"I am not sure how it happens". Ibrahim said as they sit in her office looking over the shareholders and their shares in her company, "There is no way that bastard will do something like this".

Sahil sold his shares. This was a news she received after she was announced the new Queen. She didn't know how it happens. But the relief she felt when she heard about it was real. For years, Sahil had made her life impossible even after she divorced him. He would call her random times, say disgusting things and demand things off her.

"Actually Shayaan saw his messages the other day". She wince remembering that, "He was very angry".

"He hurt you?" Ibrahim asked anger shining in his eyes

"No! He will never do such a thing. He was angry and requested I explain why is Sahil harassing me. Sahil sent some rather vulgar messages and demanding I meet him immediately. Sahil blocked him. Said he will deal with it". She sighs, "Ibrahim, my husband is not real. No way. You should have seen how angry he was yet how gentle he was with me. Even when he spends so many hours solving problems, he always has time for me. He never lose his temper even if he had a bad day. He always makes me feel like I belong. He brings me flowers every night and cooks for me. He doesn't even let me cook for him until he is by my side so he can do most of the work".

"I am real". She heard her husband voice and a shriek escapes her making him chuckle, "You forgot your lunch".

She knows he must have cooked the food again for her. Because he doesn't trust anyone when the food is left out for sometime. He doesn't take any risk when it comes to her either.

"Hi". She said blushing because she never meant for him to hear all that, "When did you come?"

"At the right time". He said placing the food in front of her and taking her hand to kiss it, "How are you, Ibrahim?"

"Good. Just figuring somethings". Ibrahim said smiling, "You never had a dinner with her family so I want to invite you both over".

"We can't come". She replied instantly knowing that he hates crowd and he cannot eat anything even if they go

"Its fine". Her husband said as if reading her thoughts, "Tell us when and we will be there. Just a thing, don't have people who will insult or hurt my wife emotions".

"No way. It's just going to be doing the cooking with some other cousins and you two".

"So none of your family are good people?"

Ibrahim scoffed, "My wife is not even dark just pale and they degraded her to the point she had a mental breakdown. I was so blind to their hate or maybe I didn't want to see that I let her get hurt. She hadn't forgiven me even after three long years".

Her heart clench. She remembers how innocent and beautiful Ibrahim wife was until she was married and lost all of her. His wife is still in therapy but she is never going to forgive Ibrahim. He has begged her not to divorce him hence the divorce didn't proceed and everyone wants her to just forget and forgive him. It's not that easy. The man you marry with the thoughts that he will be your other half - and the moment you realize that he is not kills something within the person.

Her husband nodded, "I hope things goes well for you".

"What are you doing here?" She asked as he passes her the sandwich, "What about yours?"

He brings the container she had made for him taking a bite, "I had to make sure you believe I am real", She rolls her eyes, "Also to meet the person I will be working with".

"What do you mean?"

"I bought 15% of your shares, begum".

Her eyes widened as she looks through the documents, "You are the one who bought Sahil's share? How? Why?"

He shrugged flexing his hand, "Some negotiation. I wasn't going to let him hurt you even when its over. He just needed the right motivation to understand that".

Since her brother came for that visit to demand things off her she had explained her husband the dynamic of her last wedding. Sahil didn't just bought her dad's company, he also bought her. Sahil had promised her parents he will return the company someday. He didn't.

Instead he exploited her. Everything that could go wrong did. When she wasn't able to carry his child for a year, he had set her appointment and found that she had a disease that if she didn't take proper care of herself will only make it hard to have a baby. The chance of her ever getting pregnant were slim. Her then husband didn't appreciate that she was detected.

Somehow, by Allah miracle, she was able to conceive three months later. By this time, Sahil had branded her as infertile and told every single person to stay away from her if they don't want to catch it. It's not like she had many people left in her life after she married. Sahil had made sure she didn't have any contact with the world.

Almost at eight month, a fight broke between them when they discovered they were having a girl. Most doctor had denied to let them know the gender but her husband used his connections and money to finally find out that it was a girl. She had been so damn happy until her husband shouted and assaulted her. He had kicked her and made her lose her baby.

She had carried the baby alone to her grave. No one came. Not even her parents. After she buried her baby, she had went straight to police to file a report and apply for divorce. Everyone told her it will get better. That Sahil was just angry and it can happen in anger. That the next baby will change him.

She realized it wasn't her job to raise a grown man. They married each other because they were capable enough to build a family. That, both of them, through trail and error should learn to work together. In no way Islam encourage woman to just be married and raise children which are farther from Islam. She had realized that it was not in her to ever be with a man.

Her parents had been after her too but she had ignored them. Since Sahil was paying for their expenses, they were scared he will cut them off. Sahil had demanded she take the case back and she did on a condition that she will get a large amount of money to build her company. She wasn't stupid. She wasn't going to let it go without causing some harm to Sahil. She knows Sahil loves money and giving her a large amount will hurt.

She hadn't explained to her husband why her parents sent her brother to America. When her brother was little he was diagnosed with a rare disease. There was no treatment available at that time in their country. Her uncle had suggested they let her brother stay with them and they officially adopted her so they can do the treatment. Her parents had sent every penny to his treatment and then his studies which is why they lost the company. No one ever told anyone about this. Her brother didn't know it either.

She didn't care anymore. The men in her life had never saved her. She didn't need to beg them for protection. Which is why whenever her husband does something for her she questions it.

After she had releaved how much intimacy effects her. And because of what had happened in her past had scared her made her husband understand more of her. She had joined therapy to overcome everything mostly because she wants her husband.

Her husband had started using little gestures around her. He is always caution and learnt her body language to see if she is ever uncomfortable with his touch. His touch actually brings something warm in her. His touch makes her crave. Yet, her husband even months after their marriage had never ever pressured or did something remotely close to show his dislike about her not wanting intimacy. He was healing something he never broke. She can see his patience and she adores him. All of him. He was hers. If anything good came with her brother it was her husband. Always her husband.

Her husband had taken the initiative to learn about her medical condition. He had met his doctor and learnt more of it. He had books she once found on his Ipad when she was randomly browsing about her condition. She had found more books about woman who had a past like her and overcame it and how their partner can help. He had also met her therapist to understand how he should be with her to never cause her discomfort.

She realized that if a man wants to do something, he would. If he wants to invest in their relationship and actually care for his wife, he will. There are always excuses but he never used them. He was handling the town and his new position yet he had done all that for her.

As for her brother and his wife vanished after she broke the news to them. They never contacted them especially when her husband had gotten angry to the point of fighting her brother off. He went to America with his wife again. Her parents were very upset. They wanted her to share her company with her brother saying that since she is married again she will have responsibilities and there is no way she can handle a full company alone.

Well, news for her parents and everyone who doubts her that she is not alone anymore. Her husband is by her side and it brings a sense of comfort she had always hoped for. Prayer for. She was blessed. She always was blessed. Now as she sees her prayer getting answered one by one she can't shake the happiness that comes with it.

Her husband place his hand over her with concern in his eyes, "You are not eating".

She frowns when she feels how warm his hand is against her. She raises her hand placing it over his forehead and it was warm.

"You have fever". She said as she stands from her seat placing her hand on his cheek, "Did you feel sick today?"

"When I woke up I did feel tired". He shrugged and she narrow her eyes at him, "It didn't feel serious".

"Your health is serious!" She said as she looks at Ibrahim, "I am going to head home now. Is everything ok?"

"Perfect. I will let you know if there is anything". Ibrahim replied with a genuine smile

She nodded packing all the lunch boxes as she takes his hand dragging him to his car asking the guard to drive it.

"You need to take better care of yourself". She insisted as she checks his temperature again

They spent the afternoon (after the doctor came to check him) trying to bring his temperature down. She has been speaking non-stop ever since. He didn't mind. One of the most favourite thing of her is whenever she speaks. He doesn't know if it's the sound or just her - but it brings peace to him. It settle him. It grounds him.

Especially with the position he sits in - he is prone to be filled with all kind of things that may become his obbession. Having one person who doesn't let that happen to him was important. She was his person.
He didn't regret that he had beaten (to almost death) Sahil. Instead he had enjoyed it far too much. He had digged into his past and thrown him in one of the worst jails of this country so he never looks at his wife again. He had almost made sure to ask Sahil jailmate to break him apart once a month. What he had done to his wife he didn't deserve to live a moment of peace. He will suffer, all his life.

As for her brother, he hate that he couldn't do much. He had informed his parents that there will be minimal connection between the two families and as much as his wife wants (which he knows she doesn't). His sister can come visit but she is not allowed near his wife too. He hate how his sister is so blind in love or whatever to acknowledge that she is hurting a innocent person.

He knows his wife carries deep wounds. Wounds that may heal but they will stay. He can never disassociate her from that pain and suffering. And he really didn't want to do that either. If his past had taught him something it is that everything that he went through had made it possible to cherish everything today. The smallest of things just like being sick and under the care of his wife. Of waking up everyday with her by his side. It's the simplest things that means so much.

She had slept.

He realize that when he woke up a little later feeling a little better. His wife was still in the chair and her head rest on his hand on the bed. He shakes his head immediately getting into action even when his body protest it. He gently carries her to the bed laying her on it. He move her hair away from her face however he continue to twirl the strands of her hair in his fingers. He had done her hair a couple of times. He had the urge when he first saw her but he hesitated because the relationship was new and he didn't want to do something to her hair that might hurt her. She was obviously and very much rightfully in love with her hair.

So, he spent a few months learning everything about her hair from her and some online (he deleted his history). After so many times he finally asked her if he can do it and he had done it ever since. It brings him a sense of belonging. A sense of usefulness and to care for his wife was one thing he holds near to his heart.

His wife had shared a few glimpse of her past. He didn't like any of them. They all were almost as every woman in this society grew up in. Hating herself and then healing from it to love herself yet that hole made within doesn't ever get filled. He had tried everything until now to make her days the best. He always have her favourite on hand. He wakes up early (to admire her) and then to collect some flower from the garden for her.

That was another thing they bond over. He had seen and also heard in some stories how much she adores garden. It was not an information he was going to waste. He had started cleaning out the area and brought men for his wife to order around as she wants to build her garden. It is still new and under process but he knows he will love it anyways. It was his wife work, he is meant to cherish it - it is a law.

He never felt that she cares much about his skin. Because he sees how she looks at him. Her eyes never once held disgust and he had witnessed enough eyes who held that for him (even her parents had it and the only reason the agreed to marriage was that he was going to be the King). She has this softness in her eyes whenever she looks at him. Even in crowds she searches for him. He never asked her opinion on the matter because he didn't have to. He knows her. And he was not going to put her in a situation where she feels the need to justify herself. Especially when she did nothing wrong. He isn't going to be the reason for any of her pain. Except one - that is another discussion he stays clear of.

The society cannot change if we don't change. We always blame everyone but ourselves. That is why his wife said that she started everything by loving herself first. She started loving her hair, her body even if she had a disease and all of her. Similarly, she started disregarding the society norms and values such as skin color. Because if their Allah had prohibited such racist acts than no human is above that. If Allah had loved a black person to not rise the sun because he was pushed back by the people than how come a mere human dare to go against the words of Allah?

Change starts from within and from you. Change happens everyday and takes years to establish. But once it is made it stays for generations. Learn and teach. Don't speak without proper knowledge.

Their life were a bliss and that's all that matter.

Four years later:

"You know this breaks my heart everytime, right?" She said looking at stick in her hand as she holds her tears

"It takes a part of my soul too". He confessed, "But we both know that Allah has plans and HE does not give everyone anything until HE knows they are worthy".

She understands that. But she wanted a part of him with her. Her husband deserve the world and she wanted to expand his love down to their children. No one (even his parents) ever forced her to think about children. It was her dream where she always had kids around her but it didn't become a reality for years now.

Her husband had suggested adoption too and he was more happy to do so if she had agreed (she will agree to that after she has a child).

"But-" She shriek as she looks at the stick then at her husband and back at the stick in shock, "Its postive".

Her husband breaks down in tears as he hugs her thanking Allah and her for the blessing that was to come in his life.

His wife care more about having a baby than him. He never want to pressure her or make her stress about something that wasn't in their hands. He knows his Allah was great and he had always prayed to him to give him this blessing when HE sees fit. But it always break his heart when his wife heart is hurt.

So, today, he was glad that his Allah listened to him and blessed them with a new member to their small family.

To top it all of, his Allah had blessed him with a girl - and he knows that a daughter as a first born was eternal blessing from his Allah and he will cherish it for life.

That was them.

Aaira and Shayaan.

The End.

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How was the story? Who made it with me until the end 🙋‍♀️.

I don't know but honestly it was so fun writing about them. I have not been active especially here and I loved writing so much just a year ago. Life had been so busy lately. But these two brought me back and I love them! 🫶🥲

Hopefully, I will be more active now.

On the other note, it's Free Palestine until it backward 🇵🇸🫶.

Your author,

Faiqa.