Zaynub Khalid

I gasped as soon as I saw the big red mark on Zakir's jaw. What the heck happened? I looked behind him and saw that Zaid was on the floor clutching his arm and his friends just looked wide-eyed at Zakir. I walked up to Zakir and placed my hand on his bruised jaw. He winced. I quickly removed my hand.

"Did you fight with Zaid?" I asked him.

He scratched the back of his neck. "Not exactly."

"What happened?"

"Um... well... I came to warn him off and he punched me. So I... uh... twisted his arm," he mumbled the last part.

I nodded my head. Zaid got up and stormed towards us. His face was red with anger. "You," he said pointing towards Zakir. "We're not finished here."

Zakir pushed me behind his back, but I stepped around him to stand in between him and Zaid.

"Oh yes he is. You should know better than to physically harm your brother in Islam," I said while crossing my arms.

"Harm? He threatened me!" he shouted.

"Then maybe next time you would think twice before sexually harassing another man's wife," I glared.

Zaid stood there shocked. I smirked and then dragged Zakir out of the building.

"Zaynub, go back to your class. I'll be fine," Zakir said as he stopped walking causing my steps to pause.

I turned to look at him. "You," I said while poking him in the chest. "Are my husband. I am your wife and I will do my duty as your wife. Now come on," I said while dragging him.

I found our car and took his keys. "I'm driving," I said while sitting in the driver's seat. He was about to object but I looked at him sternly.

He obeyed and sat next to me. The ride home was silent. I didn't want him talking with his jaw hurt like that. It must hurt for him to talk.

* * * *

When we got home, I quickly got an ice pack and placed it on Zakir's jaw. He winced at first, but gradually accepted it. He sat down on the couch and I sat next to him, holding the ice pack to his jaw.

"I can't believe you did that," I said.

"What?"

"Threatened him and then taking a blow," I said softly.

"Well, I had to show him not to mess with my girl. Especially since he touched you."

"Zakir, promise me you won't do something like this again. You got really hurt. I don't want this to happen to you again," I said while removing the ice pack.

"I can't do that," he replied.

"And why not?" I asked with raised eyebrows.

He turned to look at me and grabbed my hands. "I can't do that because I love you. I promise to protect and cherish you for the rest of my life. By doing that, I'll take blows for you. I won't let anyone get away with hurting you without me talking to them."

I looked at him in awe. "I-I don't know what to say," I said.

He kissed my knuckles. "You don't have too. All I need is your love," he whispered.

"That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me."

Zakir was about to say more, but Khadijah walked into the room.

"Bhaiyah (brother), Laila is acting like a complete- whoa what happened to your face dude?" she asked while hiding a giggle.

Zakir glared. I shook my head at his behavior. "Someone punched him."

She took a seat opposite of us. "I never pegged you to be that type of guy," she said.

"He punched me and I used self defense," he said while lightly touching his jaw.

Khadijah couldn't contain her laughter in anymore and busted out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Zakir asked while raising his eyebrows.

"It's just that... your face has a pink imprint and you remind me of a monkey," she said breathlessly.

Zakir rolled his eyes. "Honestly, can I not go on a day without you insulting my face?"

"Take it or leave it," Khadijah shrugged.

"Leave it," he smirked.

"Zakir! Be nice," I said while lightly slapping his chest.

"Yeah. We wouldn't want you crying for her forgiveness now do we?" grinned Khadijah.

"Are you saying I'm whipped, little sister?"

"No. I'm saying you're acting like a girl. Only girls get super lovey dovey over their partner," she said.

"Burn," I laughed.

"Oh shut up," he groaned.

Khadijah and I kept laughing our heads off while Zakir just glared.

"Zakir!" shouted my father-in-law.

"Yeah?" Zakir shouted back.

My father-in-law walked into the room looking stressed. He was about to say something but paused when he saw Zakir's bruise.

"What happened to your face?" he asked.

"He got hurt today. I'll explain later," I told him.

My father-in-law nodded and continued with what he was going to say. "Zakir, I need you to help me with Laila. She'll still upset about the Khaliq thing."

"Not this again," groaned Zakir.

"You guys might wanna take care of this. Listen to her argument, Zakir. Then you can say yours but hear her out. She feels attached," I said.

"First a bruised jaw. Now I'm gonna have to deal with a women and her strikes. Just can't take a break these days," muttered Zakir while getting up.

Zakir and my father-in-law left. It was only Khadijah and I left in the room.

"I hope they settle their disagreement. Laila and Zakir fighting is never pleasant," shivered Khadijah.

"Why?" I asked curious to know.

"Lots of words go down. Zakir comes out like an angry gorilla and Laila is like a cobra ready to attack."

"That's an interesting way to put it."

"Trust me on this. It's true," she said.

I was going to say more, but as soon as I opened my mouth a wave of nausea hit me. I jumped up and ran to the toilet. I was waiting for the vomit to come out but nothing did. I still had that sickly feeling though.

"Zaynub, are you alright?" Khadijah asked while running up next to me.

"I-I don't know," I said as the vomit reached the back of my throat.

Then it all came out.

"What did you eat?" she asked.

"Just cereal in the morning. The milk wasn't bad. I checked," I responded while wiping my mouth.

"That's odd."

It was. What's wrong with me? 

Just then Zakir and Laila walked out of Laila's room. My father-in-law was following close behind them. Khadijah wasn't kidding. Zakir was really upset. He was breathing heavily and his nostrils flared. Laila was glaring daggers at him and challenging him with her eyes. This wasn't going to end well.

Assalamualaikum!

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