As-Salaam-Alikum

Plz pray before you read if its time and you haven't...

Enjoy the chapter!!

*******************************************************

"Modesty is the best jewel of a woman" - Fatima Al Zahra (SA)

*******************************************************

Adam's POV

"Mr. Zeewad" I hear someone call me. I instantly recognized the voice. of course.

My only business rival Arnold Harrison. The person I loathe.

"Hello! Mr. Harrison" I say with a bored tone

"Hello! Mr. Zeewad. I see you took you wife out shopping huh" He replies with a smirk

"That shouldn't concern you" I respond with a dead glare

"But it should concern you seeing how beautiful she is" He says smugly

"I'd give you a nasty look but I see you've already got one" Arina jumps in not giving me time to reply

"Ooo I like that" he eyes Arina who is standing behind me chanting astagfirrullah and I try to keep my calm but when He says "I like your attitude" I lose my calm and my fist lands on his jaw in a matter of milliseconds.

"Keep you filthy mouth shut and stay away from my WIFE. Don't you f**king have a mother or sister that you stare at women so shamelessly?" I say in a low scary voice, emphasizing on the word wife and walk away holding Arina's hand.

We quickly finish our grocery and head home. My mood is still off because of Harrison and Arina tries her best to cheer me up.

"Adaaam! why are you taking it to heart? He didn't even say much about me Alhumdullilah"

"I don't care!"

"Yo! Did you see how I replied to him?"

"Yo! Did you see what that led to?" I mimic her tone and way of saying

"You gotta admit it was a good comeback" She says with an eye roll

"yeah very good" I reply sarcastically "Why did you have to butt in and talk?"

"I just had that comeback in mind since long and really wanted to use it badly so today I finally got the opportunity!" She says happily

"You got to be kidding me!" I say surprised

"No I am serious" she replies bluntly and walks into the kitchen

I hate seeing other men talking to any female from my family in a bad way or about them, If anyone repeats this then they'll get the same or worse than the punch that Harrison got.

Don't think I did this because I like Arina or that shit.

I go into my study to work on the presentation for the project with Addison and Co. but am interrupted by a call.

The call was from my manager informing me about a party that is organized for me and Arina by the Lockwoods as they've returned from their 4 months long tour. They couldn't attend the wedding so decided to host a party for us now.

I work on the presentation for an hour while Arina is cooking and preparing for lunch with family. Once I am done with work I get up and proceed towards my bedroom to get ready. Just as I open the door, the sight in front of me shocks me.

Its Arina with no hijab on. I couldn't see fully as she is inside the walk in closet and was walking around. If I try I can see the mysterious hair today that I was longing to see. Don't take me wrong! The only reason I wanted to see her hair is because I want to know what they are like and why is she hiding them from me even though we are married.

Arina still haven't noticed me so I stroll in and while I'm going towards Arina, my toe hits the bed.

"Ouch" I yelp in pain

And that's when Arina turns around and gasps in reflex.

Arina's POV

I hear a cry from the room so turn around immediately only to be surprised with Adam holding his toe while being seated on the huge king size mahogany bed.

"Wait! Adam! Close your eyes, I am not wearing the hijab!" I say hurriedly once I see his head tilting upwards.

No matter what! I am not letting Mr. Zeewad see my hair. I might sound ridiculous but I have been covering them for years and years for that special moment when my husband will see my hair for the first time and how his reaction will be. I've dreamed of that moment since the day I became a hijabi when I was 13. I know Adam is my other half and all but till the contract is going on I'll keep my hair covered. 

"What the hell?! Are you actually kidding me!?" Adam shouts from outside

I ignore him and rummage through the closet to find a hijab, once I get a hold of my simple white hijab that is the only  one I can see at the moment, I exit the closet and proceed towards Adam.

"Oh My Allah!! Adam it's bleeding!" I cry seeing his toe covered in red. 

Even though I can be tough and strong but I am still afraid of the sight of blood and I hate it because it reminds me of the pain the people around the globe in many countries are going through.

"Happy realization" Adam says sarcastically

I rush to get the First Aid Kit from the cabinet  in the bathroom next the sink and walk back to the bed sitting next to Adam.

"I can do it myself! I don't need your help and it's just a small injury anyways"

"Put your ego aside and let me do it" I get on with my work completely ignoring his protests.

I don't know what's wrong with this man. He have serious mood swings, one minute he'll be happily having a conversation and the other minute he'll hate you and not even spare a glance at you. 

May Allah help this man!

He gets up to leave the room while I continue with getting ready. I opt for green Pakistani dress with the hijab a shade darker. As I am not much of a make up person and its just a small simple lunch with family so I don't really bother myself and just go with mascara and a lip gloss.

Once I am done I walk out into the living room to check up on Adam as it''s time to pray Duhr, I see him sitting and watching soccer.

"Adam! It's time to pray Duhr!"

"My toe hurts"

Excuses.

"You said it was just a small injury didn't you" I smirk

"Well-"

"Stop making excuses!  Get up and pray! You have to pray five times a day! Say Alhumdullilah at least you have your feet to stand on! There are so many people who are disabled yet they pray five times a day" I try to explain 

"I am going to make wudu, wait for me in the prayer room" he says and walks away

I smile content and ascend upstairs to the prayer room.

I pray some nafal prayers while waiting for Adam to join me. Once he's in we get on with the prayer with him leading me. I love this feeling of peacefulness we get with prayer and how all the worries are lifted as we keep out head down in the form of sujood to the creator.

We finish praying so I get up to the shelf to get the Quran while Adam stay seated staring into space in deep thoughts.

These days he always stare afar after prayer for few minutes and then quietly leaves the room. today I wanted him to do something different so I asked him to recite with me.

And surprisingly Alhumdullilah he agreed!!!

He was reciting Surah Rahman, my favourite surah while I was listening to his soothing voice that was giving peace and tranquility to my heart and mind. Our relationship have progressed over the last three months but not much and Insha Allah I hope it gets a lot better in the remaining three months of the contract.

Just as we walk out the door, the door bell rings indicating that one either My parents and aid have arrived, Arina and mom or Alex as he's also invited to our little family lunch.

Adam goes to welcome them in while I go to check up on the food. 

"Arinaaa" I hear Alina's cheerful voice and smile 

I go to meet mom and soon after everyone else arrive so Alina help me set the table while the men sits together talking about business and politics as usual and the ladies talking about the latest fashion trends in Pakistan and all.

We all sit together at the dinner table and the dear mothers take this chance to embarrass us especially in front of Dad, Zaid and Alex. 

"Adam, Arina When are we getting any good news?"

"What good news?" Adam asks dumbly while I look up in confusion while taking a sip of the water

" Of making us grandparents!" Mama say laughing making me choke on the water.

Arina pats my back while everyone else laughs and my cheek tints red 

"Not anytime soon" Adam replies 

"Why not? I wanna be an aunt!" Alina whines

"Shut up and eat" Adam orders

"But you guys didn't even go on a honeymoon yet and it's been three months since you got married" Mom says

"Mom we don't really need to go and it's just a waste of money"

"No! We are not taking a no for an answer! We will organize everything and you'll go in a month because then Arina have 2 weeks off college"

Adam tries to protest against the idea but no one listens

"Ok fine" Adam sighs defeated while the other have big smiles on their faces

The rest of the day is spent having family time and later Dad have to leave for an urgent meeting so we say our goodbyes to him and the boys Adam, Alex and Zaid watches sports while us ladies decide to set my closet all over again. Mama's idea. 

They leave around five in the evening. I clean the place up and pray maghreb together with Adam and spend the evening getting ready for university tomorrow as its my first day of Masters in English classes tomorrow.

I pray isha and recite surah mulk before dosing off.

THE NEXT MORNING

I wake up and wake Adam up for fajr too that can be quite tiresome at times. He drags his feet to the bathroom for to take shower while I take that time to blow dry my hair and set my hijab. Once Adam comes out we pray together and recite surah Yaseen before having breakfast and Adam leaves for work while I still have three hours for my class to start so I clean the house and get ready before leaving. I leave early because of NYC traffic even though the university isn't that far from where I live. 

Once I enter the huge gates of Columbia University, I see some students rushing from here to there and some parking their cars whereas some are waiting for their friends. All this remind me of the good old times. 

With a smile i look for the girls Maya and Amira and we get to our class once we meet.

After Uni I spent the day working around the house and reciting Quran till Adam comes. The evening is spent by me and Adam sitting together having Islamic talk, having dinner, prayer routine and sleeping.

The rest of the week is all spent like this till the weekend arrives.

************************************************************

HEYYY PEOPLE!!

How are y'all? 

Hope you all are doing great!

Alhumdullilah I am good!

Here's an early update!!! but I'm sorry if its boring...The bottom half part of the chapter is kinda like a filler but insha Allah next chapter will be good. I don't know when will be the next update because I have a lot to revise for but I'll try my best to publish another chapter in a week insha Allah.

Anyways! Hope you like the chapter!

Don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT!

Love y'all

-Iiman