Rebellious Spouse

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Faizan
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Standing in front of Amirah's door, I took a deep breath before pressing the doorbell and after what felt like an eternity, the door opened. Amirah stood there, looking so tired, so worn down, that my heart broke all over again. This was my fault, all of it.

"Great, I'm hallucinating now", Amirah muttered, rolling her eyes. She moved to close the door, but I quickly caught it with my palm.

"Wow, imaginative Faizan is also strong", she stated with amused sarcasm, trying to push the door closed again. I couldn't help but bite my lip at her adorableness, a smile almost tugging at the corners of my mouth. It struck me then just how much one word from her could lift my spirits, even in the worst of times.

"I'm really here", I said softly, watching as her movements stilled.
"Faizan?", she asked, her voice tinged with surprise. I responded with a small, hesitant smile.

"Can we talk, please?", I asked, my voice conveying the desperation I felt.
"There's nothing to talk about", Amirah shot back, crossing her arms and putting on that stern look she wore so well.
"Please, just once", I pleaded. My tone must have reached her because she finally agreed.
"Ten minutes", she muttered, turning on her heel and heading to the living room. I followed, feeling a strange mixture of hope and dread.

Sitting across from her, I didn't waste time getting to the point. "First of all... I'm sorry for that day. I was taking care of my niece. I won't make excuses, I just want to apologize",

"Not accepted... and what else?", she replied coldly, not even glancing at me. I sighed, knowing this wasn't going to be easy.

"Amirah, my family... they're very conservative, with strict rules", I began, watching as her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Your point being?", she deadpanned.

"They'll never accept a love relationship. Even if we got together, there would be no future for us. I don't want to lead you on and then leave... that's not who I am, Amirah", I continued, the realization of each words were overwhelming me.

"So, you do love me, but because of your family, you don't want to be with me because they won't accept us?", she asked, her voice softening as she finally looked at me. I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me at her understanding.

"So you do love me", she said with a smile that made my heart ache.
"Of everything I said, that's what you focus on?" I asked, with a defeated expression on my face.

"Well, yeah... you loving me and being by my side forever is all I care about", she shrugged, like it was the simplest thing in the world.
"It's not that easy, Amirah", I sighed, rubbing my face with both hands.

"What's not easy? We can always convince your family. My family won't create any issues, well, they don't have a choice anyway.. Yours will understand us because your happiness is all that should matter", she reasoned, still smiling like she had already won.

"No," I mumbled, shaking my head. "My happiness doesn't matter, Amirah", I accepted the cruel, painful truth of my life.
"What?", she muttered, her confusion deepening.

"From childhood, I was told to always obey my elders and respect my family's norms. They are really conservative. Even wealth hasn't changed our rules. They hate love marriages. If they found out I loved someone, they wouldn't hesitate to arrange my marriage with someone of their choice.
It's not about religious beliefs, because our faith gives us the right to choose the one we want to marry.. For them it is their obsession with keeping their kids in check and obedient like a puppy.
Just to be certain of their control over me, they can go any extent", I explained, feeling the similar frustrations bubbling to the surface.