Ahad walked into the living room, his footsteps soft yet deliberate. Mina and Zara were sprawled on the floor, their giggles filling the space as they played a spirited game of pretend with their stuffed animals. Naira sat nearby, her laptop balanced on her knees as she flipped through her coursework.

He paused at the doorway, a faint smile tugging at his lips. In one hand, he held a small bouquet of handmade flowers-another creation he'd spent hours perfecting in his private workshop. The colors this time were soft blues and whites, carefully chosen because he'd once overheard Naira say they reminded her of peace.

"Baba!" Mina spotted him first, scrambling up to run toward him.

"Careful," he murmured, crouching down to catch her. She threw her arms around his neck, and he pressed a kiss to her forehead before standing with her in his arms. Zara quickly joined them, tugging at his sleeve.

"Did you bring sweets, Baba?" Zara asked, her eyes wide with expectation.

He chuckled, reaching into his pocket to produce two small lollipops. "Of course. I never forget."

The girls squealed in delight, running off with their treats. His gaze shifted to Naira, who was watching the scene with an amused smile.

"These are for you," he said, holding out the bouquet of fabric flowers.

She blinked, setting her laptop aside. "Ahad, you don't have to keep making these."

"I know," he replied, his tone quiet but firm. "But I want to."

Her fingers brushed against the delicate petals as she took the bouquet. The craftsmanship was flawless-he had even added faint stitching along the edges to mimic the texture of real flowers.

"Why blue and white this time?" she asked softly, tracing the petals.

"They reminded me of you," he said, his voice steady as he stepped closer. "Soft, strong, peaceful. And... permanent."

Her breath hitched at his words, and she looked up at him, her chest tightening. "You're too good at this."

"At what?"

"Making me feel things I'm not used to feeling," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.

He reached out, gently brushing his fingers along her jawline. "You'd better get used to it," he murmured. "Because I'm not stopping anytime soon."

That evening, after the girls were tucked into bed, Naira returned to her coursework. The desk in the study was now adorned with Ahad's handmade bouquets, each one a different color, a testament to the care he poured into them.

She had chosen to focus on languages-a dream she had long buried but was now reclaiming. The path ahead felt daunting. With her lack of formal education, she had to start from scratch, learning grammar, vocabulary, and even basic sentence structure. But she didn't mind. For the first time, she felt like she had the freedom to pursue something for herself.

As she typed away, Ahad walked in, his hands tucked into his pockets. He stopped by the desk, glancing at her screen.

"French?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's one of the most widely spoken languages in the world," she explained, her lips curving into a faint smile. "It felt like a good place to start."

Ahad leaned against the edge of the desk, crossing his arms. "Good choice. What's next? Spanish? Arabic?"

She nodded. "Maybe. But first, I need to master the basics. I can't rush it."

"You'll master it," he said confidently. "And if you ever need a tutor, I'll find the best one for you."

She laughed softly. "I think I'll manage for now. Besides, you already gave me more than I could ask for."

His brow furrowed slightly, and he tilted his head. "Like what?"

She gestured to the laptop, the books, the quiet space he had carved out for her in his busy world. "This. A chance to learn. To dream again."

Ahad's lips curved into a small smile. "You gave yourself that chance, Naira. I just made it easier."

She reached out, placing her hand over his. "Still... thank you."

For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence. His thumb brushed against the back of her hand, a small but deliberate gesture that sent warmth spreading through her chest.

The next morning, as Naira sat with Zara and Mina, reviewing basic vocabulary flashcards she had made, Ahad watched from the doorway. Mina's excitement was palpable as she helped Naira pronounce new words, while Zara clapped every time her mother got one right.

"You're going to be the smartest Ammi ever," Mina declared proudly.

"Only because you're helping me," Naira replied, kissing the top of Mina's head.

Ahad stepped in, crouching beside Zara and handing her a small notebook. "Here," he said. "You and Mina can draw pictures of the words your Ammi is learning."

The twins squealed with delight, diving into their project.

Naira glanced at Ahad, her heart swelling at the way he always found ways to support her, even in the smallest gestures. "You really do think of everything, don't you?"

"Someone has to," he said with a faint smirk.

She laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

"And you're unstoppable," he countered, his voice laced with pride.

Her cheeks flushed as their eyes met, the weight of his words sinking in. For so long, she had doubted herself, questioned her worth. But with Ahad by her side, she was starting to believe in her own strength again.

And for the first time, she felt like the future wasn't just something to survive-it was something to look forward to.