Mrs Mariam.
I was confused as I looked at the caller's ID as it continued to ring for a second time. Until Khalid shook my shoulders, I had no idea he had come this close to me.

"Who is that calling?" I was interrupted from my staring contest by his composed demeanor and inquiry, so I ended the call. I wish to support my brother Imad and Muskan, but this will cause problems between us, and what if their relationship is in jeopardy?

When the phone rang a third time, Khalid furrowed his brow in perplexity, daring me to lie to him in public. He kept glancing at both the phone and me.

"That girl had hurt him, me, and my brother, but we had forgiven her. She had even continued to play with our emotions, so we took her in again because she was now a member of our family after getting married to my brother Imad," I said softly. He looked at me with a new expression.

Life is short, so never hold grudges.

"What does that woman want now?" I do not trust that woman in the slightest," he said harshly, and my eyes widened; we were having a good day, and what a way to ruin it.

"Khalid, please try to understand. What if they need our help, and Imad is your best friend?"I tried to reason with him; my brother had always been my supporter.

"I know he is my best friend, and I would do anything for him, but not when that woman is involved," he said, pointing to my phone.

"Pick up the phone," he said in a dejected tone, and I felt my face turn pale. I hate going against him; he is not doing this because he wants to, but because of me, and I despise that awkward situation.

"No, I am not picking up," I also denied.

In a harsh voice, he admonished, "Do not be stubborn now."

He turned on the speaker and pressed the green button. "Please, Mariam, I need your help. I do not want to leave him. He said if it was in his hands, he would leave me. I have realized my mistakes and I want another chance." She continued talking without saying hello, and even though I want their marriage to succeed—they will have ups and downs—we could hear her sobs.

Muskan still wanted to meet me, so I told her I would ask my husband first and then let her know. Khalid had just left and entered the balcony with his laptop.

There was absolute silence between us. None of us wanted to break the silence after just a few minutes of enjoying and talking nonstop; it is strange how one situation, some words, can change your day.

You are in a good mood, and then everything changes because of someone.

"Khalid, "I tried to express my thoughts after giving myself plenty of encouragement.

No response.

"Khalid, please," my voice broke as I spoke. I could not see him hurt; I knew all of the events were replaying in his mind at the time, and he was shutting me down again.

"What?" he snapped, and I flinched slightly.

"What if she hurts you again? Do not you realize she could be playing games to hurt you again?" He said harshly, and I just blinked the tears that were about to fall.

He approached and wiped them.

"I am not shutting you off, but I am worried about you; you are the only precious person in my life, and I do not have anyone else," he explained to me in a sad tone, tears streaming down his cheeks. I have never seen him so vulnerable; I want the strong, confident Khalid back.

All this time, I assumed it was because people had hurt him, but he was simply concerned about my safety. I am not sure what or why I did it, but I rushed and back hugged him, his body stiffened, but he returned the hug, and I felt at ease in his arms as he turned me around.

"Husband or brother?" When he questioned me, I was perplexed at first, but I soon realized what he meant. He asked me to choose?

"Khalid, you both mean the world to me," I said, my hands still shaking. I have never been in such a situation before.

My thoughts were interrupted by laughter, and he simply shook his head, causing my eyes to widen; he was testing me.

"Your face was worth watching," he said between laughs, cupping my face.

"Did you truly believe I would put you in such a situation, my dear innocent princess?" He asked in a teasing tone, kissing my forehead.

"We will both go meet Muskan and help your brother, my dear wife. I am not that evil," he said, hugging me, which surprised me even more.

"Sunday is really rubbing off on you," I joked, and he gave me that evil smirk.

"It is not Sunday, my dear innocent princess, but you and I love you so much; you have changed my thoughts, my life, everything," he said, wiping away my tears.

"Never leave me," he said, and I nodded.

"How can I leave you, Mr.? I am your life wife, and we will lead each other to Jannah. Can we pray for that?"I asked, and he agreed.

"Well after prayers, I want you to visit Muskan while I visit Imad. I have not met my best friend in months," he said. I knew he missed him, and I missed my friends as well, but many have shifted for their own purposes, and life has become busy.

****
How did it go? We all have problems, which is why my characters do too, but they solve them rather than hold grudges.