Dua’s POV

“Momin…” He slammed the door as we entered.

“What the hell was that!?” he shouted. I flinched. He had never raised his voice at me like this before.

“Momin, I—”

“Dua, you’re not serious, are you?” he asked, anger blazing in his eyes. I bit my lips.

“I’m serious.”

“Dua…”

“Listen, Momin. First, hear me out. You remember I told you a few months ago that I wanted to graduate from the same college as Papa?”

“I thought you were joking,” he uttered, his voice laced with hurt. My heart clenched. I walked closer and held his hands.

“Momin… this is my dream, and I need your support, please…”

“No, Dua!” He pulled back. “I won’t let you go,” he said with determination.

“I won’t let anyone crush my dreams,” my voice matched his in defiance.

“Am I not your dream?” he asked, his eyes drowning in hurt.

“Momin, you can’t emotionally blackmail me,” I whispered, looking away.

“Do you even realize what you’re saying?” He gripped both my arms and yanked me closer. “You’re saying you want to leave me for four entire years!” he roared through gritted teeth.

“Momin, it’s just four years. We’ll talk on the phone every day. You can even come to the US whenever you want.” I tried to reason with him, but he shook his head and let go of my arms.

“You think it will be that easy!? America is too far, Dua. Too far. I didn’t even let you go to school or college alone all these years. Do you think I’ll let you go across the world to America? No! Never!” he declared, as if he alone could decide my life. My anger surged—I could never tolerate anyone ordering me around.

“You can’t stop me. This is my life, and I’ll do whatever I want,” I snapped, glaring at him.

“Dua, please don’t be stubborn.” His eyes softened. He knew me—when I was angry and determined, I would do anything. “I can’t live away from you,” his voice cracked, tears threatening his eyes, which made mine well up too. I threw my arms around him, and he instantly held me tight.

“I’m sorry, Momin. But please try to understand. This is my dream. I always wished to graduate from Papa’s college, while Maham would graduate from Mama’s. That was always decided.” I lifted my head without breaking the hug. “Momin… I need your support. Please, for me—for my happiness—let me fulfill my dream. Going to the US is my dream.” My tear-filled eyes pleaded with him. He cupped my face with one hand, the other still wrapped around me.

“What about us, Dua? What about me? How will I survive here without you? I’ve never lived away from you, not even for a single day—and you want to leave me for four years?”

“After I return, I’ll be entirely yours. I’ll do anything you ask. Just this once, listen to me. Just once, agree with me,” I begged, a tear slipping down my cheek. He wiped it gently and kissed my forehead.

“You know I can’t deny you.” He smiled weakly.

I smiled through my tears. I know you can’t.

**********

Momin’s POV

The thought of her leaving made me restless. Something inside me screamed that it was wrong. My innocent Dua could be destroyed by the world if she was away from me, away from her family.

“Fine.” Finally, Hana Aunty agreed. I closed my eyes, holding back my tears.

Dua had begged me to convince Hana Aunty, because I was the only one besides Rumaan Uncle whom she listened to. After three days of pleading, she finally gave in. I told Aunty that it was Dua’s happiness, and if we stopped her, she would never forgive us. I reassured her that Riya Aunty would be there to look after Dua.

If only I knew where I was truly sending her.

“But Momin, still, I have a feeling this isn’t right for Dua. She’s naïve. She thinks she can survive there, but I know she can’t,” Hana Aunty said worriedly.

“I tried to convince her, but she—” I trailed off.

“I know how stubborn she is,” Hana Aunty sighed and walked away.

“And I want to fulfill her every wish,” I murmured. Dua was my love, and I never wanted to change her—not even her stubbornness. I wanted to grant her dreams. I wanted her happiness…

But little did I know, this was my first step toward our destruction.

---

Dua’s POV

“What are you doing?” Maham asked, walking toward the bed and glancing at my laptop.

“I applied for my admission. I just hope I get approved,” I prayed with a glowing smile.

“You’ll get approved soon. I’ll pray for you,” Maham said with a bright smile. My sister was so happy for me.

“Thank you for supporting me, Maham. If it wasn’t for you encouraging me from the start, I’d never have thought about going this far from all of you.” I hugged her tightly.

I was happy. So happy. I knew if I convinced Momin, he would handle everything. He had already persuaded Mama. Papa was hesitant at first, but eventually he agreed too. All because of Momin—my love.

“I should tell Momin,” I said and ran outside.

“Momin, you know, I applied to the college?” I said excitedly when I entered his room. He was working on the coffee table, surrounded by documents and his laptop. He glanced at me once before focusing back on the screen.

“Momin,” I called, sitting beside him. He ignored me. A sharp sting pierced my heart. I could never bear his silence—it killed me.

“Momin,” I called again, this time angrily.

“I’m busy, Dua,” he muttered without looking at me. I slammed his laptop shut in frustration. His head snapped toward me.

“Don’t you dare ignore me.”

“I also have dreams, Dua. Just like you,” he raised his voice—not too loud, but enough to pierce my heart and bring tears to my eyes. He had snapped at me.

“Okay,” my voice cracked with the lump in my throat. I stood up to leave, but at the door, he grabbed my wrist.

“Dua.” I didn’t turn. A tear slipped down, but I wiped it quickly, pressing my lips tight. He spun me around, cupped my jaw with one hand, and held my wrist with the other.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, lifting my face. When I didn’t respond and only stared at him with watery eyes, he sighed.

“I’m scared. I’m scared, Dua. I’m terrified to let you go. I’m scared to lose you. Scared someone might take you away from me. The only thing I have in my life is you. The only person I love from the depths of my heart is you. You are my everything, Dua. You don’t understand—this world is too cruel for us. For those who love each other more than anything. You know, my Abbu (father) also loved Ammi (mother) before marriage, but when he told my grandparents, they rejected her because she was an orphan. My Ammi and Abbu were nearly torn apart by this cruel world. But Abbu left his family before they could cause more damage.” Momin poured his heart out.

I knew about his parents, and it made his pain even heavier. He feared someone would steal me from him—because he was an orphan. But how could I make him believe that I would leave this world before letting anyone take me away from him?

“Before losing you, Momin, I’d rather die,” I uttered, looking straight into his eyes.

“You will never lose me. I’ll always be with you. Always by your side. Because Momin is nothing without his Dua…”

“…And there is no Dua without her Momin,” I continued. We smiled before he pressed his lips to my forehead.

“Tu woh aadat hai jo mere dil se judi hai.

Woh dua hai jo mere har waqt ne ki hai.

Woh ishq hai jo meri rooh se bani hai.”

(You are the habit tied to my heart.

The supplication I make every passing second.

The love that is born from my soul.)

He murmured with a smile.

“Wah, mere shayar (Wow, my poet),” I grinned, squeezing his cheeks.

We sat back on the couch, holding hands. I told him about applying for admission, and he gave me his charming, encouraging smile, saying I would get approved. My heart fluttered. I unconsciously placed my hand on his cheek and leaned closer to his face. He looked at me with the same passion, the same longing. I leaned in further, but Momin stopped me, holding my shoulders and shaking his head helplessly.

“God! Momin,” I hit his chest and sat back. “One kiss won’t hurt,” I mumbled, knowing it wouldn’t change his decision. I turned away, hiding the ache that always stung when he stopped me. It wasn’t rejection—he simply refused to taint our love. His love was too pure.

“Look at me,” he tilted my chin up again. I always got offended when he pulled away. “Never. I can never reject you. You don’t know what you mean to me, Dua. Your love is pure, my love is pure. I don’t want to taint our bond.” His words made me lower my eyes in embarrassment. “Hey, don’t look down. Hold your head high,” he lifted my chin again, smiling, making me smile too. “Can’t you see how much I desire you?” His intense gaze made my heart race and my stomach twist. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “But we have to wait till our nikah (marriage). I know it’s painful, but we must.”

I lowered my head, blushing this time.

“Is my Dua blushing?” he teased. My head snapped up.

“Wh…what? Uh…I’m not the type to blush, okay?”

“Of course, you’re not,” he smirked.

I jumped off the couch, running my fingers through my open hair with false confidence. “I have lots to do, Momin. First, I need to tell Mama and Papa that I applied for admission.” I hurriedly walked out of the room, not before hearing his chuckle.

Sometimes, I tried to get closer to Momin because I loved him so deeply, and I wanted him for myself so badly that I couldn’t control my heart. But I knew he would never let me do anything wrong. I knew he wanted me too—perhaps even more than I wanted him—but he restrained himself for me. Boys rarely let go of such chances, and when a girl is willing, she can hardly escape. But my Momin proved that not every man is the same. When a man truly loves a woman, he chooses the right path to claim her—and that path is nikah. That’s what Momin always said: until our nikah, our relationship must remain pure. And that was the most beautiful thing about him. That’s why I loved him even more.

And maybe that’s why I never hesitated to go closer to him… because I trusted him to always stop me from crossing the line.

********

It had been two weeks since I applied for admission. And guess what?

I got accepted. I was so happy. Everything was done. I would leave next month. Mama, Papa, and my grandparents were a little sad, including Rafay. Though he didn’t show it, I knew he was also feeling upset that I was going away from all of them. But Maham was the only one who was happier than anyone else. She loved me so much. She went with me shopping and even bought me many things as gifts. I was so grateful to have her as my little sister.

On the other hand, Momin… he was hurt and frightened to let me go, and I tried many times to reassure him not to worry. Even though I knew he would never stop worrying for me. Nowadays, I spent as much time as I could with him.

It was evening and Momin must have just come back home. I walked toward Momin’s room but stopped as I heard a voice.

"I can’t believe I succeeded in this. I thought that you would stop her but since my sister is stubborn, you couldn’t, Momin. She is going to leave next month from our lives, and you will be only mine."

My eyes widened, and I almost tripped hearing my little sister’s voice.

"When I came to know that Dua wanted to graduate from America, I did my best to make her decision stronger. I know when Dua decides something, then no one can stop her. And now Dua is going to fulfil her dream at the cost of losing you. We have to lose something to have something else. And Dua is going to lose you at the cost of her dream. And I will lose my sister’s love and trust at the cost of having you."

My body froze in place. My heart dropped to my stomach. Fear crawled across my skin.

Looking inside the room, I saw Maham holding Momin’s picture in her hand, gazing at him with love-filled eyes. She kissed his photo frame, and I felt like killing her in that moment. She dared to think about him. She dared to think that she could have him. To hell with that—I would burn this whole world before letting Momin be someone else’s.

I was about to march toward her but stopped as I heard the door opening. Maham instantly put his photo frame back on the nightstand and stood there with a smile on her face. Momin walked out while drying his hair with a towel. He was dressed in white pants and a maroon t-shirt. He looked damn sexy. He always did, but after a shower, he looked even more handsome and hot. I found myself staring at him and almost forgot Maham was there.

"Maham," Momin’s voice brought me back, and I saw Maham also staring at him with the same love and passion. My fists tightened.

"Maham? What are you doing here?" Momin asked. Maham looked at him and cleared her throat, her face turning red.

"Uh… I just came to give you this," she hurriedly said, pointing toward the small coffee table where a glass of milkshake was placed.

"Oh, thank you so much. I needed this," he said with a smile and walked toward the table. "You made this?" he asked as he took a sip of the milkshake. Momin sat on the couch while Maham sat on the other side.

"Yes. Do you like it?"

"It’s delicious, thank you again."

"It’s my pleasure," Maham replied with a smile.

I couldn’t take it anymore and strode inside, sitting close to Momin. He looked at me with a frown.

"Why didn’t you come to meet me?" I asked, struggling to control my rage.

"I was going to." He scooted a little away from me, making my heart sink. It wasn’t the first time he had shifted away from me if anyone else was around us, but today it scared my heart. Scared me to lose him.

*********