Collision of hearts

Chapter 17

Nadia's POV

Zaid asked me on a date, and I received a beautiful black dress, shoes, and a matching bag with a big bouquet of flowers in the morning. The note read, "Love from Zaid." How thoughtful! Zaid came back from work, ate, and then relaxed.

After Isha'a, I began preparing. The dress was stunning, adorned with little stones on the neckline. It was modest and perfect, but I had trouble zipping it up. I called Zaid for help. He was dressed in a black shirt, denim jeans.

He zipped it up and stood behind me in front of the mirror. The height difference was striking; my head barely reached his shoulders. I noticed him leaning down, sniffing my hair with his eyes closed.

He took my ribbon and tied my hair in a bun. "When I'm around and we are alone, I forbid you from covering your hair. I like it; it smells nice," he said, making my heart flutter. He put on the undercap and tried to tie my veil. It looked awful, but I appreciated the effort.

"Give me, I can make it myself," I said, laughing as I took the veil from him. After adjusting it, I sat to put on my shoes, but Zaid took them from me. He knelt in front of me, he helped me put on my shoes and then helped me up.

"Wait for me," he said, hurrying to his room. He came back with a camera and smiled. "Let me take pictures of my beautiful wife," he said. I blushed deeply.

After the photos, we left. We had a fantastic time, shopping and enjoying ourselves. At the restaurant, as we approached the entrance, Zaid remembered he forgot his phone in the car and asked me to wait.

While waiting, a group of men approached me. One of them said, "Hello beautiful, why are you standing here alone? You should come with us, let's have fun together." I felt uncomfortable and started heading back to Zaid. Just as I almost reached the car, the man grabbed my hand and dragged me.

"Inalillahi, let go of me! Zaidd, Zaiddd!" I shouted, trying to resist and crying out for help.

Zaid came running. "Get your dirty hands off my wife or I will f**king kill you," he shouted, hitting the man. His face was a mix of anger and something I couldn't quite place.

"So she's your wife? Bro, sharing is caring; let me have a piece of her too," the man taunted. Zaid's eyes turned red, and he attacked the man furiously. I had to intervene to stop him from seriously harming the man.

Zaid walked to the car and returned with a gun, aiming it at the man. "I will kill you. Yau saidai uwarka ta haifi wani," he threatened. My heart sank. The other men fled, leaving the one behind. "Zaid, please let's go. Let it be," I pleaded through tears. "I'm all yours, yours alone. Let's go home, please," I said, crying.

Zaid finally relented. He drove home at high speed, banging the steering wheel in frustration. I was terrified, and it showed. He noticed and sighed, slowing down to a normal pace. We arrived home, and he went straight to his room. I went to mine, freshened up, and changed into my pajamas. I found Zaid in the living room and sat next to him.

"Are you okay?" he asked, and I nodded. "Yes."

After a moment of silence, I said, "Look at your face, all these bruises. You could have killed him—"

"Gladly, with no regrets," Zaid muttered, annoyed. I slapped his arm, and he winced in pain.

"You are hurt," I said, holding his bruised hand. "Let me kiss it better—" I started but fell silent when I realized what I had said.

"Go on, kiss it better. It hurts so much," he whined. I did, then he pointed to his cheek. "Here too," and I kissed it. He pointed to the corner of his lips. I was about to kiss him there but stopped, staring at his lips. I looked up at him, my eyes wide.

Zaid kissed me. It was gentle yet intense. When he pulled away, I excused myself to get a first aid kit, my legs moving automatically because I didn't know how to react.

I applied ice to Zaid's bruises and ointment to his wounds. I couldn't look him in the eyes after what happened. I was about to leave when he pulled me down, and I fell on his lap. He kissed me again, this time with a passionate intensity.

"You are mine, Baby, only mine. I can't stand anyone wanting you. It drives me crazy," he said possessively. "I don't know what's happening to me. I've never been jealous of anyone before, but I am envious of every person who sees you, hears you laugh, or talks to you. It's maddening."

He suddenly let go of me and made his way upstairs. I lay in bed, reflecting on what had just happened, before drifting off to sleep.

I dreamt of the man from earlier, holding a gun to Zaid's head, with blood everywhere. The man hit Zaid hard, and I cried out, "Stop it, Zaid, please get up!" My cries drew their attention, and I tried to run, but I couldn't move. Zaid tried to protect me but was beaten up. I could only cry and scream for them to stop. As they moved towards me again, Zaid stood up, trying to come to my aid, but I begged him to run and save himself.

Zaid's POV

I was working in my office when I heard Nadia scream. At first, I thought it was my imagination, but then I heard it again. I rushed to her room and found her sleeping, having a nightmare.

"Nadia," I called out, shaking her gently. She cried out, "Zaid, please run, leave!" She pushed me away but clung to my shirt tightly. "Zaid, run please!" she begged.

"It's okay. You're okay. It's just a bad dream," I reassured her, hugging her tightly until her cries subsided. Her grip on my shirt remained tight.

I pulled away and said, "You know what's going to happen now. Go and perform ablution, let's pray." She nodded. I stood up to leave, but she held my hand. "Please don't leave me," she said.

"I'm not going to leave. I'll be back soon," I promised.

I helped her up and urged her to the bathroom. I performed ablution and returned to wait for her. I could hear her crying in the bathroom, and then the sound of water running. After about ten minutes, she emerged.

We prayed and read the Quran together. At 2:00 AM, I suggested she go to sleep. "Okay, but please don't leave me," she said. I nodded and lay down next to her. I held her tightly, whispering the Quran in her ear. She fell asleep, and I did too.