The World Unveiled
The scorching heat of June was at its peak, the relentless sun reflecting off the hills of Margalla and raising the temperature of the city—and the temperaments of its residents. Fruit vendors poured water from their bottles in a futile attempt to find even the slightest relief, while passengers hastily crossed the streets, their faces flushed, breathless, and drenched in sweat. The ongoing dry spell only added to their frustration, as the promise of rain remained distant.
But just fifty miles away, in a quiet courtroom, sat a 23-year-old woman with her hair tightly pulled into a neat ponytail, strands of bangs framing her face. Despite the heat and the sweat that clung to her, she sat poised in the counsel chair, her soft features betraying none of the tension inside. She listened intently, her deep black eyes fixed on the judge as he read the final judgment, a mixture of nerves and focus in her gaze.
“And hence, the court has decided to transfer custody of the child, effective three months from today, to the father. Additionally, the mother of the defendant will pay for damages incurred by the plaintiff due to wrongful accusations and damage to his reputation, as apportioned by the court.”
A deep sigh of relief escaped her lips as the verdict was announced. A smile tugged at her face, and with graceful composure, she stood and bowed to the judge. She gathered the court documents and walked back to her client—a man with tears of joy welling in his eyes, his gratitude spilling over in endless thanks. The girl’s smile widened, offering him a reassuring look as she explained the execution of the decree before leaving the courtroom.
As she made her way out of the courthouse, her ears picked up murmurs of congratulations from other lawyers. Some she knew, others were strangers, but she responded to each in a warm and respectful manner. Her heart swelled with a quiet pride, and as she stepped out of the building, a wide grin spread across her face. The dimples on her left cheek became more pronounced, and her ponytail swayed behind her with every step. She resembled a child who had just received her favorite toy—pure joy, simple and unrestrained.
Biting her lower lip, she pulled out her phone and dialed the only number saved in her favorite contacts list. As she waited for the call to connect, she gathered her books and bag, the smile on her face impossible to miss, her heart light and full of accomplishment.
“Looks like someone aced her first case,” a soft voice resonated through the phone, making her smile widen.
“Looks like someone had a really good teacher and informant. How did you even figure out that the mother of the wife was blackmailing our client? None of us could even guess it. Even the judge was shocked.”
“The perks of intelligence, my darling,”
Yoshua Secander, beamed at her response, causing the girl to roll her eyes playfully, a faint blush coloring her cheeks from the endearment. “And I know, right now, Mehram Sadiq is probably rolling her eyes and lightly blushing, thinking, ‘Don’t use such endearments for me, they’re really cringe.’”
They both spoke in unison, followed by a hearty laugh from Mehram.
“You’ve got me figured out a little too well. I think I should talk to you less,”
Mehram joked, continuing to walk towards the exit gate. “Later, you’ll use everything I say against me.”
“I’m just practicing,” Yoshua replied, his voice playful. “Happy wife, happy life.”
“No, your wife won’t be happy with that,” she teased.
“Well, give me a chance to make you happy, Mrs. Yoshua Secander,”
he said flirtatiously.
“Yoshua!” Her voice quivered with embarrassment through the earpiece. “And by the way, ’Mrs.’? We’re not even married yet. We still have time.”
“Just six months,” he reminded her. “And after five-years of engagement, I have the right to call you ‘Mrs.’ Like I said, happy wife, happy life.”
She laughed at his comment. “If you wanted such a ‘happy life,’ there was one way to make me happy that you failed at—” She stepped out of the main gate and waited by the roadside for a cab.
“And what way would that be? Would it be that Mr. Yoshua Secander come all the way to Islamabad to pick up Mrs. Yoshua?”
A deep voice resonated just a breath away from her right ear, making her turn,and in front of her stood a man, no older than twenty five, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, the sharp lines of the jacket fitting his lean frame with effortless elegance. His white shirt, crisp and unwrinkled, peeked from beneath the jacket, the sleeves casually rolled up, revealing strong forearms lightly dusted with a sheen of sweat. His dark brown hair was neatly styled, though a few wavy strands fell softly over his warm hazel eyes, which sparkled with kindness and an inviting warmth.His smile, radiated the kind of calm assurance that only someone like him could carry for her
“Am I looking particularly handsome today? You can’t seem to take your eyes off me,” he teased, his voice playful, causing Mehram Sadiq to blush with embarrassment.
“I wasn’t—” She cleared her throat, trying to regain composure. “I wasn’t doing anything of that sort. I was just surprised. You had a trial at Peshawar’s High Court today, didn’t you?”
His smile widened, his gaze softening.
“The trial was important, but today holds more significance for you. After all, you just concluded your first solo case. That makes today special for me too. So, I wrapped up my case quickly and efficiently just to be here. Congratulations, Lawyer Mehram Sadiq, on winning your first case.”
Mehram Sadiq found herself speechless, just as she always did in his presence. Yoshua Secander had this effect on her—he left her without words. It was the way he made her feel, in a way no one ever had before. Her eyes softened with contentment, happiness, and most of all, love. A love that had grown quietly, yet steadily, every time he chose her. Every time he made her feel seen. The loneliness and neglect she faced, left a void in her heart, her personality, People came and went, but there was never anyone to shield her, to make her feel valued. But he beautifully filled that void.
Mehram looked down, walking beside him, her steps aligning with his. His shadow wasn’t just protecting her from the sun—it was a reminder of how he had always protected her and was always there with her.
“Yoshua”, looking up at him who just turned at that moment throwing a soft smile in her direction, making sure she was following along,” thank you for being in my life”, a whispered past her lips unheard by him.
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Ottawa, Canada
Tuesday- 06.00 AM
The sound of weights clanging echoed in the luxurious gym, cutting through the stillness of the early morning. It was a space that smelled of polished steel, sweat, and the faint trace of leather. And among the gym equipment, stood Adam Secander at the center, his muscles straining with each rep as he focused solely on the task at hand. His jawline was set straight, a chiseled feature that seemed to have been carved from stone, and his dark hair, slightly tousled from the intensity of his workout, fell just above his brows. Sweat glistened on his skin, but his face remained stoic, his expression never giving away an ounce of emotion. The only indication of strain was the tightening of his jaw as he pushed the last set of weights into place. Getting up he wiped his face with the back of his hand, the briefest flicker of irritation crossing his grayish eyes, he never allowed distractions, and this morning was no different. The only thing that mattered was control. Control over his body. Control over his life. he stepped away from the equipment and moved to a corner of the gym where a leather chair sat, a single ashtray resting beside it. He opened a drawer and pulled out a cigarette, the ritual almost mechanical. Lighting the cigarette, he inhaled deeply, his gaze fixed on the the smoke that curled up, disappearing into the air, he exhaled slowly, the idea of going back to the country- his hometown, from where he escaped, gnawing at his mind The city where it all started. Where it all fell apart.
His face, unintentionally, softened slightly as his thoughts turned to her- the girl, who was there, unknowingly but always at the back of his mind. The memory of her face at the airport, the tears that had welled up in her eyes as he walked away ,came to him sharply. She was the only one which made him reconsider his decision to move to Canada, he never wanted to leave her, her love and his addiction always pulling him back to her, but he knew he had to leave, For her and for him
He knew that he she was still there waiting for him. The one he owed everything to. He clenched his jaw and stepped away from the mirror, trying to shake off the wave of emotions crashing against his chest. And with a determination he decided that now is really the time to go back to her and to finally make her his and this time he won’t let her go under any circumstances, even if he has to go to any extent for her. Straighting himself, he opened his phone, typed:
" Eight PM, Thursday, pick me up from the airport, don’t tell anyone” and clicked on the send button to “Sage”
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(A.N: please give feedback it would help me please!!)
