Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Their flight took off. Ihsan leaned her head on the window and stared at the clouds and the buildings downwards. She let her tears flow freely, cursing herself for being adamant, and she had now caused herself a lifetime of hardship and pain.

Sadeeq sat beside her, he looked at her and yawed his gaze back to his ipad, he didn't want any problem again with her, nor did he want to embarrass himself in the plane, for he knew she would shrug any offer of his.

Little by little, her tears kept intensifying; as well as her muffled sobs. His heart broke at every tear shed from her eyes. He wanted to hug her and console her, but he knew not to do that, he knew she would shrug him off-or worst- yell at him.

A woman that was sitting before them turned her face to them, upon Ihsan's intensified sobs. "Aren't you her brother? Console her please," she directed her words towards Sadeeq, whom held a worried expression on his face.

Ihsan looked at the woman with fiesty eyes, as the word she called Sadeeq with hit her ears. Sadeeq knew what would erupt from those lips when she talk, so to avoid any embarrassment, he leaned in and kissed her forehead, hushing some words only audible for her. "Please, I beg of you, don't act stubborn. You should stop crying also, else; you'll get a headache." And he rested her head on his shoulder; to his surprise-she didn't bulge, but only leaned more and closed her eyes.

He kissed her head once more and placed his head on hers, that's how sleep overcame them all. Ensconced in each others warmth, with his breath fanning her head; hers fanning his shoulder.

A slight tap on her shoulder woke her up, she squinted her eyes and looked up, only for he eyes to fall on his orbs, intensely staring at her sleeping face. That's when all dawned on her, she was now sleeping on his laps. She gasped and tried sitting upright when he pulled her back.

"Don't act all fiery, Ihsan. They've all seen how you cuddled me up, I had to tell me I'm your husband to avoid any suspicions. So...," he let the words trailed off, almost chuckling at her shocked expression.

Ihsan clutched her eyes shot, sulking in the embarrassment. She knew she was used to cuddling with her huge teddy, and how wouldn't she be careful as she did yesterday night? She pushed his broad chest off her upper body and sat upright, rolling her eyes at him.

"Weren't you even ashamed when you told them I was your wife? For godsake, Sadeeq? How would you think they would believe that a 19 year old boy got married to an 18 year old lady? That's so stupid of you," she hushed to his ears, peircely rolling her eyes at him.

"Fleshless bone, don't make us start this here. You should atleast wait till we land safely, won't you? The storm is yet to begin, so brace yourself," he smirked and continued whatever he was doing with his ipad.

She hissed and yawed her gaze from his ugly face, as her Daada's thoughts filled her heart. She didn't want to cry infront of him nor the amebos in their plane, so she had to stifle back her tears until she's left alone.

After about thirty minutes, it was announced that their flight would land in Hamad international airport. She buckled her seat belt, shrugging off Sadeeq's helping hand with a glare. They landed safely and were claiming their bags, but none of them was talking to the other, Sadeeq was still angry with her for calling him a boy, and she too was angry at him for claiming that he was her husband.

They were walking out of the airport to hail a cab, with their bags in their hands, when a woman stopped them, her face beaming with a smile. Ihsan instantly recognized her to be the woman that told Sadeeq to console her. She walked over and hugged Ihsan lightly.

"I wish you a blissful married life, Ukhty. I'm Deenah, we went to Nigeria with my husband for some work and we're finally back home. I have to say, your country has an ambience of nature and love," she smiled genuinely. From the way she talked, Ihsan knew she was a talkative. How couldn't she be tired after hours of flight and could still jabber? God!

Ihsan smiled factitiously, she wanted so bad to tell her this boy beside her wasn't her husband. "Thank you for that, Mrs. Deenah. I'm Ihsan," she stretched her hand for a shake, which Deenah took in gladly.

Just then, a man holding a little girl's hand came towards them. They shook hands with Sadeeq before Deenah introduced him to be her husband with their two years old daughter. They exchanged numbers and promised them a visit before parting ways.

Ihsan kept hissing through their journey to their area in Doha: Arab league street, which was close to their school: college of north atlantic, Qatar. They arrived at the area, as Sadeeq told the driver to take them to jelaiah compound 1, where their house was located.

He unlocked the house and took in their luggage. It was as if Ihsan was rooted to her spot, for she didn't enter the house until Sadeeq finished taking their lugagge and found her at the entrace. "What are you doing? Haven't you been to an Arab country before? Would you please come inside? I need to close the door and take my bathe," he snarled, it was obvious; the old sneering Sadeeq was back.

She broke into tears, looking at him in disbelief. "So it is real, I'm really staying here with you? You alone without anyone? Won't you take me to the girls dorm please?" She pleaded, it all dawned on her now, that she was really staying with a man under the same roof; and out of all people, that man had to be Sadeeq.

Sadeeq scoffed, glaring at her. Without a word, he forcefully pulled her inside the house and locked the door behind. He turned and rolled his eyes at her. "In case you don't know what your pugnacity caused for me; first, I don't have the chance to enjoy my life before getting married to the woman of my choice-rather; I got stucked with a shapeless amoeba like you. Secondly; I was once a happy college guy, living in the dorm with lots of friends to have fun with, unfortunately, a fleshless bone came into my life, making me to live off campus, stucked with only her, again. Lastly, I was the one supposed to cry for being stucked with you, not the other way round. So kindly find your way to the first room by your left," with that, he stomped off and entered his room, banging the door on his way.

Ihsan wanted to scream at the top of her voice, she wanted to cry till there were no more tears to shed. So Sadeeq was really telling her all this? How dare he? Did he think she was really into this marriage or would she ever love his sorry self? He must surely regret his words. He was stucked with her right? And she'll make sure she makes his life a living hell!

Walking through their two rooms apartment with one living room, a kitchen and a balcony: bearing a small garden, Ihsan trudge to the said room and entered the bathroom without a second thought. She bathe, prayed and wore a loose cotton gown that stopped below her knees, she packed her messy hair and wrapped it in a veil-before walking out. She wanted to sleep, but the growls her stomach was making couldn't leave her to rest in peace.

She walked to the living room and found Sadeeq eating what she assumed he ordered before their arrival. She took a peak of what he left for her in the white leather and scrunched up her face.

"I don't eat vegetables when I'm tired, infact, even if I'm not," she stood beside him, with her hands at akimbo.

He looked up from the television and glared at her "And how does that concerns me? Daada said I should make sure you eat vegetables because you need blood in your body. Your frail incompleted haemoglobin couldn't provide enough for your fleshless body," he replied, taking his eyes off her, fixing them back on the TV.

Ihsan felt tears sticking the brink of her eyes, swiftly, she blinked them back. He didn't deserve her tears, she would make sure to make his life a living hell. Without a second thought, she snatched the ice cream jar in his hand and scuttled off.

On reflex, Sadeeq stood up and ensued her. "Ihsan!!! Come back here right this instant, don't you dare take a step forward!" He yelled, seriously furious.

"Let me see how you can catch this fleshless bone with a frail and incompleted haemoglobin!" She yelled back sarcastically, speeding off to her room.