Qurban

•49• Danger / خطرہ

Zainab's eyes were trained at her husband's sleeping figure. His lashes were resting upon his cheeks, his lips formed in a thin line. Lines marred his forehead from while to while as he battled his dreams. She'd been watching him...must be hours. She's been awake since the first crack of dawn. She saw the darkness fade and the sky got bright again. They came back to their room late at night. It was way after midnight when they both finally slept. The night was equally heavy and hard on both of them, but strangely enough, Zainab didn't feel so suffocated anymore. She albeit was angry when she heard the truth.

Her mother was innocent and died because of the hatred of a vile man, but she also knew it wasn't Altamash's fault. He was merely a child when her mother died. She couldn't possibly hold him accountable for a crime he didn't even understand at the time. And after hearing what his grandfather did to him, she wished nothing but punishment for the evil old man. For he destroyed the man that was sleeping troubled beside her. There were many moments during the night where he would mumble incoherent words in his sleep, his voice getting that raw and edginess of a man who was drowning in guilt.

She stroked his face as she thought about the tragic story he told her last night. The loss that he suffered alone, the grief that he never really acknowledged, the anguish that he couldn't shake. He was so lonely and yet he was always with her. Beside her, behind her, side by side, with her. He was always there. When her father was shot, when she shot, when she was harassed by the media.

All the time, he saved her. Her knight in shining armour and yet she never noticed how much suffering he was hiding behind his nonchalant mask. How much sadness he was carrying in his heart while he smiled wholeheartedly at her. He never asked her of anything. He just gave her everything she needed.

Space, companionship, friendship.

He was such a good man who was manipulated and violated by his own blood.

Zainab saw as his eyes slowly twitched before he opened them. Brown pools of honey staring at her own.

Chocolate against honey.
Their eyes clashed like two warriors. But they were fighting the same war.

"Good morning."

His voice came out husky and tired with sleep. His hair were ruffled and he looked like a child as he rubbed his eyes. She replied to his greeting in a hushed whisper

"Morning."

His arm came to rest on the dip between her stomach and legs and he kept it there.

"How long have you been staring at me like a creep?"

His lips cracked a small smile, but Zainab knew he was deflating. He was intentionally doing that on purpose to take her mind off things. He was so perfect sometimes...she wanted to tackle him in a bear hug.

"Can't I admire my husband? Who's going to stop me?"

She accepted his need to not talk about anything gloomy first thing in the morning and resorted to flirting. And as expected, a mirth danced in his eyes.

"Is that so? You were admiring your handsome husband."

His fingers slowly got lost in her hair as he caressed them.

"I never said handsome."

She couldn't keep the smile of her face as he frowned like a child. Flicking her nose lightly, he whined

"I am handsome. Possibly the most handsome man on this planet."

Zainab relieved a chuckle and rolled her eyes.

"That is so stupid. And arrogant."

Suddenly, his arms pulled her closer so that she was plastered to his warm chest. She was surprised but a smile covered her lips nonetheless.