Previously…
Asma
I couldn’t say it. The vivid memory came
rushing back, and I bit my lip awfully hard to stop the tears from plunging
down my hazy eyes, until I tasted trickles of blood on my tongue. Why was he
making me recollect painful memories that were long behind us? I turned around,
refusing to show him my face, and squared my slumped shoulders. Just as I started
for the door, he whispered something into the tense air.
3bdulla: “You may see him as a brother, but he sees you as something much more.”
And to think I thought he would apologize.
_____________
3bdulla
It tore me up to see her tears, and
it took all I had to keep from reaching out to her. She needed to see the
truth. She needed to stay away from Rashid. Why was she so damn blind? But that
thought disappeared as I saw her leave, and even though an apology was right at
the tip of my tongue, I refused to say it.
Me: “You may see him as a brother, but he sees you as something much more.”
Her stubbornness angered me, and she wouldn’t
get away with it. I jumped off the bed and reached her in three long strides
just as she was about to turn the doorknob. I whirled her around and held her
by her slim shoulders, glaring into her defiant eyes.
Me: “I didn’t say you could leave. We’re not
finished.”
She struggled under my gentle but
firm grasp, trying to wriggle free. I pinned her to the door to stop the sudden
urge to kiss her.
Me: “Stop it.”
She refused to cry or to flinch away
from my harsh voice. It was evident in her luminous eyes. She also refused to
say a word, which angered me even more. I stood for about three seconds of
tensed silence before I let out a curse and took her mouth into mine. She was
taken aback, pushing rebelliously at my chest, but as I deepened the kiss, she
relaxed and opened up to me, sliding her hands around my neck. I broke free of
the kiss and heard her moan. She surprised me when she finally let the tears
spill.
Asma: “Why do you do this to me? Why are you
torturing me when you know the truth?”
Before I could stop the words from
escaping my mouth, I automatically answered her.
Me: “Because I love you. Because I can’t bear
the thought of you belonging to someone else. Because you’re mine.”
Asma: “I was never his. I was always yours. I had
my doubts about you before, but my feelings never changed, even then.”
I was suddenly dumbfounded, not knowing
what to say, because I realized that she was right.
Asma: “And you know that.”
She saw the guilt in my eyes and
took advantage of it. I nodded reluctantly, lowering my gaze.
Me: “Mhmm…”
I felt her relax against my body as
she tipped my chin up with her thumb, looking at me with a mixture of what
seemed like amusement and caring.
Asma: “Now then, do you have anything you want to
say to me?”
I knew what she wanted to hear, but
how I hated saying it. At first I refused, and then I saw her frown, and I knew
that I was testing her patience.
Me: “Sorry…”
I grumbled. She beamed at my words.
Asma: “What was that?”
Me: “Don’t push your luck, okay!”
Asma: “You stubborn, arrogant man. I shouldn’t let
you get away with half the things you do to me.”
She shook her head incredulously. I smiled
then.
Me: “But you still do.”
Asma: “And God knows why!”
I gave her a light kiss then, unable
to resist the sweet taste of her.
Me: “Because you love me.”
I whispered hoarsely, and picked her
up and carried her to the bed as she laughed in eagerness. I made a mental note
to have a word with Rashid, but every thought was cast out of my mind as I
pinned her beneath me and kissed her slowly, teasing her. She was resistant at
first, as if trying to teach me a lesson or to torture me, but she eventually
gave in and opened up, and I took her in a fervent kiss, promising much more.
Asma
Daylight crept up through the
curtains, provoking my closed eyelids to open. I turned around, facing away
from the unwelcome light, and reached for 3bdulla, snuggling into him. A soft
smile crept up my lips as he held me and let me sleep a little more. My feet
curled around his, hungry for his warmth, and he trembled at the innocent motion,
hovered over me and kissed me awake.
3bdulla:
“Good morning.”
His velvety whisper tickled into my
ears. I shifted a little and slowly opened my eyes, peaking up at him. I smiled
warmly.
Me: “Good morning 7beeby. Did you sleep well?”
3bdulla:
“With you beside me, always.”
I blushed as I remembered last
night, the first time I completely gave in to him after we had lost our
daughter.
3bdulla:
“Amoot feech.”
He whispered as he started to kiss
the curve of neck. I savored the feel of him on my skin for a slight moment
before I let reality seep in.
Me: “Mmm, yalla we have to get up…”
3bdulla:
“We don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
He stopped his gentle kisses for a
moment as he looked up at me and smiled knowingly, adding a wink. I laughed. One of us had to be sensible.
Me: “No 3abady, we need to get up. We’re moving
back to your house today, remember?”
He groaned and planted a light kiss
on my lips before he got off of me.
3bdulla:
“Always the over thinker.”
I laughed at his slight frown.
Me: “Don’t worry, you have me for the rest of
the day. I didn’t make any plans on purpose.”
3bdulla:
“And the rest of the night, I hope.”
He winked and rolled off the bed,
heading into the dressing room to locate his clothes. I shook my head at him in
bemusement, starting my own morning rituals as I headed for the bathroom. I
heard his voice saying something through the door as I brushed my teeth and
washed my face.
Me: “What?”
I turned around and kicked the door
slightly open to let his voice through, and I stopped brushing my teeth midway
as I heard his words.
3bdulla:
“I’m going to have a talk with Rashid
today. Just thought I should let you know.”
I quickly spat the foamy toothpaste
from my mouth and gurgled water, choking a little in my hurried movements as I
rushed over to him. I gasped a little at the sight of him, his wizar the only
piece of clothing on him. His chest rippled with muscle as he turned around to
face me. He smiled arrogantly at my slight distraction.
3bdulla:
“Like what you’re seeing?”
I blinked and shook my head,
refusing to look anywhere but into his eyes.
Me: “What are you going to talk to Rashid about?
I thought we resolved this.”
3bdulla:
“We did, but he didn’t. He’s obviously in love with someone, and I’m going to find out whom, if not for my sake then for yours.
And you will then stop fretting over him. Is that understood?”
I nodded my head in obedience at his
commanding tone, suppressing an argument.
Me: “Promise me you’ll go easy on him.”
He rolled his eyes and turned around,
his back facing me in impudence, and he picked up his kandora and slipped it on
top of his head. I crossed my arms and waited in exaggerated patience. He
finally turned around.
3bdulla:
“I’ll deal with it, and that’s all I’m
promising. Now take that frown off your face, it doesn’t suit you.”
He kissed my temples and smoothed
the creases of the long-gone grimace. I hugged him tightly and bade him a good
day, and went over to start packing our things. I made a silent prayer to Allah
to have this matter resolved painlessly and quickly. I pushed aside my worries
and put my complete faith in Him, and started to take my belongings out of the
closet. I summoned for the maid to come and help me, and I numbly packed the
rest of my things as I worried over Rashid and 3bdulla’s conversation. Grimly,
I thought of how to act in the case that Rashid’s mystery girl did, in fact, turn out to be me, even
though the chances of it were sleek. I thought of 3bdulla, and prayed to God
that it wouldn’t come to that.
To be continued…
