Chapter 46: Chapter 46

They had been in Daada's house ever since they came back in the evening. He had never seen Ihsan this cheerful, it was evident that she loved her parents so much and they're among the few things that make her truly happy. She had told Daada about all the things she loved in Qatar, but her first complain was the weather and how before they bought their car, they had to walk to the bus stop.

Also, they had amazing restaurants with lots of yummy ice creams that Sadeeq couldn't let her have. She showed them her pictures, when she had her face made up by a well known make up artist. How the blue ankara fitted her. She kept talking non stop, and Maama kept taking one bowl from her side, bringing another, brimful of goodies.

It was after 9pm that Daada looked at her and helped her stood up, "You need to be home by now, Ihsan. It's getting late. And we have to go somewhere too." He looked at Maama and she smiled. Daada could never get old of his night dates, Ihsan already felt jealous.

"Another date? Daada this is the third date you guys went out without me, is it fair? Sadeeq, when are we going out too?" She turned her puppy face to Sadeeq and pouted her lips. She didn't get her wishes raised, because she knew all their answers would be the same, and it came out at once, from the three of them.

"You're still sick, Ihsan. Wait until you get better." She looked at them and grunted, they all laughed.

"Sadeeq take her away please, I've reserved a posh restaurant for me and my wife, we shouldn't be late." Daada said and slowly walked her towards Sadeeq, he entwined their hands and walked back to Maama, whom was smiling at Ihsan. She was beyond happy, seeing how Ihsan had moulded her relationship with Sadeeq.

"Goodnight, Daada. I hope you all have a lovely night." Sadeeq said and began helping Ihsan out of the house, but she turned and flashed Daada an angry look before she looked at Maama and said.

"Maama, make sure you have fun and finish off all his money please. We need to have a ladies night, soon." Maama could only laugh, and she promised Ihsan to do what she said before Sadeeq finally got her out of the house.

As they walked towards their house, she looked at him with a peaceful expression, "Sadeeq, do you mind if we have a walk? May be just two blocks then we come back?"

"Vardah, if it's with you, I won't mind walking to the moon. How do you want it to be? Do you want me to give you a piggyback?" He turned his back at her and his knees began going south before she punched him lightly.

"Sadeeqqq! I said a walk, not some romantic piggyback. You said you're my new confidante, right? I need to get something off my chest." He chuckled before he took her hand in his and they began walking, the soft and soothing wind caressing their skin.

She heaved a sigh and turned to look at him, "Do you know what?" She didn't wait for him to reply before she continued. "I always get this feeling of satisfaction whenever I see Daada and Maama living happily with smiles on their faces. I knew what Daada went through when Maama wasn't back yet, I was all he had and I kept him going. It was rough for me as well, having a single parent that travels almost everyday, but we still managed to have our bond with Daada. He always makes sure he had my time, and I never lacked a father figure in my life.

That's why I was brought up in your house, you know? Because literally, Ummu was the only mother figure I had then before Maama came into the picture. Daada noticed I need some motherly touches here and there to keep me in track, after he divorced his wife, and he couldn't trust any woman again but Ummu. Even though I know Maama is my mother, I still find it difficult to open up to her sometimes, it's always Ummu, because she was the one I grew up with.

But Daada and Maama's love life gives me hope, that no matter how things might take a bitter turn, it will always get better at the end, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. And I know, we might spend years apart if destiny tries to pull a prank on us and see how strong we are, but surely, we'll have our ways back to each other, stronger, and even more in love. Even though I love you so much to wish all this upon us, it's the reality, and we can't run away from it. Love is nothing without pain. The journey of love might be painful at times, but I'm ready to take the risk with you, Sadeeq. But one thing, I'm fragile, please treat me like an egg."

She had tears in her eyes now, she didn't know why she was crying, but she felt like she needed to. They stopped walking, and Sadeeq was doing all he can to look strong, but he was breaking within. He now realize why she was afraid to get married to him in the first place, because she was afraid of having a broken home. She had lived her life with a single parent, later she was tortured by a stepmother and it got to the point she was being transferred from one house to the other. Because he could clearly remember the nights Daada would come back from a trip and take her home with him, eventhough she had started sleeping in their house. It must've been difficult on her. And she didn't want her children to live the life she lived.

She turned to look at him, they were now facing each other. He placed his hands on her shoulders and watched as tears fell down silently. He used his thumbs and cleared them away, carving a smile on his face.

"Ihsan, I know you had a rough childhood, it wasn't your fault, nor was it Daada or Maama's fault. That was how it was written, and there's no way any of you could've escaped from it. And I understand your fear, you're afraid for your children to live the life you lived. I won't promise you a smooth journey, in ours; it'll be rough and tears will be shed, but I promise you nothing will ever affect our child, I'll make sure he or she won't feel lack of belonging. No matter the situation, love always conquers, ours will burn the whole universe."

She smiled with tears trailing down her cheeks. Sadeeq is everything she could ever ask for. She slowly lifted up her legs and merged their lips together, taking him off guard. The sync was slow, with tears, love and promises being merged together. She loved him with all the fire in her soul, with everything she had within her. And she knew, he loved her too, even more intensely than she could ever love him.

•

They already had their bathe, ate the snacks Sadeeq got them from Ummu's kitchen before they prayed. The kind of prayer islam assigned for all the newly weds. And Ihsan found it weird and erratic, she didn't think she's ready for this anymore. And Sadeeq watched as her heart kept beating wildly against her ribcage.

He held both her hands in his and helped her got out of her hijab. Bringing her to his chest, he whispered, "Vardah, it's me, your Sadeeq, your one year gap partner. I've seen it all, this will only be a little too intense. What's there to be afraid of?"

He chuckled when she softly smacked his chest and hid her face into him, she was shy, afraid and wanted the earth to swallow. She knew this day will eventually come, even if they're not in love with each other, but now that they are, she found it hard to accept this and move on.

It started off small; first it was a kiss, turned into a romantic play before they loose it all. And they both felt as they became intimate, souls merged, imprints made, and love made. For the rest of the night, Ihsan couldn't open her eyes, all she did was clasped her eyelids shut, and snuggled more into his chest.

•

Eid-ul Adha day. It was 7:34 in the morning and Ihsan heard the soft knocks coming from the door. She turned to her side and watched as Sadeeq peacefullg slept in his bed. She took her time looking at his face, how he looked handsome and radiant. She was so in love with him.

Not wanting to wake him up, she slowly pull herself up and tried getting out of the bed, but he held her back and she fell on his chest.

"Sadeeq, I need to open the door. I'll be back in a bit." She whispered and tried pulling herself up, yet again.

"Will you be able to? I mean..." he couldn't complete his sentence because of the soft punch she threw on his chest.

"Sadeeq, what are you trying to imply? Of course I can walk. You see? The knocks are getting intense, it might be Ummu or Manal, or even worse; Abbu." She finally pulled herself up from the bed and walked towards the bed. She heard as he asked why would Abbu come and knock their doors? Can't he call.

And she turned and looked at him, "Today is Eid-ul Adha day, incase you're drunk in love and you've forgotten, and we have to get ready for Eid prayer."

She opened the door and there stood Manal, dazzling in a beautiful black Abaya Ihsan bought for them to Twin together. She smiled widely and before they could exchange greetings, Ihsan felt as Sadeeq hugged her from behind and he wrapped his hands around her waist.

"Sadeeq what is this? I can see you're hell bent on damaging my eyesight ever since you came back, Allah I'm going to report you to Ummu, she should stop sending me to wake you guys up. It's tempting!" Manal whined and pouted her lips. They both laughed.

Ihsan turned and softly pecked his cheeks, "Good morning, Manal, Ummu sent you to wake us up for Eid prayer, right?" Ihsan asked, smiling cockily.

"So you're playing along too, right? Yes, Eid prayer, you should be ready, in thirty minutes we're leaving." She said briskly and turned to her heels. Ihsan closed the door and turned to look at Sadeeq, whom was loving at her with all the love he had in his heart.

She hugged him and whispered to his ears, "Sadeeq I'm so sleepy, can you tell them I can't make it to the mosque?"

"Manal has seen us now, if I tell them that she'll definitely think we do something that's why you can't make it to the mosque. And she might've already told Ummu. Should I still tell them you can't make it?"

She began shaking her head roughly, "No! Oh my god, No! Let's go and back, I'll sleep when we're back." And together, they had their bathe.

Ihsan wore the Abaya she bought for herself and Manal, and when they went out to greet Ummu, they looked like twins, only that Manal was a little chubbier than Ihsan. They walked to Daada's house and met them already decked up in their eid attires. Ihsan was persistent that she wanted to follow Daada's car, but Sadeeq had already brought out his car as well.

With pouted lips she entered Sadeeq's car and when she turned, she found him intently looking at her. "What?" She asked, with a puppy face and pouted lips.

"Nothing, I just love you beyond words could tell, Vardah." And she watched as he leaned in and planted a deep, passionate kiss on her forehead.