Tears escape her eyes as she runs into her husband hands after all these years. She cannot help herself when she continues to weep in his strong strength around her.

He smiles slightly holding her tightly because she was the one he had been losing his mind over. He wished with all his might that she was safe and he has to say this was the improvement he was looking forward to.

"Ghar chalein, meri noorehayaat?" He asked pulling her back as he wipes her tears away watching her red button nose with a graceful smile on his lips (should we go home, the light of my life)

She nodded.

He holds her hand sending one last glare at the man behind her walking out of the office. He opens the door for her as she sits inside and he drives the car out of the place. He holds her hand just as he did the last time he was here.

She sits in front of him on their bed legs crossed as she simply looks at him trying to memorize his features.

"Why did you leave without saying goodbye?" She asked because the most haunting thought all these years was that she never gets to say goodbye when she knows he might not come back

He sighs, "I couldn't see you cry. I wanted to have a memory of you laughing with me, not crying. I wouldn't have managed to live these years if I saw you crying before I left".

She nodded biting her lips, "How long are you here for?"

"I don't know". He said taking her hand as he pulls her in his lap, "Don't you see any changes in me?"

She frowns looking at his face where she did see a deep wound that left a scar. She raises her hand as she moves her finger along the length of it.

"How did you get it?" She asked curiously

He sighs, "In the war. Some of the explosive elements flew away and it hit our men. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you".

"Is that why you didn't write for a month? You didn't even withdraw any money that month".

He nodded holding her hand which was tracing his proud scar as he kisses it, "I was unconscious for a few days then I was recovering in an underground compartment and I couldn't risk our safety by writing to you".

"How is it? The war and everything you been through?"

"Horrible. It gives me nightmares sometimes when I think about all the innocent lives that looked at me one last time in hope of survival but I failed".

She wraps her hands around him, "You did save many people".

"All I know as much as I loved the army in my youth. I understand that war and killing is not an answer. We need to find a more suitable solution instead of using weapons".

"You can bring that change if you want".

"Perhaps. But didn't you marry me because I was in the army? If I leave it, what will you do?" He teases as he caresses her cheeks

She chuckles and his heart flutter, "I guess I will have to live with it. What can I possibly do?"

"Aren't you just optimistic?"

"Very". She said giggling, "Or I can just find another army man".

He narrows his eyes at her as he pulls her closer and their face merely inches apart, "You do know that I trained in the best team. It wouldn't take me a day to track that man and bury him".

"Here I thought you save civilians lives and you are thinking of taking one".

He shrugged, "I can take a life that's trying to take my wife from me".

She smiles, "If someone had that power, they could have taken me away by now. There is no one else beside you for me".

He smiles looking at her eyes as he leans in, "Ijazat hai?" (Do I have your permission)

"Apko, hameshah". (You, always)

Just like that their lips crash together and soon their bodies they revive themselves and love each other for the years they couldn't.

"I see my brother is back". His elder brother said hugging him tightly as his elder brother was out for work last night, "It's good to see you in one piece".

He smiles, "Thank you for everything, Bhai Jaan. I appreciate it".

"For you, anything". His brother said leaving to be with his wife who was waiting for him

He wraps his arms around his wife leaning closer to her but she pushes him away.

"We are in front of your family". She said narrowing her eyes

"Should we build our house?"

"Why would you want to live separately?"

He shrugged as he leans in to whisper in her ear, "So I can have you all to myself, all the time".

She blushes and he laughs as he went to speak to his mother. She looks at him smiling cheerfully as he speaks to his family and she longed for his touch and love. She had often imagined how it would be when she was united with him. How much her patience will pay off?

However, as she looks at the man who turns to look at her and his eyes shining as they meet her eyes and his already wide smile stretches into a more intimate smile that is reserved for her. She knows she will always be with him.

For better or worse.

"I don't know why they are throwing a party for me". He said groaning as he sits on his bed with his wife in his hands

"They love you". She said softly, "They have missed you so much, Rohan. I can see it in their eyes even when they never said it".

He brings his wife closer, "What about you? Was it hard? Did you ever resent me?"

Her eyes fill with tears, "I wish I could have written to you. I know I can't write to you because of the place you were in. I didn't have any means to reach you. At first, it hurts to know that you went and I didn't accept it. Then, I accepted it. But it didn't stop the pain. I used to cry on some days and wish for you on others".

"I am sorry". He said kissing her forehead, "I am so sorry I wasn't here that I wasn't the man you deserved".

She smiles gently shaking her head as she places her hand on his cheeks, "I embraced the pain. I can't stop my heart from feeling. I already knew what I signed for when I was asked if I wanted to accept you in my life. No one lied to me and no facts were hidden. This was the life I choose to live and this was the pain I wished for".

"But why?"

"Why not? It's not like anyone can escape the pain. If I had married a normal man who guarantees that he will be the man I wanted by my side? Given that I had no idea if you were the man who would give me the world so when I know that it was all in faith who we are bond to, why not you? The first time I saw you in the restaurant, there was just something about you that I wasn't able to say no to when my mother asked me if I choose you"

"You choose me?"

"I choose you and I will choose you again if I was given a chance".

"Mujhe tum se mohabbat hai, Kubra". He said genuinely looking in her eyes that filled with tears, "The only regret I ever had was not being able to say it. I kept thinking it was too early. That I didn't want to burden you. But, you are all I ever want. You are my light, my life, my love and my future. Even if I might not be the best husband, I will do my best for you. I will always keep you in my heart and my soul". (I love you)

She nodded smiling brightly as she feels her heart-melting watching the love in his eyes for her, "Aur mujhe apse beinteha mohabbat hai". (And I love you so much)

She places her hair to one side as she starts to wear her jewellery for the event. His arms wrapped around her as he placed his head on her shoulder and she always likes when he does that.

"Bohat khoobsurat lag rahi ho". (You look so beautiful)

"Shukariya". (Thank you)

"You know I am proud of how far you have come, right?" He said turning her around as he helps with her earrings beaming at her, "I always wanted to see you achieve and become a headstrong woman and now you are my power woman".

She couldn't help the satisfying smile, "We should go now. We will be late".

He smiles holding her hand as they enter the party. His cousins, her family and a few of his colleagues were all present at the party. He knows his family wanted this party because they never get to celebrate any of the events with him for almost 16 years now.

He kisses his mother cheeks, "Thank you for everything".

"Go to your wife". His mother said patting his cheeks

He turns around smiling as he tries to locate his wife in the sea of people. He is not someone who will hold his wife back and only with him. He knows his wife is a sensible woman.

His eyes narrow when he finds one of his cousins extra friendly with her. Ok, maybe he was a little annoyed at that. He knows his wife isn't the one who free people especially male presence around her so he knows it must be his overbearing cousin.

He wraps his arms around her shoulder and she immediately leans into him smiling up at him and he can't help the smile that comes over his lips.

He kisses the side of her head, "Is it fun?"

He knows he is ignoring his cousin but he could care less. He holds his wife taking her away as he brings them food.

"Did you enjoy it?" She asked him instead as she starts to eat, "You are the one whose party is this".

"You and I come in a package". He said shrugging as she rolls her eyes making him chuckle, "But yes, I am enjoying. All these joys are something I haven't seen for a long time".

"Do you miss it?"

"I am only human, baby. I am meant to crave and miss these things even if I choose this kind of life for myself. I missed my mother breakfast when I had to survive on a pack of biscuit for a week. I missed my father wise words when I felt suffocated. I missed my brother teasing and arguments when I was all alone. I missed all the occasions whenever they came and went". He said and sadness lingers in his eyes for the youth he sacrificed for the country, "I do miss them. I will always miss them. That doesn't mean I will change the kind of life I lived".

She holds his hand kissing it as she smiles and he spoke, "I miss you too. Whenever I was hurt I wondered how much you would have cried saying, you are crying because I am hurt". He chuckles and she hit his shoulder which didn't even affect him, "Honestly! I used to laugh whenever I remembered that you cried for my pain not knowing you were my cure. I remember you thinking I am Mount Everest. When I lived in the mountain for a while, I used to think about it over and over again. You were the one I missed the most and you were the regret I had. At least, with my family, I spent a few years. I never got a chance to be with you, to hear you, to fulfil your wish, take you out on dates, comfort you and love you".

"We will have our time. We live a different kind of life than most people so these normal things are not for weirdos like us". She said laughing and he joins, "I still strongly believe that you did fool me into believing that you were not tall. I was hoping to grow an inch or so before I meet you but I didn't".

He watches her sulk as he kisses her cheeks making her blush, "I am glad you didn't. You being short give me best hugs and kisses".

"I almost broke my neck to kiss you". She said rolling her eyes, "Maybe one of these days, I will snap my neck or have a problem with it".

He laughs wholeheartedly and she was mesmerised by his laughter. That sound was unique in a way that her heartbeat rapidly every time. This man was who she will always love.

"Rohan". He heard his brother distressed voice as he turns to him, "Baba fainted".

That was when his world started to flip.

****

Let me tell you a weird fact, I dreamt of this story not as in the whole story just a snippet of it. I had the feeling, I have to write it and that was when I came up with what they will look, their field of work and few more things in a matter of 30 minutes and published the first chapter in an hour.

I had few stories which I dreamed about. I don't usually say it cause it is weird.

Don't call me crazy 😂.

By the way, what do you think about this chapter? I was grinning throughout writing it ;).

-your author

Faiqa.