When Walija got up to her room, she decided to speak with Neimat. It has been long they spoken and she doesn't want to think over what happened. She has already prayed and she knew his intentions were clear so, she doesn't want to think anything. She chose to accept it like that.

"Assalamu alaiki sister" she said immediately Neimat picked the call.

"Wa alaiki salam lil sis" she teased.

"Oh come on ya Neimat, do you still have to call me by that?" She whined.

"Okay, tell me you've gotten married" she laughed because she clearly knew Walija doesn't like the name but she chose to call like that whenever she wants to pull her legs. "I'll still call you like that in front of your own kids too" she laughed.

"I guess I didn't call you just so you can tease me"

"Oh God" she laughed "now because I'm talking about children, that means I'm teasing" she laughed hard again cause she never got tired of being amused by her sister "I'm sorry" she said in between laughter but when she didn't get a reply, she knew she has to stop "I'm so sorry my dear sister" she pleaded.

"Whatever...how's my Bushrah?"

"She's in the parlor with her father"

"My regards to both of them please" she smiled as her sister could see her.

She had always adored how her sister is living with her husband so peacefully with their cute daughter like she was the one that planned how her life in her house would be. But no, Allah the Almighty planned it for her. And even for Walija, things are finally fallen back into place.

It was a test from God and He chose however He wants to test His servants. That's how she was tested she assumed and she still hoped and prayed she had passed it.

"Insha Allah but you'll soon see them both"

"Oh no, you're not serious. Wait, are you serious please?" She exclaimed excitedly.

"You said I'm not"

"Please be serious ya Neimat. I'm eager to see my baby"

"Then, you're seeing her soon and me and Elkarib too. Even though you're not eager to see us" she teased.

"How soon?" She asked ignoring what her sister just said.

"Month-end insha Allah. By then, Bushra's school have closed for Summer break"

"Wow! You're going to spend your summer holiday here?" She asked rhetorically.

"Obviously we are" she answered excitedly. "It's going to be so much fun and guess?"

"Tell me, please. You know I sucked at guessing" she answered eagerly.

"Mom and dad too will be coming back for the holiday"

"Oh God" squealed "can I say this is the best thing I've heard throughout the day?" She said with her voice filled with enthusiasm.

Just when the words left her mouth, she recalled what happened between her and Fawwad and she knew she was lying when she told her sister that was the best thing she had heard throughout out. She was so excited that she was finally going to see her family but Fawwad's words and actions are something else. They made her relieved that she had finally fulfilled her duty as a good wife and daughter that her father has trusted her to be.

She knew the sudden change would bring joy to both the families and that was what's more important to her. She didn't fail her family and had fulfilled the promise she had taken for Fawwad's parents. She knew they would be proud of her that she had finally brought a smile to their faces.

Yes, she can confidently say that that day was the best day of her life.

"I'm just as excited as you are" Neimat added.

They continued talking about random stuff until Walija heard the adzaan to Asr prayer. She excused herself and the call was disconnected.

She walked into the bathroom and performed ablution before coming out. She prayed and stayed back to recite the Holy Qur'an.

When she was done, she decided to move to the sitting room. From the way she felt the atmosphere of the house, she was definitely sure Fawwad wasn't home.

Recalling his last words in her head, send cold shivers down her spine and she thanked God he wasn't around.

She was still in the sitting room watching when started dozing off. The sound of adzaan to maghrib prayer startled her off.

Oh no! Why did I sleep after asr prayer? She asked herself damming her lazy self for sleeping at that hour when she clearly knew it isn't good in Islam. She facepalmed herself before she sluggishly moved up to her room to pray.

*****

Fawwad was on his way back home from his parent's house when he heard the adzaan to isha prayer.

They were having some issues with the business and his father called him over to clear out the mess before it gets worst.

It was almost time for isha prayer when they finished and Fawwad insisted on going back home even though his mother persuaded him to stay till after he prays and eats dinner but he disagreed.

He told Walija they were going out after isha prayer and if he stayed, he would be late and he liked keeping to his words always.

He stopped by a near Masjid(mosque) and prayed before he headed back home.

*****

He used his keys and got into the house. Walija wasn't there in the sitting and he presumed she was in her room.

He quickly took a shower before coming out. It was night so he wore casuals. He wore black jeans with a red T-shirt and sprayed his oudh perfume. It was a simple combo but it looked great on him making his dark skin glow.

Walija, on the other hand, was still on the praying mat when she heard a soft knock on the door. She knew who it was and immediately her heart skipped a beat. She tried to speak but seemed to have lost her voice when yet another knock came through.

She was still sitting in her position drenched in sweat despite the air conditioning in the room when the door swung opened. She abruptly looked up and when their eyes locked he smiled at her before she quickly looked down. But she wasn't fast enough to have missed the glint of disappointment she saw in his eyes.

She knew what he told her and she should've gotten ready since but she just stayed on the praying mat doing nothing.

She abruptly got up saying "I'm sorry...I...I was....I will get ready now please" she stuttered and he just watched her. She removed her hijab and folded it and kept it aside with the praying mat.

She got her towel but he was still standing. She looked up at him and he knew what the look was for. He just smiled and said "I will be downstairs when you're done" before he left the room.

She took a quick shower before coming out. After applying her body cream, she walked up to the closet to choose what to wear. After contemplating for almost ten minutes, she decided to wear a long floral skirt tucking it in a white long sleeve shirt and rolled a black veil covering her hair completely. She applied a little powder with a subtle lip balm.

When she got down, Fawwad's attention was on his phone until her floral cologne hit his nostrils. He looked up and her captivating beauty which he failed to notice for almost a year rendered him speechless.

"When I said look beautiful, I didn't mean this beautiful" he said while checking her out again for the umpteenth time. "Or do you want all the men out their to see my wife like this"

"Huh?" She asked confused because she clearly knew she wasn't over dressed nor did she apply any make-up.

When he noticed the confused look on her face, he just smiled and said "you look beautiful... Masha Allah"

"Um...thank you. You don't look bad yourself" she found herself saying and just when the words left her mouth, she felt like the ground would open up and swallow her. If not because the room was gloomy, he would've seen how her cheeks turned beet red.

Did I just compliment Fawwad?

"Shall we?" His voice brought her out of her little embarrassment trance.

She quickly glanced at him and he was broadly grinning from ear to ear reveling his sparkling white teeth.

He knew she was embarrassed so, he just walked out and she trailed behind him to the car.

😿

❤