Chapter 67

“We could literally go to beach but you just had to book a private pool for us? C’mon why can't we just go to the beach like others did?” She lamented. “Manha, firstly we need privacy and we need to spend time alone without your friend, aydah interrupting us like she did at the carnival two days ago. And look at the bright side, you get to wear your bikini here.” She slumped her shoulders defeatedly. He was right aydah kept getting in their way even though her husband was there. They weren't free to do anything in their presence. 

She dipped her legs into the warm water and sighed. He was still on the hammock for more than ten minutes. She looked at him and hissed softly. He lowered his phone and removed his sun glasses. “You know you could just say join me instead of hissing at me,” he spoke teasingly. He got off the hammock and dived into the swimming pool. He walked over to her and snaked his arms around her waist. “This is the first time I’m seeing you wearing a bikini and damn.... You look so hot,” he complimented while roaming his hands around her back down to her butt. 

She held his hands that were right on her butt, “why are you doing that? You are giving me goosebumps.” He couldn't help but laugh at her whiny face. “You look so alluring and I can't help not touching your flawless soft skin.” She suppressed her smile. He could tell from her blush that she enjoyed how he flirts with her. She looked down at his enticing face and grinned. “Thank you for reminding me how butterflies feels like.” He returned a smiled, hands roaming around her back to her waist. “A kiss would be more fascinating,” he whispered, moving closer to her face. She bite her lips, beaming. 

Maryam wrapped her arms around his neck, knowing full well that mahmud was about to seduce her. “We’re in an open place, captain.” She smirked and tilted her head. “No one would even dare come here babes, we have the place to us for couple of hours.” His voice had the lilt she knew so well. His words soft with the smile that already played on his face. With the kiss came electric tangles, the desire to play. He holds her tight to his bare chest, deepening the kiss into a fervent embrace. He showers kisses on her chest and neck and she shudders with pleasure. His kisses dot up to her neck until he reaches her lips again. He enraptures her in a heavy kiss until finally pulling back. 

**

“Where have you guys been all day? Ahmad said you were hiding from me but I doubt that’s the reason because c’mon, I’m fun to be with....” She hopped onto maryam’s bed with a sigh. 

“And also annoying,” maryam added teasingly. Aydah glared at maryam and rolled her eyes. “Speaking of ahmad, I haven't seen him in like an hour now.” She moved to the glass window and scanned through the quite beach. “Saw him last with mahmud. Maybe they want to have a guys night tonight sooo...” She shrugged it off and continued eating her jalapeño cheese fries. 

They heard the door squeaked open before aydah could protest to what maryam said. He beheld her gaze and beamed. He walked over to where she was sitting on the bed and kissed her temple. “This is the time where you leave aydah,” he asseverated, sending daggers her way. She groaned softly and got off the bed. “I was just bored and I didn't know who to annoy and your wife was the only option,” she stated while walking towards the door. He looked at her in awe till she disappeared from the room. 

He turned his head to maryam, “you’re already eating without me? Common, get up and get dressed, we’re going out, the four of us,” he announced pulling her up from the bed. “Hm, where are you guys taking us? Was that why you left us alone?” She smirked, arms akimbo. He chuckled softly and wrapped his arms around her waist. “We just made reservations at  the farivalhu restaurant. It’s a very nice place and I think you'll love it.” He moved to their closet and fetched out one of her abayas. “You're wearing this one, you always look glamorous when you wear abayas.” He commented even though he didn't say it as a compliment. It was a fact he believes. 

“You're so good at choosing dresses for me. I’ll bring out my makeup cosmetics before I go pray.....” He held her waist again, smiling at her. She gave him a puzzled look. “To be very honest babe, I don't think you ever need makeup. Perfection is better left unmessed with. And you're always looking perfect.” 

She stared at his face, out of words. She wanted to say something but what? Thank you? I love you? He was always leaving her speechless with his heartwarming words. He knew the right words to use to make her sorrow go away. He knew how to make her forget about what she was going through, the pain she was still feeling for being molested and losing her baby. 

“Now go get ready, okay?” He urged her. She slowly nodded before smiling. He kissed her cheek before letting go. She quickly sauntered into the bathroom without waiting for anything. 

After they've prayed, they adorned themselves in their elegant clothes and stepped out of the room. They had to wait for about fifteen minutes before aydah and her husband stepped out of their suite. “Sorry we kept you waiting. Someone thought it was a great idea to start waxing when we had an hour to get ready,” ahmad spoke gawking his eyes at his wife. “What? I have to look presentable,” she cheered and walked ahead of them. 

They arrived at the restaurant shortly and ordered their dinner immediately they got seated. 

Just as she raised her head from her phone, their eyes met. Her breath hitched while she firmly grabbed her husband’s hand, “mahmud,” she whispers. He looked at her shocking face to where she was staring at.

He majestically walked over to their table, smiling as if he was really happy to see the woman he's dying for sitting very close to his brother. “Mujahid?” He muttered looking at his elder brother. “Ya Mujahid,” aydah exclaimed before she enfold him in a hug. He was not her favourite in the house but they still got along. “Oh it skipped my mind, ya mujahid told me he was also coming here for vacation.” Aydah smiled at them like she didn't do something wrong. Maryam lowered her gaze and tried to restrain herself from blanking out. Her heart pounded hard as if it would burst out of her chest. 

He pulled a chair and sat down after he exchanged pleasantries with ahmad. “What are you doing here? I’m really surprised to see you here,” mahmud spoke, bewildered. Mujahid chuckled softly. “It’s nice seeing you too, mahmud. And I came here for a vacation like aydah said. I didn't know you guys were coming here for honeymoon till aydah told me yesterday,” he spoke while looking at his brother to maryam that had her head ducked the whole time. Mahmud ordered dinner for mujahid. They conversed while waiting for their dinner. Mahmud noticed how she was uncomfortable while mujahid was there. 

“Are you okay? Should go out and get some air?” He whispered in her ear. She nodded briskly, as if she was waiting for the question. “Excuse us please,” he smiled apologetically and walked them out to the backyard where the beach was. The ocean breeze whispers like a lover, placing salty kisses on her cheek and tousling her veil. “What’s up with you?” He inquired clearly annoyed but he restrained himself. She closed her eyes to the lullaby of the ocean, breathing in it’s poignant salty breath. “Manha, I didn't ask you to close your eyes and ignore me. What’s wrong? Your mood changed the moment you saw him.”

She slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. She was loss of words. What was she even going to say to him? Or he has clearly forgotten about what happened between her and his elder brother. “I just needed some air, we can go back Inside now. I know our dinner might be ready now.” She brushed his shoulder while walking away. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back to her position. “Mahmud I told you, there is nothing wrong with me. I promise you. I was just as surprised as you are to see him....”

“Do you still love him?” He asked all of a sudden. She jerk back, placing a hand on her chest, mouth open. “Don't act surprised manha, you know I was obviously going to ask you this question when I dragged you out of the place. Do you still love him?” He maintained. She looked up at him, eyes watering. “Why would you ask me that? I’m your wife if you have forgotten. And I have long got over him and moved on. Why would you just think that I still love him because I look uncomfortable with him being around? Of course I would feel uneasy because of the pain he has caused. But..... Why does he always gets in our way? Why do we always fight because of him? We are more than this mahmud....”

They stared at each other in an odd way, as if it were a silent argument. Their glances battled each other, until tears arose and she found herself crying uncontrollably. She had so much buckled up that she wanted to say, but maybe that wasn't the right time. He looked so upset. But she couldn't hold it anymore. “Do you even love me now?” She hiccuped. She had been longing to ask him that question. He said so many sweet words but Never those three letter words she wanted to hear. He sighed, wiping her tears, before pulling her to his chest. He slowly stroked her back as more tears breakout. “Please stop crying. I’m so sorry I let my anger get the best of me. I shouldn't have accused you that way. I was just afraid that....” she looked up and beheld his gaze. “What?” She urged him to continue. “You're not going to lose me mahmud, I’m your wife and we will stand and fight together no matter what comes our way.”

He felt an urge to do something, to comfort her, but also himself. In a moment his lips were against hers. He pulled away after a minute, “I knew you were going to do that.” She chuckled beneath the tears. He wiped her tears away and held her closer. “Of course I love you manha.” He pulled away and held her hands. “Baby listen, you're the head and I’m the heart; but I’ve still got a head and you've still got a heart. It’s the difference between infinity and infinity plus one, but it works for. It works for you. Our married life is perfection for me and I thank Allah every day for the gift of spending my life with you.”

Her insides swelled up with joy as she couldn't hold herself again. She needed to confess. She needed to tell him how she feels about him. He needs to know that she's in love with him. “Mahmud... can I confess?” She spoke eagerly biting her lower lip. He chuckled softly and nodded. “Okay, okay... the best thing is you are my best friend before being someone else. I can share with you my silly secrets and talk to you about anything and everything. I feel comfortable, safe and protected around you. We mock each other, we play stupid games together and also become food critics together as well. We sometimes understand each other without exchanging words. We fight and argue too, but the best part is, its temporary. It’s really a blessing to fall in love with someone who's your best friend and knows you well. So I think... my soul is in love with yours.”

He stared at her eyes for what seems like forever because everything felt like a dream, a sweet dream that is too good to be true. All his life he wanted Maryam to also love him back, but when it was happening now, it felt so unreal. His number one dream is was now finally coming true. “You do?” He uttered, cheerfully. She chuckled softly and nodded. “I’ve been in love with you for over a year now, mahmud. I was so afraid to confess because of what happened....”

He loops his arm around her and kisses her deeply before she could end her sentence. He kisses her long, deep, wanting...a and she responded, arching into him...

“We’ve stayed too long out here, we should head back in because I know they must be waiting for us,” she mumbled, trying to catch her breath. “But, I’m enjoying the view out here,” he murmured, moving his hands around her back while looking at the stars and full moon. She wrapped her arms around his neck while he slowly swinged them side ways. 

They finally headed back in after a while. “Where have you guys been? Your dinner is getting cold,” aydah stated, clingy more to her husband. Mujahid looked at their hands clasped together and looked away. He couldn't hide the fact that he was annoyed. He pulled her chair while she sat down. He settled down beside her and she kissed his cheek. He looked at her and chuckled. 

After they had dinner, they head out to the beach for a while before calling it a night. Mahmud noticed every move his brother made. He could sense mujahid had something to say, and when they were about to leave, mujahid spoke up. “I need to speak with you before you leave.” Mahmud looked at maryam, she was speaking with aydah about something few meters away from them at the parking lot. He looked at his brother and nodded, “go ahead, I’m listening.”

He took a deep breath and exhaled. “I was too foolish, insensitive and selfish for the things I’ve done to you and maryam. Little did I realize I was hurting the two most purest people I know. Things have been bad for me and I know it has to do with what I've done to the both of you because karma do exist.... so Please forgive me and give me the permission to go apologise to your wife also.”

Mahmud was shocked that his arrogant brother was now apologising to him. Could that night get any better; his best friend confessing her love for him now his brother feeling remorseful for what he had done. 

“People make mistakes and no one is perfect so apology accepted and for my wife, I am sure she has forgiven you already because I know she doesn't hold any grudges. May Allah forgive us all and I advise you to go make things right with your wife and focus on building up your family and work.” Mujahid smiled and nodded. He thanked him before they finally said good night and part ways.