It has been a week since they had arrived in Malta. They had lodged into the sunny coast resort and spa and it was one of the best places to be and enjoy your Holidays in while in Malta. Their rooms are self-contained with everything they needed. It was a two bedroom flat with a sitting room, a bathroom and a kitchen with a balcony that will give you a beautiful view of the city.

The spa was just some few feet away from the apartment and that was where they mostly spend their evenings. Either in the spa or in the swimming pool and sometimes they exercise in the gym. The small restaurant was Walija's favorite place in the spa and it has become their daily routine to take ice cream every night alongside with all kinds of junk food. Fawwad would warn her about catching cold or stomach ache but she will stubbornly say nothing will happen and that it was.

Today was a Tuesday and it marked their anniversary date. Early in the morning, Fawwad woke up before Walija. He had already booked his gifts and everything will be brought to him in the morning. He had just come out from the bathroom when the doorbell chimed. He quickly went over to get the door as he doesn't want the sound to wake her up.

He collected the parcel from the delivery guy and signed before he thanked him and he left. He went back to the bedroom and she was still asleep. He gently placed the parcel beside the bed. He picked the bouquet and knelt beside the bed where she slept.

He gently tapped her and she groaned squeezing her eyes.

"Wake up my lazy baby" he teased.

"Fawwad!!!" She moaned before she opened her eyes ready to retaliated but immediately she set her eyes on him, she froze.

"Happy anniversary baby" he smiled and lightly placed a lingering kiss on her forehead before he gave her the bouquet.

"Oh my God! How can I be so lazy to not wake up early for our anniversary?" She damned herself before she sat upright on the bed.

"I told you I will be the first to wish you" he laughed.

They had an argument the previous night on who was going to wish the other first and from the way things looked, Walija lost.

"You cheated!" She said stubbornly and he laughed.

He picked the parcel from the ground and gave her. She looked at him wondering and he nodded for her to open it.

Immediately she opened it, her face lit up. There was a chocolate gift box inside that consist of all varieties of chocolates and white fluffy teddy bear. She suddenly became speechless and her expression, was out of the world.

She took him into an unexpected hug and whispered "Thank you so much hun" in his ear.

"No need to thank me. You deserve way more than that" he smiled before he broke the hug and looked at her.

As she picked the teddy bear, a small box fell from it. She picked it and asked him "what's this?"

"Open it and see for yourself"

She slowly opened it and in it was a small shimmering diamond ring. He noticed the surprised look on her face so he picked it and gently put it on her ring finger. It looked perfectly good on her. He leaned forward and kissed it.

"Am I worth that in your heart?" She asked with teary eyes of joy while looking at her finger.

"Oh come on sweetheart! Why even compare yourself with such a pathetic ring. You worth a million times more than that. What you did to my life was nothing compared to a diamond ring. I just thought of getting you something expensive cause cheap things ain't for you so, I got you that"

"It's not necessary. Why do you always want to make me feel so important? When we first started, I never thought a day like this would come where you will treat me with love and...and respect" she finished as a lone tear escaped her eyes.

He quickly wiped away the tears and said "let's not get ourselves emotional today. It's a happy day and let's enjoy and celebrate it to the fullest!" He grinned and she also smiled.

"So, what did you get for me?" He asked looking around the room smiling.

"Oh my Allah! You're seriously what you are" she said in between laughter.

"Yes, I'm seriously your husband"

"Like who asks for his gift?"

"I'm just too eager to see what my loving wife has gotten me" he smiled.

"And what if I didn't get you anything?"

"Even your smile is worth a thousand gifts you could give me"

"That's so sweet of you" she smiled as she pulled his cheeks.

"Ouch! It hurts!" He feigned being hurt and she just laughed and got off the bed.

She moved to the wardrobe and brought out a small paper bag before she moved back to the bed where she left him. When she was finally seated, she handed over the bag to him.

He gladly took the bag from her and opened it. Inside the bag were a Rolex wristwatch and Versace Oudh Oriental perfume.

"How did you know I love Oudh perfumes?" He asked surprised.

"You always smell of them"

"Wow! That's so sweet of you dear wife. I really love these" he said while checking them out again "like you know I was going to buy a wristwatch or did you perhaps know about it?" He squinted at her.

"How am I supposed to know?" she laughed.

"Maybe you heard me saying it or...whatever" he stopped and held her hands in his "this is the best gift I've ever gotten and knowing from who it came, made it extra special" he smiled before he continued "thank you very much Walija. Not just for the gifts but for everything. I'm happy and it's all because of you" he stated sincerely.

"I can never ask for a better wife than you. You are perfect for me and I pray to Allah to make us spend hundreds of more moments like this" when he finished, she was just looking at him in awe.

He smiled and pulled her into a passionate hug which she leaned in for and they stayed there for almost forever enjoining each other's warmth.

"I love you so much Fawwad. Please don't ever leave me" she whispered in his ears.

"Not going to happen insha Allah. I'll always be by your side" he assured her.

He pulled her face up so that she was looking at him completely.

"I love you okay? Leaving you means losing my life so don't ever say that again"

She was about to open her mouth when he sealed it with the most searing lip-lock.

*****

It was five in the evening when they finished dressing up. Fawwad had arranged an evening outing for them and an afterward dinner to complete their anniversary celebration.

They got into a cab and headed to a shopping mall. They entered almost all the shops and Walija was still not tired. Shopping has always been her passion and shopping with Fawwad was just exceptional.

They were on their way to a coffee shop inside the shopping mall to rest a bit when a cute little girl ran up to Fawwad laughing.

"Uncle! Uncle! Please tell mummy to leave me!" She laughed as she firmly held his torso.

The girl left them all in awe as they look to see where her mummy was. Fawwad pulled her head up and was asking her what happened when her mummy came.

"Amaya! Come back here!" She pulled her hand "what did I tell you about running into strangers?" She chided "I'm really sorry for that" she said to Fawwad before she looked up at him and when their gaze met, they both froze in their tracks.

"S-Sa-Salina?" He stammered unbelievably.

"Fawwad?" She also asked to make sure she wasn't hallucinating.

"What!?" Walija found herself saying because she couldn't believe a moment like that will ever happen and now, it was happening right before her eyes.

*****

"I still can't believe I'm seeing you for real" Fawwad said when they were finally seated in the coffee shop.

After their encounter in the mall, they decided to have a little talk which of course happened by Walija's consent. Since Fawwad and Walija were already on their way to the coffee shop, they decided to go there all together.

"Neither do I. It has been decades" Salina smiled but behind that smile were mixed emotions which only Fawwad knew what it meant.

"A lot has happened through the years" she continued "but what can we do? God has already planned our lives and this is our destiny" she left out a humorless chuckle.

Walija felt like they were forgetting her presence and getting too carried away so, she coughed to gain their attention back. She knew nothing will happen but still, she felt so insecure seeing her husband catching up with his ex.

Fawwad clearly knew what she meant and that made him smile internally cause he knew she was jealous and that could only mean she loves him so much.

He cleared his throat and said "Um...Salina meet Walija; my wife" and he turned to Walija smiling "Walija, this is the Salina"

"Nice to meet you Walija" Salina smiled as she stretched out her hand to Walija.

"It's a pleasure meeting you too" Walija smiled too as she took her hand for a handshake.

"We've gotten married for a year. It's even our anniversary today" Fawwad said as he placed his hand on Walija's and smiled.

"Wow! That's lovely. Happy anniversary to you two"

"Thank you" they answered simultaneously.

And after that, silence followed. Salina clearly knew Fawwad was eager to know her story but he wasn't saying anything. She knew it was because of his wife and she didn't see his fault for trying to keep her happy. She knew even if it was her, she would feel jealous.

"Can I speak?" She decided to ask first because she doesn't want Walija to feel anything.

Fawwad first glanced at Walija and she nodded before he turned to her said "yes please"

She took in a deep breath before she began, "after we left Cyprus with my parents, we relocated to the Maldives. All my social networking accounts and any means I had for communicating was cut off for a good eight months Fawwad" she left out a humorless chuckle before she continued "just so, I couldn't reach you. I've tried my very best especially when I got enrolled at their university where I got excess to social network and friends but all my effort went in vain. But I guess it was the best for both of us especially for you. Your wife is a such a beautiful woman and one look at you, one can tell how happy you two are" she smiled.

"Thank you" Fawwad smiled.

"After I finished my university, I secured a job in Canada" immediately she uttered her last statement, her face became gloomy but she still continued. "That was where I..I-I met her father" she pointed to her cute little daughter.

"Do you mean you've gotten married and have a child?" Fawwad couldn't help but show how shocked and surprised he was. Even though the girl referred to Salina as mummy, he still couldn't believe it.

"That was what I'd always wanted" she stated smiling bitterly.

"What do you mean? What are you talking about?" Fawwad asked as Walija just sat watching and listening to their conversation.

"I've gotten a job in a big firm in Canada. I worked really hard and completed all my tasks as required. Because of my hard work and dedication, the CEO requested to see me. And from there he promoted me and nothing was done without my consent in the firm. I became more like the CEO" she paused before she continued

"One faithful evening after a conference meeting, my car broke down. The CEO was passing by and he spotted me. It was already getting late and I was really exhausted so when he offered to drop me home, I gladly went in. And that was the beginning of our little tragic love story.

A year after our marriage, we got this little angel. It was the best thing that happened to us. She was the apple of our eyes, the product of our love. But not for so long. We-we...." She couldn't finish what she was saying when tears started streaming down her cheeks.

"Mummy stop crying" Amaya said as she wiped away her mother's tears.

"It's okay if you can't go on" Fawwad said with pity.

"No it's okay" she sniffed before she continued "her father went to Dubai for a business meeting just a few months after her birth and on his way back...their planed crashed and unfortunately we...we lost him. He left me...he left us for three years now. Amaya is three years old" she smiled bitterly.

"Oh my Allah, I'm really sorry for that" Walija stated sincerely feeling sorry for her.

"May his soul rest on. I'm sorry" Fawwad said.

"It's okay" she smiled.

"So, what are doing here in Malta"

"Well, after that incident I couldn't stay in Canada anymore. Everything there just reminded me of her father. So, I relocated back to the Maldives and we are just here for holidays"

"Wow, life must have been really tough for you" Fawwad said. He just couldn't fathom how she must be feeling at that moment. Even though they had just gotten along with Walija, he knew he couldn't afford to lose her. But death is inevitable and he just doesn't want to think about that for now.

"Life was never easy Fawwad" she replied but he didn't say anything again because he knew what she meant and talking about that means Walija getting jealous and that was the last thing he wants.

They stayed for another thirty minutes catching up and conversing about random stuff before Salina took her leave as Amaya started dozing off.

And that was it, a goodbye for Fawwad and Salina. Even though it was a sad ending for them, they were still happy they saw each other for one last time and now they could perfectly move on with their lives knowing that was what destiny had in store for them.

*****

"I truly feel sorry for her. Life has really been hard for her" Walija said while they were seated in the back seat of the cab on their way back to their apartment

"That was her kind of test" Fawwad said before he turned to face her "but, I truly believe she'll soon find her happiness" he smiled.

"Yes, she will" she smiled back before she said "can I ask you something?"

Fawwad smiled and held her hand in his hand and simply replied "no".

"Huh?" She asked confused.

"I know what you are going to ask and the answer is no. I don't have any feelings for her anymore" he squeezed her hand which made her let out a sigh of relief she didn't know she was holding.

"How did you know I was going to ask that?"

"I know you would want to know. So, keep it in your mind; you're the only woman in my heart. Salina was my past"

His statement made her become speechless. She just smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.

*****

It was eight forty-five pm when they finished getting ready for their anniversary dinner. The day was really tiring for both of them but it was worth it because it was the best day of their marriage life.

They arrived at the restaurant just some few minutes after nine. Fawwad has already reserved a VIP spot for them since the restaurant was big and reserving all of it would be hard. The VIP spot was at the ground floor and was covered with glass so, they had a beautiful view of the sea.

After they got seated, the waiter arrived with their order as Fawwad had already pre-ordered it. After placing all the platters on the table, he left.

"Don't tell me you did all this for me?" Walija asked with her voice filled with excitement.

"I can do even more than that for you" he smiled before he started opening the platters.

Walija watched with awe as each dish he opened has to be one of her favorite. What baffled her most was how he knew her favorite dishes.

"And don't even ask me what you're thinking" he said because he clearly knew she was wondering how he did what he did.

And that was it, they ate while connecting to each other. They had just finished eating the main dish and opened the desert. It was a chocolate mousse cake and Walija's all-time favorite.

She was about to start eating it but Fawwad stopped her saying he would be the one to feed her. She was reluctantly feeling shy but he insisted before she handed over the spoon to him.

He took a spoonful and took it to her mouth which she gladly opened because she was too eager to feel it in her mouth. She swallowed and was enjoying every bit of it when it started rising up. First, she thought it was nothing and went ahead and had the second bite but immediately she swallowed it, everything came back to her mouth and she felt like nauseating.

Without a second thought, she abruptly got up and ran to the restroom. Fawwad suddenly got worried and ran after her calling her name but she didn't answer him.

When he got there, she had already finished emptying all she had eaten. She got into the lady's room, so he impatiently waited for her outside. After she was done, she washed her face and came out.

Immediately he saw her, he became more worried as her face had already turned pale.

"What happened? Are you okay? Did you eat anything you're allergic to?" Fawwad kept throwing her questions but she just smiled cause she doesn't even have the strength to answer him.

"Talk to me please" he uttered worriedly.

"I don't even know what's wrong with me. Maybe I just ate a lot but I'm fine now" she lied just to make him less worried because only she knew what she was feeling and the sudden migraine wasn't helping at all.

"Sorry baby. I think we should go see a doctor"

"Oh no!" She laughed weakly "I'm fine, there's no need for that and besides it's getting late already"

"Alright, you're free for tonight but first thing tomorrow; we're going to see a doctor"

"But..." She started but he cut her off.

"No, buts please" he said with a serious tone before he draped his hand around her shoulders "let's go home now. You need to rest" he ordered and without waiting to hear her consent, they left the restaurant to their apartment.

*****

Early in the morning they got ready and headed straight to the hospital.

After some few check-ups, the doctor asked them to wait for him for thirty minutes. They were just seated in the corridor when a nurse walked up to them.

"The doctor wants to see you" she said.

"Alright, thanks" Fawwad said before he pulled Walija's hand and they moved to the office.

When they entered, the doctor asked them to sit and they did. He closed the file he was going through before he looked up at them.

"Do you feel feverish at times?"

"Not always. Just mild headaches at times which after taking pain killers I'll feel okay" She replied which she could see Fawwad from the corner of her eyes looking at her suspiciously. From the way he was looking at her, she knew she got some explanations to make.

"Well, it is actually not advisable to take self-medication no matter what. No matter how little you don't feel okay, contact your doctor especially you that you're married"

"It won't happen again insha Allah" Fawwad chirped in cause he was too eager to hear what the doctor has to say.

"Alright that aside" the doctor sighed before he continued "we've run some tests including both urine and blood tests and I'm opportune to inform you Mr. Fawwad that your wife is pregnant"

Immediately the doctor closed his mouth, Fawwad went down for sujood ash-shukur thanking Allah for his endless blessings upon him.