Chapter 70: Chapter 70

“Habibti... Wake up.” Dashtan said that with a soft intonation as he woke up his wife who was still fast asleep. This was the first time he had seen his wife wake up later than usual. Rakia just squirmed and mumbled something incoherent. Dashtan smiled at the woman’s childish behavior.

“Hey, wake up, do you want me to have breakfast alone?”

Rakia’s hearing had apparently fully recovered even though sleepiness still had its grip on her. She clucked then painstakingly lifted her eyelids. She only saw Dashtan’s figure in faint shadows.

“Five minutes,” Rakia said in a typical sleepy tone. Dashtan smiled again. Rakia exhaled through her nose loudly then struggled to shake off her sleepiness and open her eyes fully.

“I want to take a pass today,” Rakia said which made Dashtan frown.

“Why, are you sick?” The man immediately checked his wife’s forehead then face to neck. Rakia shook her head weakly then said, “I’m just... Lazy.”

“Lazy? You’re not usually like this.” For Dashtan, this was the first time he had heard the woman give such a ridiculous excuse for not coming to work. He knew who Rakia was, a woman passionate about her profession and this time he had just heard a side of Rakia he did not know. Rakia chuckled at Dashtan’s comment which seemed surprised and disapproving of her taking a pass from work today.

“I’m honestly tired and need a vacation.” Rakia closed her eyes for a moment then opened them again and looked at Dashtan. Not entirely what she said earlier was a lie, somehow she wanted to briefly leave all her busy work and go on vacation for a few days, and she thought of a place far away, on the beach with a resort, a beautiful sea view without people passing by. Her mood had been volatile lately, and she thought it might be because of her pregnancy.

“So, where do you want to vacation?” asked Dashtan who was curious about Rakia’s unexpected wish. The woman got up from her reclining position.

“I was thinking of a beach with a private resort, not many people and no noise.” Rakia expressed her wish. Her husband raised his forehead as his lips turned forward slightly.

“I’ll think about it, I have to organize my schedule first before I can fulfill your wish.” Dashtan’s words made Rakia look at the man brightly.

“Do you want to do it?” asked Rakia for confirmation. Dashtan felt that his wife was in childish mode. Previously Rakia’s attitude towards him had always been mature in response to things, but right now she looked like a five-year-old who was happy to be taken to an amusement park.

“Sure, anything for you, Habibti.”

Rakia smiled fondly and then she hugged the man’s body and leaned on his back. Somehow this morning she was so happy that Dashtan would grant her wish to go on vacation.

“Come on, accompany me to breakfast, you can send your permission letter later after we have breakfast.”

Dashtan left the room first leaving Rakia who quickly got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Five minutes later, she joined Dashtan at the new granite table in the kitchen. She first served Dashtan coffee and then cooked breakfast. Toast stuffed with lettuce, sausage and eggs and mozzarella cheese was enough to fill their hungry bellies in the morning. Rakia peeked at Dashtan before she made milk for her, lest he catch her drinking pregnant milk.

“You drink milk? Since when?”

Rakia didn’t expect Dashtan to be that sensitive to her habits. She rarely drank milk, only when she wanted to but the doctor said she should reduce caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea. She had been a tea connoisseur, but due to the demands of pregnancy she had to temporarily abandon that habit.

“Just wanted to, after all I haven’t had milk in a long time,” Rakia argued which Dashtan thankfully responded to with an unsuspecting nod.

“But, if we go on vacation what about Dalilah?” Rakia looked at Dashtan expecting a solution. Although she cared for the woman only a little but she couldn’t just make Dashtan abandon the woman, after all Dashtan was married to her.

“She's coming home this weekend, we can go when she's not here, right? Even if she comes home and finds us not there, she can’t do anything about it.” Dashtan said that without feeling burdened at all. Even though she was married to Dalilah, she had never thought of treating that woman the way she treated Rakia. His marriage to Dalilah had very clear boundaries, out of necessity. He could no longer open his heart to her.

“But, she will be alone here.” As a woman she thought of Dalilah from that perspective. Mrs. Hunt was not entirely at home, it would be risky to leave her alone in the house.

“I’ll let her know we’re going on vacation, that way she can decide whatever.” Again Dashtan offered a solution that reflected indifference. Even to Rakia it was obvious that Dashtan was desperately trying to be cold to Dalilah.

After they had breakfast, Rakia walked Dashtan to her doorstep.

“Call me if you need anything, I’ll see you in the afternoon,” Dashtan said and kissed Rakia’s forehead deeply and long. The woman closed her eyes as she felt Dashtan’s lips on her forehead.

“Oh, yes, don’t forget the lunch invitation at my mom’s house this afternoon,” Rakia reminded Dashtan who was also reminding herself. Dashtan nodded and went to his car. Rakia stared at her husband’s departure pensively for a moment.

“I don’t know how long I can hide this from you, I hope you fulfill my request.” Rakia made her wish that morning before going back into the house. Mrs. Hunt came ten minutes later as she was washing the dishes of her breakfast file. She told her not to cook lunch, and just do the other work she had to do. While Mrs. Hunt was busy in the loundry room, Rakia took the opportunity to enter Dashtan’s workspace. She pressed a few numbers on the door lock and once it opened, she quickly entered and closed the door quietly. She immediately approached Dashtan’s desk which looked neat and clean. However, the main target was the laptop that was currently on the table in a closed state.

As she turned on the laptop, she cursed as it asked for a security code and she had no idea what it was. Finally, Rakia turned the thing back off and put it in its original state.

“Ah, damn! He must have kept the treaty on his laptop.” Rakia grumbled, annoyed. She just wanted to know what kind of agreement her husband had with Dalilah. Finding nothing after searching all the places she assumed the file was kept, she left with a frown on her face. She went to her room and Dashtan to quickly draw up a permission letter and send it to DS.