The attack had been repelled, but the night was far from over.

As Saif Malik and Ruhani stood in the garden, the estate seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

The immediate threat was gone, but the adrenaline still coursed through Saif's veins.

Saif was about to escort Ruhani back to her room when he noticed a movement in the shadows.

Instinctively, he pulled her behind him, just as a gunshot rang out.

The sound echoed through the night, and Saif staggered, a sharp pain shooting through his side.

"Saif!" Ruhani cried out, her voice trembling as she saw him collapse to the ground.

Saif managed to turn, forcing a strained smile. "Stay down. I'll handle this," he said, though the pain was evident in his voice.

Ruhani, her heart pounding, grabbed his phone and called for emergency assistance, her hands shaking.

"Help! Saif Malik has been shot! We need an ambulance!"Within moments, the security team, alerted by the distress call, rushed to the scene.

They quickly assessed the situation and carried Saif to a secure medical room within the estate.

Ruhani followed closely, her fear and worry palpable.

Inside the medical room, Saif was carefully examined by a team of doctors who had been on standby for emergencies.

Ruhani watched anxiously from a corner, her hands clasped together in a desperate prayer.

The lead doctor, a seasoned professional named Dr. Arif, looked up after a tense few minutes. "The bullet didn't hit any major organs, but it's a serious wound. We need to operate quickly to remove the bullet and treat the injury."

Ruhani nodded, her voice barely a whisper.

"Please, do whatever it takes."As the doctors prepared for surgery, Saif's gaze met Ruhani's.

Despite his pain, he tried to offer a reassuring smile. "I told you I wouldn't let anything happen to you," he said weakly.

Ruhani's eyes filled with tears.

"You've already done so much. I'm... I'm sorry."Saif shook his head slightly.

"It's part of the job. Just... stay safe."With that, Saif was taken into the operating room.

Ruhani waited outside, her anxiety growing with each passing minute.

The night seemed to stretch endlessly as she paced back and forth, her thoughts consumed by worry for Saif.

Hours later, Dr. Arif emerged from the operating room, his expression serious but not grim.

"The surgery went well. Saif is stable now, but he will need time to recover. We'll keep him under observation for a few days."Ruhani let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

"Can I see him?"Dr. Arif nodded.

"You can visit him once he's awake. He's being moved to a private room for recovery."

Ruhani was guided to Saif's room, where she found him resting, a bandage wrapped around his injured side.

He looked pale but peaceful, the pain temporarily eased by medication.

She sat beside his bed, holding his hand gently. "You should rest," she said softly, her voice trembling.

"You saved me tonight. I don't know what I would have done without you."Saif's eyes fluttered open, and he looked at her with a mix of gratitude and exhaustion.

"You don't need to thank me," he murmured.

"I couldn't stand by and let something happen to you."Ruhani squeezed his hand.

"You're my protector. I never imagined I'd care about someone so much in such a short time. I'm just... so grateful."Saif's expression softened, and he managed a weak smile.

"I guess we both have our own ways of showing care. Just promise me you'll stay safe."Ruhani nodded, her eyes moist with emotion.

"I promise. And you focus on getting better."As the night wore on, Ruhani remained by Saif's side, her thoughts a jumble of worry and newfound affection.

She realized how deeply Saif's actions had touched her and how crucial his presence was in her life.

In the quiet of the room, with Saif resting peacefully and the threat of the night behind them, Ruhani hoped for a future where their bond could grow stronger and the dangers that shadowed them could be faced together.
________________________________________________
The next few days were a whirlwind of activity and emotion. Saif's injury was healing, and he was steadily regaining strength.

Ruhani remained a constant presence by his side, her concern and care evident in every interaction.

Flashback: The Confession

The night Saif confessed his feelings to Ruhani was etched deeply into her memory.

It had been a moment neither of them expected, but perhaps it had been building all along.

Ruhani had been teaching some of the children, lost in her own world, when Saif appeared at the door.

His normally stoic expression was softer, eyes filled with something she couldn't quite place.

He stood there, watching her for a moment longer than usual, before finally stepping inside.

"Ruhani," he said, his voice quiet yet steady,
"I need to tell you something."

She looked up, confused. "What is it?"

He walked closer, closing the space between them. "I didn't think I could ever feel this way again. But being around you-watching you with the children, seeing your kindness-it's changed something in me."Ruhani's heart raced, and she felt her pulse quicken.

This was the last thing she expected.

Saif paused, then continued. "I care about you, Ruhani. More than I've cared about anyone in a long time. You've brought light into my life when I thought there was only darkness. I want you to know that."Ruhani stood frozen, her eyes wide as his words settled in.

She had never seen this vulnerable side of Saif."Why me?" she whispered, still in disbelief.

He took her hand gently. "Because you showed me what it meant to feel again. You gave me hope. And...I love you."Ruhani's breath hitched as her eyes welled up with emotion.

"Saif, I-I don't know what to say..."

"You don't have to say anything now," he replied softly.

"Just know that my feelings are real. I don't expect anything from you. I just needed you to know the truth."

Flashback END

Present.......

The Nikah

The room was filled with a quiet reverence as Saif and Ruhani sat across from each other, separated by a delicate screen, as per tradition. Only his guards and His friend was present there there is no one from outside is allowed  around them, the air charged with both excitement and solemnity.

The Maulvi (religious scholar) began the ceremony with a recitation from the Quran, his voice echoing throughout the room, invoking blessings for the union.

After the recitation, he turned to Saif, asking the all-important question, "Do you, Saif Malik, son of Ahsan Malik, take Ruhani Qureshi, daughter of Iqbal Qureshi, as your lawfully wedded wife, according to the teachings of Islam?"

Saif, sitting with his heart steady, yet filled with emotion, spoke the words clearly,

"Qubool hai" (I accept).

He repeated this three times, as was custom, with witnesses watching on.

Then, the Maulvi turned to Ruhani, asking the same question.

Her heart raced, but her answer was clear and full of certainty.

"Qubool hai," she said softly, repeating it three times as well.

With the Ijab (offer) and Qubool (acceptance) exchanged, and the Mehr (dowry) agreed upon—an amount Saif had lovingly promised her, not out of obligation but out of genuine care—the Nikah was sealed.

The Maulvi offered a final prayer, asking Allah to bless their union with love, mercy, and prosperity.

When the prayer concluded, the guests recited Dua for the couple’s happiness.

With the Nikah complete, the room burst into quiet, joyous chatter.

Saif and Ruhani exchanged a brief glance from across the screen—an unspoken promise, a lifetime ahead of them now bound together.
_________________________________________________

As the wedding celebrations wound down, the house was finally quiet. Ruhani sat on the edge of the bed in their room, her heart a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

The day had been overwhelming—filled with emotion, tradition, and the weight of the promises they'd made to each other during the Nikah.

The door creaked open, and Saif entered quietly, his presence calming and reassuring.

He approached her slowly, the soft glow of the room’s lights casting a warm shadow over his features.

He held a small velvet box in his hand, his expression tender as he reached her.

With a gentle smile, he sat beside her and opened the box, revealing a delicate necklace adorned with shimmering gemstones.

The intricate design was stunning, sparkling softly in the light.

“For you,” Saif whispered, taking the necklace out carefully.

Ruhani's breath caught in her throat as he gently placed the necklace around her neck, the cool metal resting against her skin.

"This is for our new beginning," he said softly, his fingers brushing against.

The room was bathed in a soft glow, and despite the grandeur of Saif’s gift, the moment between them was intimate and tender.

Saif, though a man of power and status, looked at Ruhani as though she was the most precious thing in his world.

He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his touch gentle.

"I know I might have surprised you tonight," he said softly, "but I want you to know that I mean everything I’ve said. I never thought I'd meet someone who could change my life like you have, Ruhani. You brought light where there was darkness."Ruhani felt a lump in her throat.

Her heart swelled with love for him, this man who, beneath his hard exterior, had such a deep well of kindness.

She reached up to hold his face in her hands, her thumbs brushing across his cheeks.

“I never thought I’d find this,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.

“But with you, I feel safe. I feel loved. You’ve given me more than I could have imagined.”Saif smiled, his eyes warm and full of affection.

"Then we’re both lucky," he murmured.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, their foreheads touching as they shared the quiet comfort of each other’s presence.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to.

They sat like that for what felt like hours, wrapped in each other’s warmth, the world outside their room fading into insignificance.

This was their sanctuary, their new beginning. The weight of their pasts, their fears, and their uncertainties slowly melted away in the presence of their shared

As the warmth of the room settled around them, an unspoken desire lingered between Saif and Ruhani.

The playful teasing softened into a deeper connection, one that went beyond words.

Saif's hand gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing her lips as he leaned in closer, their breath mingling in the space between them.

His lips hovered just above hers, his gaze searching her eyes for any hesitation.

But Ruhani's soft smile was all the answer he needed.

Slowly, he closed the gap, their lips meeting in a tender kiss, one that was filled with all the promises they had made to each other.

The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent as their emotions poured out.

Saif's hands trailed down to her waist, pulling her closer against him, while Ruhani’s fingers slid into his hair, holding him to her as though she never wanted to let go.

They moved together with a natural ease, the tension and anticipation that had built up over time finally finding release.

Saif’s touch was gentle, yet filled with a raw passion that sent shivers down Ruhani’s spine.

Every caress, every kiss felt like an affirmation of their bond, a confirmation of the love they had both found in each other.

He whispered her name softly, his lips grazing her skin as they lost themselves in the quiet intimacy of the moment.

Every touch, every breath they shared felt sacred, as though the world outside their room no longer existed.

For Ruhani, this was more than just physical closeness—it was the final seal on the promises they had made to one another.

Saif had given her his heart, his trust, and now, in this moment, they became fully one.

The connection they shared, the depth of their love, became something tangible, something that would carry them through whatever challenges life might throw their way.

As the night stretched on, they fell into a peaceful silence, their bodies entwined as they lay together.

The soft glow of the moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle light over them as they drifted into a quiet, contented sleep.

In that moment, everything felt perfect.

They had found each other against all odds, and now, as husband and wife, they had everything they needed—each other.

The world outside may have been complicated, filled with danger and uncertainty, but within the sanctuary of their love, there was peace.

And for now, that was all that mattered.

As sleep claimed them, Saif’s arms remained securely wrapped around Ruhani, as if to promise her that no matter what came their way, he would always be there to protect her, to love her, and to cherish the life they had begun together.

And with that, the night faded into the warmth of a new day, their hearts forever intertwined.

End