Unapologetically

chapter sixteen

There was something satisfying about seeing the necklace on her, the pearl settled into the column of her throat, glistening against smooth skin. It was as if he had fulfilled a promise made to himself.

Which he had.

And even though things could be rocky, there would be angry words exchanged, and small arguments had, nothing mattered more than the short kisses shared under the dim lamp light before he tugged her close to his chest and fell asleep.

Love was unlike any emotion or feeling he had ever felt before. He couldn't fathom being away from her indefinitely. He was excited to finish working so that he could see her, talk to her, hear her, watch her eyebrows arch up as she passed sarcastic comments that made him laugh.

It was the safest, most secure sensation in the world.

Security. It was something he worked so hard for. To provide a safe living environment for his family. To know everyday that his wife and grandmother could not be hurt by anyone.

And he didn't know why, but lately he was growing increasingly concerned. It started when a crisp Monday morning after work, on his drive home, his car breaks failed.

His heart was hammering in his chest as he drove off the road and into a tree, hitting his head on the steering wheel and wincing as he felt the tell tale signs of a cut on his forehead.

If he hadn't been driving 15 miles per hour, he would've been dead.

Marwa walked into the ER with a pale face. Her eyes were soulless. Her lips bleached of color. A few strands of hair had escaped her ponytail and she was panting.

Her dupatta had slipped. Her hands shook as she desperately clutched her steth in one hand.

He smiled at her weakly. "I guess I shouldn't joke about dying that much."

She shook her head slowly, clearing her throat. "You really shouldn't."

She called an Uber. They went home. He was quiet as she changed. His breaks were fine driving to work. They had been working perfectly. He had gotten them changed two months ago.

How? How could they have just failed? It didn't make any sense.

He was just finishing his conversation with the insurance company when Marwa handed him a Panadol and some water. He passed her a grateful smile as she sat besides him, looking over him as if scanning him for injuries.

He hung up, placed his phone on the nightstand and put it on charge. Turning off the main lights of the room with the remote as he switched on the lamp.

"It's okay. Nothing happened."

"The bumper came off." She said plainly.

He snorted. "You're concerned about the car?"

She tucked her hair behind her ears, bringing her legs up and moving over to her side of the bed. "Of course. Tumhe kya lagta tha? Tumhari itni parwa ho gi mujhe?"

He leaned back, a smirk over his lips. "Mujhe koi khushfehmi toh nahi thi. Apki halat se saaf pata lag raha tha apko kitni fikr hai meri, begum."

"Hmph!" She pulled the blanket over her head. He chuckled, closing his eyes, trying to dispel the fear and remain in the moment.

Everything was okay. They were safe. All was good.

He had just managed to fall asleep when he felt a cold hand touch his left arm, slipping down to encircle his wrist and then pull it up to his chest, over his heart, still tightly holding onto his wrist.