A Tale of Hearts

Chapter Thirty One

Fahad's POV:

There was a week left in Misha and Ibraheem's wedding and a huge part of me wanted to gift Rubab one of the outfits for the wedding. I don't know if she will wear them though but she was my lawful wife and it would be fan-fucking-tastic if she went along with this. I already had a few in mind. Damn, I want to colour coordinate with her for one event. Should I just pick her up and we can go shopping together? That sounds like a plan. Gotta know if she is available though. Honestly? I just need an excuse to meet her without sounding desperate.

I dialed her phone and frowned when she didn't pick up at first. This wasn't like her. She always picks up almost immediately. I called again and she picked up on the second ring.

"What do you want, Fahad?" I heard her hoarse voice grumble on the other side. She sounded irritated.

"What's wrong with your voice?" I stopped on my way to the car.

"I am down with a fever, flu and a sore throat." She replied groggily and I could hear clacking sounds in the back.

"Did you eat medicine?" I had wanted to tease her but she sounded so sick that I wanted to care for her.

"No, there isn't any at home. Mama, Baba and Sohail went to a dawaat. They will probably bring it when they come back in the evening."

"I will bring the medicine you want. I was on my way to your house anyway. Text me the medicine. Did you eat? Should I bring you soup?"

"You don't have to do this, Fahad. I will be fine." I heaved a sigh.

"I love your stubbornness, begum, but not to the point where it physically or mentally harms you. Just text me the medicine and I will be there in 20. Stay in bed. Don't roam around. I don't want you to faint on me." I instructed her calmly as I opened the car door. "I will bring food too. What do you prefer?"

"Just bring anything. Nothing too heavy though because I don't really have an appetite." I was glad that she was cooperating. She was a smart one, my beautiful begum.

"Noted. Anything else?"

"No. Thank you." I could hear her shallow breathing on the phone. It didn't sound good. I should hurry.

"I will be there soon, love. Stay put." Once I heard her mutter a reply, I hung up and reversed the car out of the farmhouse. So much for buying an outfit but atleast I get to meet her so I am content. My phone buzzed five minutes later with a text message of all the medicine I had to bring. I only recognized the Panadol from the list. Oh well, I trust her list. She is a doctor after all. A proper one unlike Ibraheem, that quack.

Stopping at the nearest pharmacy, I handled the pharmacist the list. He gave me a weird look before handing all the medicine to me in a bag. I added an extra box of tissues since she had a runny nose. I paid at the counter and left to go to my next destination which was a restaurant. I didn't know what to get because whenever me, Kamran or Ibraheem got sick, we just ate whatever came our way.

I picked up the order for the soup, grilled paninis, shashlik with egg fried rice and pasta. I had wanted to order steak for her but I don't think her stomach can handle that right now. She really likes steak though. Looking down at the different food bags, I contemplated my choice of food for her. She should be able to eat some of this right? Once I was sure, I had everything, I raced to her place. I had told her I would be there in 20 but it's already been half an hour. Shit. I had stopped at a bakery to get her Nutella brownies and a lotus sundae. I think melted chocolate soothes your throat. Eh, if she doesn't eat it, I will.

I rung the door bell and waited. I was about to call her when I heard footsteps getting closer to the door. There was a sound of a click going off which meant she had unlocked the door. She slowly opened the door and her pale face came into my vision.

"Asalam o Alaikum, begum. You don't look so good. Do you want to lean on me?" I had offered jokingly but she genuinely leaned towards me catching me by surprise.

"Walaikum Asalam. My throat hurts so I don't want to speak. Let's just go inside." I heard her whisper in a croaky voice. I shifted the bags in one hand and placed an arm around her shoulder as we walked inside. I had been inside her house before but only till the drawing room. This time we went straight to the lounge and I placed the shopping bags on the table before turning to her. Rubab pointed to the sofa so I brought her there.

"I brought you food. Eat a little before you take your medicine. Where are the plates?" Rubab just pointed her finger towards what I assumed was the kitchen so I just followed along and found a cabinet with plates and glasses. I brought enough for the both of us and set it on the coffee table infront of the sofa she was sitting on. If Kamran and Ibraheem had seen me right now, they would have choked on their spit and video-graphed the entire thing.

I transferred the soup into a bowl I had found and then poured soup from there into a smaller bowl for her. I then gave her a spoon and blew on the soup before handing it to her. She looked at it reluctantly.

"Drink it, Rubab. Don't make me force it down your throat." I told her sternly and she muttered something under her breath before taking a sip. I had underestimated how sick she was. Her wrist was burning up. Her eyes were turning red. I had wanted to spoon feed her the soup but I had to set up the other food so I multi-tasked while she ate.

"I can't eat anymore right now, Fahad so leave the food for later. I really need to take medicine so get me that." Realizing that I can't force her, I complied and placed all the medicine infront of her while handing her a glass of room temperature water. She took a Panadol and then followed it with a spoonful of cough syrup and lastly took a tablet for the flu.

"Do you want to lay down here or should I carry you to your room?" I joked and I heard her smile for a fraction of second before she slowly reclined back into the sofa. I placed a pillow near the arm rest and she laid down properly.

"Thank you, Fahad, for everything." Her eyes were closed but I could tell she was awake.

"Don't worry about it. You are my dear wife. I can't afford to get you sick now, can I?"

"I can't believe I am saying this but I am lucky to have you." With that, she fell asleep. I decided to stay around until she would wake up. I had already texted Sohail that I had come to their house to take care of Rubab and to let auntie uncle know as well. He sent me a thumbs up in return. He was a chill kid.

Little did I know that I would see a completely new side of Rubab when she came about again. The things she said and did left me completely speechless. Oh how the tables turned.

Author's Note:

Hello Asalam o Alaikum Lovelies!

I hope your Ramadan is going really well. Please pray for the people of Palestine as they are being subjected to brutalities and human right atrocities by the Israeli Jews. My heart breaks just looking at the news about that. May Allah protect them Ameen. 

Secondly, please also pray for India. I hope all of my dear readers are safe. The Covid situation in India is so bad and I know that Pakistan and India may not be on good terms but I genuinely hope that things get better for all of you guys. May Allah help you all too Ameen.

Thirdly, I know things are looking really cute and fluffy right now between the two couples but don't worry, the crazies will also come out and you will see the obsession and possessiveness in the main leads as well. It's Ramadan so I am hardly getting time to write plus my sleep schedule is a literal mess. I will try to write more regularly. InshaAllah.