I can't believe my child is obsessed with the Olympians."

"Don't worry I'll have Akbar make the arrangements, look at how happy she is," and she was, lovingly stroking the kitten in her arms, hearts in her eyes. Daania let out an exasperated sigh, no doubt already planning what she'd say to Mrs. Khan.

"Come on Zohra, it's time for bed," she walked to us and grabbed her father's hand, her wide eyes on the Hazem, who was now gurgling up the milk he'd just had.

"Is he always like this?"

"Babies are like this honey," Azaan ruffled her hair and she batted his hand away, smoothing one hand over her head. "Great, now we've got a mini Zeenia."

"I heard that!"

"I wanted you to!" he shouted back.

"Come, Lya got some new books that she wanted to share with you," Daania stepped in hitting Azaan with a glare. Zohra's eyes brightened and she practically skipped to the nursery, dragging her father with us.

Daania walked ahead, putting Hazem in his crib, peppering his forehead and cheeks with kisses, brushing her nose against his. Both Affandi and I helped our daughters change into their nightclothes, tucked them into the twin beds and headed to the living room.

Shanzae stood near the entrance, her eyes on her watch.

"Is Aliyaar around here somewhere? I didn't see him in the living room."

"Aly was tired, so he took her. I'm leaving in a bit as well," she shifted on her heels and put a hand on her hip.

"I hope you found the accommodations comfortable?"

"The guest cottage is perfect. We love it," she swept the curtain of her dark hair back over her shoulder.

"We'll drive you there," Zeenia offered, her arm around her husband. "Zohra wanted to have a slumber party with Alyana, so we're off to do whatever we please."

"Haha, sure, just let me say goodbye to Daania."

"She's upstairs with the kids, I'll get her for you."

I heard their voices before I reached the nursery door, and the corners of my mouth automatically tugged up into a smile.

"...to visit more amazing places and see the most extraordinary things!"

The snap of a closing book echoed before a tiny voice objected. "I want the one with the Olympians!"

"I want the fairytale!"

"No. The Olympians."

"Lya, you can't impose your wishes on someone," Daania reprimanded softly.

"But- I want the Olympians."

"She's a guest. She's also your sister. Would you like her to treat you this way?"

Her voice softened, sliding from stubbornness to thoughtfulness. "No."

"Good girl."

I peeked around the door just in time to see my daughter fling her placating lovely, charming smile at Daania. Slowly, I stood back up, watching as my worlds collided - my wife and my daughter - as they embraced in front of me.

My wife.

Two words I never tired of saying.

"Come Zoh, we can read the fairytale together."

Daania pinched her lips together, knowing full well that she was being played. Standing up and shaking her head, she walked to me and pressed a kiss on my cheek. My gaze flitted over to her, taking in her long white dress clinging to her and the ends fluttering from the light breeze. She was softly lit by the ambient light, and it exaggerated her perfect silhouette. She looked so goddamn appealing, it made me stupid. Daania's knowing gaze caught mine and she hung onto my gaze until just past the last second she should have. It was those stolen moments, those lingering looks, that reassured me five years and two children wouldn't change the way she needed me.

"I'll be downstairs."

Alyana smiled as I placed a kiss on her mother's cheek.

She always smiled when I kissed Daania.

I may have made a lot of mistakes. But Daania, she'd gone and turned a lifetime of them into a masterpiece. If there was one thing my children would know, it wasn't who I was or what I'd done, it wasn't how wealthy or famous we were...it was how much I loved their mother. And though I knew I'd teach Alyana a lot, the only thing that was of any importance for her to learn was to love as her mother did.

Without fear.

Without judgment.

And with her whole heart

I nodded and stepped into the room, kissing the top of my daughter's head and brushing my fingers through her hair. "Daddy, can you read us another one?"

"Tomorrow. Right now, you're all going to bed, sweet dreams," I drawled slowly, trying hard not to laugh at the miniature scowl on her perfect little face. "Good night."

"She's going to be trouble," Azaan gestured towards my daughter, at the far end of the nursery. I didn't grace that with a reply. I had no doubts about that. I dreaded the day she grew up and her stubbornness and tenacity clashed with mine.

"Why are you hiding upstairs?"

He dimmed the lights before slipping outside the door while I said goodnight to Zoh."I'm not."

"You don't seem like yourself," there was a distance to him tonight. He had remained distant as we cut the cake and sat for our dinner. He had remained distant as we ate. And with Azaan, distance meant that there was something occupying his mind.

"What do you mean? I'm fine."

"You don't look fine," I glanced at the ceiling and braced for the lightning bolt that was sure to come down from the sky and strike me. Because...the irony.

"Your wife terrifies me. Should I keep an eye out for anything? Could she come after my sneaker collection?"

"It's not like you don't deserve it," I gave him a pointed look. "Tell me."

"I think I liked it better when you didn't care about what was happening in my life."

"I was still aware," the instant the words slipped out, I felt different. Lighter. The heaviness of my guilt over my behavior in the past wasn't completely gone, but it was a fraction of what it had been. He had to know that I was aware of what he did, and where he went even if I didn't make my interest known. A hurricane of emotions flickered over Azaan's face. Shock, concern, and then acceptance. He looked pleased, almost happy, and perhaps he felt a little lighter, too.

"What did it feel like?"

"What did what feel like?"

"Falling in love with Daania? How did you know she was the one?" I stared at him, contemplating what this meant. "I know... Nia should be the one answering these questions... but she doesn't get it. She doesn't get the pressures of being... well, me. She's never messed up and never questioned her worth. We're not like Affandi."

"On that I agree," no one could be like Affandi. The man had done the impossible. He'd made an honest woman out of my sister. "What do you want to know?" and more importantly why?

"How-"

"I didn't. I was dumb about it. I thought I knew what I was feeling and I didn't. Pretty sure she figured it out before I did."

"But what went through your head?"

"That I was going to destroy anything and anyone that ever tried to take her away from me. And keeping her happy, seeing her smile, was the most important thing in my life."

"That much huh?" he waited until I caught his eye and let his quirked, knowing smile grow. He liked to remind me that my prim and proper persona had fallen into the mess of blurred lines of love.

"You have no idea."

"Oh."

"What's this about? Is this about a certain someone's sister?"

"No-" his eyes widened with understanding. "Zeenia told you. You guys won't ever stop, will you? Yes. She's... she's, you have no idea what she's like. She's captivating. And smart. The woman used my own words against me."

Interesting. Azaan liked her.

"If you think you can figure out your feelings for her, you're not in as deep as you think you are."

"I can't... that's the problem."

"Then I think you have your answer," his focus returned to me, and a sad smile crept on his lips and I let out an amused huff. He'd have to figure this out on his own. There was nothing I or Zeenia could tell him that would make this situation better. "There's no general way to know, but it's great that you finally know what you want."

"I'm not so sure that's a good thing."

"Time will tell won't it?"

"Or make it worse," he muttered, walking down the stairs and into the kitchen.

༻✺༺

After everyone had left, I opened the door to my bedroom and froze.

Daania sat at the foot of the bed rubbing lotion onto her legs. All she was wearing was a damn robe. An ivory robe that was half off her shoulders.

She was still impeccably made up, her hair falling in loose curls over her bare shoulders, her makeup still on her face. I got an image of ruining her gorgeous hairdo, smearing her makeup, and ripping the robe from her body.

The kids were asleep, my mother was in the room downstairs and Azaan had gone off to a friend's place, this was the most we'd get. Locking the door, I watched her and she smiled up at me.

"Are they all gone-"

I couldn't allow her to finish.

Instead, I pulled her up and kissed her hard as I unwrapped the silky material and allowed it to pool on the ground. Cupping her, I pressed myself against her, and soon our tongues were battling each other.

Damn, she tasted so sweet.

"Yes," I groaned as I took her lips with my own again.

Leaning back, she rested on her back as I trailed kisses from her lips to her neck. She wrapped her legs around my waist. I could feel her nails running down my back, and as I took her nipple into my mouth, I watched her. Her back was arched, and her eyes were closed. Sheathing myself in a protective layer of latex, I rubbed against her entrance.

"Taimoor-damn it, Moor, I need you."

"And you shall have me," I whispered into her ear before I slammed into her.

Grabbing both of her arms, I pinned them over her head with one hand, while I lifted her thigh with the other. "Taimoor."

Watching her with each thrust gave me the will to hold out instead of just slamming myself repeatedly into her.

"Open your eyes," she did and I stared into them, watching as pleasure consumed her. She could only take so much more of this. Right on cue, she broke free of my hand and pulled me to her lips."Daania," I moaned into her mouth.

Using that to her advantage, she flipped us both over, straddled my waist, and pressed her hands against my chest. Then she pushed herself up before slamming back down.

"Fuck, babe," I gasped out. She grinned but didn't stop as my hands went to her waist and held her in place. She rode me hard and fast, and there was no way I would've been able to last much longer. My hands traveled up her body until I was cupping her breasts. Sitting up, I kissed and bit them both. When she slowed, I flipped us over once more, and I took her thighs into my hands before moving faster and pushing in harder.

"Moor. Ahh!" her voice shook as she tried to keep it down, just as I kissed her neck as she came, and moments later I followed her in my sweet release.

"I love you," I drew in a deep breath and pulled out as I fell beside her, looking at her sprawled beneath me. The rumpled sheets, dark hair lacquered into an elegant mess but loosened, hairpins falling out and scattered over the pillow.

The love of my life.

I smiled before moving away, playing with her, forcing her to say the words I never got tired of hearing.

"Taimoor..."

"Say it," I feathered my lips over hers once or twice more, coaxing a frustrated whimper from somewhere deep inside her. I knew it would always be like this. I knew our love would always be like this - an earth-quaking and soul-splitting storm, the kind that electrified the air and left marks scorched on the earth. The kind that was frightening and awe-inspiring at the moment, wondering if the tempest is survivable but knowing it's too beautiful - too necessary - to run from.

"I love you too," she growled and pulled me close, putting us out of our misery and lowering my mouth to hers, parting her lips with mine. The kiss was slow but possessive, and I drove the pace and the depth. I could barely breathe, I kissed her so deeply, but I didn't care. I didn't want to, didn't want any air that Daania herself hadn't given me. After a few minutes of this, I pulled back slightly and then pressed my forehead to hers.

"How much time do you think we have before either one of them wakes up?"

"I think we have time for round two," I nipped at her collarbone enjoying her shiver. Leaning over, she kissed me deeply and we stared at each other she ran her hands through her hair and took a few deep breaths before she sat up, her legs falling on either side, pulling me closer. "And three," I whispered against the column of her neck, slowly mapping her body with my lips. "And maybe even four..."

Late that night, a noticeable shift in the bed woke me. I opened my eyes to see Daania slipping out from beneath the covers and drifting over to the window. She was bathed in a halo of silver moonlight, it shimmered on her nightgown and kissed her dusky skin with an iridescent glow. For a moment I just looked at her, her hair flowing loose down her back in dark, shiny spirals, the light dancing across her face, and I was struck not just by how utterly beautiful she still was, but how unchanged, and constant. How she'd been able to retain the same quiet strength and hopeful innocence she'd always had despite the backstabbing, cutthroat, unsavory business world she lived in.

She was ethereal and she took my breath away.

I got out of bed and pressed up behind her at the window, wrapping my arms around her waist and pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder.

"Are you all right?"

She leaned back against my bare chest.

"Just thinking."

"About?"

"About-" Daania's voice went airy, far away like she was stuck inside something in her head. I placed a kiss on her temple, used to her small disappearances, giving her the time to come back to me. She turned in my arms, her eyes round and pale in the moonlight as she looked up at me. I bent my head and pressed my lips to her silken neck, speaking the words against her skin.

"Speak to me little dragon," her hands skimmed up my arms, to my shoulders, then around my neck.

"We've come so far..." I stared at her blankly and she sighed. "I didn't want to ruin Lya's day, but they've found two more... potentials," she chewed on her lip, her expression stuck between worry and rage.

My brain stopped short. And the whole world froze in time. For a moment I didn't move. Or breathe. "What do you mean?"

"Your grandfather might have had two more children... the PI isn't sure, but he's warned us of the potential issues that we could face."

"What's the issue that's bothering you??"

"One of them has a son. Not much older than Lya."

"He doesn't have a claim..."

"His father does."

"But that's not it... what else?"

She nodded her head, her voice soft. "You always wanted to do more right? And we've supported so many organizations, helping as much as we can."

"I know," I whispered, confused by the direction she was going in.

She shivered as my hand fluttered reverently over her cheek.

"I want to do something Taimoor," her lips spread into a small smile but her voice was soft and solemn. "I want our daughter to have a support system. I want her to grow up in a world that doesn't dim her shine or harm her in any way. But I want her to be prepared. When the time comes, I want her to have her circle of supporters and an arsenal at her back."

"She'll have us, she'll have her family, her uncles, aunts, grandparents..." my other hand cupped her cheek. Complete and utter awe in my voice shook the deepest parts of me. "She will never be alone," I rasped, trailing soft kisses down the side of her cheek. "She'll never be in need of anything. Just yesterday, she talked circles around me, I swear. It was almost emasculating."

Daania gave me "the look"- the one I loved. A small smile, a gentle shake of her head.

"She talks circles around you because you let her. Because deep down you're delighted by how clever she is-how stubborn and strong and quick-witted she can be. Like you. You adore that about her."

I snorted at being called out. Then I stared at the rays of light spilling onto the floor.

"She needs to learn, to grow, to know what it takes to survive in this world," she said firmly, getting that look on her face that said she was going to get what she wanted, no matter what.

"I don't understand? Do you want her to suffer so she can understand what it's like to not have anything? I'm sorry Daania, but I will not deprive my daughter of anything just to teach her a life lesson."

"I'm not depriving her of anything Taimoor. She needs to be strong. She needs to be prepared. She needs balance and stability. I only want to make sure that she has that when she needs it."

"She already is. She won't listen to anyone. Hopelessly stubborn through and through."

Daania rolled her eyes.

"Well, you can't blame that on her, you're not exactly the picture of flexibility, Taimoor."

"Say we decide to do this. How would you accomplish that? She's already advanced beyond her years."

"Shanzae, Zeenia, and I had a little chat," and then her hand moved to cover mine on her cheek and she looked down and when I caught her eye, I watched her nervousness shift, and I knew her next words were going haunt me. "About the girls, we want them to create their legacy."

"Apart from the one they already have?" I asked, my whole body finally sinking into the reality of it.

"That's our legacy. They'll create theirs," she sighed and murmured against my cheek. "The girls, as soon as they are able to, will be working together to advance our new initiative. We're funding it. It's a charity project and we've already decided on getting the paperwork going. As soon as they are old enough, mature enough, we'll hand it to them. That will be theirs to work on, theirs to continue."

"What will this charity be focused on?"

"Lots of things. Pro-bono cases, entrepreneurship opportunities, funding for schools, scholarships in STEAM, and creating prospects to shadow large corporations..."

"How is this supporting Alyana?"

"It's giving her the reins. She gets to perform with her peers, Zohra and Alisha. Build those friendships. They have the decision-making power and the margin for mistakes. It gives them the room to grow, and know what's happening in the world," her tiny hand shook my shoulder, begging me to listen. "Our daughter can not and will not just remain in her bubble Taimoor. I won't have her caught unaware like I was. The world she's born into? It would either kill her or make her hard and unforgiving. With everything that's waiting for her and what we've just learned? I don't want that for her. I want her to empathetic, compassionate, aware, and ready. I want her to be armed. I don't want her to just hand out plates of food at a local shelter or walk into the office for five minutes, get her picture snapped, and call it a day!"

"Armed? She's three Daania."

A slightly hysterical laugh escaped her.

"An heiress, the future CEO of Mughal Co. My father started to teach me coding at this age. You were building your first model. She's ready. Don't give me that look. Just because we want her to be more than she is doesn't mean we won't love her. That we'll abandon her. Every second of every day we will show her how much we love her. Even when we train her, we will never bring ourselves to do what our parents did. Our children are the future Mughals Taimoor, they can't be ignorant or unprepared. If we were gone, people would hurt them just to make a statement. They will not hesitate a second to harm her. I will not have my daughter face a Badar 2.0."

For the last five years, we had set out on building our relationship, and rebuilding our legacy, making sure that the foundation was strong, and not once had she complained. We'd dodged bullets, lost friends, fought the good fight, together, and mostly side by side, which was the biggest fight of all. We struggled, felt defeated, rallied, and came back swinging. We utilized our position in every imaginable way, going head-to-head with the biggest threats, rebuilding the company, changing the laws, and throwing the misogynistic traditions in the trash.

I was painfully proud of my wife, proud of her decisions, proud of her accomplishments that stood on their own. For most of her life, she'd worked to stand out from the shadow of one man. The last thing I wanted was for her life here to be shadowed by mine. With Daania's vision and guidance, we now had a legacy that we could be proud of. It was a work in progress, but it was ours. We fought hard, but we managed to accomplish a lot, and mostly came out unscathed.

I understood the words coming out of her mouth, the fear she had, the rationale. I just didn't like them. "Why are you so hell-bent on this? Why make it difficult for her?"

"Because we suffered from being in our bubbles and I don't want that for her. She's not a normal child Taimoor," she licked her lower lip, trying to slow her words. "She's far too smart for her age. Her mind works a mile a minute. She's meant for bigger things. I don't want those bigger things taken away. I don't want her fighting battles that should have never been there in the first place. I see so much potential in her... don't you?"

"She's our daughter Daania, she's bound to be more," I brushed her hair back from her face.

"And we'll make sure that she is. We can't take any chances. Neither one of us can. Everyone will come for our daughter, they'll come for Zohra and Alisha. They will cut off pieces of them, bit by bit, until there was nothing left of their true selves. And then they will twist them into what they want them to be, to serve their purposes," she shook her head, her delicate jaw rigid. "I will not allow that to happen," she lifted her chin, tilting her face into mine. "We won't allow that to happen."

"You're determined to do this?"

"I am."

"Okay."

"Okay?" she peppered my jaw with kisses, working her way to my mouth. Then she pressed her lips to mine with all the sweetness and passion and tenderness she had to give.

"Okay."

"Just like that?"

With Daania I had someone who embraced me unreservedly, who loved me, who'd given me my children, making me feel like I had a family, not just a legacy. And there was no way, I was going to jeopardize that for her or my children.

I stared at her as my eyes glossed over.

I'd never felt such a mix of the deepest love and the most intense desire. Love was both the sacrifice and the reward. The need to give it all and the desire to take it all.

Only love was both the beginning and the end.

"Yes, just like that."

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Hope you enjoyed Daania and Taimoor's story. It was truly a love that saved a man and created a new dynasty.

A love to die for 🤍

But we're not done yet. Azaan Ali Haider Mughal's story is next! Catch him in Beinteha by sssournothings !

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