And she knows that the moment she decided to hold his hand she was in for trouble.

They were both in trouble.

He looks at her sleeping after the doctor had done her surgery removing the bullet from her hand. He looks down at the papers in his hand that they have agreed to be in a sacred bond of Lord under pressure and he isn't even sure what to do next.

Once they have signed the document they both fainted from the blood loss. They were taken to the nearby doctor from the village and they were thrown here with the papers beside them.

He sighs.

There is no way to communicate with anyone outside and the doctor had left without even looking at her again. He isn't even sure if she is doing alright and when she is supposed to open her eyes. The worries eat him every single minute he spends beside her.

The door opens and an elderly woman walks in with something in her hand and she stands from the chair he was on making her sit on it. The woman didn't even look at him or speak to him instead she holds her hand applying the Henna on them.

"What are you doing?". He asked confused

"The woman of our village needs to apply Henna when they get married. It's a sign that they are married". The woman spoke

He held the urge to not roll his eyes and he absolutely hates the scent of the Henna so he walks outside to refresh his mind and to find a way to leave this place. As he walks outside he halts when he found the doctor.

"When can we leave?. How is she?. When will she wake up?". He asked altogether

"You can leave in two days so your wound doesn't open again. She is good just she lost plenty of blood so she should be awake tomorrow". The doctor replied walking away

He walks past the people and since there weren't many he finds the van man yet again.

"I need your van to drive us back". He ordered

"I was told about it. I will see you after two days right here". The man said walking away

He sighs.

Since this was sorted he needs to find both of them clothes so he walks back inside to ask that elderly woman. As he opens the door his breathing stopped when he finds a man leaning over her. It didn't even take him a second before he pushed the man away from her punching him hard on his face and continued to do so until his shouting brought some village man inside the room who pulled him off.

"I will kill him for touching her. What kind of filthy man is he that he is trying to rape a woman and that too a woman who is unconscious?". He roared angrily, "Because of filth like these our woman is living in fear day in and out with no freedom".

He was pushed back by the man and the other was taken away from there. He pushed the man off him walking towards her to find any damage. At first, his eyes went to her shoulder where the man had dragged her clothes down revealing it and the mark there. He quickly covers it moving his eyes away and covering her with the sheet properly. He holds her pale cold face in his hands looking at any sign of wound but thankfully there wasn't any besides some old marks of the nail on her jawline which made him frown as he remembers the first time when they met in the store.

It's from there.

As the realisation kicked in, he felt guilty for not stopping the man earlier and not punching him after. He caresses the cut on her jawline with his finger feeling disgusted that he had made it worse for her than it would have if he wasn't involved in her matter and even worse when his own sister was the one in trending against her.

He never truly understands his sister so he has stayed away from her. He doesn't understand what's the fun in mocking and criticising another human thinking it as one's right to do so. No one has the right to mock someone in a way that it hurt them and to know today everyone does it for their own personal enjoyment is nothing but sad. That is not even our teaching we are prohibited mischaracterisation and it is a sin to do so. He wonders how people have clearly forgotten and continue to do so.

He calmed down moving back stumbling when the doctor came back inside.

"Your stitches are open". The doctor said making him sit on the chair as he starts to stitch again, "You two should leave right now because once that man gives statement against you, they will come to kill her in the name of their honour".

"I will never allow them to hurt her". He said angrily

"Don't allow anyone to hurt your own wife. I have done it before". The doctor said sadly, "I have allowed people after people who shouldn't have ever spoken, in my wife and my relationship, the right to speak their unwanted and disgusting opinions and in the end, I am all alone with no one besides me. They killed my wife and my child was young who passed away too. The people who always used to show me that I am righteous and they support me, left me after my wife was gone and still stand by their words against her. I have lost a gem because of what people showed me".

The doctor moved back, "Carry her and follow behind me before they come here".

He nodded holding her gently in his hand and once she was secure he hides her face in his chest following behind the doctor. Thankfully her jewellery was off and the clothes with them because of the surgery.

"Here". The doctor said pointing to an old car giving him the key, "She can have a temperature which is normal at least until morning, so give her this medication and place a cold cloth against her head. I have a friend in the next village- his name is Rahul give him this paper and he will help you. You can ask anyone who he is since he is the only non-muslim it will be easy to find him".

"Thank you". He said placing her inside and moving to the driver seat

He immediately starts the car hearing the yelling coming from everywhere and soon he was on the bumpy road to the next village which was an hour away. He places his hand over her forehead to check her temperature and then held her hand for the support that he needs right now. He kept holding her hand until another village came in his view and he gets down first to confirm if this was the right place.

"I am looking for Rahul". He said to the man who was selling some food

"You see that house with the light on?". The man asked pointing towards the house, "That's his house. He must be studying right now. Give him these when you go to him".

He holds the bag of food walking towards Rahul's place knocking on the door and after a few moments, he opens the door.

"This is for you". He said handing him the bag of food and then he forwards the paper," And this too".

Rahul holds the paper from him reading his friend message.

"Bring your wife inside". Rahul said smiling

He runs towards the car holding her in his hand again walking towards Rahul's place and entering inside.

"I have only one room so you both can stay there. I will ask around for some clothes for you both to change in. And don't worry about the village you came from and this village is different". Rahul said walking away

He places her down on the bed checking her temperature which seems to start rising now. He takes out the medication bringing a glass of water. He sits on the bed holding her body against him and her back on his chest as he wraps his hand around her.

"Mahak". He said patting her cheeks lightly, "Open you eyes, please".

After calling her for a few minutes she opens her eyes groaning in pain. Tears escaped her eyes as she withered in pain that her body felt. He quickly places the medicine in her mouth and she gulped it down with a little amount of water. He moves aside placing her down and she went back to sleep. He walks out of the room to find Rahul waiting for him.

"Here". Rahul said giving him the bag, "There is food that I brought from outside. If there is anything more I can help with please let me know. I will be in the next house".

He thanked Rahul deciding to take a shower because his mind was blocked from all the things that were happening one after another. He walks out of the shower wrapping his wound after cleaning it when he heard her distressed voice.

"Mustafa, w-why did you do it?. What did I ever do it for you?. Why?".

He walks inside to find her struggling and moving around before she can fell down he rushes to her holding her body placing her back on the bed. He feels the heat radiating from her as she struggles against his hold mumbling about Mustafa and how he had done something to her. He chooses to ignore the man name that she was desperately whispering and run to get some cold water and a towel.

He sits beside her placing the towel on her head after wetting it. He held onto her hand rubbing his thumb over her hand to comfort her in some way. After a few minutes, she calmed down only mumbling about the same man and he remains in the position wondering what exactly has this man done to her that she was withering in such pain.

Her fever didn't go down through the night which worries him greatly. He didn't want to ask for the doctor since he knows that the fever will stay at least till morning but it should be decreasing too unless the stitches are infected. He moves to lay beside her pulling her in his arms and she snuggles more into him holding his shirt in her tight fist sighing.

He held onto her tightly sighing because in one day his whole life went around. He has no idea about anything and honestly even in this storm he couldn't believe that he wasn't going into action to do things. Obviously, he is a policeman who knows his ways around thing yet he hadn't done anything, staying right beside her.

The next morning he was awake before her and after checking her temperature he went out to bring some food since he knows she should be awake in an hour or so and she needs to eat for them to carry on their journey back which is a long way.

He wonders if she will even eat all this oily food since she is all skin and bones he couldn't even begin to think just how much conscious she must be off her food. Him, on the other hand, never truly care about food though he tries his best to eat good food because he doesn't want to end up looking his colleagues who have stomach bigger than their brains.

He walks back inside after speaking to Rahul who arranged their car for them to leave as soon as they were ready and keeping him updated on the condition of the people who were after her.

He enters inside the house to find her awake and sitting on the bed deep in thoughts.

"Shukar mere Khuda". He said smiling (Thank you, my Lord)

"Kis liyay?". She asked confused watching for the first time that he had ever smiled at her and she has to agree that with a smile he looks handsomely (for what)

"Tum uth gai aur kia". He said sitting in front of placing the food,"You have been unconsciously almost a day". (You are awake that's why)

Her eyes widen, "What?".

"Ji. And many things happen we are in another village because we ran away last night". He explained making a small wrap for her to eat

She moves her hand but hisses in pain closing her eyes. She feels something at her lips and opens her eyes again looking at him placing the wrap at her lips for her to eat. She nodded smiling and start to eat it.

"Why did we escaped?. We are already married as they asked, right?". She asked confused

"It doesn't matter. It wasn't good for us to be in that village". He said dismissing not wanting her to know the real reason

He fed her and give her medicine informing her that the clothes were by her side and if she needs anything more.

"No. I will change and we can leave". She said softly

He nodded smiling.

This must be the first time they actually were working in harmony. They didn't realise that they were in a bond that is controlled by the one who governs lives.

And he was holding theirs too.

His eyes widen when she walks out of the washroom in her dress which seems to be made for her as her beauty shone in it. He could feel his heartbeat differently and he almost felt the rhythm of his beat changing and dancing around in euphoria.

Her exotic wet light brown hair fall down her shoulder falling around her and she still had droplets of water on falling down her face and neck disappearing. She raises her brown eyes looking at him frowning as the confusion in them remains for a second longer and then they turn to a bit of shyness if he comprehends it right. Because the light colour of pink adorning on her cheeks isn't something he is imagining, for sure.

He has to agree that right this very moment he felt his heart getting out of his own grip moving towards the burning fire knowing it might burn him but the need to be with it doesn't allow him to come to his senses. She looks urethral something so pure and innocent while the sunlight falls on her hair and her bringing her into different vibrant light to him. She was like a forbidden fruit he knows he shouldn't go near but the need for it surpasses everything else.

"W-We should leave now". He said trying to regain his senses breaking his eyes contact with her

But then something, even more, happened which truly cast a spell on him. He heard the softest giggling coming from her and his eyes without even knowing turns to look at her and the way her eyes shut down as she laughs wholeheartedly and the colour of her skin coming back which reviving his worried heart to contentment.

He was content, for the first time after years of suffering.

4 years to be exact.

And there goes his mood down the hill and in the gutter. He turns around starting to leave not even listening to when she calls behind him and even when his heart begged him to turn around.

After a while, they were both seated on the road that will decide their future that was already written for them.

She was lost in her thoughts humming an old song because the new one only causes her stress and nothing more. She remembers the old song used to be a little better and at least some of them were free for the topic that consists of drugs, girls, money and others which truly shouldn't be the case instead music should have been more soulful. But why is that the more she listened to music, she felt nothing but darkness?. Like there was a hidden deception behind that loud music that she is told will bring her contentment but instead brings her to depression?.

Maybe because she shouldn't listen to that instead of focusing on her faith.

"Why would you stop?". She heard his voice after he had shut himself down for no good reason

And she ignored him too.

"What?". She asked confused

"The song. Why stop it?". He asked again looking at her briefly before looking in front

He had been looking at her hand that is in her lap time to time and how he had held onto it last night. He wanted to hold her hand again and feel those feeling that soothes his heart and heal his wound however he didn't allow his heart that liberty.

"Should I be singing?". She asked curiously

"You were humming and I liked it". He said and leaving her astonished that he had complimented her but she wasn't sure if she should feel happy or not however her heart did feel something because it skipped a beat

"Music doesn't make me happy". She said honestly sighing deeply

"Maybe because you are looking at the wrong thing for happiness". He replied smiling because she always looks like a lost child when she speaks like that

"But isn't music is food for our soul?". She asked

"And who said that?. The west?. Is their religion the same as ours?". He asked and she shakes her head, "Then you should know that they have music to feed their empty souls while we have our beautiful book (Quran) to feed our souls".

She remains quiet because every time he speaks he seems to leave her speechless. She wonders how much the glamour world is nothing but facade obviously the people there were all fake and opportunist using the woman as an object to sell their brands and products and doing whatever they seem fit. Does what she does is what she was taught by the book of life (Quran)?.

Perhaps no, because the one following it knows that Muslim women are different from those other women on earth.

"What are we going to do?". He asked wanting to know her opinion before he says his own

"I don't know". She said sighing because all she sees is trouble ahead somehow she wishes she can go back to the morning where she walks out of the washroom and keeps living in that moment

"You want to hide it?". He asked confused

"For now, yes. It will do us no good if we went public suddenly after I disappeared for almost three days". She said softly wanting him to understand

"I don't like that idea". He said frowning, "I want to introduce you to my family even if you want to hide our marriage after that".

She feels that his words were said in a different tone something along the line of disappointment. However, she chose to overlook it.

"We can go there before I head back home because if I were to go back it might be hard for me to come out again". She said

He just nodded.

"Why is there Henna on my hand?". She asked when they stop the car for refilling

He should have not looked at her hand because the red colour on her pale skin only seems to flutter his heart further. And this time he didn't even mind the smell of it that filled the car because somehow it drove him closer to her, unconsciously.

"The village woman applied it as it is a way of showing that you are married. You might want to remove it since you don't want people to know". He said sarcastically

She felt the meaning behind his words and choose to stay silent.

She wishes for him to speak after that but he didn't which ended her in disappointment. She didn't speak either for the rest of the ride and soon they were back in the city and watching people going around. The car stops in front of a small house and they walk down ringing the bell.

But she didn't think the person that will greet her will be this woman.

"Maham".