Zainab’s heart pounded as she processed Amina’s words. Her sister’s cruelty was sharp, each word cutting deeper than the next. But she stood her ground, refusing to let Amina see her falter.
“You say you’re happy,” Amina sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. “But you don’t even know who you’re married to, do you? Yusha isn’t just a beggar. He’s the son of a wealthy merchant, disowned after refusing an arranged marriage.”
Zainab’s breath caught in her throat. She recalled Yusha’s hesitance when she asked him about his past. It made sense now—the gentle mannerisms, the poetic words. He wasn’t defined by his circumstances, just as she refused to be defined by her blindness.
“You’re lying,” Zainab whispered, more to herself than to Amina. But deep down, she felt the truth of it resonate within her.
“I have nothing to gain by lying to you,” Amina replied, her tone shifting slightly, almost as if a sliver of respect entered her voice. “I wanted to tell you because… because you’re still my sister.”
With that, Amina let go of Zainab’s arm and left, her presence fading into the bustling market noise. Zainab stood still, her mind in turmoil. She wondered why Yusha hadn’t told her the truth. Was he ashamed? Did he think she would reject him if she knew?
When she returned to their small hut, Yusha was waiting at the door, concern etched on his face. He took her hands and led her inside. She could sense his worry.
“What happened at the market?” he asked softly.
Despite the whirlwind of emotions within her, Zainab found solace in Yusha’s presence. She knew she had to confront him, to hear the truth from his own lips.
“Amina told me something today,” she began, choosing her words carefully. “She said you were not always a beggar—that you come from a wealthy family.”
Yusha was silent for a moment, and Zainab felt his grip tighten slightly on her hands. Then he let out a sigh, a sound filled with the weight of unspoken burdens.
“It’s true,” he admitted. “I was the son of a merchant, destined to marry someone I didn’t love. I left that life behind because I wanted to choose my own path, even if it meant starting from nothing.”
Zainab felt a wave of relief wash over her, but there was more she needed to understand. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want my past to define our relationship,” Yusha explained. “I wanted you to know me for who I am now, not who I was.”
His words wrapped around her like a comforting embrace. In that moment, Zainab realized that Yusha’s past didn’t change how she felt about him. If anything, it deepened her admiration for his courage and integrity.
“I love you, Yusha,” she whispered, her voice steady and true. “Not for who you were, but for who you are now and how you’ve opened my world.”
In their little hut, surrounded by the hum of the evening, they both understood that love was more than sight or wealth. It was the connection they had nurtured, the dreams they shared, and the unwavering support they offered each other.
Their journey was far from easy, but together, they had found a way to see beyond the surface, creating a life filled with genuine compassion and happiness. It was a love story that defied expectations, leaving everyone—especially those who doubted them—speechless.