𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟓𝟓

FAIZAN

“I think that nurse has a crush on you,” Jack says as soon as the nurse exits the room.

“What?” Ryan asks, frowning at his brother.

“She does. She was blushing while checking up on him.”

“Dude, he’s married.” Finn points it.

“I know that.”

“I think you need sleep.” I tell him.

“Maybe.”

Mama left a few minutes ago to help ammi for the funeral of Shoaib’s mother. Arzo left the hospital thirty minutes ago to go change at Hafsah’s and talk to her. And I’ve been listening to whatever nonsense Jack has been saying.

Where Farhan, Finn and Ryan are quiet when they are tired. Jack rambles.

“You guys can head home.” I tell them. They’ve been here for hours, making sure that everything is alright. I am very grateful to them.

“We’ll go in a while.” Farhan says.

“Henry took care of the police,” Ryan tells me, “whatever happened is buried.”

“Good.” I don’t want the press to be all over this and I am sure Shoaib doesn’t want to read what his mother did in headlines.

“By the way,” I start, “thank you for all of your help,”

Finn nods, “no problem. What are friends for?”

“Driving your bleeding friend to the hospital apparently,” Jack says.

We let out a chuckle, the tension fading.

“Seriously, I am really grateful.” I say.

They nod, falling quiet.

The silence breaks as the door to the room opens and Arzo walks in.

“A nurse has a crush on Faizan,” Jack blurts.

She halts in her steps, frowning, “what?”

“She was blushing while checking up on him,”

“Okay?”

“Ignore him,” Ryan and I say.

She chuckles and walks towards the bed.

“Everything okay?” I ask, sensing her tensed body.

“Yeah,” she says

“What happened with Shoaib?”

“Nothing, um, baba, Zahid bhai and Abbu are with him right now. The Janaza will be held in Zuhr.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, it’s okay. You need rest.”

“And don’t worry, we'll be present at the Janaza. We'll help them.” Farhan says.

“Okay.”

“You guys should head home. You’ve been here all night.” Arzo tells them.

“Yeah, okay.” Finn says.

“Call us if you need anything.” Ryan says.

“Thank you,” Arzo says.

“No problem.”

As soon as the guys leave, I ask, “Are you okay?”

She nods, “I’m fine.” she says, “I am going to visit you after the funeral. I might be a little late.”

“It’s okay. Take your time.”

She nods. I kiss her knuckles, earning a small smile.

“Are you okay? Does the wound hurt?” she asks.

“No.”

“Promise?”

I smile, “promise.”

As long as she’s in the same room, safe and sound, nothing else matters, all the pain and worry fades away.

I meant what I said to her. She’s the moon I stare at whenever I need comfort during my chaotic times.

My amar.

ARZO

After Hira Chachi janaza leaves, I stay at my parents’ house for a while, making sure everything is alright. After the men return from the graveyard, I inform ammi that I’m leaving to visit Faizan.

When I enter his room, I find him reading a book.

“Assalamu Alaikum,” I say, putting my purse aside.

“Wale Kum Assalam,” he greets back and puts away the book.

I kiss his cheeks and sit by his bed.

“How did it go?” Faizan asks.

“Fine.”

“How is Shoaib?”

“Shaken. He’s been distant the whole time. Refusing to talk to anyone.”

“He needs time.”

“Yeah,” I release a heavy breath, “how are you?”

“Good. A little tired of being in this room.”

I give him a small smile, “you have to stay here for a few more days.”

He sighs, “I know.”

He lifts his hand and places it on my face, caressing my cheekbones. I lean into his touch.

After a beat, he says, “Lay with me.”

I blink, “what?”

“I can’t spend the whole day without holding you.”

I sit back, “you’re hurt.”

“I’m fine.” he says then scoots to make space, “there.”

“Wh-”

“Please.”

I stare at him for a moment then sigh, “fine,”

Taking off my shoes, I get on the bed and carefully lay down, my head resting on his shoulder. I tuck my hands between us while his thumb caresses my arm. Even through the cloth, his touch sends a shiver through my body.

“Faizan?”

“Yes, amar?”

“Thank you,”

“For what?”

I look up at him, “for everything. You’re always there for me, you put me first before everything, you believe in me even when I don’t believe in myself. There aren’t enough words to describe how grateful I am that you brought the marriage proposal to my parents' house.”

He smiles and kisses my forehead, “I would do anything to make you happy, amar. You are my world. My comfort. My happiness. I am so grateful to have you as my wife. You’re the best thing I’ve prayed for.”

I smile, my heart filling up with love, “and you’re mine.”