The footsteps grew louder.

Slow.

Steady.

Closer.

Zayan pushed Areeba behind him and aimed his gun at the door.

The handle slowly turned.

The door opened.

An old man walked inside wearing a black coat.

His hair had turned grey, but the cold smile on his face made Areeba’s heart race.

“Uncle…”

Zayan whispered.

The man looked at him and smiled.

“So this is the girl.”

His eyes shifted toward Areeba.

“You look exactly like your mother.”

Areeba took a step back.

“Who are you?”

The man laughed.

“The man your mother should have feared from the beginning.”

Zayan stepped forward.

“Stay away from her.”

The old man ignored him.

Instead, he looked at Areeba.

“Do you really think your father lied to you?”

Areeba remained silent.

“He did.”

“But he wasn’t the only one.”

She frowned.

“What do you mean?”

The old man pulled an old photograph from his pocket.

He threw it on the floor.

Areeba picked it up.

It showed her mother standing beside a young man she had never seen before.

They were smiling.

On the back of the photograph, only four words were written.

The truth begins here.

Areeba looked up.

“Who is he?”

The old man smiled.

“The man your mother truly loved.”

Areeba felt the world spin around her.

“What?”

Zayan immediately interrupted.

“Don’t listen to him.”

“He is lying.”

The old man laughed louder.

“Am I?”

He looked at Zayan.

“Tell her the truth.”

Zayan stayed silent.

His silence frightened Areeba more than anything else.

She looked at him with tears in her eyes.

“Please…”

“Tell me he’s lying.”

Zayan slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, they were filled with pain.

“I can’t.”

Areeba’s heart shattered.

“You knew?”

“Yes.”

“And you never told me?”

“I was trying to protect you.”

She stepped away from him.

“You were protecting yourself.”

Before anyone could speak again, a loud gunshot echoed through the room.

Areeba screamed.

Zayan turned instantly.

The bullet had been fired at him.

Without thinking, Areeba ran forward.

The bullet struck her shoulder instead.

“Areeba!”

Zayan caught her before she fell.

Blood stained her white dress.

Her breathing became weak.

Zayan held her tightly.

“No…”

“You can’t leave me.”

Areeba smiled through the pain.

“I thought…”

“You said…”

“You would never love me.”

Zayan’s eyes filled with tears.

“I lied.”

“I have loved you for much longer than you know.”

Areeba looked at him in disbelief.

“Really?”

He gently touched her face.

“I was afraid.”

“Afraid that loving you would bring this day.”

Tears rolled down Areeba’s cheeks.

For the first time, she saw the truth in his eyes.

The old man quietly escaped while everyone was focused on them.

Sirens echoed outside.

Police officers rushed into the house.

An ambulance arrived moments later.

As the doctors lifted Areeba onto the stretcher, she refused to let go of Zayan’s hand.

Three months later.

The wedding hall was decorated with white flowers.

Soft lights covered every corner.

Areeba walked toward Zayan wearing a beautiful bridal dress.

This time, there were no secrets between them.

No lies.

No fear.

Only love.

The Nikah was completed.

Everyone congratulated them.

As they stepped outside together, Areeba smiled.

“So…”

“You finally married me.”

Zayan laughed softly.

“I should have done it much earlier.”

She held his hand tightly.

“And now?”

He looked into her eyes.

“Now no one can separate us.”

She rested her head on his shoulder.

“For the first time in my life…”

“I finally feel safe.”

The evening sky slowly filled with stars.

Some stories begin with love.

Some begin with pain.

But theirs began with a promise.

And ended with two hearts choosing each other.

The End.