It was around 4 am when Muhammad stirred awake. He has always not been much of a sleeper, he usually wakes up around 4 am, pray, reads the Quran, and says his azkar. He will stay up till Fajr catching up on some work then go back to sleep around 6:30 if he doesn't have work. If not he will get ready and carry on with his day.

Today was so much different, he has never felt as fulfilled and happy as he was feeling at that moment. The room was dark with only the moonlight in the room, yet he was able to see the contours of Maryam's face as she laid face facing his chest peacefully sleeping. He said his waking up dua and stretched carefully, not wanting to wake her.

"Morning gorgeous," he said under his breath watching her, feeling some emotions tingle in him. He propped himself on his elbows just to watch her sleep because he just couldn't get enough of her. He saw how when she turns slightly, she would mutter something under her breath, or scratch her face, and how how her brows furrowed every now and then. "What are you dreaming about?" He whispered, brushing her hair back gently and leaned over the bed and pressed a kiss on her lips. She smells warm and perfumed. Even in her sleep. He thought to himself smiling.

He then got up and headed straight to the bathroom, bathed, performed ablution prayed, and sat on the prayer mat thanking Allah.

• • •

Sunlight seeped through the gray drapes landing directly on Maryam's face. She squinted her eyes and tried to pull the blanket over her but something seems to be resisting her movement. She could make out the feature of a human body leaning over her, watching her sleep also blocking the sun from her face.

Who could be watching her? Is this some sort of dream because she knows ya Amma, Yasmin and Mama definitely wouldn't come and just watch her sleep. It's indeed a dream. She turned and snuggled more into the pillow, enjoying her sleep some more. Then a hand started shaking her lightly. "Yasmin let me sleep some more," she groaned and this time managed to successfully pull the blanket.

Muhammad was amused. This is his first time in years waking up beside someone, ever since medical school, that too a lady. So this is how they are or is it just his wife, his very own special unique wife. He chuckled when she covered all her body mumbling some things in her breath. He would have let her sleep in, but she needs to pray.

Sleep overtook him earlier after he had finished praying, on the prayer mat and didn't wake up until 7:30 am, which was 10 minutes ago. The moment he woke up and saw the time, his heart sank. He dashed to the toilet, performed ablution, and prayed.

He held the side of the blanket and pulled it saying, "I'm sorry baby, but you have to get up." She said something under her breath which he didn't quite catch. He lifted his brows and leaned in saying "what?" She groaned and pushed his head saying, "Get up and do what? Leave me alone I want to sleep."
"Pray. You have to pray, get up. You're already late as it is." When she didn't budge, he grabbed her shoulders and shook her, "Maryam! Tashi mana it's like 7:49 in the morning."

She sprang right up at that looking as disheveled, unconsciously gripping her blanket around her chest tightly, she even scared him. "7:49!" She exclaimed. He glanced at the wall clock hung on the wall opposite the bed then back at her. "7:52 now," Muhammad said. She turned and looked at him brows scrunched up with confusion as if wondering why she has a guy in her room and why the blanket was the only thing on her, she never sleeps stripped.  "What . . ." Her eyes widened and blood rushed to her face in a matter of seconds as the memories of last night dawned on her all at once. One look at his face, and she was hiding her face between her thighs squirming. Muhammad chuckled and moved closer to her, taking a hold of her hand.

"Maryam," he called until she looked at him. "From what I can remember, you were not this shy last night," he whispered next to her ears. Maryam's eyes bulged out and her mouth drew open in disbelief as what he said registered in her mind. She buried her face in her palm and squealed, flushed. Why did he have to say that!

Muhammad laughed at her to his heart's content. Her cheeks and bright eyes reminded him of the first time he confessed his love to her.

He wrapped his arms around her shoulder grinning. He realized just how much pleasure he derives from teasing her, she turns into this adorable blushing mess that makes his day. "You're so adorable." He voiced out pressing a kiss on the pulse in her jaw.

He drew back with a knowing expression. Heat rose to her cheeks.  He then placed a small kiss on her forehead. "Go and pray."

She tightened her hold around the sheets and closed her eyes thinking about the walk of shame she was going to do to the toilet, all while Muhammad watches her.

When he noticed that he got up saying, "I'll be in the living room when you're done." He then turned and walked away. Maryam looked at him as he walked out, feeling the affection she has for the man deepen with each passing second. He is so thoughtful. How did I manage to land this man? Thank you ya Rabb.

She stayed like that for a couple of minutes to access everything and calm the raging emotions going on inside of her. She then got up and walked to the bathroom. The bathroom wasn't filled with unnecessary decors but was manly and neat. She didn't get to fully access the entire toilet because she was in a rush to take a bath, pray and meet her husband.

When she saw how messy she looked, sporting just the right of dried drool by the side of her mouth, she almost died of embarrassment. She wished she could crawl somewhere and hide so she would never have to face him again.

After her little self-pity session, she found a bucket of hot water that Muhammad fixed for her and took a long refreshing bath.

~~**~~
Maryam was nervous as hell to face him again after both yesterday and this morning. She came out of her room after dressing and stood in front of the small decor mirror placed on the wall that separated her room and his room to access how she looked.

She looked simple and beautiful, in a brown patterned Ankara skirt and blouse. She didn't do much to her face, just some mascara and lip balm. Her hand pushed her dauri which was beginning to fall off back into place. "That's better," she whispered flashing a smile at herself. From where she was, she could hear the sound of the tv running. What is he watching? She thought to herself as she took a deep breath and entered the parlor, her stomach crawling and thighs shaking as she forced them to carry her to him.

Muhammad was seated on the three-seaters, phone in hand and remote in the other. She noticed now that he was dressed in a blue jallabiya, he looked so handsome.
"Assalam Alaikum."
"Waalaikum Assalam."
He looked up sporting a soft smile. He kept his gaze on her, the one that seems to search her entire being, as she walked into the parlor, with a small smile playing across his lips. She would occasionally raise her eyes to look at him and quickly lower them when their eyes meet. She could see him visibly take a breath causing his shoulders to rise and fall.

Once she was about five feet from him, she stopped, "Ina kwana." She greeted respectfully. He inclined his head and raised his arms gesturing for her to come.

She did, until she was about arm's length to him, uncertain of what to do exactly. She has always had a problem with thinking straight. It has been a problem she has been battling with since childhood and now more than ever that trait decided to waltz right in.

But as always, Muhammad is there at her rescue. He sat up, intertwined their fingers, and pulled her until she was standing between his legs. The pads of his fingertips reach across the back of her hands to her palm ever so slightly. Damn holding hands is so underrated. "Wow, I could get used to this." He whispered wrapping his arms around her waist.

She raised her eyebrows questionably. He shook his head, "Duk wannan kwaliyan ni aka mawa? Was all this for me?" She bowed her head smiling. "You look beautiful as usual, thank you."

"Thank you."
Maryam giggled when Muhammad made a face and said, "ah, toh ni bazaa ce nayi kyau ba kenan." He teased. "You look very handsome as usual also."
"Ko?"
She nodded. "An tashi lafiya?" He nodded, his eyes twinkling as he said, "I slept like a baby." He held her gaze, "trust me I've never slept as good as I did last night."

He pulled her to sit next to him and when she settled down, he palmed her face. "How was your night?" Maryam's pulse quickened as she scanned her brain for what to say. When she tried to look away, but he held her chin and fixed her with his gaze.

"Uhmm, tell me." His lips curled up with amusement as she struggled with what to say. "It was . . .fine." She said fidgeting with her rings. His eyes fell to her hand, "I have always wondered why you always played with your ring like this." He said twirling her ring around her finger.

She also looked at their hands and sighed saying, "It somehow calms me down when I am stressed."
"Are you always stressed, all the time? Because you do this almost every day."
She merely smiled as she said, "it's become a habit now, I guess."
He nodded in understanding. They stayed in silence for a couple of seconds, lost in their thoughts, until Muhammad cleared his throat and got up saying, "Nasan you're hungry, let's go and have something to eat." She also got up. Wallahi as if he knows even though her stomach desperately needed food.    "Aunty harissa brought food for us." He said as they entered the dining area.

"Aunty harissan uncle Yasir?" Maryam looked up at him in question. He hummed saying, "yes, she sent her driver." He pulled out the dining chair for her. "Oh, Allah sarki." She muttered as she sat down. "I woke up to her calling me seff, they wouldn't let him in till they verify his identity."

"Thank God ma you woke up at the right time." She said. He nodded, "da yanzun hajiya Maryam will not have anything to eat this morning." They grinned at each other as they recalled Maryam's obsessions for food. "You will not leave me hungry even if that was the situation."
"It's against my duty as your husband ko?"
She nodded, "I'm pretty sure even if you were not that, you'll never leave me hungry."
"That's true." He said with a glint of recognition in his eyes. "Just as you'll never leave me hungry." He added. She smiled and nodded, "that's true, but you know I'm going to have to eat to my fill first." She laughed at his expression. His mouth drew open and his eyes bulged. Man, he is so dramatic.

"Laa . . . she chose food over me." He said putting on a sad face. "Nidai I didn't say so." She laughed.

They were like four different food warmers on the table with varying sizes. Maryam couldn't stop smiling as she opened the first warmer and was met with sinasir. At least food is something she can't shy away from.

Muhammad watched her with interest as she opened from one warmer to the other, her smile growing even wider and wider to the extent he feared she would hurt her mouth. "Oh before I forget . . ." He got up and left for the kitchen. Maryam glanced at him then went back to the food. She finished opening them and just sat awestruck by how delicious they looked. Now the problem is she didn't know which to choose between Sinasir, biryani, pasta, sakwara.

Muhammad came back holding a gallon full of zobo and dropped it in front of her. "She brought zobo also?" She was bursting with joy at this point.
"May Allah repay her with plentiful happiness." She prayed. Muhammad muttered a small Amin and sat down. He opened the jar and poured for them. She picked one of the cups and sipped it. "Wow! Masha Allah, this is so good, so refreshing." She took another sip and closed her eyes, savoring the flavor. She did know how to appreciate food. She looked at him with dilated pupils and urged him to taste it himself. He did and they both bobbed their heads humming in agreement.

They finished the whole cup and poured another. "So did you finally decide what we're going to eat or are you still not sure?" He asked looking at the open warmers. She shook her head smiling, "sinasir."
"Toh zuba mana."

She nodded and kept the cup aside. She saw that it was only one plate on the table, so she dished two pieces of sinasir and soup, pushed it to him, and got up muttering "let me go and get another plate." He caught her arm. She turned and looked at him brows furrowed, "Sit down let's eat."
She sat down and they ate in peace, talking about how fun and stressful their marriage was all while enjoying their hibiscus drink.

                            ~~**~~
Hey guys!
How was it? I had a hard time writing this chapter because I was battling with school life and everything seff. I'm sorry.
Thank you so much for sticking with the book even after such a long time.
With love Fatima🥂