Be the Man She Deserves

Three days ago....

Uncle had called Towsif Amin. He had picked Azlan up from the street and brought him back to the hospital. At that moment, Azlan had fallen hard on the ground, sustaining several injuries. His knee was badly scraped, and his arm was heavily bruised.

The doctor had bandaged him up properly. Now, he was sitting silently. However, his silence was terrifying everyone, as if it were the calm before the storm.

Towsif Amin thanked Uncle profusely. Uncle also felt a bit relieved seeing Azlan's father. He took a deep breath and patted Azlan's shoulder.

"Be patient, son. Be patient. Perhaps this is Allah's will," he said and then walked towards his room. However, Azlan remained silent. His once proud and tall frame now seemed diminished, as if the weight of the world had pressed him down. His body slumped and his shoulders hunched in defeat.

"What have you done to yourself?" Towsif Amin looked at his son in worry. The person in front of him did not look like his son from any angle. He seemed like a defeated person who had lost the biggest battle of his life.

"Get a hold of yourself, Azlan," Towsif held both of his arms and said.

Azlan looked up at his father, "She left, Dad. She left me. I tried to stop her, but she didn't stay. I even apologized, but she didn't forgive me." He spoke in a broken voice, his eyes bloodshot and filled with red lines against the whites.

"Then forget her and move on," Towsif tried to make him understand.

"I can't forget her, Dad. Even when I thought she had betrayed me, I couldn't forget her. And now that I know she was always sincere with me, how can I forget her, Dad?"

Azlan's words were filled with helplessness.

Towsif Amin looked at him with concerned eyes.

"Don't ruin yourself over her."

"If I don't get her, I will be ruined," he replied in a broken voice.

Now Towsif Amin seemed to be getting angry.

He grabbed Azlan's arms tightly and shook him as if trying to wake him up.

"You are talking like a madman, Azlan."

"I've gone mad in her love, Dad," Azlan said helplessly.

"Then know this, those who go mad in love never get their love." Towsif staring directly at Azlan's eyes spoke reality.

Hearing Towsif's words, Azlan looked at him in agony as if the mere thought of losing her pierced his heart.

Towsif Amin slammed his fist on the table. "Dying for love is easy, son. Playing Romeo is a dime a dozen. But responsibility? That takes a real man." His voice softened slightly. "Look at yourself, Azlan. You can barely take care of yourself, let alone a wife and a child."

Azlan flinched, shame burning in his chest. His father was right. Blinded by guilt and the terror of losing Shahana, he hadn't been thinking clearly.

"Shahana needs space," Towsif continued, his voice low. "She's been through a lot. How can you expect her to just take you back after everything?" A hint of sympathy flickered in his eyes. "Maybe this trip to Turkey with her father is a good thing. A change of scenery might be what she needs to heal."

Azlan hung his head. "I know," he mumbled,"I just... I was scared."

Towsif sighed. "Fear can cloud judgment, son. But it's not too late. Show Shahana you can be the man she deserves. Be strong, Azlan. Be responsible."

Just then, Towsif's phone's shrill ring shattered the tense silence. He excused himself with a curt nod to Azlan and retreated to a corner of the room to take the call. While his voice remained low, a sharp edge crept in as he spoke. Azlan couldn't help but steal glances at his father, whose broad shoulders slumped under the weight of the conversation. The lines on Towsif's forehead deepened with each passing moment, etching a furrow between his brows. Finally, a surprised "What?" escaped Towsif's lips, causing Azlan to jolt upright.

"Alright," Towsif said tightly, his voice laced with barely concealed frustration. "Remove all those videos as soon as possible. Then inform me." He ended the call with a curt dismissal after he let out a tired sigh.

Azlan didn't ask, the question burning silently in his eyes. Towsif Amin pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep, steadying breath.

"Someone," he began, voice tight, "made a video of you and Shahana outside the hospital. You were trying to stop her, Azlan. Now, that video's gone viral. The man who built a financial empire is now splashed across headlines as a lovesick fool – a modern-day Majnu. How will you handle this, Azlan?"

---

Azlan unlocked his phone, a pit of dread forming in his stomach. A notification barrage bombarded him – messages, comments, missed calls. From childhood friends to university buddies across the globe, colleagues, distant relatives – everyone seemed to be reaching out. A knot tightened in his throat. He was a prominent figure in Asia's business world, his fame skyrocketing after winning "Youngest Entrepreneur." He usually trended for groundbreaking deals or insightful interviews, but this... this was different.

He hesitantly tapped on the Reels icon. His heart hammered against his ribs as a grainy video filled the screen. It was him, outside the hospital, desperately asking Shahana to stop, begging in front of her. The caption, a sickeningly distorted truth, screamed: "Women are Cruel." Millions of views. Millions of likes. A viral sensation, not for his achievements, but for his humiliation.

He was immensely grateful to Allah that Shahana had remained completely covered at that moment. Otherwise, seeing herself portrayed in front of non-mehram men would have definitely terrified her. Shahana loathed the thought of exposing herself in front of such men.

But the comment section churned like a toxic storm. Strangers spewed insults at Shahana, their uninformed opinions painting her a villain. Fury burned in Azlan's chest. A surge of helplessness countered the anger as he saw others defend her, labeling him a crazed lover. These keyboard warriors knew nothing of their story, yet their words stung like a scorpion's tail.

He ran a hand through his hair, the strands catching on his clenched fist. Frustration gnawed at him. Towsif's voice echoed in his mind – Shahana needs space. But the injustice of it all fueled his anger. He let out a ragged sigh feeling utterly helpless.

Just then, his phone sprang to life, a shrill ring cutting through the tense silence. He considered switching it off. But a glance at the screen revealed his grandmother's number. After exhaling a long sigh, he answered the call. With a forced calm, he greeted, "Assalamualaikum Nani."

From the other side, Nani's weak voice emerged. The weakness in it sent a jolt of worry through him. While her treatment had progressed well, her recovery was far from complete. Yet, the urgency in her tone was unmistakable. It was as if she held onto a critical message, struggling to voice it.

"Azlan," her voice hitched, "I called because... because there's something important I need to tell you."

From her voice, she sounded very serious.

Could she have seen the video? Azlan suspected.

He steeled himself, forcing a calm tone. "Yes, Nani? What is it?"

A veil of sadness draped over Azlan's grandmother's voice.

"When Haya was about to become a mother for the first time, she didn't want that child. She found out very late that she was pregnant. By then, it was too late for an abortion, otherwise, she might have killed that innocent child in her womb." Her voice hitched slightly, "When Shahana was born, I went to stay with her. But I was astonished to see that my daughter would leave her milk-drinking baby and go to work. Shahana was very young then. She needed her mother. But it seemed like Haya didn't care. Perhaps Fahad sensed Shahana's need for constant attention. He showered her with love, trying to fill the gap. But a mother's presence is irreplaceable. Shahana yearned for her mother's love. But it wasn't in her destiny. Then when Fahad and Haya got divorced, she was deprived of her father's love too. I wanted to keep Shahana with me, but Haya said she wouldn't get a good education in the village, so she kept her with her in her second husband's house. I thought everything was fine. Maybe Haya had changed. But today I realized that I was wrong for so many years. My daughter never cared for Shahana, and even today she doesn't." A tear escaped, trembling in her voice.

"Nani, please don't cry." Azlan tried to console her. But perhaps no consolation was enough for her.

"Azlan," she rasped, her voice cracking, "I spoke to Shahana today. My Shahana. She sounded genuinely happy, the first time in so long. But then..." Her voice trailed off, a tremor running through her frail body. "There was some trouble with the connection, and Shahana must have thought we got cut off. That's when Haya came into the room..."

Shahana sat silently on the hospital bed, her eyes fixed on the window. Soft, golden sunlight

streamed through, casting a warm glow on her face. She felt a sense of comfort in it. Outside the window, she watched as a delicate leaf detached from the tree branch and floated towards the window. Just as it was about to enter the room, the door opened and the leaf fell to the ground outside. Shahana's heart sank a little; she had seen the leaf as a symbol of a new beginning that came close but remained distant.

Haya entered the room, a concerned look on her face. Shahana appreciated seeing Haya's concern for her.

Haya closed the window, shutting out any chance of the breeze or the leaf coming inside. Shahana turned her head and gave a weak smile.

"Shahana, how are you?" Haya asked gently, her voice filled with feigned sympathy.

Shahana replied with a smile, "I'm feeling better, Mama. Alhamdulillah!"

Haya moved closer and pulled a chair near the bed, sitting down. She gently took Shahana's hand. "I've been so worried about you. But couldn't come since Azlan wouldn't allow me. I believe Azlan is trying to create a misunderstanding between you and me."

Shahana hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "No, Mama. You're wrong. Azlan. He apologized to me. I can see how much he regrets his actions. I'm thinking... maybe I should forgive him. Maybe we can start over, for our child's sake." She placed a hand on her stomach, a radiant smile blooming on her face.

A sickening thud echoed in the small space.

Shahana's head snapped up, her right cheek turned red, her smile dissolving into shock as she met her mother's gaze. Haya stood there, face contorted in a storm of emotions – anger, fear, and a flicker of something akin to despair.

"Didn't I tell you to get a divorce?" Haya's voice was a low growl. "And what do I find? You're carrying his child! Have you lost your mind, Shahana?"

Haya clasped Shahana's arms, her grip surprisingly strong. Shahana winced but too scared to say anything.

"Have you forgotten the humiliation? His family treated you like dirt! Don't you see, Shahana? He's not good for you. This path leads to nothing but heartache. You and the child – neither of you will be happy. And Azlan? He'll be ostracized by his own family. They'll never accept you. Is that what you want?"

Shahana's head whipped right and left in a frantic denial.

"No, mama." she murmured, like a little child. Tears welled at the edges, glistening like diamonds, before overflowing and tracing a silent path down her flushed cheeks.

Haya's voice, laced with a dangerous edge, cut through the fragile hope that had bloomed in Shahana's chest.

"Think, Shahana. Is this reconciliation worth the sacrifice? Don't make the same mistake twice."

Shahana recoiled, the hand on her stomach trembling slightly. Haya, sensing the shift, swiftly masked her outburst. She took a deep breath, composing herself into a picture of forced calmness.

"Look, Shahana," she began, her voice surprisingly gentle, grip loosened on her forearms "I am your mother. You know I only want what's best for you. This whole situation with Azlan... it's messy. It's dangerous. Azlan might be doing all this now, but how long will it last? You know how he is. Once this newness wears off, he will go back to his old ways. Do you want to endure that pain again? Think about your child – what kind of future will it have caught in the middle of this family war? Don't you want to protect your child?"

Shahana's gaze darted between her mother's face and her hand resting on her stomach. She quickly wiped her tears. Her head bobbed up and down in a curt, almost impatient yes,

Haya pressed on, her voice laced with a hint of desperation. "Going to Turkey with your father, that's the safest option. No drama, no Azlan, no one who could potentially hurt you or your baby. A fresh start, a chance to heal and focus on what truly matters."

Haya stood up, adjusting her clothes. "The right decision is to take care of yourself and your child. Azlan is not the answer. You deserve better, Shahana. Don't let him make you think otherwise."

Shahana looked down at her hands. She felt trapped, her mind filled with doubt and fear.

Haya, satisfied with achieving her goal, smiled inwardly. She went to Shahana and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Think about it, Shahana. Your mother will always be there for you, whatever you decide."

With that, Haya left the room, closing the door behind her, taking all Shahana's hope with her. Shahana sat in silence, a silence that terrified her. Her hand wrapped protectively around her stomach.

Azlan sat there, stunned by the revelation. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. He never thought Haya could go such extent. He couldn't understand why Haya didn't want them together.

"Nani, are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"Yes, Azlan. I heard it all with my own ears. Haya doesn't care about Shahana. She never did. She's manipulating her to leave you. You have to do something. Don't let Haya's words poison Shahana's mind. I don't know why she is so eager to ruin Shahana's life but I am afraid that she will ruin it. "

Azlan's heart pounded in his chest. He knew he had to act quickly. He couldn't let Haya destroy his family. He had to find a way to show Shahana that he truly loved her and that they could be happy together, despite everything.

"Thank you, Nani. I will do everything I can to make things right," Azlan promised.

"May Allah ease both of your affairs. I don't know what happened between you and Shahana but please don't leave her, Azlan." Nani requested. 

"Trust me, I won't." 

With renewed determination, Azlan knew he had to show Shahana the truth. He couldn't let their love be torn apart by lies and manipulation. He had to fight for his wife and child, no matter what it took.

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