Chapter 26

The moment Mujahid stepped into the house, she stood up with the earrings still in her hand. He smiled at her and approached her. He enfolded her in a hug. "I'm so sorry I kept you waiting. Something came up at home and I had to go immediately," he dared to lie. 

She pulled away and held the earrings to his face. "Whose earrings is this? Don't even lie to me, Mujahid. It's that girl’s right?" 

His mouth hung open. He held her hand but she slapped his hand. "Just listen to me Mujahid! Less than two weeks to our wedding but you're still following other crap. I swear if you don't cut all business with that girl I will hurt her, trust me, I will. I don't give a damn if she's your cousin or whatever!" 

Nadia holds still, staring at him, eyes locked right on his. There is a wrinkle in her nose that has nothing to do with a coming sneeze, muscles tight, jaw clenched. When she moves it's like an epic series of movie-stills, fists moving as her face contorts into an expression she's never worn before. Though she was screaming inside with rage, it is mostly drown out by the freeway traffic.

"Okay, okay baby. I promise, you will not hear anything about her ever again. Please calm down. There's nothing between us please, please babe. Calm down." 

She hissed and threw the earrings at him before storming out. He sighed, running his hand through his rough hair. That was just too close. It was time to cut every business between him and Maryam. He wouldn't take that risk again because Nadia is too precious to him. He can't afford to lose her even though she was a pain in the neck but she can be a sweetheart sometimes. 

••

Habiba whispers into the breeze, her eyelids fluttering closed as she breathes in the briny aroma. Scrunching her toes, she feels the softness of the sand, still damp from the retreating tide. She wiggles as a shiver cascades down her spine and her eyes burst open.The sand blurs out in a blissful trance, the shore fading into liquid gold, vivid in the brilliant light. Her pale lips curve upward. 

Habiba bestows her gaze to the far off horizon, the flaring hues of the sun melting into the sky and ocean like a divine painting. The forever stretching sea is masked with an apricot colour, that beautiful umber flowing into turquoise. Through narrowed eyes she watches as each wave overlaps one another, sending the white bubbling crests descending, masking the shore with the transparent fading water.

"I see my girl is enjoying the nice chilly weather," he interrupted her. She turned and smiled at him. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. By now they must be beyond an attractive rosiness. They must be marking her out as a social incompetent. She felt as if all her insecurities were writ large across her face and there was nowhere to hide. As her anxieties mounted they became a circle, like a song stuck on repeat. He just called her his girl. 

"Good evening. How did you know I was here?" She asked curiously. He laughed a bit moving few steps closer to her. The scent of his calming perfume calming her down. "Your sister told me and besides, you love the beach." 

"True," she chuckled looking down. He stared at her face. She looked pale and gloomy. "Habiba," he called out. She raised her head up smiling. "How about we go on a date? To Duck and Waffle for dinner? Tonight?"

She stared at him in awe. He had eyes as open and honest as any child, a warmth and safety. In that moment she found her home, her place to find company when the cold winds blew. And her home to stay safe and sound. 

For a half second, the both stood there, staring at each other. She was assessing him as though she had never seen someone that tall before and he simply watched her because he found her the most beautiful girl in the world besides his Manha. It was her eyes that captivated him most of all though. Her eyes were round and framed by thick long lashes. They were amber colored, like liquid gold. The eyes of a wolf. 

"I just want to start things over," he spoke after much silence. She blushed, looking away. "I'd love that."

He chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "8PM?" He asked and she nodded. "I have to go now," she said walking backwards. He smiled and nodded. "I'll see you tonight." And they parted ways. 

She walked home, beaming. Her heart swelling up with his love. She replayed what he said to her and sighed, happily. His accent was such a playful tune, as if he were the star of his own movie. She could have sat there all day simply to listen and smile.

She met her mom in the kitchen cutting some fresh fruits. "Mommy," she squealed and hugged her mother. "My baby is in a good mood. What happened?" The woman spoke. "I think he's in love with me too," she said and squealed again. Mommy kept the knife and sat on the kitchen stool. Habiba did the same. "I want to know more about this Mahmud. You have been speaking about him for years Habiba. It’s very surprising that you haven’t let go of him.” 

"Mommy I don't even know where to start but he is the most amazing and nicest guy I've ever met. He is so loving and caring. He had been my guide when we were in school. He’s fun to be with. Always had my back. How can I ever forget him?” 

"Do you love him?" She asked her. Habiba nodded smiling. "I do.... mommy I'm in love with him. He never leaves my mind, he's always there; mentally if not physically. It's just incomprehensible. He's my one stable force, my one stability in a world filled with chaos and I so desperately need that in my life. I love him so much for that. I'm in love with him and I can't believe I've only just realised it. This feeling is so strange; it stretches throughout my whole body. It's overwhelming, yet makes me feel complete. It has no bound nor length nor depth; it's just absolute. It feels as though I'm in a dangerous fire, yet I'm completely safe at the same time. It feels as though someone's given me peace. It feels as though my heart is dancing around my chest; and a hole, I was never aware was there, has been filled. I feel so light, like I'm on top of the world yet my heart is constricting and it feels as if there's no oxygen in my lungs. It's strange – frightening even – how you can go from someone being a complete stranger, to then being completely infatuated by them and wondering how it ever was that you were able to live without them, because you sure as hell couldn't imagine being without them now. I know we're only young, and most people would consider me to be foolish and naïve, but it's true when I say that I love him more than I could ever love myself. He's my closest male friend and, as cheesy as it sounds, he's my anchor. My one stability in this world filled with chaos."

Mommy laughed heartily at her daughter's words. She was happy her daughter had finally found someone that she loves and have hopes on him. "Do you think he feels same way about you, Habiba?" 

"I'll find out tonight, mommy," she says dropping down from the stool. "I have to go start getting ready, he's coming to pick me in two hours," she added, giving her mother another hug before leaving the kitchen. Her mother smiled and shook her head. 

Habiba walked upstairs to her room and opened her closet. After searching for what to wear for almost thirty minutes, her eyes landed on a beautiful red dress her mother bought for her when she last traveled to Dubai. She grabbed the dress and its veil before laying it on her bed. She brought out a matching bag, shoes and accessories. 

Without wasting any time, she took another bath and performed ablution. She wore one of her abaya's and hijab before praying Maghrib. She couldn't get more excited about her date with him even though that would be their third date. But this date was different. The way he spoke to her feeling nervous and the way he smiled and looked at her made her to believe that he is in love with her. 

After a while she prayed Isha before getting ready. She applied some fine chalk powder to her face. She used Extract from rose petals as rouge. She took a stick of kohl and gently lined her eyes with the black powder. She mixed Beeswax and red dye together and rubbed it on her lips. Habiba observed herself in the polished silver mirror. The kohl made her silver eyes brighter than usual. She wore the red dress, edged with white frills, peppering her body with soft, sensual kisses. Like a lover, it seduced the senses and conveyed with utmost skill the art of pleasing. Pearl earrings were fastened to her ears. She wrapped her veil around her head. She sprayed a little perfume to avoid getting allergy. She completed her beauty preparation. 

She heard a soft knock on the door before it got opened. Her little sister came in to inform her Mahmud was downstairs. She squealed and stood up from her stool. She wore her flats and grabbed her purse. 

She walked down the stairs slowly. Her heart beats fast when she was getting close to the living room. She could hear their laughter from where she was. 

She appeared in the room with the pepper red beautiful dress. Her mother smiled when she looked at the way Mahmud's breath was taken away by Habiba's appearance. She had never looked that beautiful. The clicking of her flats added rhythm to the soft classical music that was played on the tv.

"Please take good care of my daughter as you know she's not that much well," mommy spoke. He nodded and smiled. "In sha Allah mommy. We won't even stay long," he replied politely. "Let's go," Habiba said beaming from ear to ear.

"You look so beautiful tonight," he complimented the moment they started driving to the restaurant. She looked at him to make sure he was the that said that. He looked at her and nodded before he talked more, "you took my breath away Habiba. You're so beautiful." 

She blushed and looked through the window. He chuckled a bit. He never knew Habiba would be shy because of the way she was a carefree person.

He parked the car at duck and waffle, a famous and fancy restaurant in London. He opened the door for her and she stepped out. They walked side by side into the restaurant. He had already booked a table for them at the VIP. 

The receptionist took them to a private room and called the waiters to take their orders. They ordered their dinner and move further to have a little conversation. They looked at each other and smiled. She lowered her gaze and fiddled with her fingers. 

"I want to make a confession tonight, but after we eat," he said softly. "Stop being shy girl!!! This isn't the Habiba I know."

She laughed a bit. "Today is just different, and...." she trailed off and sighed. "I don't even know what to say."

"Then tell me how you feeling. Tell me what's in your heart," he whispered but she heard him. She took a deep breath and nodded. 

"When I met you I'd already lost my entire world. How can you hang on to something so incomprehensible? How can you keep pouring love into an abyss? But then there you were. There was something in those brown eyes that was so beautiful, so safe and warm. In just one look I was 'home.' I reached out and made the connection, and like Allah Himself had arranged it, I fell for you deeper. That first day we talked, just the two of us, I still recall the conversation, the feeling you gave. You didn't know it, but that day you saved me. We became inseparable, and though not in a relationship yet, we were one from that day on. But don't the years take their toll my love? Or perhaps it isn't time, it's this modern life we all work for, strive for, embrace while it destroys us. We work to raise a family, we love our children without bounds, and then we look at one another with tired eyes and empty limbs. I am as much in love with you today as I ever was, perhaps even more so...."

He always gets amazed by the way Habiba spoke and told him how she felt about him. He never knew that was how she felt about him and still kept the love even when they were apart. She was a true lover. He stared at her face and then he realized, he was in love with her too.....

The waiters came back with their order and arranged it on the table. He was almost half way through his dinner when he realized she haven't touched hers. "I can feed you if you'd be okay with that." She looked up, her eyes widened before she laughed. "No, I will eat myself."

He rested his back, arms folded on his chest, "go on, eat or I feed you myself. After all I promised your mother I will take good care of you.” She looked at him and he raised a brow. She picked up the fork and started eating slowly. He smiled looking at her. She ate half of the meal and pushed it away. She had no appetite because of the way her heart has been beating fast. 

"Are you sure you're okay Habiba? Or should I take you home? Do you feel sick?” He asked worriedly. She smiled brightly and nodded. "No way, I'm okay."

He nodded before getting up. "Let's go for a walk and I'll tell you what's in my heart." She nodded and stoop up also. They headed into the garden and stood by the small pond that had beautiful white swans swimming in it. 

"I have lived long enough to know that what we share I can't replicate with another. This love, this feeling, is just you and me. I could travel the world and the seven seas; I'd still have to come right back here if I wanted true love. It's not that nobody else wants me, or you, but that we were born to spark and run the same course. We are the protectors of one another, confidents and true friends. The trust I give you, that you give me, is what keeps us safe in this world, in this life. So whether this heart beats another day or another hundred years - it is yours."

He saw the shock registered on her face. She looked at him for confirmation and he nodded. “I.... you mean..... you love me?” She asked breathing rapidly.  He faced her smiling. His hand in his jeans pocket. “If I knew that I would fall in love with you when I was younger, I would have made sure that I crossed paths with you much earlier. So yes Habiba, I’m in love with you and I want to marry you. Real soon, not later.”