Chapter 71: Chapter 71

What does she feel, Fear or anxiety? She knew what the word 'Kassim' means. They take its beholder as a human having a heart with the other functioning organs in him, but her alone knows the monster that was coated in the façade of his handsome face.

She stood up with hands trembling and walked to her room, for she was in only a flimsy gown. She entered her bathroom and locked it up_hurriedly moving to the mirror before she started talking to herself.

"Hayfah Talhah Muhammad wasn't like this, she wouldn't be afraid of any creature called 'Kassim' she wouldn't let this affect her married life. He wasn't in her life before, and she lived normally the days he left her life; he might've bullied her, but she should act as if nothing happened between them; for her Hayatee." She splashed water onto her face and nodded her head to herself, as of strengthening the dying bravado in her.

She heard Adyan calling her name from her room. She hurriedly washed her face again and walked out; flashing a smile on her lips that didn't reached her heart. She dispised Kassim so much, she hates him with every fibre of her being, she doesn't even want to take a glimpse of him, for his face is the last thing she could ever want to see. She hates everything that comes from him; apart from her Hayatee and his parents.

"Rania my brother is here, do you know what that means? All the introvertness of him was pushed aside, he said he came here to see the Queen Of hearts!" Adyan exclaimed and pulled out a hijab from her wardrobe, handing it to her. She looked at the excited smile on his face and sobered up all the glumness in her; she couldn't just make him feel bad when he's clearly thrilled over his monster of a brother.

"Oh my god! I'm so excited to see him; Hayatee, let's go and see the brother that handle this naughty husband of mine!" She was laughing at how he made a puppy face with a zip around his mouth, emanating she shouldn't say this out loud; Kassim might've alot of embarrassing moments to tell her.

If only he knew.

They arrived at the living room, where Kassim was majestically seated on one of the lush sofas that adorned the living room. He had his eyes fixed on the tv, nibbling on the cookies Adyan brought to him.

"You need to close your eyes, she's too beautiful for you to see her just like that without me teasing your eyes!" In the blink of an eye, Adyan was behind Kassim and had his eyes blocked with his palms.

Hayfah let out a chuckle, and Kassim's heart lost a bit. He was mistaking, that would never happen, ever!

"Here; is the Queen Of Hearts, My Rania!" He exclaimed and Kassim had his eyes coalesced with Hayfah's.

She steadied her balance and flashed him a factitious smile. "The long awaited brother of Hayatee is here; we welcome you to our humble crib, Hamma Kassim!" She greeted with so much aplomb, finding a seat at the far end of the living room.

Kassim had never been this grateful in his life; until Adyan closed his eyes once again. He had the chance to recollect his lost senses, the siezed breaths and halted working organs. He heaved a sigh as Adyan opened his eyes again, slumping beside him_excited.

"Masha Allah! She surely deserves to be the Queen of hearts; Adyan! Thank you so much...? What's her name? I've always known her as Rania or Queen of hearts!" He chuckled softly, looking between Adyan and his ravishing Queen.

"I'm Hayfah Talhah Muhammad!" He felt her old crying voices resonating through his earlobes, but surprisingly; he didn't heard the huskiness of her voice now, rather; it sounded normal as it would ever be. Her eyes that always held an unvoiced pain were now filled with a glint of an overwhelmed happiness, so was her glowing skin and forever beautiful face.

"What a nice name! I hope he wasn't disturbing you with his talks and childish acts? Adyan can be a baby, and also..."

"A lachrymose!" They exclaimed at the same time, Adyan screamed out of annoyance and they laughed at his childishness.

"Kassim, you aren't here to embarrass me right? she've known almost all those embarrassing moments of my life from Sorella, don't add more!" Adyan whined and closed his mouth from uttering the next words he intended to utter.

They gisted for a mean time before Hayfah excused herself and left for the kitchen to start preparing for their lunch. She could hear their chortles, Adyan's shouts when Kassim smack him, and lots more of amazing siblings time.

What kept ringing in her mind was; so Kassim knew how to be this soft and loving, but all he did to her was causing grief. How ironic life was, for she; the lady he always sabotaged, turns out to be the person his family calls the queen of hearts.

"Rania, we're leaving for Zuhr salah, need any help there?" Adyan yelled from the living room. Whenever she heard even his voice, she forgets her worries; and this was among those moments.

"No Hayatee, have fun with Hamma Kassim; I've dashed him you for today!" She yelled back, stirring the soup.

He tried walking into the kitchen when Kassim dragged his wrist, "Wait Kassim; I have to practice a sunnah; before leaving for the mosque, the prophet peck his wives on their foreheads, so the reward man!" Before Kassim could reply, he sprinted off to the kitchen and found her trippling on her feet to reach a shelf so she could bring out the warmers.

"Let me help with this, Rania." She sighed out of relief and backed off, he placed the warmers on the island before he turned to her and they stared at each other before curving smiles on their faces.

"I love you," he hushed and pecked her forehead.

She closed her eyes and savoured the moment she enjoys the most, "And I love you more. I'll forever Thank Allah for having you." She smiled genuinely at him, before they could utter another word, they heard Kasism's voice telling him he was out already.

He motioned for her and ran after his brother, Hayfah let out a breath and put everything in the warmers before arranging the table. She walked Back to her room and bath before they come back from the mosque. She was praying when she heard their salaams as they walked inside the living room.

Adyan walked to her room and found her saying her last tahiyah, he walked over to her and sat down facing her. She smiled and squirmed so she could be comfortable. He took her hands in his and began saying the tasbihs with them; he utter his a bit loud; while she say hers in her mind. This has always been their routine since they came back to their house, he always go to the mosque and pray, but would usually say the tasbih with her fingers_she wouldn't trade the world for this spiritual moment of theirs. What beats walking into Jannatul Firdaus, hand in hand with your spouse? You could look into each others eyes and smile, knowing that you made it!

"We left him waiting," She reminded, when he tried leaning on; and she knew the meaning of that.

"He's going to dice me up and feed you with my raw meet!" Adyan exclaimed and they stood up together, Hayfah laughing at how agitated he sounded.

"You must be laughing, that man can nag for africa, let's meet him." And they walked out hand in hand, until they reached the dining table and Hayfah peeled off her hand to serve them.

They exchanged pleasantries with Kassim before they walked to the dining table together. Hayfah served Kassim and they sat there watching him as he bagan eating his food.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Aren't you going to eat?" Kassim asked, but the look Hayfah flashed Adyan when he tried talking proved his instincts.

He laughed. Hayfah was finding everything about him adventurous, it was a completely new person she was seeing.

"So you can't eat without feeding each other right? I can move to the living room, please do all your norms!" He chuckled again and walked to the living room with his plate and cup in hand.

"It's okay we..." Before she could complete her sentence, Adyan beat her at it.

"Thank you man, I was damn hungry!"

"Fear Allah, Adyan; I'm your brother!"

He opened his mouth to retaliate when Hayfah scooped a handful into his mouth. "Learn how to be shy for once!" She scolded, and that's how they ate their food with hushed tones_courtesy of Hayfah.

It was nearly Asr prayer before Kassim bid them adieu and left home with a heavy heart. Hayfah was relieved that she didn't let the grudge she has on him stopped her from treating him the way he deserved to be treated. Adyan was ecstatic, his family loves and address his Rania as the Queen Of Hearts.

***

TWO MONTHS LATER.

She could've laughed it off, if in the past three months someone told her that she would find an unending happiness; because that's what she tagged among the impossibilities in life_but here she is, without anything to think of but the love of her life. She has all she thought life would never bring her way, each and every blessing she dared not dreamed of.

They were driving back home from the company, Kassim spent only two weeks and left for Maldives_saying he has found a decent job there. Hayfah had her face covered with the hem of her hijab, she had been feeling dizzy for over a week now; but whenever Adyan ask her_the only thing that comes to her mouth was 'stress'.

He looked at her and turned the direction he was heading to. He was tired of always seeing her tired, plus she had became a sleepy head he had never imagined Hayfah to be. He parked his car and slowly tapped her shoulder.

Hayfah opened her eyes and squinted them lightly, unable to register the building they're in. "Hayatee, where are we?" She asked with a sleepy voice, looking at the building throughly.

"In the hospital, Rania. I'm tired of seeing you always sick and weak. Let's get in." He didn't wait for her answer when he got out of the car and walked to her side.

"I'm not getting in there, I told you; it's just stress. I would have a good sleep, and I will be fine."

"That's what you've alwags been saying. Just come out so the doctor could prove the stress or otherwise." He argued, emphasizing the stress.

"I'm not going in there!"

"Rania!" She knew that voice, and she had no choice but to come out of the car; muffling some incoherent words. Adyan smiled and locked up the car, he love it when she get scared of his threat at times.

They entered the hospital and were taken to the consultant's office. They sat down and Adyan told her all the symptoms he noticed on Hayfah for over two weeks. She took Hayfah to the laboratory and they carried out some tests.

Hayfah was clueless on all that has been happening, all she wants right now is to be ensconced in her duvet and sleep! They walked back to the office, where Adyan was patiently waiting.

Dr. Aysha smiled at them, she looked at Adyan's face and almost chuckled; for he looked scared. "Congratulations Mr. Ardo, she's six weeks pregnant!"

They bulged their eyes at the same time, looked at each other with the most heart pounding expression_before the doctor's words finally registered in their brains. Adyan was the first one that offered his sujudush shukur before Hayfah did hers.

She lifted her head up and before she could register what he was trying to do_he had her scooped into his arms, twirling them around the room. "We're going to be parents, Rania!" Was the only words an overly enthusiastic Adyan could scream at the pitch of his voice.

Hayfah was laughing with tears on her face, she didn't know what to do or what to feel, she hide her face on his neck and kept repeating "Hayatee, I love you!"

Dr. Aysha have never seen crazy couple like them, she laughed until she couldn't laugh anymore before she sobered up and bring up her professional voice "Mr and Mrs. Ardo, we can lost the child by this!" She warned in a stern voice. Just when she wasn't sure they could hear her; she watched as Adyan slowly placed Hayfah on the ground, pecked her forehead and hugged her tightly into his body. The love was raw.