All For What!

20

~~~

When Maryam had made sure Manal was asleep in their room and in between them, she averted her gaze from him and it darted to Saeed who was also in bed with them. Given how terrified Manal was to sleep in her room alone and how she trembled visibly, made Saeed suggest she slept with them in their room that night to which Maryam gladly agreed.
"Are you going anywhere tomorrow, habibi?" She asked. She wanted to know if Manal would be left alone with Nafisa tomorrow because she had to be at work.

"In sha Allah. Why did you ask?"

"Became I won't be home tomorrow as well." Maryam replied, curtly.

"Alright -" Sa'eed yawned tiredly. "We better sleep then if we want to wake up very early in the morning." Sa'eed advised.

"You're right -" Maryam smiled. "Goodnight habibi, I love you."

Sa'eed smiled and felt his heart swell with love and adoration for his wife. He was contented with the family Allah gave him, but he would have been happier if only his wife would agree to quit working. It was something that would immensely make him happy, but he knew he couldn't force her for it would make her demoralized. She would be disheartened and that was not something he wanted. Her happiness was what mattered most to him moreover, it could stir up problems in their marital life. "Goodnight habibty, I love you so much." He kiss her gently on the lips and Manal on the forehead. He watched as Maryam's eyelids met and how she drifted into slumber. He smiled and drew the duvet comfortably on them.

~~~

Saeed woke up very early as usual and woke Maryam and Manal up for salat. He went into the bathroom and perform wudhu. When he emerged from the bathroom, he met Maryam and Manal still as he left them.

"Habibty," he called softly, tapping on her shoulder gently. She grumbled incoherent words and turned to the other side. She just wanted the intruder to go faraway from her. She was exhausted from the previous day. "- wake up. It's time for prayer." He said and tapped on Manal next. "Wake up baby." Manal stirred in her sleep and woke up. Sa'eed helped her to the bathroom to perform wudhu and came back to the room. He went straight to Maryam and tried waking her up again. This time, she woke up easily and went straight to the bathroom.

By the time Maryam and Manal emerged from the bathroom, Saeed had already laid the prayer mat for them. He led the prayer while they followed not far from behind him. "Good morning, abee. Good morning ummi." Manal greeted her parents immediately they finished praying.

"Good morning baby," Sa'eed kissed her forehead and stroked her cheek lovingly.

"Good morning dear," Maryam said and kissed Manal on the same spot Sa'eed did. "How did you sleep?"

"Alhamdulilah, fine," Manal said cheerfully. She was really happy because it was Saturday. It meant no school for her and her parents would also be around - she hoped.

"Ma sha Allah. Go on to your room and take your bath. I will tell Nafisa to prepare your favourite dish today," Maryam smiled.

"Thanks, ummi, I love you." Manal grinned before racing out of the room.

"I love you too,"  Sa'eed replied and immediately Manal was out of sight. Maryam just laughed at his cheesiness. "- good morning. I hope you slept peacefully last night?"

"I did, Alhamdulilah." Maryam answered. "You?"

"Same habibty, Alhamdulilah." He replied. "- I prayed for us, did you?"

Maryam looked at him in disbelief. How could he ask her that! It was always the first thing she always  prayed for beside praying for the prophet S.A.W (PEACE BE UPON HIM) and their parents. She could forget to pray for herself, but never her husband and kid. "Of course! I never forget."

"That's good. May Allah accept all of our prayers." Sa'eed prayed.

"Ameen thumma ameen." Maryam replied and stood up.

"Where are you going to?" Sa'eed inquired.

"To the kitchen. I want to go and prepare breakfast," Maryam replied.

Sa'eed nodded.

She wanted to cook that early so she could leave for work early as well. She could have left the job for Nafisa to do, but she didn't want her doing all of the work in the house especially cooking for her husband. She left the room for the kitchen and started preparing breakfast. In less than thirty minutes, she was done. She served the food on the dining table and went back to their room to inform Saeed to go down for breakfast. He asked her if she had had anything to eat because she told him to go on ahead and she lied to him telling him she already ate. Truth was, she just had few bites of the omelets she made. She knew just how persistent Sa'eed could get and it wasn't something she wanted at that time because she was already running late for work.

When Maryam was ready to leave for work, she called for Nafisa and she appeared before her immediately. She told her to make Manal her favorite food as promised before exiting the house. Nafisa huffed and walked away, swearing not to do as Maryam instructed unless Sa'eed was not home of course. To Nafisa's surprise, few minutes later, she sighted Sa'eed also going out of the house all dressed up for work. She couldn't believe her luck. It was finally time to deal with the little brat Manal...