Silent Ties: Fusion Of Hearts

Chapter 23

Azlan's POV:

As the sun rose on the day of departure, casting a golden glow over the bustling activity of everyone packing up, I couldn't shake the deep well of sadness engulfing me. It was a raw display of emotions I had never before revealed, making it impossible to muster even a feigned smile. We split on the way, and her flight was scheduled for tomorrow morning. Realizing I also needed to pack for my next morning flight, I hurried to gather my belongings.

I called my assistant to arrange work meetings in Germany or inquire about potential business opportunities. I needed a decent excuse, and I got one. I rescheduled my flight to coincide with hers. I completed everything in one breath because I had looked over her flight details yesterday. I informed my parents about the upcoming business trip, explaining the purpose and duration of my visit. While my parents remained quiet, Ifra was curious and asked about the specific destination of my upcoming trip.

"Germany," I responded calmly, masking the turmoil within me. They all gave me a teasing smile as soon as they heard my response.

Zia's POV:

Germany had always been my refuge, a place of safety and happiness, so it surprised me that I wasn't feeling the same this time around. Despite not being ready, being with Azlan helped me realize that what I had been avoiding wasn't as terrifying as it seemed. My marriage trauma stemmed from one of my dear cousins, Nasra. To me, she was more of a sister than a cousin. Despite not having a sister, I wasn't depressed because of her. She grew up with strict and conservative parents who adhered to traditional values. She felt safe in my home. She used to tell me how happy she'd be if her parents let her work, but they didn't.

I was sixteen when she got married at the age of twenty. I was disappointed that I was unable to attend. She married a man who was not highly educated. It began with small fights and concluded with her suicide. Her spouse wasn't employed, and their home lacked necessities. After she got married, she stopped talking to me, and I realized that she had lost interest in me as a friend since she was unable to confide in me about her marital woes. I don't blame her; I wasn't a grown-up either, but none of the adults she spoke to gave her comfort. They only advised enduring for the sake of the family, for the sake of their reputation, and to have their heads held high in society, so it was more like she became sadder after speaking with them.

Everything went downhill when she called me randomly one day to save her. Since she lived in a village and I moved to Mumbai, I did everything in my power to get her home and away from her husband. My parents helped as well, once I asked them. I was so wrong to think that everything would be alright and that she could simply obtain a divorce and move on with her life. Upon her return, her husband began spreading gossip that she was seeing someone else, which is why she refused to remain with him. Everyone pointed at her as it spread like wildfire. More than society, her parents began pressuring her to return just for their own sake. How could she go back to the person who had insulted and beaten her? She was extremely gifted, but she had no choice because she didn't have a safe place. Her own house felt insecure due to her parents, and that was it. The next day she was gone.

That evening before she took her own life, she sent me a message: 'Never get married without having your secure refuge.' At that moment, I noticed, but there was nothing I could do. Not a single call, nothing, nothing worked. When I sent my Nani to her parent's place, Nasra had already stopped breathing. I felt like a failure, crying so badly that I couldn't stop. Why didn't I feel her suffering, and why didn't I try to be mature for her? Since that day, my dream has been to buy a house before anything else, a symbol of security and independence that I vowed to achieve. Everything was sidetracked, and all I wanted to do was realize that goal. After graduating from high school, I began working, and marriage became a source of trauma for me.

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His presence and support gradually eased my anxieties about marriage, paving the way for a newfound sense of confidence and reassurance. Azlan embodied all a lady could hope for in a man. He had such a beautiful attitude toward ladies and such open-minded ideals. He treated me as an equal partner, empowering me with his unwavering support and never once diminishing my strengths or capabilities. Unlike some, he didn't laugh off my questions. He was very careful and honest in his responses to all of the questions. I gained so much and got rid of all of my uncertainties and fears about the future in just one month. I'm grateful that I had kind parents who encouraged me in everything, and that I now have a partner and a family that share their compassion. I enjoyed the sense of familiarity they gave me. I was overwhelmed with gratitude for this opportunity, cherishing Azlan and his family for their exceptional kindness and the sense of belonging they had bestowed upon me.

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