Scene 1: The First Glance (Police Academy Lawn, Islamabad – Evening)
Haroon stood at the edge of the academy lawn, watching the sun dip behind Margalla Hills. His duties for the day were done, but his thoughts were restless. Just then, a girl walked past the iron gates, her dupatta fluttering in the soft wind like a bird freed. She looked lost—her steps hesitant, unsure.
He noticed her from afar. Not because she was beautiful (though she was, strikingly so), but because she carried a calm innocence in a world Haroon saw drowning in deceit every day.
"Excuse me," she asked, voice trembling slightly. "Is this where the debate competition is?"
Haroon cleared his throat, straightened his uniform, and replied with surprising softness, "You're in the right place. But you're early… Ma'am?"
"Maryam," she smiled.
And just like that, a name etched itself into Haroon's memory with a permanence he couldn't explain.
Scene 2: Over Coffee and Questions (Café in F-7 Markaz – Weekend)
Their next meeting happened over coffee—a quiet spot chosen by Haroon for its privacy. Maryam sat across from him, sipping cautiously, eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"You always sit this straight?" she teased, noticing his rigid posture.
"Occupational hazard," he smiled. "But I loosen up… eventually."
They spoke of books, cities they wanted to visit, and Haroon's favorite Urdu poets. Maryam listened intently, occasionally biting her lip—something that made Haroon's heart skip.
At one point, she asked, "Do you believe in love at first sight?"
Haroon looked directly at her. "I believe in silence that speaks more than words. And I heard yours loud and clear the day you asked about the debate."
Maryam blushed. That evening, Haroon realized that a man trained to spot lies and threats could also recognize something rare—purity.
Scene 3: The Proposal (Maryam's Home – One Month Later)
Haroon, dressed in a modest shalwar kameez, held a small bouquet of white lilies as he sat nervously in Maryam's living room. Her parents looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
"You're a police officer?" her father asked.
"Yes, sir. I serve the people. I try to."
"And what makes you want to marry our Maryam?"
Haroon didn't stammer. "Because she reminds me there is still softness in the world I've grown too used to harden against."
Maryam's mother smiled. The father raised an eyebrow. Maryam appeared at the door silently, watching it unfold, her heart thudding in her chest.
The answer was yes.
Scene 4: The Wedding (Wedding Hall – Islamabad)
It was a traditional ceremony. Not extravagant, but dignified. Haroon wore a white sherwani with silver embroidery; Maryam looked ethereal in a soft maroon bridal dress, her eyes lowered, but her smile vivid.
Friends from the police force came, offering cheeky salutes. Maryam's cousins giggled in the background, while her mother wiped tears beside the stage.
As the Nikah was pronounced, Haroon looked at Maryam from across the curtain. Their eyes met. This wasn't just a contract. This was sanctuary.
That night, under a sky littered with stars, Haroon held her hand and whispered, "This world will never deserve you—but I'll spend my life trying to."
Scene 5: Wedding Night (Haroon's Apartment – Midnight)
The house smelled of fresh rose petals. Maryam entered the dimly lit bedroom slowly, still in her bridal attire. Haroon stood waiting, nervous, yet tender.
"I never thought I'd be afraid on the happiest day of my life," she whispered.
He walked toward her, gently removed her dupatta, and said, "You don't have to be afraid anymore. Not of the world. Not of me."
They sat on the bed, hands intertwined. No rush. No force. Just quiet, mutual respect.
He caressed her hair. "Maryam… I never thought love could be gentle and fierce at the same time."
She smiled and leaned on his shoulder. "I never thought my protector would wear a badge and carry a soft heart."
They talked until dawn—about dreams, childhood stories, future plans, and how they'd name their children. When they finally fell asleep, it wasn't lust that held them together—it was an overwhelming sense of peace.
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