Blue ✓

♠ twenty ♠

Aiyla made her way into the kitchen, heading straight to the worktop where the kettle and tea were placed. Using the place mat, she poured a cup of black ginger tea for herself and black coffee for Rayyan. Next to the stove, a bowl was placed with some aloo paratha that Ammu had made. She placed all of that onto a tray and walked back to their room.

Her in-laws had designated the room downstairs as theirs to allow her to avoid having to navigate the stairs. Apart from that, having lived these years without sight had sharpened her other senses, so she didn't find it that hard to adapt to a new environment despite not having left her own home as much.

Rayyan also made it habit to order anything that could be helpful in her daily tasks. Recently, he had ordered the place mat that can help her pour a hot beverage into the mug precisely without burning herself (after her stubbornness gave her a minor burn on her wrist).

Over her time as a married woman, Aiyla had developed a routine. Rayyan would wake her up for fajr before heading off to the Masjid. When he returned, he would listen her recitation of the juz she was going over. Ammu would prepare some small breakfast during that time. While Aiyla had managed to get her mother-in-law to accept assistance in cooking and general chores around the house, she would not budge on the breakfast. In return, Aiyla would not budge about serving her own husband.

When she walked into the room, she heard the snap of the laptop being closed and put aside. Rayyan took the tray from her when she neared.

"What did Ammu make today?"

"Aloo paratha."

"Yes!"

"What did you talk to Baba about last night?" Aiyla asked, blowing a little at her paratha. After the waleema, Rayyan fully started getting involved in the family business, often working later into the evenings in an effort to fully integrate. But, he always made sure to be home for dinner and their time after that. Last night, however, took a turn as the father and son talked rather late into night.

"Ah. Yes. That." Rayyan placed his cup back onto the tray. "You know your neighbouring house belongs to us?"

Aiyla nodded. After Rayyan had moved abroad, there were a few tenants who moved in.

She tilted her head, a thought entering her head. "You know there were no tenants in that house until you left." She observed.

Rayyan gave a nervous laughter at that.

"Baba really didn't let it out so you could go hang out there?" Aiyla marveled.

"Ah well, I had a habit going there whenever I wanted to leave this house." Inayah had regaled her with many – mainly hilarious and adorable – stories of Rayyan's tantrums after her marriage. "I admit I am ashamed of how I behaved then. Baba married a year after Mama passed away. To me, that seemed like..." He trailed off.

"...he was replacing your mother?" Aiyla finished off. She could... sort of understand that. If Ammi had married after Abbu had passed, she may have felt similarly. Despite not having many clear memories of him, the place of her father in her heart will always belong to him. She didn't think she could ever give that place to anyone else.

"But I was five, and Baba really wasn't equipped to bring up a child by himself. I understand that now of course. But back to the point, the current tenants are planning to move out soon, they bought a house. I asked Baba if we could move there, what do you think?"

Aiyla paused. "You don't have to," she said carefully. "I don't have any problem living here. In fact, I really enjoy Baba and Ammu's company."

"But it's always good to have our own space. Plus, your home is neighbour with that house. You'll be closer to mother-in-law."