The morning after the phone call with Ayesha, Zafar woke up with a newfound sense of clarity. It was as if the weight that had been hanging over him for so long had been lifted. He glanced over at Zoha, still asleep beside him, her face peaceful in the soft light that streamed through the window.
His heart tightened. He had made the right choice. He had chosen Zoha—his present and future, the woman who had given him her love, her trust, and her heart. There was no room for the ghosts of the past anymore.
He gently ran his fingers through her hair, watching her stir. Zoha's eyes fluttered open, and she smiled softly when she saw him.
"Morning," she whispered, her voice still laced with sleep.
"Good morning," he replied, his voice warm and steady. "How are you feeling?"
Zoha stretched, her body curling slightly toward him as she rested her head on his chest. "Better. I feel... I feel like we've moved past something important, Zafar."
Zafar nodded, his hand gently caressing her back. "I think we have."
Later that morning, they were in the kitchen together, preparing breakfast. Ezra was happily playing in his highchair, tossing bits of cereal onto the floor with an innocent grin. Zoha chuckled as she cleaned up the mess, her heart swelling with affection for the little boy who had become such a central part of their lives.
Zafar leaned against the counter, watching her with a soft smile. "He's going to grow up to be just like you, Zoha."
Zoha glanced at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and affection. "I hope not. I hope he's a better version of both of us."
Zafar laughed softly. "I'm not so sure that's possible. You're already perfect in my eyes."
The easy banter between them was interrupted by the ringing of Zafar's phone. He looked at the screen, his expression hardening as he saw the name. It was Imran, his ex-wife's business partner.
Zoha noticed the change in his demeanor and raised an eyebrow. "Is everything alright?"
Zafar hesitated for a moment, then answered the call. "Imran," he said, his tone clipped.
"Zafar," Imran's voice came through the phone, smooth and calculated. "I hope you're doing well. I was just calling to discuss a few business matters."
Zafar's grip tightened on the phone, the last remnants of tension from the previous day creeping up again. "I don't have time for this right now, Imran."
Imran chuckled lightly. "I understand, but we both know that the business doesn't stop just because you've moved on. We need to settle things between our companies, Zafar. Ayesha is asking me to reach out to you and discuss a potential deal. It could be profitable for both of us."
Zafar's jaw clenched. He knew exactly what Imran was doing—he was trying to use business as a way to keep him tied to Ayesha, to manipulate him into reconnecting with her. Zafar wasn't going to let that happen.
"I'm not interested," he said firmly. "Tell Ayesha that I've made my decision. I'm done with her, and I'm done with that business."
The line went silent for a moment, and Zafar could practically hear Imran's smirk through the phone. "Very well, Zafar. But you're making a mistake. This could have been an opportunity for both of us."
Zafar ended the call without another word, his chest tightening as he lowered the phone. Zoha was watching him carefully, her expression filled with concern.
"Are you alright?" she asked softly.
Zafar let out a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "It's just Imran, trying to drag me back into Ayesha's world. I won't let him. I won't let her do this to us, Zoha."
Zoha nodded, moving closer to him and placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "I know you won't. And I'll be here with you, every step of the way."
They spent the rest of the morning in each other's company, a quiet calm settling over them as they enjoyed the simple moments—laughing over Ezra's messy attempts at feeding himself, talking about their plans for the future, and just being together.
Later, Zafar found himself lost in thought. As the head of a family now, things had to change. He had to make decisions for the future, for Zoha and Ezra. He wasn't just a businessman anymore; he was a father, a partner, and someone who needed to protect what mattered most.
"Zoha," he began, his voice serious as he turned to her. "We need to start thinking about our future—about how we can build something lasting for Ezra."
Zoha looked up at him, her expression thoughtful. "I agree. But we need to do it together. We need to find balance—between work, family, and everything else."
Zafar nodded. "I want to provide the best for Ezra. I want to make sure he has everything he needs. But I also want to make sure you and I are happy, Zoha."
Zoha's heart fluttered at his words, and she smiled softly. "We will be, Zafar. I know we will."
That afternoon, they sat down to talk about their plans for the future. Zafar made the decision to take a step back from the high-stakes world of business, at least for a while, so that he could focus on being a father and a partner to Zoha. He still had responsibilities to his family, but his priorities had shifted.
As the conversation continued, they found themselves dreaming together—about the kind of life they wanted to build, the kind of home they wanted to create for Ezra, and the kind of love they wanted to nurture. It was no longer just about surviving. It was about living—living a life full of love, peace, and happiness.
Later that evening, as the sky darkened and the stars began to shine, Zafar and Zoha stood outside on the balcony, gazing up at the night sky. Ezra was already asleep, tucked safely in his crib inside.
Zafar wrapped his arm around Zoha's shoulders, pulling her close. "You've made me believe in things I never thought I could," he said quietly. "You've made me believe in love again, Zoha."
Zoha leaned into him, her heart swelling with emotion. "And you've shown me that it's okay to hope again. To believe in something more than just surviving."
They stood there for a moment, in the stillness of the night, knowing that their journey was just beginning. They had faced the darkest parts of their lives and come out stronger—together. And now, they were ready to face whatever came next.