"I got your message." Syed told Christian. His face was impassive, and Christian smiled nervously. Syed didn't smile back.
"Where the hell have you been?!" Zainab demanded. Syed's eyes snapped to hers and he looked nervous, as though he only just realised she was still there.
"I went for a walk. Needed to clear my head."
"Whilst we were here worried sick, with poor Amira sobbing her heart out?"
Syed shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry."
"It's her wedding day Syed. You could have waited until after the ceremony to 'clear you head'."
"I couldn't, mum, there are things you don't understand…things I needed to get straight." he let out a breath. "But I'm ok now."
"Well…good!" Zainab snapped, exchanging a confused glance with Masood. "Give me five minutes, I'll go and tell Amira you're back, and then we can continue the-"
"No, mum." Syed said quietly.
Christian blinked, staring at Syed in disbelief. From his attitude over the past few minutes, and the way he was talking, he'd been certain his young lover had been planning to go ahead with the ceremony. Syed met his gaze and his face finally relaxed into a smile.
"No?!" Zainab sounded dangerous. She stepped towards Syed, who actually took a nervous step backwards. "What do you mean, 'no'?!"
"I can't marry Amira." Syed swallowed nervously. "I've…been seeing someone else."
Zainab let out a small choking sound. "What?!"
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry. You're sorry?! Who is she?"
"Mum…"
"Who is she? Who is this girl that's so special that you betray your family and your religion? Hmm?"
"Maybe we should go somewhere, sit down?" Syed pleaded.
"Think about Amira. Do you love her?"
"Yes, but…"
"There you go then, stop being so stupid and get back in there."
"Mum please just listen to me-"
"You love Amira, yes?"
"It's not the same-"
"How is it not the same? Hmm? You love her, you promised yourself to her, this other hussy can just-"
"It's not the same because I'm gay!"
There was a stunned silence. "What?" Zainab croaked eventually.
"I'm gay, mum. I've been seeing a man."
"No." Zainab shook her head. "No. You're not."
"I am…it's taken me a long time to realise it, but-"
"Don't be so stupid Syed. Of course you're not gay. You're Muslim!"
"I can't change who I am, mum." Syed looked over at Christian. "I know that now." he looked back at his mother. "Please say something."
Zainab waved her hand impatiently at him. She looked deep in thought. Eventually she looked up, a determined look on her face. Her eyes seemed strangely out of focus.
"We can sort this out."
Syed frowned. "Sort what out?"
"You go back in there and marry Amira like you promised. And then we can find you a good imam or a doctor-"
"Mum, I'm not sick!"
"Of course you are." Zainab snapped. "You think it is natural? It's this country, that's what it is. Maybe you should go back to Pakistan with your sister."
I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here." he glanced nervously at Christian and took a deep breath. "I'm staying here…with Christian."
Zainab looked like she'd been slapped. "You?!"
Christian raised his hands in surrender. "Zainab, look…"
"You…you corrupted my son. I knew it would be a bad idea letting someone like you work for us…"
"Someone like me?!"
"Yes! A sick, perverted-"
"Leave him alone!" Syed stepped forwards, eyes flashing. "It's got nothing to do with him, I was gay long before I came to Walford!"
Zainab froze. Several silent tears rolled down her face. "No."
"I'm so sorry, mum." Syed tried to touch her arm but she pulled it away. "I tried not to be, I really did. I thought I could marry Amira and all these feelings would go away and I could be a son to be proud of. I really tried. But then I met Christian and I fell in love…"
"You fell in love?!" Zainab looked pale, like she was about to faint.
"I love him, mum."
"How long has it been going on? You and…him?"
"It doesn't matter."
She looked up at him, her face stained with tears. "Of course it does. How. Long?"
Syed hung his head. "Six months. Give or take."
Something in Zainab's eyes seemed to break. "Six…?" She leant against her husband for support. "I can't do this. Take me home."
"Mum!" Syed stepped forward, pleading, tears in his eyes. Zainab flinched back. She looked totally crushed.
"Don't…don't call me that. You are not my son."
Syed watched as Masood led her towards the car, casting a confused glance back at his son. Christian stepped forwards, uncertain whether he should comfort Syed or not, but as soon as he lightly touched the other man's shoulder he turned and fell into Christian's arms, clutching his shirt and sobbing.
"It's ok." Christian soothed, knowing that nothing could be further from the truth. "It's going to be ok."
He cast a helpless glance at Jane, who nodded, her face almost expresionless, her eyes tight, and headed back inside. What she was going to tell everyone Christian had no idea, but he knew the last thing Syed needed was to face Amira. Silently he headed towards the nearest taxi rank, Syed still clinging to him like a baby monkey, headed back home.
He may have got what he wanted, but he knew this was far from over.