Yumnah quickly cut the apples into thin slices hoping they were exactly the same size as the one Mama had shown her.She had come to the kitchen around an hour ago to help Mama make breakfast and just by spending that one hour with her, she could easily tell where Yasir got his loving and caring nature from.

"Mama have i cut them okay?" she asked timidly hoping that she had not ruined the fruits.

"They are way more neater than the way i cut them dear and they are just fruits, why are you so scared?"

Yasmin looked at her daughter in law in amusement.To be honest, she had not expected Yumnah to come down to help since yesterday had actually been their first day at the Hosseini Mansion.It was too early to come to the kitchen but Yumnah had refused to go back upstairs and in the end she had had to give the girl something to do.

"What else should i do Mama?"

Yasmin laughed shaking her head.Yumnah's eagerness reminded her of her days when she too had been a bride.Those were one of the most cherished days of her life and till date she was glad that she married Hussein.She hoped that Yumnah would be able to say the same thing about Yasir a few years down the line.

"Everything is done my child.JazakAllah love, im usually running around till the last minute but today Alhamdullilah with you're help, we are done."

"Oh really?" asked Yumnah.

"Yes dear."

Yasmin skeptically stared at Yumnah knowing very well what must be running in the young girl's mind.Yes, she had numerous servants at her beck and call then why did she do everything herself especially if it made her late?

"Listen Yumnah, as much as we have numerous servants, its best if a woman prepares her husband's food with her own hands," she began.

Yumnah quickly moved closer to her and listened intently.

"Really Mama?"

"Yes child.I believe that you preparing his food shows how much you love and care for him and that helps more love to blossom in you're marriage.Trust me and knowing Yasir, i think he definitely takes after his father."

"Yasir will appreciate and love you more if you will make something for him out of these two beautiful hands, Yumnah.Even if its burnt toast," she added laughing.

Yumnah nodded her head in understanding.This was so true.

"Thank you Mama, i will always remember this," she said as she gave her a tight hug.

Her relationship with her own mother was still estranged and she was glad to be receiving this type of advice from Yasir's mother.It meant that she did not see her as a daughter in law but rather as a daughter.

"Now go to him dear.See if he needs anything.We have the whole day remaining to talk."

"Okay Mama," said Yumnah happily and left but not before giving Mama another tight hug.

She reached the staircase and just like in her childhood, began skipping a stair at a time only to find a very shocked Hussein at the top.

Hussein stared at his daughter in shock at the same time trying not to burst out in laughter.

"Asalam aleikum Baba," said Yumnah totally red from embarassment.

"Waleikum salam.Are you okay Yumnah?"

"Yes Baba.Sorry i was just cheking if the stairs are still firm like they were when i was small."

Hussein used all his might to hold back his laughter.

"So what do you think my daughter?"

"About what Baba?"asked Yumnah still trying to get over her embarassment.She really needed to start growing up.

"Are the stairs still firm or should i just scrape them all out and build a new staircase?"

"No no Baba, they are firm.The contractor really did a good job," she said turning more red.

"Ah, Alhamdullilah.See you at the breakfast table then," he said as he patted her on the head and made his way down the stairs.

Yumnah placed her hand over her heart as she rushed to her room.That had been totally embarassing.She barged in to the room and slammed the door shut with the same force.

"What's chasing you?"asked Yasir already trying to calm down his racing heart.

First she had scared him and also her mere prescence always did strange things to him and his heart was always involved.

"Nothing at all," she replied and smiled when she saw him struggle with closing the buttons of his shirt.

"Do you need help Yasir?"

"With closing the buttons of my shirt?No thanks!" he replied shyly.

"But Mama said i should come help you."

"I can close my buttons Yumnah.Ive been doing this since i was a baby."

Yumnah laughed.A baby? Yeah right.

"How old are you by the way?" she asked as she moved closer to him, removed his hands from his shirt and began buttoning it up for him one by one.

"Don't tell me that you married me without knowing my age Yumnah," he said breathlessly.She was too close for his liking and he already could not think straight and he did not need to be like this.Especially not when he was getting ready to go to work.

"Well, its never too late to know.How old are you again?"

"Forty."

Yumnah let out a loud laugh as she closed the last button near his neck.

"Oh no, i cant believe i married such an old man but nothing about you is old Habibi.Are you sure you are forty?"

"Well lets see, my blindess for instance is a give away.My eyesight grew weak over the years," he said half smiling.

"Yasir, you are not blind," she said as she stood on her toes and kissed both his eyes and he immediately circled his arms around her tiny waist.Seems he was going to be late for work today.Very late.

"Yumnah please stop."

"Im not doing anything Habibi and ive never seen you wearing formal clothes before.You look handsome MashAllah," she said, she too surprised at her sudden burst of confidence.

"And you are beautiful," he whispered huskily.

"Oh now you are lying.Trust me im really disheveled right now."

Yasir smiled.If only she knew that to him, she was the most beautiful person on the planet, both inside and out.

"Really? Describe yourself to me habibty," he whispered.

Okay, now he was definitely going to be late and to add on it he was riding with Hitler.But then again, come what may, he was not ready to let go of his wife.Not yet.

"Well, firstly im in my pyjamas," she began.

"Aha," he whispered his hands still circled around her waist.

"And my hair is sticking out in all directions since ive not combed it yet."

Yasir scrunched his nose pretending to be really disgusted, much to Yumnah's dismay.She quickly made a mental note to comb her hair every morning after they prayed fajr.She sighed as she removed his hands off her.She better go comb her hair now but Yasir quickly caught her by her wrist.Wait, was this man really blind because how did he?

Never mind.

"Yumnah, i dont think thats a disheveled look rather i think that its quite sexy," he whispered in her ear and began walking away.

Yumnah's mouth hung open as blood rushed to her cheeks.Did he just call her...

Nooo!

"Yasir, where did you learn that word from?"she asked.Not that he couldn't know it but still.

"Which word Yumnah?I said many words."

"The "s" word," she said her hands on her hips.

"Oooh that word.Well, there was this one girl in London...," he started.

"Which girl?"

Yasir smiled.Was she jealous?Well she did sound quite jealous to him.

"Yumnah please help me down the stairs," he said knowing very well that she would refuse.

"No!"

"Fine then, il just ask Mama and that way she will also see what a bad wife you are," he said.

"Good and il also tell her that you learnt some haram words in London."

Yumnah picked up her hair brush and began brushing it a frown on her face.

"Yumnah?"

"What?"she snapped.

"Firstly, i was joking and secondly, i will miss you today," he said then left a really large smile on his face.

Yumnah covered her face with her hands to hide her now crimson cheeks.

This blind but not so blind husband of hers...

*****

A few blocks away in a much similar mansion, Hisham struggled with ironing his shirt, a piece of his burnt toast in his mouth.

He was already very late for work and he knew that it would not be well received by his Baba.He needed to set an example for the rest of the employees to follow and being late was not one of them.

He quickly wore his shirt, grabbed his suitcase only to notice that his shoes were not polished.Guess they would just have to do for today.Maybe no one would even notice and hopefully he had no meetings to attend today.

He gently closed the door behind him hoping that he had not made a lot of noise for his