Perfect Together

chapter six

"Speak good or remain silent"

- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

***

Asfandyar watched Daneen smile awkwardly at him as they eyed the bed once again, which was filled with lots of decorative flowers for their special night. They have both changed into comfortable night wears and it was time to sleep, but he had something else planned in his mind.

"Should we pray two Rakat first?" She turned pale at his question making him confused for a second.

Daneen felt shy to admit this but he should be knowing the truth anyway, "I hope you won't judge me for this." Her voice was barely a whisper, "Idontknowhowtopray..." She muttered quickly and looked down, feeling embarrassed.

There was a silence for thirty seconds before he held her chin up and made her look at him, her hazel brown eyes stared at him nervously, "I won't force anything on you, Daneen. I accept I'm quite religious. But I would never force you to be someone who you don't want to be. You can have my word, okay?"

"If you don't know to pray, its okay. I won't ask why didn't you learn but I wouldn't lie I will be happy if you learn it one day though. But then if you don't want to, it's between Allah and you. I'm no one to judge you."

She blinked her eyes, looking taken aback by his words. What is this guy made of? How can he be so good?

"Are you always like this?"

"Like?" he raised his brows at her surprised face, "so good and understanding?" She added.

"I'm not, everyone has their own flaws and I have mine too." Asfandyar had always wanted a wife, who'd pray along with him and guide him more towards the Almighty but Daneen was the complete opposite of his ideal wife. He didn't know how to feel about that, but the Istihkara was positive, he reminded himself once again.

"Will you teach me?" came her meek voice.

"Teach you what?"

"How to pray." Daneen looked down feeling embarrassed, it didn't sit well with her that she didn't know something her husband considered so precious to him. She wanted to experience it herself and see why he is so keen on stuff like these.

"Really?" His face broke into a huge grin as she asked that question, "I would love to teach you, but then I don't want you to feel pressured. I will teach you only if you genuinely wanted to learn."

Daneen noticed the change in his voice from a minute ago to this one and she was intrigued now. Why was he so happy to pray and what is so special about that?

"I want to learn, Saba prays but I never did. Maybe I can learn now..." She muttered nervously, playing with her fingers.

"I will teach you, don't worry. You can just follow my lead tonight and do as I do, I did the same thing in the beginning and slowly we can start memorizing surahs one by one. Take deep breaths now." He instructed her softy and she nodded whilst breathing in and out. It was overwhelming but she wanted this.

Asfandyar was patient with her while teaching how to do the ablution step by step and Daneen was quick to grasp everything. He handed her the prayer mat with a huge smile and that's how they began their new journey as husband and wife.

With him leading her in the prayer and asking the Almighty's blessings for their happy married life. Daneen just followed his actions the whole time and prayed along with him as this new determination to learn everything consumed her heart.