ECHOES OF DEFIANCE

chapter 40

I was called in, and as I entered the room, they all followed—my father, grandfather, and even Mahra. The sight of her only deepened the pit of frustration inside me. I couldn't believe it. I lost my child because of Mahra. Why on earth was her leg in Hana’s path? My heart ached as I thought about it, but I couldn’t dwell on that now.

The moment I walked in, Hana's eyes, soft and beautiful despite the pallor of her face, were the first thing I noticed. She looked fragile, her skin pale under the harsh hospital lights, her box braids—ones I had carefully made for her just yesterday—were tied into a simple bun. My heart clenched at the sight of her tears, silent and steady, tracing lines down her cheeks. I reached out instinctively, wrapping my hand around hers as though I could somehow anchor her, or maybe myself, to the moment. The fragility of it all made me want to hold her and never let go.

I glanced back at the others, my gaze hardening. I felt the need to set boundaries, to draw a line between them and the life I wanted with my wife. I was thinking of letting her stay for a while on hana's insisting but after this there was no way I could ever imagine sharing the same space with Mahra hence i just divorced her and cut all ties with the Qatari's i prefer the exiled days . I had lost too much already—my child, my peace—because of them. Because of this god forsaken marriage  with her.

My grandfather, ever the imposing figure, tried to speak, but I couldn’t hear it. His words, his concerns, even his authority meant nothing to me in that moment. I didn’t want to deal with any of it, not anymore. I had lost too much, first my mother, my freedom, now my child and they were the reason. I shut them all out, every single one of them, mentally and physically. I couldn't bear their presence in this room, in this moment of raw pain and vulnerability. I loved my child I was going to name him Muhammad. 

And now All I could focus on was my wife. She had been my rock when everything else was crumbling. The woman I had grown to love more deeply than I had ever thought possible. She was the only one who didnt think i was dangerous when the world thought us dangerous, she was the first woman i love and she loved me back. And now, the want me to let go of her for their brat? Impossible!

"Just breathe," I whispered, leaning closer to her, my voice low and rough with emotion. "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Each tear that fell from her eyes cut through me like a blade, each silent cry a reminder of what we were enduring. The room felt suffocating, thick with unsaid words and the weight of my family's legacy hanging over us like a curse. But right now, all that mattered was Hana and the love I carried for her, which had become my only salvation in a world that seemed hell-bent on making me miserable

I turned my back on them, on their attempts to speak, and let myself fall into the only thing that was real—my love for Hana. "I won't let them take anything more from us," I whispered. "Not anymore."

She was still looking at me, her eyes filled with so much emotion yet not uttering a word. I couldn't stand the silence anymore, so I softly said, "I'm sorry," my hand gently caressing her brows. Tears slipped from her eyes, and I felt my heart twist as I heard the door quietly locking behind them.

"I'm sorry, baby, for getting you into all of this. Please, forgive me," I pleaded, locking eyes with her, the weight of guilt heavy on my chest.

She sighed, her voice weak but filled with tenderness, "Hayaatii..." she stressed my name as though it took every ounce of her remaining strength. "Stop apologizing for things that aren’t your fault. We’re in this together, okay?" Her gaze softened, and then, in that familiar way, she pouted, her lips forming the expression I’ve come to adore. God, I loved her pouts. I loved her, every part of her.

I couldn't help but smile back, my heart swelling with affection as she added, “Come here.” Her arms extended towards me, asking for a hug, a simple act that felt like the lifeline I needed.

I leaned into her, pulling her gently into my embrace. She always smelled like home, like warmth, safety, and everything that grounded me. I never wanted to let go. The world could collapse around us, but in her arms, everything felt right. This woman was my world, my heart, and the center of every decision I made.

"We’ll be discharged later," I whispered, gently pulling back. "Rest now. I need to check in with the doctors." Her eyes lingered on mine before she nodded.

As I stepped outside, my father was waiting, his face worn with regret and sadness. He looked at me, his voice heavy with remorse. "I'm sorry, son. I shouldn't have agreed to this," he said, his eyes betraying the burden of guilt he carried. He hesitated before adding, "And... I'm truly sorry for your loss."

I forced a small smile, trying to offer him some semblance of reassurance. "It's fine, Baba. I’ll be fine. Hana is fine. You can go see her now." I patted his shoulder, feeling the weight of our shared pain.

He nodded before walking into the room. I took a deep breath and made my way to the doctors, needing some answers, some clarity in this storm we found ourselves in.

When I returned, I heard my father speaking to Hana, his voice low and gentle. “Thank you, Farhana, for being the love he’s missed all his life. For being there for him through everything.”

I paused at the door, unable to hear her reply but seeing the smile that spread across his face. It was a rare sight, and for a moment, it warmed me to see them connect.

“What are you two talking about without me?” I teased, stepping into the room with a playful grin.

Hana looked at me, her eyes sparkling despite the exhaustion, and replied with a soft smile, "It's a father-daughter secret."

I raised a brow, pretending to be offended. "Babe," I said, emphasizing the word as I made my way to her side, "You’re supposed to be on my team. Why are you betraying me like this?"

Laughter erupted from both of them, and despite everything, I found myself laughing too. The room felt lighter, the weight of all that had happened momentarily forgotten.

"True," she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "but we’re all on the same team, remember?" She gave me a look that made my heart flutter before asking, "When are they discharging us?"

“They’ll be here soon,” I assured her, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

My father stood up, stretching slightly before saying, "I’ll head back to the hotel for now. I’ll be at your place later," he added, his voice filled with warmth as he bid us farewell.

As the door closed behind him, I turned to Hana, wrapping my arms around her again, holding her close. "We’re going to be okay," I whispered softly into her hair. "I’ll make sure of it."

She leaned into me, her warmth soothing the ache inside me. In this moment, despite everything we had lost, despite the pain we were enduring, I felt the unshakable bond between us, the love that would carry us through every storm. I couldn’t lose her, not her, not this. She was my world, and I would fight for us—no matter what it took.