𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 ✓

-38-

I still couldn’t believe what had just happened.

What I did.

I told them Naaz was my girlfriend. Not only that—I called her Zawjati, my wife, in front of everyone. In front of my mother. The words slipped out, but I didn’t regret them. Not for a second.

It wasn’t planned. It just... felt right. Naaz is mine. She’s always been mine, and I was tired of pretending otherwise, especially in front of these people. I saw how Mariyam’s family looked at her, how they thought they could sweep in and claim me for their daughter. As if Naaz didn’t matter. As if we didn’t matter.

I couldn’t let that happen.

But Mariyam’s family? They weren’t taking it well. Her father’s face twisted in disgust when I called Naaz my wife, as if he couldn’t believe the audacity. Mariyam’s mother, on the other hand, suggested that I could still be Naaz’s brother-in-law. That thought made me sick. The way they tried to brush aside my declaration, like they still had some kind of say over my life... it infuriated me.

I felt Naaz’s grip on my arm loosen. She was angry, I could feel it. The tension radiated off her, and before I could stop her, she pulled away from me, rushing toward them. Her eyes blazed with fury, and I knew what was coming.

"Naaz, baby, no. Come back," I called out, following her as fast as I could. But she wasn’t stopping. She was too angry, too hurt.

As I moved forward I heard Mariyam's father voice. His voice dripping with hostility. "Your son was involved with Naaz, so why did you call us here for an alliance?"

I didn’t like the way he spoke. The disrespect. The entitlement.

"I am not at fault," Mom retorted sharply. "It was you who approached Brother Kabir about this—about Mariyam and Siddique. I didn’t come to you with this proposal."

"Whatever," Mariyam’s father huffed, dismissively. "I just wanted my daughter to be happy. She likes Siddique."

When I reached close to them I watched Naaz to confront Mariyam’s father, standing there like a force of nature, blocking their path.

"How dare you come into this house, insult Siddique’s mother, and try to force this ridiculous alliance?" she spat, her voice unwavering as she faced Mariyam’s family. "I won’t let anyone leave without hearing exactly what I think of you all."

My heart pounded as I watched her. There was no fear in her, no hesitation. She wasn’t backing down, not this time. I wanted to give a piece of mind to Uncle Karim but I stopped myself, my Naaz can handle him and others.

From the corner of my eyes I could see Mom looking at Naaz with a smile on her face and pride in her eyes. Seeing this my chest swelled with pride too.