"—if we can get Zaira's testimony that they manipulated her words, then maybe we can get hold of your shares back—Rayyan, are you even listening?" I could hear Ismail's words falling on my ears but my attention was faraway, in the tear filled eyes of Zaira.

"I am not having Zaira make rounds of Courts. I don't want the shares, Ismail. I don't have any need for them. Just clear her name from the fraud case they've framed her for—" I exclaimed in a small and tired voice, while fiddling with the phone in my hands. For a moment the lock screen blinked with her wallpaper, in which she was holding the chocolate icecream cone to her face and I had secretly clicked the picture.

Unknowingly, the corners of my lips lifted ever so slightly in a smile.

"Are you forgetting that it's not just her but you as well?! Rayyan, Zaira has only been framed as an accomplice in helping you misuse the company shares to support your Parent's charity foundation—It's you who they are targeting—! They know very well that you've never taken a penny from your shares—It's all an elaborate scheme to oust you from the company and that's why they've used Zaira for achieving their schemes this time!" I listened to him go on with half an ear. My mind was stuck back in Haveli, where Zaira must be crying thinking that I was going to betray her, again. Completely oblivious of how people whom she easily gave her trust to had used her in the worst possible way for their own gains.

Maybe this was karma, for wrongfully accusing her 13 years ago, for a sin she hadn't committed. History was repeating itself and it keeps repeating, until we learn the lesson it wants to teach us. Now, after all these years, I was standing where she once stood. Just as in past, this time too, I was the cause behind allegation against her virtue.

Except this time around, it's my honour they had decided to attack. Zaira, was my honour and I was going to leave no stone unturned to protect it.

"Rayyan—I am talking to you—" Before he could go on, I cut him off, snapping my gaze to meet his.

"They want the shares, Ismail. I know Uncle Zia and Uncle Zubair—if I give up all claims to the profit from Mum's shares, I can ask them to quietly back away. I don't want Zaira to find out about any of this. She doesn't need to know anything. I just need your help to protect the foundation. Hopefully, I can stop them from harming it. They might leave us alone without asking for compensation charges if I give up the shares—" I added solemnly, flickering my attention back to the phone in my hand.

The only reason, I had stayed part of the Hamdani's establishment was because of Mum's last wish. She wanted me to mend the ties with her family which she had broken by marrying Dad against her family's wishes. I would've long before wiped my hands off of this family if Gramps and Nanna didn't keep pushing me to conduct myself in a righteous way. All of this was just for them to backstab me, in this way.

I always saw this coming but what I didn't anticipate was them pulling Zaira into it as well.

"Are you sure? It's 30% shares that you're talking about. No matter what they say, it's your legal right—and we can still get everything back if you just—" Ismail tried to make me see something which I had no regard for.

"I am sure. I have no use for them. Never did. I know they are going this far just so I don't wake up one day and suddenly claim my right to it. It doesn't matter—" Nothing mattered except for her safety.

"Alright. If you're so sure, then I won't discuss it anymore. What about that other matter—with Harris. You're going to keep that hidden from her too?" He questioned defeated while getting up and wrapping up his stuff from the coffee table. Without meeting his gaze, I nodded my head.

Unaware of how much time had passed since he left, I continued sitting in the cafe, until the waiter came over to inform me that it was closing time.

Sitting back in my car, I roughly ran my hands through my hair before dropping the top of my head against the steering wheel.

I was scared. I had never before felt this kind of fear. I didn't wish to think about the what ifs—What would—what could—happen to my Zaira if I weren't there. Who would take care of her after me? I couldn't think of anyone—My Zai was so innocent and it was incomprehensible to her, the extent people could stoop to achieve their means. She assumed the best of people and forgave them even after they hurt her in the worst way. I knew if she were to find out that they used her to get to me, she would only blame herself—and I didn't want that. I couldn't let her feel hurt anymore. This time around, I was going to protect her, no matter how.

———————————-

When I strode back into the room, it was past midnight. The light was left on and I found her on the floor with her head resting on top of the bed.

I had no doubt that she had fell asleep waiting for me. Yet, I couldn't do anything about it.

Despite being extra careful, the sound of door closing woke her up and she snapped her head to meet my gaze. As soon as her eyes landed on me, she scrambled to her feet and taking quick steps she walked towards me. I peered down at her face as she clutched at the front of my shirt in desperation. I noticed the tremor in her hands while she gawked me through quivering lips and tears brimming in her eyes.

"Where—where were you—I—I kept calling but you didn't pick up—-I—I was so—-worried—do you have any idea—how—I—" Her voice cracked with sobs as she watched me through tears streaming down her cheeks. For a moment, she just stood there, gripping onto the front of my shirt with trembling hands. Her eyes imploring me with pain etched in them, until she finally broke the silence—a sob shattering through her.

"I—I thought you left—me—I—was—" Unable to go on, she dropped her head against my chest. I didn't say anything. I couldn't say anything. I was at a loss of words to comfort her. So, instead of saying anything, I let her fragile figure break in my arms.

"I—won't say anything—I promise—I promise to listen to you—so—so please—don't hate me Rayyan— please? I—I can't live without you Rayyan—Please—I—I love you so much—Rayyan—I am sorry—hmm?—I'll be how you want—I won't—" Before she could say anymore I pulled her down with me on the couch, cradling her in my lap. Her arms came up to wound around my neck as she let her tears loose.

"Rayyan—I am sorry—I am really sorry Rayyan—I mean it—I didn't—I didn't cheat on you—I wasn't—I didn't want to hurt you Rayyan—You know this right? I—I won't—never—I can't hurt you—You're my everything Rayyan—I can't live without you Rayyan—You're the only one in my life Rayyan—I haven't loved anyone but you—Never—No one but you—I—I gave you my everything—I have nothing left—If you leave me—I'll die—I'll—" She pulled away, when I shushed her from saying anymore and then she took my face in her small hands. Peering down at my face with tear stained face, she gasped through sobs.

"I love you Rayyan—I really do—You mean—more than everything in this world to me—You're my whole existence—I love you more than life—I didn't want to—I tried not to—but if—if you give up on me—I won't be able to go on—-You're my reason Rayyan—you're all of my reasons—please—please don't hate me—I can't—Please—please don't break my heart—please—" Her voice cracked with tears as she gripped onto me, as if holding onto dear life.

"I know—I know I am not good enough—I know I am not worthy of your love—but—but you promised—you promised that you won't leave me—I won't let you—You can't give up on us—I promise I'll do better—" Before she could say anymore, I pulled her against my chest. Slowly rocking her to calm her sobs.

"Hush—You don't need to do anything—you're perfect just as you are—I love you because it's you, Zai—I wouldn't change a single thing about you—and I am not going anywhere—You're my home—I need you far more than you could ever want me—I love you—forever and ever—" I murmured against her hair.

"You won't leave me?" Her voice thick with tears resonated against my skin and I shook my head slowly.

"I won't, even if they gave me the entire world in exchange—I'll give up everything and anything if it allowed me to stay a second longer with you—There's no power on this earth that can take you away from me, Zai—I won't let them—" Feeling somewhat reassured by my answer, she nodded her head against my neck.

"Promise?" Her voice was a soft warm brush of air against my skin.

"I promise."

"You won't forget about it?" Her question resounded in a whisper.

"I won't—I couldn't, even if I tried—I only live for you—" My reply came in a sigh and I tightened my hold around her, burying my face deeper in the crane of her neck.

"Me too. I love you, Rayyan. So very much—I can't put my love for you into words—I missed you so much—I couldn't stop thinking about you even after trying so hard—You can't leave me again, okay? Not even for a single moment—" I could feel the rise and fall of her chest becoming steady by now. Pulling her away from me, I peered down into her tear stained eyes before dropping a small lingering kiss to her forehead.

"I love you, my sweet Zai. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me—I am not going anywhere—It's alright, now—everything is going to be okay—" Her eyes widened slightly at my confession and then I saw a soft smile breaking her tired features as she leaned down to press a kiss to my lips. Sighing against her lips, I surrendered myself to her love.

————————-

I returned from Fajr, expecting her to be sleeping but she was awake and immediately sat up on the bed at my sight.

"I couldn't wake you—You seemed to be sleeping so peacefully—" I remarked slowly, while coming to bed. She smiled at me before opening her arms wide for me.

I watched her surprised for a moment before leaning into her soft embrace.

"It's alright. I kept alarm—Rayyan, I got worried that maybe last night was a dream. I am not dreaming, right? You're really back? To me?" I pulled away from her with a sigh to bring us both to lie back on the bed, with her head resting against my chest while I ran my fingers through her silky soft hair.

"It's not sweetheart, I am here with you." I murmured while pressing a kiss against her hair. She paused for a moment before turning up to meet my gaze.

"Rayyan? I love you. So very much. You're the answer to my every dua—even the ones that I never prayed for—I feel like if I become any happier than this—" I didn't let her finish.

"Shhh. I am here, now and I am not going to let anything happen to you." My answer seemed to satisfy her and she dropped her head against my chest once again.

"Rayyan?" She continued after a moment's silence. My reply came in a hum but I kept my eyes closed relishing in the soft kisses she was tracing across my face and jawline down to my neck.

"Your every strand belongs to me, okay? Your love, your kindness, your vulnerabilities, your sadness and everything about you belongs to me—has been since before I first set my eyes on you—Allah has written you very keenly for me—and I am not letting go of you—for anything—you're not allowed to—until our last breath and then in Jannah—I'll choose you every single time—" My eyes snapped open and I could feel shudders running through me at her confession. On noticing my silence, she turned a questioning gaze to me, while chewing on her lower lip. My gaze flickered from her eyes to her lips which now my thumb was lightly caressing.

"This—it's my weakness—when you do this—I can feel my senses numbing—" Before I could finish she had caught my lips in a teasing, lingering kiss.

"What else?" She pulled away to ask with a small grin.

"Everything—Your everything is my weakness, Zai—I love you to pieces—Just the thought of something happening to you is enough to kill me—" I remarked breathlessly, shuddering at the thought alone, when she clamped my mouth shut with her hand. Her lips trembling with unvoiced words, as she moved away her hand which I immediately caught in mine.

"Don't—ever talk about leaving me—I can't imagine a second away from you again—" Her voice broke with fresh onset of tears but before they could escape their confines, I pinned her underneath me, and ravished her until all I could hear were her soft moans of pleasure.

Assalamualaikum! Sorry for the delay in updating. Hope you like it, InshaAllah. Please do share your views and don't forget to vote. Thankyou always for your support☺️❤️