ECHOES OF DEFIANCE

chapter 30

My sobs echoed through the room as I clung to Zain, my face buried in his chest. "I'm scared..." I mumbled between hiccups, my tears soaking into his shirt. My body trembled with each breath, and I could barely make sense of the world around me. All I could feel was the overwhelming fear of losing him.

Zain looked down at me, his face softening as he wiped the tears from my cheeks, though my eyes were still bloodshot from crying. His lips curled into a gentle smile, one that somehow made me feel safer despite everything that had just happened.

"You know," he began, his voice teasing, yet warm, "you never asked me how I got to know your locker combination or the code to our door." His tone held a lightness that momentarily distracted me from my despair.

I blinked, still fidgeting with the hem of my sleeve, my mind racing to catch up with the sudden change in conversation. "I was curious," I admitted softly, my voice still shaky, "but then I figured it out—it was my birthday."

He chuckled softly, that sound wrapping around my heart like a warm blanket. "Do you have any idea how many proposals I rejected just to be yours? And yours alone?" His gaze deepened as he spoke, the weight of his confession settling in the air between us. "Do you know how many days I stayed outside my house, just to catch a glimpse of you as you came back from school?"

My breath hitched, and my tears slowed as I listened. His words were like balm to my wounded heart, slowly piecing it back together. I never knew he felt like this—never knew the depth of his devotion.

Zain’s voice softened, filled with affection and nostalgia. “Or how many times I did things at Amma’s house just to see your reaction? Every little thing about you drew me in, and I couldn’t stay away. If I couldn’t stay away from you when we were nothing, how could I possibly stay away now, when you’re half of my deen, my beautiful wife... my *sukhun*?”

His fingers gently lifted my chin, and his gaze locked with mine. My heart fluttered as he leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead, his touch lingering there, sending warmth through my entire body. I bit my lip, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions flooding through me.

His words hung in the air like a vow, wrapping around us both like a protective shield against the world. “Baby,” he whispered, his voice resolute, “I’m not letting you go. Not for anything in this world. Okay?”

I swallowed, my lips trembling. His unwavering determination was like an anchor, grounding me in the midst of my fear. But the vulnerability in his eyes—beneath the strength he always showed—made me realize how much he needed me too.

“And you...” Zain’s voice broke through my thoughts, his tone softer now, almost pleading. He pulled me closer, holding me so tightly as if he was afraid I would slip away. “You’re not leaving me either, right? Promise me.”

I couldn’t stop the flood of emotions that crashed over me. His words, his touch, the way his voice trembled ever so slightly as he asked for that promise—it shattered every wall I had put up. I pressed my forehead against his chest, nodding as fresh tears slid down my cheeks, but this time, they weren’t from fear.

“I won’t leave you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I’ll never leave you, hayati’m.”

He exhaled deeply, as if my words had lifted a heavy burden off his heart. His hand caressed my back, slow and steady, and for a moment, everything felt right again. The fear of his grandfather’s threats, the weight of the expectations—they all melted away as Zain held me close, his love for me clear in every word, every gesture.

And in that moment, I knew. No matter what trials came our way, no matter who tried to pull us apart, we would face it all together. Zain wasn’t just my husband—he was my heart, my protector, and my home.