Chapter 31

He smiled at his phone and answered the call before taking it to his ear. "Salamu Alaikum, Ummah. Good morning," he chirped in. Ummah chuckled at the way he spoke. She had no doubts that Mahmud had something to say, something positive. "Wa'alaikumus Salam, Mahmud. How are you? How's London?" She asked. "Everything is fine here Alhamdulillah. How's Intisar and the others?" He asked. 

"Everyone is fine here. How about our talk? Or are you still not ready? I won't push you. I simply want what’s best for you and your siblings,” she spoke gently. Mahmud shook his head, chuckling. "No, no Ummah it's okay. And I have met someone. We attended same pilot school..." he paused to hear what she has to say. 

She simpered and uttered, "Alhamdulillah. I'm very happy about this. What's her name? Is she a Nigerian? Have you guys settled down?" She bombarded with questions. "Ummah," he laughed a bit. "Her name is Habiba Sufyan. Her father is from Kano, Nigeria while her mother is from England. And we started seeing each other about three months now." Ummah was beyond happy that Mahmud had finally found his own spouse. She felt overwhelmed. Some might think she's his biological mother with the way she loves him so dearly. 

"But Ummah, I want to talk to her about it and also talk to her parents before you inform Baba about it, okay? Let this be our little secret.” 

"Don't worry, it will be our little secret," she chirped in. He laughed a bit and thanked her. "May Allah bless you and protect you wherever you are, Mahmud," she prayed. He beamed and replied with Ameen. They conversed a bit before saying goodbye.

Life was now great and bright for Mahmud ever since he started seeing Habiba. He had never been in a relationship. For he thought he'd get hurt because of how he loves wholeheartedly and deeply. Love is only amazing when you get the same energy from your partner. And love isn't always perfect. It is not a fairytale or a storybook. And it always doesn't come easily. 

Love is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together, holding on and never letting go. It is a short word, easy to spell but difficult to define and impossible to live without. 

Love is work, but most of all, love is realizing that every hour, every minute and every second was worth it because you did it together. 

He simpered and ran his hand through his soft hair, thinking about her. He is madly in love with a girl. He can't stay without talking to her. He really can't stay without looking at her. She even comes in his dreams. Day by day his love for her is increasing. He knows that he truly loves and he wants to be with her for the rest of his days. She is the reason why he feels so good and happy all the time. And that girl is no one but Habiba. 

He stood up from his bed with a sigh and sauntered into the bathroom to take his shower. He stepped into the shower, toes flinching as they touched the chilled ceramic floor. His mind was in shreds; He would never get that picture of her out of his mind. He turned the dial, shiny and metallic, releasing thousands of lukewarm drops, darkening his curly hair and trickled down his back. His eyes fell closed over and over, each time showing me the images like photographs. 

He sashayed out of the bathroom after a while. He dried his hair with a small towel and did his routine and headed out to make more memories with his beloved. He stopped at Starbucks and bought her favorite hot chocolate and Crispy Kreme Donuts. He bought her favorite followers before heading to the airport. 

The moment he arrived, he dropped out of the car and headed into the building. He knocked softly on her door even though she could see him because it is a glass door. She looked up and beamed the moment their eyes met. He entered the warm and cozy office. "I thought I would surprise you with your favorite hot chocolate and doughnuts," he spoke softly, placing the cup and box on her table. "And flowers for my girl," he said bowing and giving her the flowers. 

She pouted, eyes getting watery. "I'm the luckiest," she squealed taking the hot cup of chocolate. She took few sips as she ate her doughnuts while they chit chatted. "Remember that day, when I waved at you for the first time. And you shot back a smile which changed my life. You know I've been trying so hard to let go of these tragic moments, but it just does not happen. Ya Rabb help me, I'm in love." She dramatically spoke raising her hand in the air. 

He laughed happily at her. "My friend took me to a doctor when he found out that I am dating you. They presumed that I have gone mad. I resisted but he did not bother. Until the doctor himself claimed that I was absolutely fine. But later I did confess to my friend that I am mad, madly in love with you." 

"OH MY GOD!!" She screamed closing her eyes before rising up and running into her bathroom, blushing. He laughed again and shook his head. He loved how shy and modest she is. And shyness does not mean weakness, it is a hidden blessing from Allah and it brings nothing but Good. And a woman's best jewelry is her shyness. 

Few moments later, she slowly opened the door and peeped to see if he was still there. "Are you going to come out already or should I go," he said jokingly. "No, no you're not going anywhere," she replied coming out and walking back to her chair. She adjusted her blazer and took deep breaths. 

"We've been dating for like three months now....."

"Three months, two weeks and five days," she corrected. He chuckled and shook his head. "What I mean is that you should be free with me, okay?" She beamed and nodded. 

"I have something to..... uhhh..... tell..... you," she stuttered a bit fiddling with her pen. She bite her lips in distress and sighed. Her face wasn't anything extraordinary or significant, and yet, he felt somehow magically draw to those serious and silent features. Though she always avoided his gaze, he couldn't help but notice her clean skin and lack of makeup, along with gorgeous amber eyes. Perhaps many would consider her homely, but he found her awe-striking.

"C'mon babe, speak up, don't be shy," he urged. She smiled nervously and cleared her throat. "So I was about to head out to work this morning when my father spoke to me about you...." she paused and swallowed hard. Her face looked melancholic. "What's wrong Habiba?" His face was stern, even a little melancholy, in repose, which was transfigured when he smiled...Here was the same long-boned face, tapering to a pointed chin, the same widely spaced eyes with the droop of the left eyelid...the same steady but slightly ironic gaze.

She looked up at his face and lowered her gaze before speaking in a low tone. "He said if you're really serious about me you should send your people." She looked at him briskly and looked away. He smiled softly and sigh of relief. "Alhamdulillah..... You know my step mom called me earlier today,  asking about my girlfriend, so I told her everything about you but I have to speak with your parents first before informing my father about us," he finished off with a smile. 

Habiba smiled that never reached her heart but he could tell from her melancholic eyes. "Habiba? Look at me," he said softly. She looked up at him as a lone tear rolled down her fair cheek. "We're together so whatever you go through, I'm going to through it with you. You will always be important to me no matter what." 

She nodded and wiped her tears away. "It's just that....." she paused and sniffed, staring at the cup of hot chocolate he bought for her. She looked at him and smiled sadly. "You do remember that I'm a sickle cell patient right?" She bite her lip, trying to hold the tears that threatened to leave her eyes. 

"Habiba, listen to me, your condition is one of the reasons why I want to marry you. You need someone that will always be there for you through your tough times. I'm willing to be that person, baby. I know you're not perfect, neither am I but you're the only girl I love. When I look into your pretty eyes, I see my happy ending....."

"Being with me is not going to be easy, Mahmud. I'm always sick, I'm always at the hospitals fighting for my life, I'm always in pain, I easily get sick. Before you came, I don't even get to do much because I'm not allowed to go out by myself....." The beads of water started falling down one after another, without a sign of stopping. 

"I'm here, I will always be here for you Habiba Na. I love you. That means I would defend you with my life even if the odds were insurmountable. It means I will comfort you in the difficult and painful times. It means I will dance and rejoice with you when times are good. It means I will never betray you, never give up on you. It means finding my fire when you, my loved one, is threatened, yet never waging war - only doing what is necessary for a noble defence. Love says I forgive you when you err. Love says though life may test me I am yours into eternity and I will never abandon you, Habiba Na. It means I will never put you in danger no matter how noble the cause may be. Love means protecting the earth, protecting humanity, being kind to animals, but should anyone demand your life to save their own I will tell them to rot in hell. There can never be a higher calling to me than protecting and caring for those I love. Love is not a concept for sheep, for sheep run at the first sign of fear; it is a concept for lions, so be brave my love and know that I am here. I will be there with you through thick and thin, through good and bad times. There's nothing you can ever do to lose the love I have for you Habiba Na. I will protect you." 

"Now my question is, please will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He asked looking at her appealing face. He had no idea how he got so attached to Habiba over the past few months. He was deeply in love with her and wouldn't want to risk losing her. 

"But we just started seeing each other for three months...."

"Habiba we've been together in college since day one. What else do you want us to wait for? I can't risk losing you." 

She took deep breaths and closed her eyes. She opened her eyes and beamed at him, "I thought you'd never ask." He heaved a sigh and smiled. He never knew he was holding his breath when he thought she'd reject him. "Then let's get married."

Her cheeks turned rosy pink as she tried to hide her face. He chuckled and shook his head. "When are you coming to talk with my parents?" She asked, her eyes sparkled. "That's not for me to decide, babe. I have to wait till your father asks me to come," he explained. She nodded, smiling. 

He gently stood up from the chair he was sitting on. "I have to take my leave now, babe. I have interrupted you more than I should have.” She giggled standing up. She walked to him and stood few inches away from him. She looked into his eyes that always made her to wander off into another world. "I see my favorite color when I look into your eyes," she whispered, her eyes still in his. 

He smiled sheepishly, running his hand through his soft hair. "Now I know what you're trying to do young lady," he said with a smirk. "You are trying to make me stay huh?" He said picking his car keys from the table. She stomped her feet and pouted. "I would get bored if you go, I need your attention baby," she whined. "C'mon, I don't have much work to do, please just stay and we would do the work together," she pleaded. Her whiny voice always gets the best of him. 

"Baby," he sighed. "I need to take Ahmad to do Airport and not. This. Airport." He pointed a finger and her smile disappeared. She gave him a puppy face but it still wasn't working. "He's leaving in an hour and I'm already late. I promise you, the moment you're done with work, we'll hand out all day okay?" She sighed defeatedly and nodded.

“Hey wait,” she stopped him. He looked at her, waiting to hear what she has to say. “What’s the meaning of Habiba na?” She spoke in a weird tone. He chuckled a bit, forgetting completely that she doesn’t speak his native language. “It means My Habiba, okay? Now I’ll see you later. I love you,” he replied before leaving. 

“Habiba na?” She whispered sitting on the table. Her lips quirked upwards in a joyous smile. 

A deep curve on her lips makes the world stop around her. A smile that brings back a million memories in a split second. The precious dimple that crinkles skips a beat.