Ishq-e-Junoon

22. Sukoon

-Tera guroor laazmi hain, tu pasand uski hain,
Jisse koi pasand nahi aata

☾

Shahmeer sat quietly by the window, the soft rays of light illuminating the room. His eyes, usually sharp and calculating, softened as he glanced over at his wife, who was still resting on the bed, her delicate frame barely stirring under the silk sheets. His heart, often hardened by the demands of his ruthless world, felt unusually tender this morning.

He rose from his chair and walked over to her, the sound of his footsteps barely audible on the marble floor. Sitting beside her, he gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face, marveling at the peacefulness she exuded, even in her sleep.

As if sensing his presence, Izzah slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze met his, and for a moment, the world outside seemed to disappear. It was just the two of them in this quiet, sacred space.

"Subah bakhair," Shahmeer said softly, his voice a deep murmur, filled with a gentleness that only she ever witnessed.

[Good morning.]

Izzah blinked slowly, still waking up. "Subah bakhair," she whispered back, her voice soft and hesitant, as if unsure of her place in his world yet.

[Good morning.]

Shahmeer smiled, a rare and fleeting expression that transformed his usually stern features. "Aapki neend theek se hui?" he asked, his tone filled with genuine concern.

[Did you sleep well?]

She nodded, a shy smile gracing her lips. "Ji, lekin... aap kab se jaage huye hain?"

[Yes but...how long have you been awake?]

"Kaafi der se," Shahmeer admitted, his eyes lingering on her. "Bas aapko dekhta raha."

[For quite some time. I was just watching you.]

Izzah's cheeks flushed slightly at his words, her heart fluttering in her chest. She had heard of men who could be ruthless in the world but soft for the ones they loved. She never thought she would be the recipient of such affection.

Shahmeer's gaze turned intense, and he let out a slow breath. "Mere liye har din ek jang jaisa hota hain. Duniya ke liye main wo Shahmeer hun jo sirf apne maqsad ke liye jeeta hain. Lekin aapke saamne... sab kuch bematlab lagta hain."

[Every day is like a battle for me. To the world, I am the Shahmeer who lives solely for his purpose. But in front of you... everything feels meaningless.]

She could see the burden he carried, not just in his words but in the lines of tension on his face. It hadn't even been a day since their nikkah, but in this moment, she felt an overwhelming desire to be the one who could lighten that load for him, even just a little.

Taking a deep breath, Izzah gently placed her hand over his, her fingers soft against his skin. Her voice, though quiet, carried a warmth that touched him deeply.

"Aapki zimmedariyan bohot badi hain, magar aap sirf unhi ke liye nahi hain, Shahmeer. Aap mere liye bhi hain... aur main hamesha yahan hun, chahe duniya kitni bhi mushkil kyun na ho."

[You have great responsibilities, but you are not just for them, Shahmeer. You are also for me... and I will always be here for you, no matter how difficult the world becomes.]

Shahmeer looked at her, his heart swelling with emotions he rarely allowed himself to feel.

"Aapko nahi pata, Izzah...aap mere liye kya hain. Khuda ka diya hua tohfa hain aap... par main ek gunahgaar hun, aap jaisi masoom aur paak ladki ka haqdar nahi. Lekin main itna khudgarz hun ke aapko jane nahi de sakta. Aap meri hain....bas meri."

[You don't know, Izzah... what you mean to me. You are a gift from God... but I am a sinner, unworthy of a pure and innocent girl like you. Yet, I am so selfish that I can't let you go. You are mine... only mine.]

His words, raw and full of promise, left Izzah momentarily speechless. She had never seen him like this, vulnerable yet protective, fierce yet gentle.

"Agar Allah ne mujhe aapki zindagi me bheja hain toh zarur koi hikmat hogi. Aap chahe kitne bhi gunahgaar ho, mere liye aapka dil sabse qeemti hain. Aapne mujhe tab hifazat me liya jab meri zindagi bikhar rahi thi", she said gently, her eyes filled with honesty.

[If God has sent me into your life, then there must be some wisdom behind it. No matter how sinful you may feel, your heart is the most precious thing to me. You protected me when my life was falling apart.]

Her words were simple, yet they carried a weight that went beyond their brief time together. She wasn't just offering him comfort; she was offering him a sanctuary, a place where he could be vulnerable, where he didn't have to carry the world on his shoulders.

Shahmeer felt something shift inside him. It was as if, for the first time in a long while, someone had seen through the armor he wore every day, someone who didn't see just the man the world feared, but the man who needed a moment of peace.

"Tujhe pyaar likhun ya ishq likhun,
Dua likhun ya karishma likhun,
Tere saath apni zindagi likhun,
Ya tujhe apni zindagi likhun,
Tere haathon mein apna haath rakhun,
Ya teri saanson mein apni saans rakhun,
Tujhme chupi hain meri khudayi,
Tujhse kabhi judaai na likhun."

[Should I write you as love or longing,
Should I write you as a prayer or miracle,
Should I write my life alongside yours,
Or write you as my life,
Should I place my hand in yours,
Or breath my essence into your breath,
In you resides my divinity,
So I shall never write about separation from you.]

Izzah felt her heart race as his words wrapped around her, the intensity of his affection and vulnerability filling the space between them. Blushing, she lowered her gaze, feeling the overwhelming love radiating from him.

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