Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Two weeks later, the wedding preparation began. Maryam was back home and she was more than contented to be back with her parents even though it was just for two months. Aydah's wedding was fixed same day as Maryam's'. They did the whole preparations together even though maryam didn't participate much in anything. She was already married after all.

Aydah was the one that needed more preparations. A month to the wedding, their house was furnished. Mahmud got a new house with the excuse he wanted to start a new life. That old house had too many disturbing but beautiful memories. He didn't wish to be reminded of the things they've gone through. Especially with Habiba. Life used to be tough. If someone was going to tell him he was going to marry his best friend he would call that person a freak. But now, he has her all to himself and he has never been that happy to have her as his wife.

Mujahid found out about their marriage and moved out of the country went back to Canada, where he worked. He couldn't handle all that if he decided to stay around them. He was no longer with Nadia and now the one woman he has hopes on was also gone and he knew there was no way he would get her since she's already married to his brother now. He moved back to Canada and completely faced his work.

Maryam was on her bed typing away from her phone when Aydah sauntered in. She looked at aydah and simpered, "our latest bride, Matar Captain," she teased. "That makes two of us," she asserted, rolling her eyes. Aydah slumped down on the bed beside maryam. She heaved a sigh, staring at the ceiling like it was making her feel less nervous. Maryam peered at her and looked away. "What's wrong, aydah?" She asked, still using her phone. Aydah briskly sat up right, "everything is wrong. I mean.... aren't you even nervous that we're getting married soon?" Aydah murmured anxiously.

"You are getting married," she corrected. "My wedding Fatiha occurred right before my own eyes so I don't see anything that would make me feel nervous or anything," she spoke like it was nothing to worry about which it actually wasn't. "Yes but..... don't you think of life after marriage? We're going to start a new life, like.... urgh.... don't you just feel anything?" She asked shaking Maryam's shoulder. Maryam chuckled, taking her hands away from her shoulder.

"You have forgotten that I lived with your brother for about a year? C'mon aydah, what happened to you? Where is the carefree aydah that I know? Why are you so scared? I've never seen you this way, aydah."

"This is my first love and it happens to be my first wedding if you have forgotten. Why wouldn't I be afraid? Living with a whole man? Geez...." she spoke, horror stricken. "The wedding is not tomorrow aydah! We still have like three weeks so stop worrying too much, okay? I know you'll be fine. You'll be in good hands because if he wasn't good for you, your brother would never agree to it. So take deep breaths and calm down. And don't forget, always pray for the best." Aydah nodded because what maryam said to her really convinced her it was nothing much to worry about.

"This is the reason why I always come to you whenever I have a problem. May Allah reward you maryam. You're such a good person with a soft heart." She engulfed Maryam in a hug.

**

“How are you?” He asked. She raised her head and peered at his straight face. She smiled even though he didn't return it. She couldn't remember when last he asked her how she was doing, heck, she couldn't remember when last she saw him. He only called when he felt like. He had changed a lot and she hated every bit of the new him. She stared at him, praying in her heart that this was not how they were going to live. She couldn't handle it. She wanted her old mahmud back but he was making it more complicated for her. “I’m fine, thank you for asking,” she spoke hesitantly. He smirked and nodded.

“It’s been like three months now and you haven't spoken about what Nadia did to you,” he spoke averting his eyes from her face to the tv. She sighed. She has totally forgotten about Nadia. “I have forgiven her,” she shrugged and looked away. He gawked at her in awe. “You forgive her? After all she has done?” He inquired. She smiled and nodded, eyes on the tv. “Everyone makes mistakes and whoever is patient and forgives, verily, that is among the matters of steadfast determination, right? You've always told me to have patience and learn to forgive, right?” She finally looked at him. She saw the shock registered on his face but he masked it up with a smile and nodded. “May Allah reward you for this. And may Allah give me the ability to take good care of you and be the best husband to you.”

A grin spread over her face as she muttered an Ameen. She adjusted her veil and sheepishly looked away. “You haven't told me if you needed anything for the wedding preparations.”

“No, everything is set. I’m not having any event as you know, aydah isn't having any too... so... we’re set.”

He looked at her face for brisk seconds and smiled. “I want to take you out, now, somewhere.” She gave him a questioning look. “You should go inform mommy we’re going out now. I’ll be waiting for you in the car.” He rise up from the sofa. She looked up at him, “but it’s past 8pm. Where are we going?” She questioned. He chuckled a bit. “We have gone out late in the night before and you never get scared so why are you scared now that I’m literally your husband and I can decide to take you away with me.” He raised a brow waiting for her to recover from being socked.

She blushed and averted her gaze. “Now, I’ll be waiting for you in the car,” he informed before stepping out. She stared at his retreating back till he disappeared. She sighed and stood up. She headed upstairs and changed before informing mommy they were going out.

He looked at her the moment she stepped into the car. He couldn't help but smile, “you look so.... Ravishing.” She smiled sheepishly and nodded, “thank you,” she mouthed. He smiled again before they zoomed out of the compound.

She looked around, heart racing the moment they were starting to leave town. “Relax please, I’m not going to kill you and dump your body in the bushes..... Or maybe I can....” He gawked at her for brisk second and moved his eyes back on the road. He let out a soft chuckle. Her heart beating loudly against her chest. She shouldn't be afraid but for some reason, she was. “Relax, just look at the road, we’re heading to the airport.” He informed. She exhaled the breath she has been holding and slumped back down on the chair. “Killing my wife is the last thing I would do in this world so relax, manha. I’m always here to protect you.”

Even though things weren't going as she wanted and he has totally changed but the respect she held for him was like an aged cheese. It became stronger with age, more mature, more robust. He was unfailingly kind, he always puts her first and himself last. She admired him.

The car came to a halt in front of the building where his office was. “Lets go in,” he said and hopped out. She slowly opened the door and alight from the car. “What are we doing here?” She whispered. They entered the building. Some workers were still around. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple as they walked towards the elevator. She smiled sheepishly as different eyes gawked at them. They entered the elevator and he pressed the number that would take them to his office.

“You will see whatever it is that we’re doing here.” He murmured, moving her closer to his body. This was the second time she was feeling his warmth. Everything felt so good and right but she felt uncomfortable. She breathed heavily and rest her head on his chest.

Few second later, the elevator slide opened and they walked out. He unlocked his office and ushered her in. She looked around before she settled down on the sofa. She missed the times she used to come visit him and hangout all day with him. So many good memories there.

She watched as he turned on his computer. She sighed and checked the time on her phone. It was almost 9pm. She looked up at him, “mahmud,” she called out softly. He looked at her face. She tilted her head and pouted. He couldn't help but laughed a bit. “I just need to set some things before we leave..... I just hope this works,” he murmured the last sentence.

“Done,” he muttered after few minutes. He turned off the computer and stood up. “Now lets go, its ready,” he spoke and grabbed her hand. They stepped out of the office to the elevator. “And you should not ask any questions anymore. Whatever it is you'll see.” She sighed and raised up her hands in the air murmuring ‘I give up.’ He smiled and nodded.

He massaged her hand while looking at her. She looked back for brisk second before taking her eyes away. They stepped out of the building to the hangars. She paused and looked at him. He looked back and raised a brow. She shook her rapidly, “where are we going to? We’re leaving the country?” she questioned. He couldn't hold the laughter. “It’s not yet time for our honeymoon, remember? You said you wanted to learn how to fly a plane so we’re here,” he reminded her. She shook her head again. “But it’s getting late now, mahmud. We should... no we should go home and come back some other time or never come back.” She snatched her hand away and started walking to where he parked the car. He looked around, few people were there. He shrugged and walked over to her. He picked her up by the waist and started walking towards the helicopter. “By Allah mahmud I cannot fly a plane, please let me down.” She panicked, breathing heavily.

He dropped her down and grabbed her shoulders. “We’re using the helicopter now instead and I’ll fly it. I just want you to refresh your mind and forget about your worries for at least an hour. Is that okay?” She stared at him for what seems forever before nodding. “Good,” he smiled and hugged her. She embraced him firmly and closed her eyes. In his arms, she felt safe and nothing would ever dare to come near her.

They entered the helicopter and he helped her to buckle up her seatbelt. This was the second time she was getting into a helicopter and he was the reason. The first was when they traveled to Bora Bora and he rented a whole chopper for them.

“Are you ready?” He looked at her. She peered at him and smiled before nodding. He smiled and within few minutes, they were in the air. She closed her eyes firmly like something horrendous was going to happen. His soft hand touched hers. He held it tight and whispered, “you can open your eyes now, manha.”

She slowly parted her eyelids and sat up right. She looked through the window and smiled. The view was so enticing that she couldn't hold the joy. “The view from up here is so beautiful, mahmud,” she exclaimed holding his hand closer. He beheld her figure for a minute. He admired everything about her, from the way the breeze blew her veil to the soft Irish lilt to her voice. To him she looked like some kind of water sprite. But what really made him head over heals for her was the way she dealt with her patients. She always knew the right words to utter and how to deal with things no matter how tough things were.

They roamed around the city for about an hour before he flew them back to the airport. “I enjoyed every bit of the ride. it’s so beautiful, oh my, it’s just so.... Amazing.” She cheered as they walked towards his car. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “I’m so glad you're smiling now and I’m glad you enjoyed the ride.” His soothing voice made her heart to throb hard in his love. How does she even manage to hide her feelings for this long? “We would do it more often, okay?” He added. She nodded in agreement while beaming.

He opened the door for her and she hopped in. The ride back home was a silent one. The silence was somehow comforting and spoke for itself, it was peaceful in a way where she could feel at home and know that no matter what was happening, he was forever there fo her.

He parked the car in the parking lot. “I appreciate everything that you do for me and thank for always being patient with me.”

He moved his face closer to hers. She sits frozen, from both fear and excitement. He leans in, so his forehead rests against hers. They closed their eyes. Both their breaths were shaking. “Thank you,” he says, his voice low and husky.

“For what?” she asked in barely more than a whisper. “For being you.” His voice wavers, exhilarated from the tension between them. She couldn't help but smile while he gently leans in and kissed her warm lips. He kissed her and the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in many ways that words would never be. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. They pull apart and took shaky, shallow breaths.

Unable to contain himself, he holds her head in his hands and pulled her into a fiery and passionate kiss. Her hands work their way round his body, feeling each crevasse, each line along his perfect physique. They pulled apart and opened their eyes.

They stared at each other, deep into each others eyes. Mahmud's full of wonder and love, maryam’s full of fear and passion. No words were spoken but a story worthy of them to communicate. He leans in and softly kissed her forehead. “You should head in now, its getting late,” he whispered. She blinked and nodded briskly. “Right, right. I’ll.... Good night....” She stuttered. She quickly opened the door and stepped out of the car before he got the chance to speak again. She closed the door and picked up her pace. He stared at her retreating back till she entered the house. He simpered, scratching the back of his head. A beginning of a beautiful love story.