Two weeks to the wedding, Mujahid was busy roaming around the boutique to get new sets of shoes. His kaftaans, caps and everything he'd use were ready. "Check this out," she said showing him a pair of Testoni Men's Shoes. "This is beautiful, you see that's why I brought you along with me." He cheered and kissed her cheek. Maryam giggled softly. She still had no idea about the wedding.
"Baby, we should go to my place today and talk about our wedding because I've told my father about it as you know and he said he would talk to your father soon about the wedding."
"Okay but let's finish with the shopping first then we go there." He smiled and nodded. They roamed about the boutique and bought more shoes.
Mujahid hated everything about shopping. He hated the crowds, the queues and the aching feet. He also took exception to overly attentive shopping assistants, the perky seasonal music playing in every store and all the special deals tempting him to spend even more. He hated shopping for himself even worse than when Nadia asks him to go shopping with her. Over the few weeks she had stressed him out with shopping. What he liked about Maryam is, she does everything that he says. He sometimes have a thought of maybe making her his second wife but he couldn’t do that, not with the way Nadia is very protective over him.
"I think that's enough for today," he spoke when she wasn't ready to stop roaming about the boutique. "But I thought you needed a pair of cufflinks too," she reminded. He sighed helplessly. "You're a life saver, I've totally forgotten about that."
He asked one of the workers there and they directed them to the section. "I need something simple...."
"Common Yaya Mujahid, I know your taste, just leave it to me." He laughed and gave her a side hug before finding a seat and settled down while she looked for the pair of cufflinks he'd like.
When he looked at her, she had a smile on her face and then he felt bad for what he was doing to her. She doesn’t deserve such dirty pig like him. He was unfaithful to her. But whatever the case, it won't stop him from marrying Nadia. The girl of his dreams. There is something sweet and special about Nadia. She was far better than the girls he played with before.
When he remembered the first day he saw Nadia, it gave him joy. It was not on the perfect features that he dwelled - not the gold flecked amber eyes, nor the plump pink lips. Instead it was the small blemishes and insecurities that allured him. The small scar on her forehead, the shy smile, the clean white teeth. That was the moment he had found the person who was perfectly imperfect for him.
Now, when he looks upon her face, He loses himself. All mistakes he had ever made, and there has been many, are gone - every impure thought erased. All negativity is cleansed, almost like a religious experience or spiritual enlightenment. He knows her eyes can see through him, but he knows they do not dwell on the anger, nor the deceit, nor the selfishness. She looks past every flaw to find the person inside, the real him, and in that moment he knew he's perfectly imperfect for her too.
"Yaya Mujahid check these out," she said arranging the boxes of cuff links on the glass table. He picked to of the five she showed him. "These two will be enough, babe. Thank you so much for the help." She smiled a bit and nodded.
After he paid, he drove her to his house. She looked disturbed and uncomfortable. "Baby," he called out immediately he parked and held her hands. "You seem uncomfortable. What's wrong?" He asked.
"We've never been together in your house alone. I don't think that would be a good idea," she tried to reason with him. "You'd cook for us and will just handout at my backyard if you don't want to stay in the living room." She still wasn't convinced.
"You don't believe that I love you?" He asked letting go of her hand. "No, no I really do but...."
He grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest. "Can you feel my heart beating? It's beating for you, only you." She smiled at his cheesy words.
"Listen, I have always loved you with devotion and purity; I had in mind that we were going to be together forever. But things... they never stay the same. There comes a dark night after every sunny day. Being away from you made me realize it was never the physical love which made it special, it was something different - a connection between two souls. As I am surrounded by different people, tasks, I still feel your presence, your smile, your silliness. The feeling of being with you makes love worth it."
Her smile shined like the stars in the sky, with no bright city lights to dim them. It was like the sun opened its eager light to shine about her, only brightening her perfectly aligned teeth. "Let's head in," she uttered. He leaned in and kissed her on the lips before they headed into the house.
She dropped her stuffs on the center table, looking around the beautiful large living room. "Your living room is so beautiful," she complimented. He chuckled and thanked her. "This way to the kitchen," he said dropping the shopping bags on the sofa and holding her hand. They sauntered into the kitchen.
“Wow," she whispered looking around. Sleek, professionally designed, bespoke, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, scrubbed, well equipped, utensils on hooks, matching cups, uncluttered, clean folded tea towel, gentle swish from the dishwasher, efficient hum of refrigerator, professional knife block, dried flowers hung from beams, nothing superfluous, minimalistic, uncluttered, ceramic floor tiles, underfloor heating.
"You like it?" He chuckled looking at her face expression. "You have a lovely home Yaya," she complimented, touching the kitchen island. "Everything here is beautiful," she added.
"Everything is in the pantry, I'll go take a shower and pray Asr since you’re off. I'll be back to help you cook." She blushed a bit and nodded. He left the kitchen. She opened the pantry and scanned through it. She decided to make Extra cheesy mac and cheese with cold orange juice.
He came back thirty minutes later, wearing a tank top and shorts that reached his knees. She felt uncomfortable looking at his strong arms and his broad shoulders. She sighed and melted in his body when he hugged her from behind. "What are you cooking for us?" He whispered and kissed her neck. "Yaya, no." She pushed him away. He laughed a bit and stood beside her, watching her squeeze some oranges.
"Let me do it while you check on whatever is on fire," he said taking the orange away from her. "It's Mac and cheese," she spoke moving to the gas cooker. "One of my favorites."
"Of course I know. That's why I made it," she cheered. He sighed and smiled. He wondered if Nadia even knows how to cook with the way they even have a worker that would cuts your own nails. He chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Yaya," she called out, facing him. He turned and looked at her. Her arms on her chest. "How much do you love me?" She asked all of a sudden. He gave her a perplexed look. "What do you mean by that? I just finished telling you how I feel about you thirty minutes ago," he retorted. She moved close to him and grabbed his hands. "Then let's get married soon, please. I just can't bare to lose you baby. You're my everything. I love you so damn much but you're not taking us serious."
He could see the glimpse of tears in her eyes. "No babe, I do. I love you, I love you so freaking much and I take our relationship seriously. I just have to settle some things first before we take the big step. I want to make you....." he paused and pecked her lips. "Comfortable when I make you my wife," he finished up. She giggled and hugged him. She had gotten used to all his touching and loving kisses. He smiled and hugged her back.
After they were done, he set a mat for them at the garden and arranged everything on the mat. He had a very loving home. His garden was beautiful and full with pretty flowers. She wished she would just wake up to hear the news that they're married. She sighed dreamily, looking around the garden.
He served them in one plate and gave her the first bite. "It is so good, you have to try it." She said and also fed him. "You're a great cook," he complimented, pocking her nose, making her to giggle in joy.
He fed her couple of more spoons before she told him she was full. He licked his fleshy lips and grabbed a spooful of extra cheesy mac and cheese. Maryam was a great cook. Mommy trained her quite well on how to cook. He placed a pile of Mac and cheese on his plate and drenched them in creamy, sweet sauce. He took another spoonful and stuffed them into his mouth. She laughed at the way he was scratching his ear. She served him some orange juice while he gulped everything down at once. She never knew he ate that much but he still looked fit and healthy. He looked like one of those classy playboys that only eats veggies.
She sat down there still admiring her surroundings. She couldn't believe she could one day live in the house with him. Or perhaps he had another house bigger and fancier than that. Either way, she would be happy with wherever he took her to. As long as he was with her. She never cared.
She wiped his mouth with tissue the moment he was done. “You’re so caring,” he spoke softly and kissed her cheek. She smiled, “let me clear this place first then we would talk more.” She took the plate and cups back inside the house.
He was using his phone when she came back. She laid down beside him and looked up at the sky. It was almost maghrib time. She sighed inhaling the sweet lavender scent in the air. He looked at her and smiled before dropping the phone beside him.
She didn’t look back to avoid him from doing what she knew he would definitely do to her. He knew her greatest weak point. He knew kissing her would make her surrender and do whatever he wanted. When he called her name, she hesitantly up at him. The swirls of emotion she saw there made her to gasp. Lust and desire. However, before she could ponder about it further, he yanked her to him and covered her mouth with his in a hungry kiss. As their lips crushed together, she felt like she was walking on air. It was magic, the way his lips connected with hers. His mouth was so warm, the caress of his lips softer than she could have imagined and she opened her mouth with a low moan.
She pushed him away and sat upright when he started moving his hand to her chest and thighs. He pulled her again, whispering sweet words to her. She is very obviously avoiding his lips. He pressed lingering kisses against her skin as she breathed heavily and rapidly. His breath was curling against her skin just beneath her ear as his hands are skating against the scarred skin of her stomach, occasionally scraping down her side in long scratches. Hands curled tightly into Maryam’s messy of hair. He breathes hard into the edge of her hair. She knew he would leave marks she doesn't want, but she really doesn't want to stop the feeling of his lips against her skin.
From nowhere came the sound of sencha ringing tone. He cursed and hissed before grabbing his phone. She wiped the bite marks, sitting up right. His heart did a leap when he saw the person calling. And without any thought he stood up and left the place. She wiped her tears and hugged her knees.
“Baby, you didn’t even bother to call me today right?” She whined. “No, my love, I thought you’d be busy with wedding preparations that’s why I didn’t call you. How’s everything going?” He spoke glancing back at maryam who was busy whimpering like a five year old.
“I’m almost at your place, I hope you’re home. I need to show you some samples of wedding albums. The photographer is actually good.” He quickly turned to look at maryam again. “I’ll be there in five minutes,” she added and cuts the call.
“Oh shit,” he cursed rushing to Maryam. “Baby I have to go home now. It’s an emergency. Come let me take you home,” he quickly said pulling her up. He didn’t care to ask why she was crying. “What? What’s wrong? What happened at home?”
They walked passed the kitchen to the living room. “Uhh.... intisar is not feeling well and there’s no one to drive them to the hospital, cmon.” He said picking up her veil, abaya and handbag.
“You aren’t wearing anything proper. You should go change then we’d go there together,” she said trying to free her hand. “No Maryam, I’m dropping you home now.”
They rushed to the car. He pushed her into the back seat and closed the door before he entered the car. He started the car and horned before he even reached the gate. The gate man did his job and watched his boss drove out in a hurry. Mujahid saw when Nadia’s car drove towards his house.
He sighed and continued driving fast. “Can you explain to me what is happening? Have you forgotten that I’m a doctor? I can check her up before you take her to the hospital.” He ignored her and continued driving. Nadia kept calling nonstop.
She hissed and dropped out from the car. “Where is your boss?” She asked his gate man. “Ma’am he just went out not long ago,” he replied politely. He clearly knew Nadia was his main girlfriend, he wouldn’t want to ruin things for his boss and lose his job. “I know he will be back very soon ma’am,” he added.
She hissed dialling on his number again and walked away. She used the key he gave her and entered the house. She sat on the three seater but her eyes caught something. She took the earrings and observed it.
The moment he got to their house, he turned and looked at her. She hopped out of the car and closed the door hard. She wiped her tears and walked away into the house. He picked his phone and called back his girlfriend. He knew he had a lot of questions waiting for him back at home.