I heard a loud knock on my door, I rubbed my eyes almost muttering Nasreen's name before I remembered exactly where I was.
I grabbed a robe hanging in my closet before opening the door,
"Hello sleeping beauty, its time to pray" he said looking like he had been up for hours while I tried to process what ever he was saying,
"Come with me, we are praying together" he grabbed my wrist leading me to his room,
I had wanted to see what his room looked like out of curiosity and when I did I felt cheated, he had a small living room before his bedroom I can only imagine what that would look like, I went in walking deeper into the room, his bedroom was slightly bigger than mine which made me a bit jealous,
I went back to my room to perform ablution and put on my black abaya and a Hijab to cover up before returning to his room. He led the prayer and afterwards we recited my favourite surah from the holy Qur'an which was suratul kahf..
At some point he wasn't reciting with me and I could feel his gaze even without raising my head and when I concluded and raised my head he was lost in his little world probably not even aware that he has been staring,
I cleared my throat a bit as I was getting uncomfortable,
"Minal" he called
"I want us to always pray Subhi together, it will being us closer...it will strengthen our bond" he said holding my hands
Days passed by and we only grew closer, I began to open up to him as much as I could at this point, I liked the way he listens to every single thing I had to say, how patient he is with me, I could look beyond his flaws for I am without flaws myself.
The way he is able to make me laugh is incredible we began to pray together eat together and he would stay with me until I fell asleep, I was being treated not less than a queen.
All this while he has never forced me to do anything I wasn't comfortable with, he was just perfect.... Alhamdulullah .
My phone buzzed next to me on the couch where I sat watching TV waiting for him to come home, this is the new me, I spend each day waiting for my husband to come home from work, I know it sounds boring and lame but its something I look forward to.
I opened the message from my husband, oh God when did I become so mush, crazy in love.
I squealed after reading the content of the message and quickly jumped off the couch and started getting ready for a romantic rendezvous with my husband.
I got dressed in a red fitted dress, it was the first time I had worn the dress and I was feeling like a model, I slightly made my face up and was wrapping my head gear when I heard the door bell ring,
I let out a sigh of relief before raising to my feet, I half walked...half ran half walked to the door how crazy right?...I know, and I can't help the way he makes me feel,
I turned the door knob open and stood by the door grinning from ear to ear. He stood there with his jacket in his arm, he kiss me on the cheek before we walked in together,
"Wow you look beautiful" he praised as I shied away from his comment,
I brought a chilled jug of peach and raspberry juice I made earlier sitting down next to him on the couch.
"Ohh Allah this is so refreshing" he said smiling brightly at me "thanks for taking care of me"he added moving closer to hug me but was a bit reluctant for fear that I might react negatively so I hugged him instead.
He let out a sigh of relief and hugged me even tighter as we stayed in that position for a while before his phone buzzed.
What a spoiler I thought,
He checked the message and hissed a bit throwing the phone next to him on the couch,
I really didn't mean to but I had to peep a little and from what I observed the message was from Hannan.... HANNAH!
Does this mean that she is still pestering ya Mahmud, wow I would hate to be in her position, running after a man that Hates me so much.
"Is it something you want to talk about?" I said carefully pretending not to see who the message was from.
"Ohh no...its not important, let's pray and get ready we have reservations for 8:00PM" he said before raising to his feet and stretched out his arm and I held it as we mover deeper into the house.
I trust my husband so much but I can't help but think about Hannan as I kept pondering over what was written in the message which clearly had love written on it although I didn't get to read it. The feeling of jealosy kept boiling down through the depths of my heart, "Mahmud is mine" i kept muttering over and over but all I could do was pray that Allah protects my husband from the evils of this Dunya.
I applied a few touches to my makeup after praying and picked up a matching veil and a gold clutch bag walking out of my room to meet him at the living room where he had been waiting for a while.
"Finally" he muttered when he saw me coming,
"Wait! Where do you think you are going to dressed like that" he stated pointing at my outfit, as I was still wearing the fitted dress I had on earlier.
I pleaded but he wouldn't listen saying my curves were out in the open and spent about thirty minutes listening to a few chapters of his "married woman" manual which I am still adapting to.
He dragged me to my own closet insisting that he would pick the perfect outfit for me, after a few minutes of searching he brought out a lilac bubu gown which I had no choice but to change into.
"You look beautiful in whatever you put on" he passed an encouraging comment kissing me on the chick before living the room for me to get ready,
I quickly changed and walked outside to the car were he was seated,
"So, where are you taking me" my curiosity got the better of me
"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you" he answered with an unreadable expression.
We arrived at some sort of garden which had a few tables and was heavily decorated, the smell of flowered and that of the food made it unique and I have to admit I was entranced,
We were shown to our table which had other people already seated there, I moved further only to realise that it was a double date with the would be bride and groom,
As soon as she saw me she stood up and gave me a rib crushing hug but then it didn't matter as I felt the same way. I sat down teasing Amin while he just smiled avoiding my gaze.
It was a beautiful night and the Moroccan dishes were exquisite but they had to leave early as Mamie had instructed and had only agreed because ya Mahmud said we would be their chaperones.
As soon as they left a bottle of non alcoholic whine was brought to out table and a large piece of semolina cake,
"It seems the dinner isn't over" I squealed happily making him laugh.
"I am sorry" he muttered calmly staring deep into my eyes,
"What for" I asked surprisingly,
"For taking everything out on you, you were also a victim of this marriage which as turned out to be a blessing, I am sorry for making it so hard for you to love me, I am sorry for all the times I made you cry and for my silly tantrums, I am sorry for what I put you through, ruining your moments, misunderstanding you...I was a fool back then, I couldn't see what was right in front of me" he paused looking away from my eyes,
"Do you think you can ever forgive me and love me just the way I am" he asked holding my hands even tighter,
"I...I love you Mahmud... I love you" I said kissing the back of his hands.
The shock on his face was pronounced as I was saying those words to him for the first time, I was also surprised considering the fact that it takes all of him to say a single sorry.
I have wanted to tell him how I felt but I couldn't find the perfect time and I really didn't know how to say it, but it wasn't really as hard as I thought,
I was deep in thoughts when he came really close stealing a kiss and for the first time I didn't hold back...kissing under the stars.
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Dedicated to @aminabmusa, this chapter is for you sister, I thought Hannan had been kidnapped or something Ashe tana nan tana fama. Like the Hausa people will say "San maso wani...."