I was still in bed and by now I had acquired a full-blown cold.

The doctors blamed the harsh winter for my current state. It was already late December and the climate should have turned soft, but rather it had turned even brisker. Aahil had asked Mrs Mariam to come down to my place for the time being, and she had been more than happy to oblige.

She had come several times to freshen the bath towels and to ask if I needed anything. Even Ayath came up once or twice to ask me if there was anything that she could get me, that would make me comfortable, the concern beneath her carefree nature surprising me.

Funny how it took being ill, I thought, to see the better side of people. However, it was Aahil's attention's that I found myself wanting and appreciating most.

A soft knock on the door made me glance upwards, I closed the book that I had been reading from the past few hours, rubbing my eyes and settling comfortably to sitting position.

"How do you feel?" Aahil inquired, coming over to the bed, where I was sitting propped up by the pillows.

My pulse leapt to see him. He had been out since this morning and from his immaculate appearance, it was obvious that he had come straight from some important board-meeting.

"Don't ask," I groaned.

I didn't like him seeing me like this. Red-nosed and ragged. I had checked my reflection a few minutes earlier and cringed at the sight. I was wearing an oversized red t-shirt and white trousers, my long messy hair was loosely tied which gave me an appearance of the ghost.

"Feeling any worse?" He moved the tray that I had finished with from the bed and sat down beside me.

He smelt of fresh air and his own, disturbingly masculine scent and I inhaled deeply. Funny, how I felt nauseous only during the mornings. I made a mental note to say that to my physician the next time I would consult him.

"No, I want to get up," I mumbled nasally and sneezed promptly into the hanky I had kept ready.

A black eyebrow lifted in mocking disapproval, "Not until tomorrow."

"Who says so?"

"I do."

And his word is law, I thought, feeling too rotten to argue against it.

"It's alright for you," I complained hoarsely. "You ought to try lying here with no one to talk to and nothing to do. It's so boring."

He made a wry gesture with his mouth, "From the sound of your voice, you shouldn't be talking too."

He glanced at the volume of books lying on the duvet on the far side of the bed, "Have you finished those?" He asked pointing towards them.

I nodded my head, wincing as a dozen hammer seemed to strike up in unison, "I've read so much that I have given myself a headache."

"Would you like the television bought up?"

I wrinkled my nose and put my tongue out, "There's enough soap in the bathroom," I replied drily.

"Oh, very droll," He let out a hearty laugh, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if all ladies grew as sensible."

"Well, what would you recommend,  that didn't overtax my eyes and still managed to stimulate my intellect?" I enquired tremulously through the furore of emotions I felt just at his mesmerizing gaze.

Consequently, at that moment I felt a sneeze coming on and I grabbed my hanky, and I when I looked up again he had tossed his jacket down at the foot of the bed and was loosening his tie, "A darned querulous little patient aren't you?"

I supposed I was, as I was never in the good of moods when I was ill, which fortunately was hardly ever.

He raised his phone to his ears, "Send up some coffee, will you, Mariam? And a glass of something for the invalid. Thank you," He winked at me and even before he had put down the phone, I felt a warm glow of happiness spread throughout my body.

"Being nice to me? Expecting to be forgiven?" I mocked.

"What would you have me do to get your forgiveness?" He asked rhetorically, moving away.

"Don't go," I held his hand, the words had slipped out before I could help it.

There was a soft expression on his face as he turned around, "I'm not going anywhere. I have taken the rest of the day off."

I took the scrabble board from my side table, "Stay and play with me," I suggested tentatively, feeling sheepish. Perhaps, even unwise, for asking him.

"Now, isn't that a rather appealing prospect," His wry remark made my colour rise, I wished that I had been more careful with my choice of words.

"You still blush like an innocent and it makes my heart skip a beat."

His statement made the embarrassed colour on my cheeks almost as red as my sore nose and Aahil threw back his head and laughed.

He went out carrying the empty tray and I felt my heart sink when he did not turn up. Later, I felt much worse when I heard the growl of his car starting up on the drive, on the other side of the house. I quickly ran to my balcony and stood to stare at the car until it disappeared from sight, my ears hanging onto the purr of BMW's engine until it died away down the road.

Come back, I pleaded silently, feeling lonely and depressed.

Nevertheless, lying there, staring at the window so above the garden that all I could see was trees tossed by the brisk wind, I heard the first patter of raindrops on the glass and the mournful lowing of the cow on the nearby farmland, and couldn't stop myself from wishing that he hadn't gone.

I kept hugging myself repeatedly, to stop myself from shuddering, due to the sudden change in weather.

Later, I was asleep when heard the door open again and I expected it to be Mariam who might have come with a hot drink.

But when I opened my eyes, my room was dark and I was stunned to find the curtains on the windows completely drawn.

I saw someone standing at the far end of my room, only the form was visible and my heart started beating painfully, "Who?"

I wondered whether I was dreaming.

I heard a wicked laugh, "Who do you expect it to be?"

I tried squeezing my eyes shut in an attempt to wave off the mounting panic.

"Aren't you glad to meet your death?"

The voice seemed oddly familiar, but my clouded brain wasn't able to distinguish it. I felt sweat trickling down my forehead, in spite of the chill that ran down my back.

I ran a shaking hand through my face, "What do you want?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

I drew the sweater closer to my body, trying to gather warmness.

A loud noise of footsteps came closer to my bedroom and my heartbeat increased to an unbearable extent. I closed my ears and dipped my head in between my raised knees.

"Aleena?"

A loud screech escaped me and I shivered violently.

Warm hands gathered me into a loving embrace, "You?" I breathed with an illogical delight as my teary eyes focused on him.

"Why are you so surprised?" He enveloped me tighter, discarding the huge bouquets of flowers in the process.

I related to him what I saw and he enveloped me in a hug, "You are thinking too much."

"I'm not. Believe me, I did see someone."

"Darling, I did not see anyone leave the room. So where did the person disappear?"

I shook my head, "I don't know," and without warning, I broke down into tears.

He ran a soothing hand down the length of my spine, "Sweetheart, I was worried so I went to fetch our family doctor and on the way, I decided to buy you flowers as they always seem to please you."

I did not reply but merely returned a blank look.

He hugged me once again, "I'm sorry that you have to go through this. We will go out to dinner to distract yourself."

I nodded my head.

"Shall I send in the doctor?" He sat me on his lap and tucked the loose strands of hair behind my ears.

I hugged him in response and we sat still for some seconds, content in each other's arms.

He stoops up, after kissing me on my forehead and helping me fix my hijab.

The doctor entered a few seconds later, examined me for a few minutes, and left collecting my blood and urine samples.

Aahil left along with the doctor and accompanied him to his car. When Aahil returned shortly afterwards, I was still sitting in the empty chair beside the window and he knelt beside me, taking my hands in his and kissing it slightly, "I wish that I could fill your life with happiness, forgive me for not being able to take care of you."

"I have never complained. It isn't in your power to stop these evil power games."

He pressed his forehead to mine, "You are precious and I promise you that we will find happiness," I pressed a gentle kiss on his forehead, "What about the honeymoon promise you made?"

He grinned at that, "Still interested?"

"Of course, I am."

He brushed a few strands of hair away from my face, gently running his knuckles on my cheeks, "Darling, I know that we haven't been able to live a normal married life, but believe me, I haven't been happier. All my worries disappear when I look into your beautiful face. I'm captivated by your charm and you take my breath away. You have bewitched my days and turned my nights into delight. My eyes crave to see you the very first thing in the morning and I cannot explain to you the feelings that course through me whenever I see your innocent sleeping form, your face looks utterly at peace and my heart has the sweet urge to lose myself in the pleasure of your arms. We have found contentment in each other and that is in itself the greatest blessing of all."