"Trust me, you would love this one." Ahmad had his right hand locked into Salma's left one as he collected the nylon of warm falafel from the roadside vendor.

After settling the vendor's money, Ahmad turned to his wife. She wasn't focused on the snack he was talking to her about, instead, her eyes darted from the different colours of bangles in the small store on the opposite side of the road.

People with different goods bustled through the busy but narrow streets.

"Should we take a look at them? They look lovely." Ahmad pointed towards the bangles store after he wrapped his arms around Salma from behind.

Salma made a quick turn on her heels. Her eyes glistened, an effect of the glowing sun.

"Yes, they do look lovely, but are you sure? We shouldn't spend too much money and we have to hurry to your stall." Excitement and hesitation tangled with her voice.

Ahmad took a step forward and cupped Salma's small face in his large palms. A warm smile spread across his face.

"Salma, my love," his dark eyes filled with affection met her light ones. "You deserve something special, the stall could wait a bit longer. Come on let's get this beauty a beautiful something." He took hold of her hand again.

A thin smile overtook Salma's face. Her cheeks felt hot and she knew for a fact that it had already turned red. She pulled her scarf until it was covering the side of her cheeks.

She loved how her husband treated her and made her feel so special. Ahmad's words had effects on her. It always had right from day one.

'This is a beautiful design, it looks so good on you. Did you make it by hand? How long does it take?' Ahmad had asked her two months back. He allowed those compliments to slide out his mouth like they were nothing. So easily and effortlessly. He made her feel butterflies in her stomach without even trying.

She simply shook her head. She couldn't raise her head to meet his gaze. She remembered he had a camera slung over his neck and his deep voice had a different accent, indicating he was a tourist exploring their land.

'So you bought it then. Is there a place I can get something like that? But a male's piece instead?' he asked.

"Which one do you like best?" Ahmad's voice brought Salma back to the store. On the small counter sat different vibrant colours of bangles.

Salma looked up at her husband's tall figure that was planted firmly beside her. He gave her a reassuring nod with the smile still on his glowing face.

Salma picked up the jet-black set and began trying it on.
"I like this one." She jiggled the accessory that now adorned her two wrists in front of her husband.

"They're pretty. They look so good on you," he admired. "They were specially made for you." He kissed her hands.

Once they had completed their business at the bangles store, the couple headed for Ahmad's stall. His stall which held wooden crates and baskets of vegetables was at the far end of the street in the vegetable and spice section.

"Do you know why I chose this colour?" Salma tried looking at her husband's face more often.

"Let's see," he tapped his chin. " It's because you like the colour black, it goes with anything."  He opened one of the falafel before handing it to Salma.

She giggled lightly.
"That's one out of the two reasons." She took a bite of the snack.

"I don't know, could you educate me, my dear?" He looked at her this time.

"The second reason is that..."

"Hey!" The nylon containing falafel dropped from Ahmad's hand as he ran towards the chaos. Men were ripping down his stand of vegetables alongside other vendors' stands.

"It's the colour of your eyes."

"What are you doing?!" Ahmad tried stopping the armed men from causing further destruction. He picked up the fallen products that his hands could hold.

He had heard multiple stories from fellow vendors of this kind of incident but he had never experienced it not until that very moment.

His attempt to stop the men from ruining his only main source of income was to no avail because he was outnumbered. Vendors and buyers began scurrying off in various directions making everywhere crowded.

Salma.

Ahmad immediately thought. She shouldn't be caught up in this kind of chaos. If she got hurt he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.

He allowed the vegetables to fall from his hands and turned back to where he had left his wife. She had tears in her eyes and her scarf was no longer over her head. Two men were holding her back as she struggled to break free.

"Get your hands off her!" Ahmad stomped in the direction of his wife. Even though a hint of fear was in him, the vein on his forehead and neck became evident.

He clung his fist into a tight ball before swinging it in their direction while protesting that they let go of Salma.

His failed attempts only earned him laughter from the men.

A force from behind brought him to his knees but he wasn't going to give up so easily. This was his wife and it was his duty to protect her. Ahmad got up on his feet with a little stagger and approached the men this time with something different. Something none of them saw coming.

He sank his teeth into their thick skins, not letting go until they released Salma from their hold.

Once released, Salma lept forward to escape but waited. She couldn't leave her husband behind.

"Salma run! Go home!" Ahmad yelled in her direction. His attempt to make a run didn't last long because he was brought back down to his knees with a mighty boot crushing his back.

"Superhero huh?" Salma heard the hoarse voice say to Ahmad as she made her way through the bustling street and behind stalls before ducking into a small corner.

She immediately placed her hands over her mouth, preventing a whimper from escaping. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest as she recalled the brutal scene she had just witnessed. Beads of sweat rolled down her face as she took in sharp and heavy breaths through her nose. Her hair sat quietly over her shoulders.

She couldn't leave her husband alone. Worry and fear engulfed her being as she thought of different ways to help Ahmad.

The shouts and cries of people echoed through the marketplace. The atmosphere that was filled with the aroma of freshly made coffee and various spices moments back, is now filled with the smell of sweat with a hint of blood.

Tears streamed down Salma's eyes. She held tight to her dress as she muttered silent prayers for her husband's safety.

Minutes felt like hours to Salma as she closed her eyes tight. She got up on her feet and returned to where Ahmad was being beaten. She hid behind a wooden stand. The sight of her husband's battered face weaved emotions in her but she had to keep it together and wait for the right time before approaching them.

There were now only two men beating up Ahmad. The other men had dispersed themselves to different parts of the market.

When the time felt right, Salma flung herself forward toward one of the assailants that had Ahmad pinned to the ground, attempting to pull Ahmad from his hold.

"Leave him alone!" Her voice cracked with desperation between sobs. She clawed at the man's muscular arm with so much determination despite his physical strength. She didn't let go
The man, as a result of reflex of the pain Salma had inflicted on him, loosened his grip on Ahmad.

The other assailant who was distracted by Salam's action, paid less attention to Ahmad thereby giving him an avenue to muster up strength to push the man away before staggering to his feet through the pain.

Without uttering a word, Salma and Ahmad immediately took hold of each other's hands before maneouvering their way through the chaos without looking back until they were in a dark alleyway.

Breathing heavily, their tired bodies glued  to one another. Salma's eyes held gratitude and relief.

"I couldn't leave you alone," Salma whispered as she sank her tears-covered face into Ahmad's dusty shirt.

Ahmad's eyes softened as he held her head deeper into his chest before placing a kiss on her hair.

"I couldn't bare the thought of losing you," he patted her hair softly. "We're in this together, always." He smiled into her hair.

Ahmad lifted his wife's head and wiped her tears with his thumbs. Salma closed her eyes because she couldn't bare to see how battered his face was. She knew he still had a smile on his face nonetheless. He was always smiling through his pain.

"It's not safe here Ahmad." She sniffled while shaking her head vigorously.

"It's okay," he cupped her face before pulling her into another warm hug. "Let's go home, this beauty's had one long day." He locked their hands together. Salma held his hand tighter. There was no way she was letting go of him again.