Chapter 16

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The car sputtered to a halt, its engine finally giving out, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Emad stepped out, his breath visible in the cool night air. Above him, the sky was a vast expanse of stars, twinkling like distant jewels in the deep, velvety blue-black sky. Far off on the horizon, flickers of lightning illuminated the distant clouds, casting brief flashes of light over the darkened land.

Imaan stood beside the car, frozen in place, her eyes locked on Emad. He moved toward her with sudden urgency, breaking her out of her thoughts. In a moment, he was by her side, his arms wrapping around her in an embrace that took her by surprise. The warmth of his body pressed against hers was a stark contrast to the cool air that clung to the night. For a moment, her limbs were rigid, as though unsure how to respond.

"I'm sorry for holding your hand so tightly earlier," Emad whispered, his voice low and filled with a sincerity that tugged at her heart.

Imaan swallowed, her throat dry, and gently pushed him away, taking a step back. "I need some time alone," she murmured, her voice soft yet firm, barely above a whisper.

Emad's brow furrowed as he searched her face for answers. "But... where are you going?" he asked, concern lacing his words. Imaan didn’t respond. She remained still, her gaze distant, fixed on something beyond the present. Seeing the need in her eyes, Emad nodded slightly, sighing in resignation. "I’ll give you some time, my wifey," he said quietly, his phone vibrating in his pocket.

He pulled it out, glancing at the screen before answering. His voice faded as he stepped away, his silhouette growing smaller as he wandered a few paces into the darkness, leaving Imaan alone under the starry sky.

Imaan wandered away from the car, her footsteps barely audible as she moved through the tall, dew-covered grass. The landscape stretched endlessly around her, and soon she spotted a lone wooden bench, weathered by time and exposure, standing in the middle of the open field. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft, silvery glow over the world, its light reflecting off the dew like thousands of tiny diamonds. She sat down, feeling the coolness of the wood against her skin, and tilted her head back to gaze at the moon.








Minutes passed, the silence heavy and calming. But suddenly, a familiar voice broke the quiet. "Imaan?" Emad's voice called out, distant at first, then closer, as he walked back towards where he had left her. There was no response. His heart skipped a beat. "Imaan!" he called again, louder this time, his steps quickening, but the night remained silent.

Panic rose in his chest as his hands began to shake. His breathing grew unsteady, and his heart pounded louder with every passing second. He walked faster, his eyes darting around the darkness, searching for any sign of her. "Imaan!" he shouted, his voice cracking as fear took hold. His tears came unexpectedly, the first falling onto his trembling fingertips. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, realizing just how deep the ache inside him had grown. Kneeling in the middle of the road, his mind raced with thoughts. *Where did she go? Did she leave me? Why?*

Suddenly, a gentle hand rested on his shoulder. Startled, he turned quickly, and there she was—standing behind him, calm and steady, her eyes wide with concern. Relief flooded through him, and without thinking, he reached out and took her hand, pulling her close. "Where were you?" he asked, his voice trembling with the mix of fear and relief.

Imaan's brows furrowed as she gazed at him. "Why... why are you crying?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. The starlight reflected in her eyes, and the gentle breeze that rustled the leaves seemed to carry the weight of her unspoken questions.

Emad wiped his face quickly, his chest heaving with emotion. "I just realized... I have a heart," he admitted, his words raw and filled with vulnerability. "And when you left, I felt it. I felt it beating so hard that it hurt."

Imaan stood still, her thumb gently wiping away the tears still clinging to his cheeks. Her hand moved to his back, offering him comfort, even as her own heart wrestled with emotions she had been trying to suppress for so long.

"Why are you acting like you love me?" she finally asked, her voice steady but her eyes searching his face for an answer. It was a question she had been holding onto, afraid of the answer she might hear.

Emad met her gaze, his eyes reflecting both pain and truth. "If loving someone means feeling your heart beat out of your chest when they’re gone, then yes," he said softly. "I love you. And it beats only for you."

Imaan’s breath caught in her throat, the weight of his words settling over her like a blanket of warmth. For a moment, she stood there in disbelief, struggling to process the unexpected confession. "But... it was a forced marriage, Emad, and—" she started to say, but he cut her off, his hand cupping her face, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that left her speechless.

“Please don’t say a word,” Emad’s voice cracked, his tears still streaming down his face, shimmering in the moonlight like tiny glass beads. He wiped his face in vain, his hands trembling as they hung uselessly by his side. “I just… I just want to hear you tell me you’ll never leave me,” his voice dropped to a whisper, soft like the faint rustle of leaves, carrying the desperation of a man whose world was crumbling.

Imaan’s breath caught in her throat. She could feel the weight of his plea hanging in the cool night air, pressing down on her, but something inside her remained still. She swallowed hard, her gaze drifting away from him, focusing on the silver-tinged grass beneath her feet as if searching for answers she didn’t have. The stars twinkled above, indifferent to the unfolding heartbreak below.

“But… I don’t feel anything, Emad. Nothing.” Her voice trembled, but there was a cold finality to it, as if the words were a shield she was using to protect herself from the truth. She took a step back, the space between them growing wider, and with it, the distance in her heart. “It’s not true. It’s not.”

Her words hit Emad like a physical blow. His body stiffened, and for a moment, it was as if time itself had stopped.

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