SULTAN {Preview}

Chapter Twenty-nine

She nodded, a lone tear making its way down the corner of her eye. I wiped it away for her with my index finger. "The tears you will shade in my house, will In Sha Allah always be nothing but tears of joy. Now get up let's pray, or do you need to perform ablution?" she shook her head meaning no.

We prayed the nawafil prayer recommended for newly weds and prayed for a long time. I then turned around and hovering over her, I  carefully pulled a few strands of hair out of her head scarf and recited the required prayers.

"Let's sleep, it's late already" I said when I was done. I got up and lay on the bed, then pretended to be sleeping. Khairi got up and walked to where her boxes were kept and pulled out a jewelry box, she turned around to make sure I was sleeping, and when she thought I was, she turned again and took off her alkyabba, then her earrings, rings and bracelets. She then unknotted her head scarf and her hair fell on her shoulders, they were shoulder length.

She then fiddled with her necklace and tried to remove it, put it seemed to be tangled with her hair, she turned around as if to ask for my help but quickly decided against it. She did all this, thinking I was asleep. She kept battling with her necklace and was on the verge of tears when I got up and walked up to her where she stood. She froze at the electrifying feeling she got when my hands brushed her neck as I pushed her hair to the side and tried to unhook the necklace.

I finally succeeded in removing the necklace and dropped it inside the box with the rest of the jewelries. I gently turned her around, put my palm under her chin and lifted her face up to meet my gaze.

"Look at me Ummulkhair" I whispered into her ears making her shudder, her eyes finally met mine and I gave her an intense look, her eyes, I couldn't say what colour they were at the moment, all I knew was that I'm in love with this woman standing in front of me and I'm grateful for having her in my life. I slowly lowered my face and my lip met hers, my right fingers combed through her hair while my left searched for the hems of her wrapper.

Few hours later when she fell asleep, it was in my arms...

The world is full of worldly enjoyments, but the best among all worldly enjoyments is a righteous woman... A mar'atus swaliha.

Indeed I had found my mar'atus swaliha and I'm grateful to Allah for that, and with a smile plastered on my face, like the contented man I was, I slowly and peaceful fell into a deep slumber.

***

The following morning, I woke up to Khairi's beautiful face and smiled. I turned around and continued looking at her for a long time when I saw her smile in her sleep, I wonder if she was dreaming about me. I hoped so.

Early in the morning, before Subhi, Umma sent the maids with hot water for Khairi. I helped her take the water to the bathroom and waited for her to finish taking her bath, then I took mine. We prayed Subhi together, I didn't go to the masjid. Immediately after praying, she went back to sleep while I remained on the sallaya and prayed till the sun started rising before going back to sleep.

I remembered that I had to be in the Palace very early then frowned. I wish I could have more time to spend with my wife but it seemed I couldn't. She stirred in her sleep and slowly opened her eyes, adjusting it to the ray of sunshine poking from through the window.

I smiled at her and mouthed a "Good morning" then got up. She smiled back and covered her face with the sheets. "I have to get ready for the Palace now Khairi, sorry about that okay. But them we have to go and greet Umma and Mama before I go, so get ready too. She gave me a nod. I was really looking forward to when I will start having conversations with my wife, slow and steady wins the race I thought.

I got ready and waited for her in the sitting room while she took her bath and got ready too, she came out after some time. "Go and where your alkyabba" I said. She went in and came back wearing her alkyabba. I was about to wrap my turban when I decided to tease her "Please help wrap my turban" I said "Okay" she answered and collected it, and to my surprise, she was doing it the right way, so I was curious to ask.

"Who thought you how to wrap a turban?"

"Adda Qudsiyya"

"That's so nice of her. What else did she teach you?" I asked and as if remembering something, she blushed, a cute light shade of pink.

"Khairi" I called and she looked at me for a while, then looked away. I finally saw the colour of her eyes. Dark grey.

"shahla"

"Uhm" she creased her eyebrows

"Shayla, dark grey eyes, the colour of your eyes" I said, totally lost in her eyes. 

"Ehm.. I miss Adda Qudsiyya" she broke the silence and the gaze too.

"Would you be allowing me to go see her often?" she pleaded

"You are the Queen here shahla" I chuckled
"Whenever you want to see Qudsiyya, you send for her. However I like that you call her Adda, that shows that you respect her, as you know she's older than me, and she's my sister." She nodded slowly.

"Now let's go" I held her hand and we walked out together while the guards followed us with greetings and praises. Now one thing I realized was that, I was never going to escape this formalities, like forever. That's almost the end of private life for me.

We arrived Umma's chamber and the first person we saw was Batuul. She looked up and answered our salaam and when she saw that it's us she smiled and stood up, then greeted me and turned to Khairi.

Khairi made to get on her knees but was held half way from doing so by Batuul.
"Get up please, don't do that, ever again."

"But you are my princess"

"And you are my queen"

"I am really sorry my princess, for eve..."

"Shush, I'm the one to apologize to you Ya Khairi, for the horrible things I did to you, please forgive me" Khairi couldn't say anything as Batuul engulfed her in a hug to which she was surprised at first, then later on hugged her back, they both cried. I looked at both of them, I was happy that they've settled their differences at last. I didn't know it was going to be this easy though.

"Come, Umma is inside." Batuul held her hand and they walked inside, I followed suit.

We greeted Umma and had breakfast with her before going over to greet Mama.

They were parking. Already they had intended on following Baba to go see his other family, immediately after my wedding. They were leaving in two days. Khairi wasn't happy to learn that Qudsiyya was leaving for a while. We left there after sitting for a while.

I accompanied Khairi back to our chamber before heading to the Palace, after making her promise to take good care of herself for me. I was late, on my first day of resuming duty.

I really am going to have a long journey ahead.

                ~~~

So another update in less than 9hours 😂😂anya you guys didn't jazz me kuwa?

It's few minutes after 4am😰 and I'm here trying to update, I sacrificed my chuweet sleep for you guys, just to show how much I love you ❤❤❤

Please do vote and tell how the chapter went, let me sleep small before Subhi😂😂 that's if at all I can.