The same black van stopped right in front of our group, and slowly, the door opened.
Haider stepped outside, and my breath caught.
Before my mind could even allow it, my body had already moved towards him, wrapping both my arms tightly around him as I shut my eyes.
I didn't take the chance to see his face properly, but I held him closer. The warmth from his body gradually swept over me, and I could hear the relentless beating of his heart.
Both our heartbeats seemed to fall into sync, and after a moment of hesitation, I felt his arms gently wrap around my back.
His touch was comforting. After all the hassle I had gone through, this felt rewarding.
"Um... Ariya?"
Naima's voice caused my eyes to shoot open, and I awkwardly took a step back, remembering that we weren't alone.
Finally, I was able to see his face properly.
Oh...
He appeared tired, but he was still smiling. His soft gaze and breathtaking stare remained the same.
His hair was ruffled, and the top buttons of his brown shirt were undone. There were no markings or bruises on him.
A sudden sense of relief washed over me. My heart felt warm, and I felt sleepy. His soothing, minty scent and the gentle gesture of tilting his head to meet my eyes...
All of it was something that I had missed so much. Although we had been apart for such a short time, it felt as if I had been stuck in eternity.
This pleasure of love felt almost like a crime. His face was slightly tainted with pink, and he was most likely flustered by the hug.
Nonetheless, after relief in every situation, anger would come.
My brows came together in a frustrated frown, and I questioned him immediately.
"Care to explain?"
He broke into a cold sweat at my inquiry, avoiding my gaze while rubbing his nape.
"That- I'll say later."
He muttered as he spared a small, suspicious glance at Yusuf.
I decided not to dig further since we had company.
"Excuse me, I think we should exchange numbers."
My ears caught another conversation between an unexpected pair. It was Ireen trying her level best to get a stubborn man's number.
The stubborn man bore a hostile frown and spoke.
"Why would I need that?"
"Ahh- well, a situation like this could happen again. We might need another helping hand."
She explained as if reading from a script that was memorised and well learned.
After a bit of hesitation, Yusuf gave in, but he was still adamant about giving her the cold shoulder. His actions were unexplainable, but he wasn't so different from Haider either.
...
The grey T-shirt suited him well, considering it was a garment chosen by my mother. She had a keen eye for her selections.
Haider was next to me, a hot coffee cup in his grip and white slippers beneath his feet.
The air these days was growing colder, so he bathed with warm water. His heat was radiating close to me, and that reminded me of our embrace.
Tonight, Haider remained an unspoken man, but for how long would he be able to bear his own silence?
It was about time he explained himself to me.
His eyes kept darting back and forth, heavy unease filling the corners of his pupils.
I could notice the way his shoulders stayed hitched up to his ears. His demeanour was that of a guilty puppy feeling sorry for his crimes.
He licked his dry lips and, without facing my way, parted his mouth.
"I'm not sure how I'll explain myself..."
His voice remained low in my ears, and the sheer agony on his face was mildly amusing to watch.
He must've thought of himself like a glass, one hard truth and I would end up shattered. His hesitation was his own way to shield me against the sharp edges of this world.
He doesn't realise that the silence is far worse than whatever truth he's suffocating under.
I could sense the tension in his jaw whenever he wanted to speak and the way he would flinch with every tiny movement I made.
"I know this is too much to ask, but I want you to just trust me on this."
My gaze narrowed as I observed him. It was laughable that he was asking me to give him time when I had seen him being kidnapped right before my eyes.
Any person in my position would be outraged and demand the truth immediately.
Yet, trust is a solemn topic.
We were taught to trust the Almighty no matter how dire a situation grows. He is sufficient for them, and He provides for them from places they never expect.
As the Qur'an mentions:
"And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]."
(Qur'an 3:159, Surah Ali-Imran)
Haider would know this verse too. After all, he is a hafiz.
A person gets the same kindness that they have shown others.
Today, if I trust my husband, the next time, he would trust me blindly.
With my burdened heart beating like a resilient soldier's march,
I gave in.