Chapter 44

"I've been discharged for over a week now baby, please when am I going back to work?" She whined hugging his torso. "Do you want to get me fired?" She murmured, snuggling up to him more. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head. "You're still not feeling well and have you forgotten that I am your boss?" He whispered back rocking them sideways. She placed her chin on his chest. "Please boss, when can I go back to work?" She pouted. 

He shook his head, "you can go back to work in a month or two." He declared. She also shook her head. "No please baby, I would be so bored staying in this house alone. Come on, my Air Chief Marshal," she batted her lashes and pecked his lips. He chuckled softly. "That's why I asked Ummah to send us one of her maids to stay with you and help you with the house chores."

"Now, I have to get going to work my love," he spoke releasing her from his hold. She slumped her shoulders and pouted. "I really want to follow you. Those women walking around with miniskirts keep attacking you with their bodies," she spoke, furrowing her brows. He threw his head back laughing. "Baby, you have nothing to worry about, Mahmud is yours." He assured her but she shook her head, furrowing her brows. 

"I would never actually get tired of telling you how much I love you. The moment I first saw you after we got married, I realised how immensely blessed I am. You are a blessing and came into my life like a surprise that I didn't see coming but life have been better since then. I can't even explain how much I adore everything about you. You never leave my thoughts. I love you wholeheartedly. My Dua’s aren't complete until I mention your name, until I pray for you, your health, your happiness and smile. As these are the things I live with; you, your smile." 

Her eyes glitter with happiness as her lips curved upwards. He knew the perfect words to use to make her feel safe, happy and feel at home. "Baby," she pouted, her eyes watering. "You know the exact words to use to make me happy. I'm so, so in love with you too but can I...."

"Sh." He hushed her, before moving his finger, and pressing his hand against her cheek, giving him more support to push himself towards her, and connect their lips again. His lips were firm against hers, but the kiss remained soft, gentle, slow. They held it for a few seconds, before their lips began to move in perfect sync, slowly, cautiously. He exhaled through his nose, not wanting to let go. His entire body had been taken over by the overwhelming feeling of relief, combined with eccentric love, and lust. He moved his hand from her cheek to the back of her head, his fingers tangling in her long, dark chocolate hair, lightly pulling her into him, adding more pressure to their lips, deepening the kiss.

He slowly let go of her lips and she opened her eyes. Her lips quirked upwards in a joyous smile. He returned a seductive smile. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her head, smiling. " I love that you are taller than I am. I reach up and let my arms hang softly about your neck, resting on your shoulders. Your scent intoxicates; your gentle smile my salvation. I see the tilt of your head as you draw in for the kiss and my own tilts upward. After that is the heady bliss, feeling your emotions in lips so full of love. There is something unique in all the world about our kiss, and it is that we love one another down to our souls - a sacred bridge between two minds, two souls, two bodies. In this garden, we are natural and free." 

He placed his hands on her waist and planted a soft kiss on her forehead before letting go. "I'm already late, thanks to you, my clingy wife. Now go upstairs and get some sleep, call me when you're awake." He quickly kissed her again before sauntering out.

He left for work while she headed upstairs to get more sleep. She laid down on the bed when her eyes caught his other phone on the side drawer. He must've forgotten it. She thought. She picked it up and started going through his gallery. She beamed, looking at their pictures together when they used to hangout together everyday in London. 

Her smile died faster than wisps of smoke dissipated after a candle flame has been snuffed out. She quickly sat up right and continued scrolling but all she could see was tons of Maryam's pictures with her husband. All the pictures taken were before he came to London. But what was between them before? Why does he still have the pictures? Is he having an affair with her?

If not because she saw it with her own eyes, she wouldn't believe it. She placed her hand on her chest, feeling the way her heart was pounding hard. What was she going to do now? Confront him? No! She can't do that. She shouldn't have touched his phone. She shouldn't have gone through his pictures. That was very wrong of her to go through her husband's phone because she remembered her mother strictly warning her about it. Her heart was telling her to go through his text messages. What if she sees something her heart wouldn't be able to handle?

Without any thought, she went ahead and entered his messages. Nothing was there but old text messages he exchanged with Maryam and it was since last year. She heaved a sigh and kept the phone the way she saw it. 

She took deep breaths and covered her face with her hands, her elbows resting on her thighs. Her eyes shifted to the side and became glazed with a glassy layer of tears. As she blinked, they dripped from her eyelids and slid down her cheeks. She bit her lip tightly in attempt to hide any sound that wanted to escape from her mouth; her heart sank. The tears flowed unchecked down her cheeks and dripped from her chin. She was too sad to cry out or wail, she just sat there as still as a statue while her heart swelled with so much pain. 

Is that how jealousy feelings like? It was burning her heart. She was perturbed and infuriated. What was she going to do? She was definitely not going to confront him cause that would be wrong. What she did wasn't right. She shouldn't have touched his phone. And then the texts, they were in love?

His words? Are they real? Does he even mean anything he says? Does he love her like he said he does? Is she a blessing like he always claims?

She heard the doorbell, making her to look at the door. She stood up and walked towards the bathroom. She washed her face before heading out of the room to the get the door. 

"Oh, Aydah," she exclaimed smiling like she wasn't the one having a meltdown few moments ago. She enfolded her in hug. "I'm so happy to see you," she spoke again. "Yaya Mahmud said you needed a maid so I brought you one," she said, showing her the girl behind her. She bowed a bit and greeted Habiba. 

"Come In please," she ushered them. "Oh yes, I can't stay because I have somewhere to be now but I promise I'll come visit next weekend," aydah said and gave her a quick hug before leaving. She looked at the maid and welcomed her in. "Follow me please," she said and she did as she was told. "What's your name?" Habiba asked as they walked to the room meant for the maid. 

"My name is Rabi'atu," she spoke gently. They entered the room. "This will be your room. I'll get you something to eat now and please feel free," she said and gave her a reassuring smile. Rabi'atu forced a smile and nodded. She never thought her boss would be that nice. She was so used to Fadila's behaviours that she has forgotten some people aren't like that. If not because of Ummah and Aydah, she would have left the house years ago but She was glad she had left the house now.

Habiba came back with a plate of fried chips and chicken sauce with a bottle of water. "Make sure you eat enough," she concluded. Rabi'atu smiled a bit and nodded. "Is there any work you need me to do after I eat?" She asked, her head ducked. Habiba smiled and shook her head. "Not yet but you'll help me cook later," she answered and Rabi'atu nodded.

She went back to her room and picked her phone which was ringing. She smiled a bit and answered the call. "Mommy, Salamu Alaikum. Good morning," she greeted, happily. "Wa'alaikumus Salam, my dear, how are you? How's everything there?" 

"Alhamdulillah mommy, how's daddy and Adila?" 

"They're all fine. I hope you don't have any problems there."

She was silent for a bit. She had no problem until she mistakenly touched his phone now she's completely baffled. "Habiba? Is there anything wrong? If there is, please tell me," mommy spoke again. She didn't know when the tears escaped. "Nothing mommy, everything is fine," she said and sniffed, wiping away the tears. 

"Habiba, please what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Mommy asked panicking. "Mommy I promise you, nothing is wrong. He is treating me so so right and he has a lovely family, they're so nice and caring."

"Then why are you crying? Don't hide anything from me," mommy urged her to speak up. "I just miss you so much." mommy heaved a sigh of relief and shook her head, "so because of this, that is why you're crying? Come on my dear, you have to be patient. Who said getting married and moving far away from your family was going to be easy? Please you should take his family as yours and calm down, okay?" 

She nodded as if mommy could see her. They ended the call afterwards and she kept the phone aside. She covered her face with her palms, as more tears cascade down her cheeks. She was is great pain. She had never felt that way in her life. Is that how jealousy feels like? 

It's so strange and new! 

How hollow she felt. 

But, whatever the case, she wasn't going to allow anything come between her and her husband. 

••

"Salamu Alaikum," he said, entering their room. She turned and looked at him. "Wa'alaikumus Salam, welcome back," she replied, beaming softly at him. He opens his arms, she didn't hesitate to go into them. He kissed her head, "I missed you so much," he whispered. 

She broke the hug when she remembered what she saw earlier that day. Behind the masked smile she wears on her face, there is sadness and shock. "You should take a shower now before we eat," she said instead. He raised a brow and held her hand. "You seem down, what's wrong?" He asked, observing her face. She grinned to reveal her straight, pearly white teeth. "I didn't get to sleep all day, but I'm okay," she responded hugging his torso.

He entered the bathroom to shower afterwards while she sat down on the bed waiting for him. 

How was she feeling about him now? She was puzzled and heartbroken. She loves Mahmud so much but what she was feeling now left her in complete daze.

She did notice when he came out of the bathroom. He knelt down in front of her. She looked at his wet chest to his unhappy face. "What's wrong, babe? I do not want to hear nothing," he spoke holding her hand. She beamed a bit and shook her head. "But I've told you, there is nothing. I just miss home."

"But this is also home. Or you don't like the new maid?" He asked. "No, no. By Allah I do, she's so nice and helpful. I just miss my mom that's all," she spoke with high pitch tone. He wasn't convinced but he let it slide for that moment. Whatever it was, he would find out sooner or later.