Chapter 58: Time and Time Again. 

*

"As Time passes, 

we come to a realization. 

We are all aging. 

Seconds turn to Minutes, 

Minutes into hour. 

Hours into Days to Weeks to Months to Years. 

And just like this. 

We all fade out, 

of 

existence"

-2am-

*

It was over a few weeks since the Nikah of Yahyah and Nahal and almost the same amount of time that had passed since The Zaeef's returned back to their respective homes. Yahyah was back to work and so was Yazdan. The girls however, were another story.

Aanabia had an interview with Sawarah Public School for the position of English Literature teacher a few days ago and was currently waiting for a reply. She knew she answered their questions all too perfectly but her anxiety still remained.

"You will do great darling, calm down." Nahal told her, when she saw her sister chewing onto the edges of her fingers nervously. Nahal slapped her hands with a glare (which was returned by Aanabia) before turning to her task at hand.

Aanabia frowned at her sister.

"Do you have to leave?" she asked her and Nahal nodded, folding the piece of clothing in her hand neatly. But why? She could just not go, right?

"And is Yahyah okay with it?" Nahal stilled at her question. Aanabia let out a small smile. He is not.

"We talked it out" Nahal told her, resuming her task. Aanabia eyed her wearily.

"Of course you did. What did you two talk about?"

-

"Everything! We talked it out and I am okay with it all" Yahyah told Yazdan for the nth time. Yazdan rubbed his forehead, leaning back onto the black office chair of his and looking at his best friend wearily. He is not okay but at least he is trying.

Yahyah took a seat at the chair in front of Yazdan's large wooden mahogany desk (which was littered with papers; mostly sketches, along with pencils, rubbers and rulers of all kind).

"She has a dream, Yaza. I cannot take that away. I promised her that" he muttered dejectedly. Yazdan smiled at him. One side, he did not wish her to leave him alone and the second side, he did not wish to crush her dreams. This is what love meant, he guessed.

"You will cope up, Yahyah. You knew this would happen and you talked to her about it. You knew her career is very important to her and yours is too. So go with the flow. Everything happens for a reason" he explained, hoping that his best friend would listen and stop stressing. Yahyah paused for a moment and leaned onto his chair. It's making sense? No?

"You are right I guess. It's just that........" Yahyah started and stared out of the window of Zaeef Architecture. Inc. "I am insecure I guess. I just got her, I cannot afford to lose her again"

Yazdan understood, he understood what Yahyah meant. He knew how much his best friend went through because of this love. And at this point, he wanted to ask Yahyah. Was this relationship worth it all? If he was insecure about it all this while, was it worth it?

"Is it worth it?" He asked Yahyah, finally. Yahyah looked up to him with a small smile. He expected it.

"It is. It's just me who's insecure. She knows I would never leave her and I know she would not leave me. But sometimes, the small lingering thought just overtakes all logic." He told Yazdan. Yazdan let out a small smile. He was not completely in love with Aanabia but he was learning to love her more each day, and that is the biggest thing.

"Learn to have faith on your relationship Yaha." He told Yahyah who nodded, with a small smile.

-

Nahal's flight was that very afternoon at six. Yahyah stood at the door of their bedroom, staring at her get ready. Nahal saw him from the vanity mirror with a sad smile.

"What?" she asked him. Yahyah snapped out of his reverie with a small shrug.

"Nothing" he told her with a smile. Nahal sighed and stood up, pulling her hair in a messy bun. She walked over to him and stood facing him.

"It's temporary" she told him and he nodded at her. Nahal let out a small laugh, holding his hands and pulling him in a hug. She laid her head against his chest; listening to his heartbeat, the same one she had grown accustomed to these past weeks. Yahyah wrapped his arms around her tiny body and placed his chin over her dark mop of hair.

"I know. But I'll still miss you" he whispered in her hair, blinking away the tears.

"I'll miss you too. But The Ibrahim assignment is mine to finish and I have to take it till the end. Else, your company name will be tarnished and we both don't want that" she told him and he let out a small laugh.

"I could come"

"You have work, Yahyah. You cannot leave everything here and come with me"

"Or can I?" he smirked causing Nahal to laugh and push away from his chest. She looked up to him with a grin.

"No. You stay here"

"I have a home there too, you know"

"I know. I also know your garage here needs you"

"But you need me more" Nahal frowned at him before sighing.

"Maybe I do. But it's just about a few months. You can always come visit" she told him with a sly grin. Yahyah's smile widened and he leaned down.

"You know I'll do just that" he whispered before placing his lips over hers.

-

Aanabia fidgeted in Yazdan's arms, as the latter heaved yet another long sigh.

"You have to stop worrying so much" he told her, watching his wife's expression soften a bit before being morphed into that of worrying. Again.

"I know. But I can't. She is leaving for UK while Yahyah is here. We both know about their rocky relationship. I am just worried it might crumble before it even blossoms" Aanabia muttered, staring at the sign board in front of her. Yazdan let out a small smile. She is anxious, hence the poetic devices used in her words.

"It won't. They are two grown up people. They can handle this on their own" he told her and she shrugged, turning to him with doe like eyes. So cute.

"What if they don't? I mean we both saw how much of an adult the two can be? It took them forever to confess, good lord!" she told him and he let out a chuckle. That is true though.

But before the two could continue their conversation, the couple in question walked up to them with large smiles. Aanabia hugged her sister before turning to Yahyah.

"Are you alright?" she asked and Yahyah threw Yazdan a glare. The latter grinned back. He had asked Yahyah the exact question when they arrived. Yahyah turned back to Aanabia and nodded with a smile.

"She is leaving the country, not me" he stated confidently causing Nahal to let out a small laugh. Just then, the intercom rang through the halls, calling out for everyone boarding the flight to London to head in.

Nahal smiled at the three people in front of her. Aanabia hugged her one last time, Yazdan smiled and bid her goodbye and she turned to Yahyah with glassy eyes. Yahyah pulled her in a hug, placing his chin over her head. Aanabia smiled at them while Yazdan pulled her away from the couple. They need their time.

"You've said enough goodbyes, Aanabia. She'll be back in no time" he explained to her as they walked towards the vacant chairs at the airport departure terminal.

-

Yahyah felt his heart constrict as he watched her small figure retreat in the mass of people. She is going to be fine. He told himself repeatedly. He turned around, wiping away the stray tears that had betrayed him and fell.

"You coming?" He turned around to see Yazdan patiently waiting for him with his wife at the Departure waiting chairs. He nodded at him before walking towards them.

"Home or lunch?" asked Aanabia with a hesitant voice. She is threading the waters carefully.

"I am heading home. Need to take care of three vehicles before tonight" he told them and they nodded understandingly. The three of them walked out of the airport and into the car park together until they had to go their separate ways. Yazdan patted him on the back, asking him to call if he needs something while Aanabia smiled and told him to take care of himself.

He could not do much but get into his Toyota Hilux and start the ignition. He waited for the air conditioning to take its full effect before he would drive out. She will be fine, Yahyah. She will. While he thought, he unconsciously played with his silver wedding band. The sole ring in his fingers. He sighed, leaning onto the head rest with his eyes closed. How will I survive these months? The nights without her warmth? The mornings with her chitter chatter? Good lord, I am losing my mind already.

"What have you done, Nahal?" he whispered to himself. His phone rang beside him and he heaved a sigh, taking it out from the jeans pocket. Kayan Calling. He swiped the screen and held the phone at his ears.

"As Salaam Alaikum"

"Wa alaikum mus salaam. How are you?" Kayan's voice drifted into the phone causing Yahyah to smile. He always liked Kayan. Kayan looked after him like he did with Yazdan. He never considered Yahyah as Yazdan's best friend but rather his other brother.

The two chatted for a while, Kayan wanting to know how he was doing and also because Amyrah pushed him to call and check on him. Distraction feels like a bliss.

-

Yazdan smiled as his wife placed her arms around his broad shoulders.

"Aren't you a little edgy today?" he asked her, putting the book he was reading on the desk beside him. He then placed his hands on her waist, pulling her slightly so she set on his lap.

"A little. I am worried about Nahal and mom" she said, sighing. Yazdan set out another smile.

"Don't be. They are both alright, I am sure" he told her and she nodded, leaning onto his chest. She placed her head over his chest and shifted on his lap until she was comfortable. Yazdan ran his hands through her wavy hair repeatedly, before settling on gently massaging her scalp. Her eyes fluttered close somewhere in between the actions and her breathing evened. Yazdan looked down at his wife before pulling her legs to the right so they weren't cramped. Aanabia was basically cuddling the other one. He stared at the way her eyelashes grazed her cheekbones and the way her lips slightly parted when she breathed. Unconsciously, his fingers trailed her lips and he smiled finding it soft. It's always been this way.

"Stop" she murmured, going back to sleep. He let out a chuckle. She sure falls asleep fast. Leaning down, he placed a kiss on her forehead and brushed away the few messy strands of hair of hers which had escaped. These past few months have been nothing but amazing. I pray, Aanabia, that we remain like this until Jannah. I know I don't voice out my thoughts often but I know you know them. Please don't ever leave me. 

*******

HAPPY NEW YEAR MY LOVES!! 

Salaam! :) 

Sorry for the late update. Been on a vacation for some time. haha. I needed it though. 

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I love you all my Panda's! 

xx, 

-Aalihha.