Mafia Captured

5. After marriage

Past:

Six months had passed since Sahira had arrived in the United States. Her life had taken an unexpected turn after her father's passing. First, there was her sudden marriage, then the loss of her father, and now the betrayal by her father's best friend. Sahira's father, Abdul Hameed, had partnered with his friend to run an electronics store. Immediately after Sahira's father's death, his friend forged documents claiming that Abdul Hameed had sold his share of the business to Hanif Chowdhury for 20 lakhs just before his death. He had hidden the original documents somewhere. Abdul Hameed had trusted his friend blindly. This blind trust was now costing his family dearly after his passing.

Sahira, who had been initially resentful of her father's sudden decision to marry her off to Arsalan, now understood his motives. Perhaps he wanted to leave her and her family in the care of a strong support system before he departed from this world.

Time had proven his decision to be right. After his death, a storm had descended upon Sahira and her family. If Arsalan had not been there to support them, they would have crumbled under the weight of their grief.

As soon as her father passed away, Sahira's mother's health took a sharp decline. She suffered a brain stroke that left half of her body paralyzed. To add to their woes, the family was left with no means of income. Sahira had just cleared her intermediate exams, while her sister Johra was preparing for her SSC exams. Sumaiya and Mahin were still in the 7th class, and the youngest, Tayyiba, was just six years old.

The entire responsibility of the household fell upon Sahira's shoulders. Arsalan, her husband, took charge of taking Sahira's mother, Jannat, to the hospital for treatment. Sahira's maternal uncle was the only other relative who stood by them during this difficult time.

Sahira was thankful to Allah and then to her father. Despite his untimely demise, her father had left her with a pillar of strength in Arsalan.

However, Sahira felt guilty since when her father told her that she was about to marry Arsalan, she strongly refused. Arsalan was her first cousin, which was why she had been hesitant about marrying him.

She feared people would mock her, especially her friends, for marrying her cousin. But her father had made her understand that what Allah had deemed permissible was not something to be ashamed of. Reluctantly, she had agreed to the marriage. And now, she realized that her decision had been the right one.

Arsalan's dedication to Sahira and her family was evident in his actions. He spent his entire day at the hospital, returning home only to freshen up before heading back. He was also the sole provider for the entire household.

Even after Jannat's condition improved and she returned home, Arsalan continued to play an active role in their lives. He hired a nurse to provide round-the-clock care for Jannat and regularly contributed financially to the household's expenses.

Arsalan's foresight extended beyond immediate needs. He proactively initiated the visa application process for the entire family, ensuring their future together in the United States.

Amidst the grief and uncertainty, a glimmer of hope emerged when Hanif Chowdhury's wife returned the electronics store's documents to Sahira's family. She confessed that her husband had realized his wrongdoing and was deeply remorseful. News spread that Hanif Chowdhury had been attacked and was confined to bed for a month.

Sahira, relieved to have their rightful property back, focused on rebuilding her family's life. While the loss of her father still weighed heavily on their hearts, they began to move forward, finding solace in each other's company.

Amidst the challenges, Sahira made a profound discovery: she had fallen deeply in love with Arsalan Ansari. Her heart swelled with joy at the realization that she had found love in her life partner.