The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. The world was still, the quiet broken only by the gentle breathing of the two figures tangled in the sheets. Zafar and Zoha lay next to each other, their hands touching—fingers interlocked as if they were afraid of letting go.
Zafar was awake first, his gaze tracing the features of Zoha's sleeping face. She looked peaceful now, as if the weight of everything that had happened had been momentarily lifted from her. He couldn't help but marvel at her strength—the way she had stood by him through it all, never faltering, even when he had been at his worst.
He still couldn't believe she had chosen him—this broken man, whose heart had been torn apart by betrayal and pain. But she had. She had chosen him every single day, even when it was hard. And now, with Ezra by their side, he felt as if they had a chance—a chance at happiness, a chance at something real.
Zoha stirred in her sleep, her eyes fluttering open to meet Zafar's gaze. There was no shock, no hesitation. She had grown used to the way he watched her when he thought she wasn't paying attention, the way he studied her, as if trying to figure out how she managed to love him.
"Good morning," she whispered, her voice still heavy with sleep but warm with affection.
Zafar smiled softly, a rare, genuine smile that lit up his entire face. "Good morning," he replied, his voice deep and steady. "How did you sleep?"
"Better," Zoha answered with a sigh, stretching her arms above her head before curling into his side. "I think... I think we're finally at peace, Zafar."
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer, as if afraid that if he let go, she might slip away. "I hope so. I really do."
They lay in silence for a moment, just enjoying the quiet, the intimacy that had grown between them in these last few weeks. They had come so far, and yet Zafar knew they still had a long way to go. There were still scars to heal, still wounds that needed time to mend. But for now, in this moment, they were together—and that was enough.
The sound of Ezra's soft giggles from the nursery broke the silence, and Zafar chuckled softly. "I think someone's awake."
Zoha laughed, her heart swelling with love. "I'll go get him. You stay here and relax. We have the rest of our lives to do everything together."
Zafar watched her go, the tenderness in his eyes reflecting the depth of his feelings. He had never thought he would find this kind of peace, this kind of love. But here it was—right in front of him, in Zoha's eyes, in Ezra's laughter.
After a few moments, Zoha returned with Ezra in her arms. The sight of his son, his innocent smile, filled Zafar's heart with something he hadn't felt in years—hope. Real, tangible hope for the future.
Zoha placed Ezra between them on the bed, and the little boy immediately reached for Zafar, his tiny hands grasping at him. Zafar laughed softly and picked him up, cradling him in his arms as Ezra cooed happily.
"This little one is going to change everything for us, Zoha," Zafar said, his voice thick with emotion. "I never imagined that being a father would feel like this."
Zoha smiled warmly, her heart full. "You're going to be a wonderful father, Zafar. I already see how much you love him."
Zafar looked down at his son, a look of pure adoration on his face. "I do. I love him more than anything. And I love you, Zoha."
Zoha's heart fluttered at his words. "I love you too, Zafar. And I always will. No matter what happens, we'll face it together."
But despite the serenity of their morning, Zafar's mind was far from calm. There was still the matter of his ex-wife, the woman who had once been his everything but had left him in the most cruel of ways. Her sudden return had shaken him to his core, and though he had rejected her offer to return to his life, there was a lingering unease in his heart.
Zoha could sense the tension in him, and she knew that this was something they would have to address sooner or later.
"Zafar," Zoha began softly, her gaze meeting his. "You've been quiet lately. Is it about her? About... Imran?"
Zafar's jaw tightened at the mention of his ex-wife. "I thought it was over, Zoha. I thought I had finally let go of everything. But the truth is... I'm afraid."
Zoha reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. "You don't have to be afraid anymore, Zafar. I'm here. And we'll face whatever comes together. You don't have to do this alone."
Zafar looked at her, the gratitude in his eyes overwhelming. "I don't deserve you, Zoha. I don't deserve the love you've given me."
She smiled, her eyes softening as she leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. "You do. You've always deserved it."
Just then, the phone buzzed on the nightstand. Zafar picked it up, his eyes narrowing when he saw the name on the screen. It was his ex-wife.
Zoha's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't pull away. She knew this moment would come eventually. Zafar had to face his past—just as she had to face hers.
Zafar answered the call with a deep breath. "What do you want, Ayesha?"
Her voice came through the phone, sweet but tainted with something else. "Zafar, I want us to try again. I made a mistake. I should never have left you. I want our family back."
Zafar's hand tightened around the phone. "You left me when I needed you the most, Ayesha. You broke us, and you can't just come back and expect everything to be the same."
Zoha's heart tightened as she watched Zafar's face harden. He was strong—stronger than he had ever been—but there was still that vulnerability inside him, that fear of being hurt again.
"I don't want you back, Ayesha," Zafar said firmly, his voice unwavering. "I have a family now. And I won't let you tear that apart."
The line went silent for a moment before Ayesha spoke again, her voice tinged with anger. "You'll regret this, Zafar. You always do."
Zafar ended the call without a second thought, his gaze meeting Zoha's. She could see the relief in his eyes, but there was also something else—something he wasn't willing to acknowledge yet.
"I love you, Zoha," he whispered, his voice full of emotion. "And I'm not going to let anyone take this away from us."
Zoha smiled softly, knowing that this was their moment—one that would define the rest of their lives.