Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
"Their love was too perfect to be true," Rafa whispered with a gentle sigh.
Her hands spun circles in the clear glass pot of boiling water, stirring the egg noodles. The spicy noodle sauce she had prepared earlier rested on the side, waiting to be mixed in well after they drained the noodles.
A lone tear dropped from her glassy eyes, prompting Abdur Rehman to stand straight from his leaning posture on the counter. He moved towards her and caged his fingers over her small waist, his other hand rushing to wipe it away.
"Aashiq was an amazing human." She made eye contact,"with his demise, we lost our dear friend too. Jesima is never the same."
"Tragedies tend to change people, Rafa."
"Yeah . . ." She broke into a small smile, "Most of the time, for better."
For that, Abdur Rehman nodded, placing a loving kiss on the place of the tear which his fingers had soaked.
Rafa's cheeks warmed up. "I am going to go and wash my hands." She pressed her lips into a straight line, simmering the flame. One of the pros of getting an Air BnB was they could cook meals together while cherishing memories.
"Shall I accompany you, Miss," Abdur Rehman gushed, following behind.
"With pleasure," she laughed, and his heart simmered its worries at the melody. Talking about the past always brought itself with a gush of emotions.
Opening the bathroom door, they both stepped into the wide lunge displaying twin sinks.
Rafa moved towards one and having removed her gloves earlier, she pressed the top of the hand wash and started to scrub her fingers.
Abdur Rehman stared at her form reflecting in the mirror and wondered how blessed he had been to marry such a beautiful woman.
Her honey golden curls danced with her each moment, their open state made them dwindle side by side. Baby hair peeked over her forehead and her fair skin radiated their effervescence.
The pink smudge of her lips caught his attention, making his whole body go rigid. Pearls of water's splashes on the mirror caused a small hurricane inside his heart. Without giving a thought, he moved forward and opened his side of the faucet, he scurried a palmful of water over Rafa.
His action took her off-guard and she screeched in shock but in no time, a devilish grin took over her face telling aloud that you-messed-with-the-wrong-person.
Shaking her head with a chuckle, she splashed the running water over him. He laughed in wonder, moving quickly to defend himself from getting wet and terribly failing at the continuous splashes, his hand moved to cover over his face.
The evil laughter of his wife ignited flames of desire in his heart, the game boosted his adrenaline, a thrill ran through his veins as he jerked forward and took his turns of victory, laughing his heart out, he threw as much water as he could on her.
The fight that started with just splashes turned even big when they brought their limbs to covet and clutch the other one's hand to splash more.
Two adults turned even worse than children, having their time of life. World, long forgotten. Smiles - heartfelt. Joys, boundless. Worries overlooked.
When she didn't know, all of a sudden her leg slipped and Rafa landed on the floor with a thud. Abdur Rehman followed the lead, hand fighting all aboard.
At one point, they stilled and reality hit them hard, harder than the water, and echoes of laughter filled the whole room. Eyes gleamed with mirth and the distance drifting apart, bringing with it a closeness like never before.
Heartbeats spiked up to the level the both of them couldn't tell the difference.
Hours later, with the stars spread out in the dark sky like splashes of paint in a canvas, Abdur Rehman walked out into the backyard with steaming mugs of hot chocolate and coffee. Rafa lay on a dry sheet over the moist grass, staring at the sky and dreaming of their futures together.
"You added halal marshmallows too, right?" she inquired, sitting up on her elbows and taking one of the mugs from her. The hot liquid slished and sloshed, the small white clouds floating on the surface.
"Mmhm." He nodded, sitting down close next to her. The aroma of the dark coffee filled the air.
Behind them the night was alive. Crickets sang their melodies, frogs croaked near the bird fountain a few feet away. Bushes rustled with the little animals, while the gentle breeze swayed the tall sunflower plants.
"Caffeine at night isn't usually a good idea," Rafa announced, peering over her steaming mug to glance at his. "Unless you're planning to stay awake."
Abdur Rehman's cheeks grew red, but it was hard to tell in the darkness. He took a sip of the coffee to hide his face, before saying, "I don't like chocolate."
"What?" She blinked in disbelief. "What?" He shrugged at her reaction. "Why didn't you tell me this when you proposed to me? I . . .you should have told me!"
Her passionate response caught him off guard. "I . . . I'm sorry?"
Her face changed shades of rage and disappointment to Abdur Rehman's horror, before bursting out loud.
"You scared me," he confessed, earning an elbow jab from her.
"I was just kidding, my love. Aunty told me already."
"Mama told you?"
"Yeah, the first time I made your breakfast."
He finally grinned, more so when Rafa scooted closer to him and squeezed his arm, her body still vibrating with laughter.
"You scare me sometimes, Rafa. You scare me with how much I love you, with how special you are to me. Within a short time you've become so important to me, I don't know what I would do if we ever get separated."
"I thought I was the cheesy one," she teased.
Morning light filtered through the curtains and no matter how much he wanted to stay in bed, cuddled with his wife, he ought to get up, for Monday blues were too real in his life and how much they made him wish that he could still be on his honeymoon.
Twisting towards Rafa who was still asleep with little to no distress from the process of waking, Abdur Rehman could only feel a tad bit jealous. But soon, the innocence of her beauty cleared away all his negative thoughts and brought along a whiff of positivity.
He had always worked as a robot in the field of work, and now, with one more beloved person to take care of has been added to the life of people he cherished. Maybe she can feel independent, but nevertheless, he was her husband. Her caretaker.
He caressed her cheek, his thumb brushing over the meadows of soft skin, moving the sturdy hair strands away to reveal her beautiful face.
"Rafa!" He called, "Wake up, my love."
She let out a small groan, grabbing the hand over her face, she clutched it tight to her bosom and turned towards the other side.
Abdur Rehman chuckled, moving closer and hugging her from behind. "Don't you want to make me breakfast?"
"Abdur Rehman!" Her voice came out hoarse, "We make our own breakfast back home," she twisted to face him, eyes still closed,"in fact, Yahya doesn't disturb my sleep, he prepares for me too." With that told aloud, he felt a tinge of heaviness growing through her form, informing him that she had probably gone back to sleep.
He stared at the face that faced him. Knowing the typical her, he withdrew himself out of her clutch and peeled out of the bed which was screaming otherwise. The sleeping beauty lying over the mattress unaffected and remained in the faraway territories of peaceful slumber. He shook his head at her nonchalance.
The act notifying the typical her. Rafa.
His Rafa.
Downstairs Tayyaba stood across the marble top, pouring herself tea.
"Assalamualaikum Mama," he greeted, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Wa'alykum Salaam," she beamed, eyeing his crisp light grey shirt. "You're ready early today."
"Yeah," he chuckled. "I thought if I start making breakfast right away, I might not have enough time to get dressed before taking off." He opened the top cupboard, rummaging for his favorite banana and walnut oats.
"Where's Rafa?"
"Asleep." He emptied the dry oats into a bowl, reaching for the milk jug to pour over it.
Tayyaba pursed her lips, but didn't say anything. She couldn't recall the last time Abdur Rehman had made breakfast for himself. And that too, plain oats.
"Eat your oats, I'll make you an egg sandwich to take along," she finally said, setting down her tea.
The fry pan sizzled with melted butter, the perfect circle of the egg simmering from the bottom. She covered the pan, letting the top cook with the steam. Her son liked his eggs runny, but not raw.
She did expect Rafa to take over Abdur Rehman's responsibilities, but she needed to give her some leverage. They were still so new to the relationship and from such different backgrounds.
Taking a calming breath, she decided she needed to be kinder. Manahil had also advised her on the topic before she left.
Give them space, Mama. Rafa's had a different life.
Tayyaba nodded to herself. She would give them space and let nature take its course.
For the first time, coming back to work after a long holiday (not to mention, holiday for - marriage, ahem, honeymoon) was refreshing to Rafa.
Even though she had enjoyed all of it, a teeny-tiny part of her missed who she was before everything that transpired. Uteruses and child birthing were her first loves.
Honestly, just kidding.
When Rafa reached her office desk, ever ready to slash her to-do list to complete, she felt fresh. Like that of the flowers who went dry on the outside of the florist shops into new ones. Petals raw with dew drops.
Reached? - AR.
Her phone's beeping brought her out of her fantasy world and the text brought itself with a grin and made her content. After all, this was what was her dream.
And just as she replied to her husband's text in affirmative, a knock on the door informed of her patient's arrival.
"Come in, " she chirped, immersing herself fully in the ocean of her duties.
The day passed by in a blur and Rafa was so involved in her work that when her phone started ringing, she glanced at her wrist watch and realised that her shift was going to end.
"Assalamu alaikum," She greeted after attending the call.
"Wa alaikum assalam, Rafa," Yahya replied, "I was on my way to pick up some stuff from Target, thought of picking you up, are you done?" His voice was mixed with the loud honkings of vehicles.
Rafa couldn't control the crescent that fell on her lips. He could just say he's missing me but oh well. She quickly grabbed her things and pursed them into her handbag. "Yeah, coming."
"Okay, on my way then."
As she walked through the front entrance of the hospital, she was glad that Yahya's car pulled up at the same time as her exit, cutting any wait time.
Yahya leaned and opened the passenger's side door despite the automatic locks. He grinned at her welcomingly.
What a gentleman. Rafa thought, giggling to herself. But to his utter dismay, Rafa didn't budge. She stood uprooted on her spot, giving him an incredulous look.
"What?" He asked, scrunching his eyebrows.
Slowly, a devilish smile conquered her lips as she raised her left palm in the air and its back was visible to Yahya. With confusion maring his features, his gaze fell on her fair and slender fingers, the shine of the diamond ring on her ring finger caught his attention.
Reality dawned on him and he opened his mouth to say but words failed him. He blinked rapidly.
"It's okay, don't be so embarrassed," Rafa laughed, quickly getting in the car and avoiding the traffic that was about to form behind their vehicle. Her brother was still stunned.
"Come on, take me home, Yahya," She patted his shoulder, "I have to grab a few things."
Yahya came out of his reverie, his cheeks getting warmer. "It totally slipped my mind. I thought things were like old days, you were my responsibility—" He gulped.
"I understand," Rafa nodded, "It was so awkward preparing my own breakfast this morning."
He broke into a grin hearing that even though his eyes were glassy, "You do know that you have to do those things yourself, right?"
"All my life, it was you who made my food. I didn't know until I stood in the kitchen fending for myself."
Yahya looked at her lovingly.
"Thank you, for growing me to the person who I am today," She mouthed.
Yahya didn't reply. He did not do all those things for her to be grateful to him rather he did all of them because he loved her. She was his baby sister after all.
The ride home was filled with peaceful silence. The siblings couldn't understand when they matured so much but life had always had a way to make people grow over the changes that occur.
"Do you want to drink soda?" Yahya asked, once they were tucked inside the house while Rafa glanced at the whole space as if thinking it would have changed miraculously while it remained the same, the walls echoed their memories, the lights glowed with their laughter, the curtains danced with their most cherished moments and the whole house screamed how much it had missed her since the moment she was gone.
"I am okay," Rafa replied, her voice suddenly heavy with emotions. "I will be quick," she added, running towards the stairs.
Yahya followed back and when she opened the door, she gasped at the sight that greeted her. The room was a mess just like the way it had always been.
The dresses were thrown over the bed as she had gotten ready for her nikah, make-up was laying with sparks of dust powdering them and Meenu was peacefully sleeping on her clothes.
"What is this, Yahya?" She wondered looking all around, walking to pick Meenu. The cat screeched at the intrusion of its sleep but one look at Rafa, it started to pur, cuddling her chest. "Some cleaning would have been good. It is just the way I left it to be."
"I am sorry," Yahya blushed and Rafa looked at him incredulously, it was so unlike him that she couldn't even believe it.
"I - uh..," He scratched the back of his neck, a task done when he was anxious, "Cleaning this mess would mean that you wouldn't be there to mess this place around." The octaves of his voice fell low.
"I can see," Rafa reacted, her voice hoarse and eyes watery, "You have missed me," she took quick steps towards him.
"Oh! Thank God! I thought you were blind," Yahya cried, taking her in his arms.
The pair of siblings spent some time chatting while Rafa packed some of her left behind possessions, and Yahya dusted and cleaned what he could without moving around too much.
It wasn't long until Rafa's phone rang with a call from Abdur Rehman.
"I'm setting out right now, I thought I'll call you on the way," he said, audibly shuffling into the car.
Rafa smiled on the other end of the line. A lot like her brother, her husband would always tickle her funny bone, and she couldn't help but want to tease them both. "Good choice, looks like my brains have been rubbing off on you."
"They have, haven't they? No wonder I'm so much more productive now."
Warmth filled Rafa till the tip of her toes. He was teasing her, but she couldn't help but swoon.
"Me too. Being happy does make you productive." Yahya cleared his throat behind her, reminding her of his presence. "Anyway, I'm over at Yahya's right now. He's going to drop me back at the hospital soon, and then I'll see you home?"
"You're driving back to the hospital right now?"
Rafa heard the whoosh of speeding cars as Abdur-Rehman seemed to pull into the freeway. Hordes and hordes of cars must be returning home after a long day of work, inevitably choking the multi-lane roads and increasing the drive time.
"Yeah, maybe in like ten minutes. I need to raid the pantry and find my favorite biscottis," she told, gingerly slipping her feet into her old fluffy slippers and leaving her room to head to the kitchen.
The beige slippers were her favorite ever since her father had gifted them to her years ago. They were warm and soft, and the exact same shade as Meenu's fur. It had brought a lot of laughter because of silly accidents that cannot be uttered or else they would be mistaken as animal cruelty.
"I can take an earlier exit and meet you at the hospital? We can drive back together?" Abdur Rehman's voice crackled on the phone as Rafa flicked the switch for the pantry, running her eyes over the shelves lined with non-perishable produce.
"Talking like this in our own cars?" Her hand went towards a plastic bag dangling from a hook behind the door. She pressed her phone between her shoulder and ear, before opening the bag and reaching for her snacks.
"Why not."
"Okay, as you wish, Sire."
"Sire? Rafa...you're..." she heard him chuckle.
"...quite special, right?"
"Most definitely. The specialist person I've ever met."
"I am a specialist through and through, so thanks for the compliment."
"Haha." He laughed, "Alright then, see you at the hospital, in'sha'Allah."
Just as promised, soon they met at the parking lot of the now tranquil hospital, proclaiming that the evening rush had now been over. When Yahya pulled up his SUV, he saw Abdur Rehman waiting by Rafa's car.
This brought itself a glow to shine through Rafa's face and it put the moon to shame. Seeing his sister happy made him happy too.
After exchanging Salams, Yahya asked, "How have you been?"
"Alhamdulillah." Abdur Rehman smiled.
Yahya nodded, realizing that now they are going to part ways he called out, "Hey! As you both are here, why don't we go and grab some dinner?" That way I would get to spend some more time with my sister.
Abdur Rehman started to shake his head, "Maybe next time, it's already getting late-"
Rafa looked at Yahya and understood where he was coming from.
"Come on! You should not disappoint your brother in law, Abdur Rehman!" She winked at her husband, "And the bill is on him, so it's time we enjoy some good food," she slowly whispered the last part, so that he may only hear.
Abdur Rehman knew that she wasn't being ungrateful or telling that he wasn't treating her well. It was wholly different and he felt glad that he understood her every bit.
Love makes one see the underlying perspectives, he thought and he was so happy to be in love.
Yahya beamed as the couple nodded their heads in affirmative, in order to avoid further traveling, he guided them to the restaurant that fell on the hospital's line.
The night was crisp, the memories of heavy traffic lingered in the air around the side way. As he walked Abdur Rehman reminisced old memories too.
How he had found a potential life partner in Jannat for the sake of his mother. How he had found out about her unfit social circle while dining out. How his relationship had ended before it even began. And finally, how Allah made him marry the love of his life. How he had found another family with her family!
SubhanAllah!
He cherished this bond to his heart.
Dwelling in his thoughts he didn't realise that they had finally reached the hotel whose theme and decor shouted grandeur. The tables were elite looking, with dimly lit candle holders holding scented candles, decorated with rich table cloths whose colors were elegant at the same time, eye-catching.
They engaged in blissful chatter while they ordered the food. It was mouthwatering and splendid in taste. Each dish was better than the other and on the other side was a grand buffet of desserts.
"My sweet tooth wants some sugar," Rafa grinned, walking up to the carts of sweets.
Abdur Rehman looked at Yahya putting a fork full of sizzling hot chicken. "Oftentimes, I wonder how you get to spend so much if you are in between jobs?"
Yahya gave him a quizzical look and it made Abdur Rehman rethink if he had crossed any boundaries, but before he could apologize, Yahya burst into a laugh.
"I have a hefty bank balance, you see." Yahya winked and when he saw Abdur Rehman, he understood that the poor guy didn't understand where he was coming from, he added, "Earnings from my days in the Tustin Tauruses."
"Oh!" Abdur Rehman came 0ut of his daze and to lighten the air, he grinned, "Had I known earlier, I would have given more importance to sports than academics."
"You totally missed it, man!" Yahya smiled wickedly, making him laugh more.
"What are you guys talking about?" Rafa entered the table with a plate full of sinful sweets delighting the eyes.
"Nothing special!"
"Am I missing something?" She quirked her eyebrows but nevertheless had that sinful bite of a slice of a chocolate lava cake.
"Rafa! Calm down and finish up those desserts that you have piled up on your tray," Yahya smirked.
"Were you talking about Anjum?" Rafa asked, pulling off the smirk from Yahya's face.
"Anjum?" Abdur Rehman looked up.
"Yes, she is Aashiq's sister and Jesima's-"
"I know her. I have seen you talk about her earlier," Abdu Rehman cut to her explanation.
"Yeah!" Rafa grinned, thanking him for cutting out the explanation, "She is the girl on whom my brother has his eyes for."
"Ah! I see, then why don't you pursue her?"
"He doesn't take a step forward because he thinks he isn't good enough for her."
"What? Nonsense!"
"Stop it, guys. You people are talking like I am not even present here," Yahya whined, placing his spoon on the table resembling a kid.
"Okay!" Abdur Rehman met his eyes, "Why?"
"I am yet to find a place to work-"
"And you would never find work when you search for it in the wrong places," Rafa glared at him.
"If I am not intruding-" Abdur Rehman grabbed their attention, before they started world war 3, "Don't get me wrong, do you still hope to stick to soccer?"
"He hopes against hope!"
"Rafa! Please," Abdur Rehman pleaded, "Do you?" He swirled his face towards Yahya.
Yahya kept himself wrapped with silence.
Abdur Rehman sighed. "Then why don't you pursue your career as a coach instead?"
The siblings stiffened as if they had never seen it this way.
"You know, my mother always says, if you don't get what you want, you should teach others how to get it!"
"That's fantastic!" Rafa clapped her hands.
"I have seen you play and referee. Trust me! You are the best," Abdur Rehman showed his thumbs up, not knowing when this siblings became so close to his heart that he was becoming so natural to them, coming out of his shell to ensure they were happy.
Perhaps that is the magic of the phrase finding family in each other even when they aren't.
author's note: we're very excited to be sharing AR-fa's journey with you guys again! (love the ship name, right???) It is completely everyone's Sumi trudging through, with me trying to keep up with her. All credits go to her!
-Saroosh
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