jaan//ziam

२२.

'Liam' he says, trying to be calm.

He doesn't wake up.

'Liam?'

His heart thuds against the walls of his chest as he approaches the bed with jelly legs.

'Jaan?'

It's all my fault, I should've taken care of him—I should have gotten him counselling. I should've been by his side.

He gently turns Liam over, gasping at the sight.

His lips are covered in white-ish sores, and his face is puffy and slightly. . . unpleasant to look at.

Hai Allah.

Overcome by fear, Zayn shakes Liam, tears steadily filling his eyes.

Liam doesn't wake up.

He vaguely notices the small red dots lining his arms—like something. . . something entered his body.

And he freezes. Freezes completely.

He pulls his hands away from Liam's body, sharply. As if he's touched something horrible.

(Please not a dead body)

He feels sick at the sudden realisation. Bile rushes up his throat rapidly, and he gasps for breath, feeling faint. 

Liam's been overdosing.

‡

3 months later

The Emir looks away from the windows, shielding his face from the invasive press.

Where is he?

The smile still remains. He can't stop smiling. The moment he received the news, his eyes lit up and his smile re–appeared.

The aura of happiness that Zayn was missing returned almost immediately.

It was a miracle. 

That same smile appears yet again, as Zayn spots the doors of the rehab centre opening.

The press whip round to face the building, leaving Zayn to get out of the car without getting bombarded by some invasive journalist.

His heart rate speeds up at the sight of a happier, brighter, easier Liam stepping out of the doors, looking as overwhelmed by the paparazzi as he did 7 months ago.

Tears fill his eyes, and his face is crumpling when Liam finally spots him at the back of the crowd.

A smile (identical to Zayn's) grows on his face, and he just looks so so beautiful—

Zayn wants to die.

He makes his way down the stairs, trying to get through the masses of reporters; an eager blush making its way on to his face.

Zayn can't wait.

Ignoring Imtiaz's cries of "Are you fucking crazy?!", he rushes ahead, pushing antsy media out of the way, his heart beating harder and faster as he nears his jaaneman.

'LIAM! JAAN! HERE!' He screams when he spots Liam again, looking tired and confused amidst the crowd.

Shoving his way through some more, he finally gets to Liam.

That smile, hai Allah.

'Zayn' Liam breathes, awestruck, as he reaches up to touch the Emir's face with shaky fingers.

Like the Red Sea, the reporters step back around them, camera flashes blocking the world around them.

And oh no. Oh no. Tears well up in Liam's soft brown eyes as he whispers a quiet, 'I missed you. I'm sorry'

Zayn doesn't reply.

He just pulls Liam into his chest and wraps his arms around him.

Vowing to never let go again.

'I love you jaan. I love you'

‡

1 year later

Zayn has never felt so sure of his life before, as Liam takes a seat next to him at the mandap [a dias used in Hindu marriages nowadays], and shyly whispers, 'How do I look?'

Zayn can't even see him, through those stupid flower chains hanging from his turban, but he reaches for Liam's soft fingers, and carefully mutters

'Sitaaron tumse jalte hai, jaan'
[The stars are jealous of you, my life]

Liam looks away, but not before Zayn catches that lovely rose blush on his cheeks.

The pandit interrupts their moment, by asking to start the ceremony.

Zayn wants to kiss that nervous look off Liam's face as the guests close in round the mandap, smiles on their faces.

Zayn never takes his eyes off Liam. They shine with love and sincerity, and contagious passion every time Liam turns to him.

When they stand up, to make the 'saath—pherein' [7 rounds] Liam loses balance because of how long they've been sitting down.

Zayn immediately wraps his arms around his waist and holds him tight and hard until he stops feeling dizzy.

The guests coo and the pandit smiles, but Zayn only has eyes for Liam as he quietly thanks him.

[Anything for you. Jaan]

They make 14 rounds altogether, 7 led by Liam, and 7 led by Zayn.

The scarf thrown across Zayn's shoulder is tied to Liam's wrist.

The knot symbolises an everlasting bond between the two.

Liam thinks it's a beautiful concept. Zayn thinks that Liam is a beautiful concept.

Finally, they sit down again and Liam is allowed to push the flowers off Zayn's face.

The little gasp that escapes his lips sends a lovely blush up Liam's neck and face.

(His jaan is so beautiful, in every way, in every light)

The goosebumps that travel down Liam's neck, as Zayn does the clasp of the marital chain, send a thrill through the Emir as well.

When the pandit finally ends the ceremony, saying “yeh rishta ab samband hai” [this relationship is now tightened], Zayn wastes no time in leaning forward and capturing Liam's lips between his own.

[God he loves this man.]

‡

thoughts? 😊❤