Chapter-20 #Rewritten

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"I am going to read the Quran now." Khadija got up from the sofa. Qibriyah's eyes brightened up seeing her leave. Seeing her enter her room, Qibriyah turned to Hawwa. Today on Tuesday, Hawwa's midterm ended. More than a week had passed since Qibriyah had the dream.

"I want us to attend pre-marital couple counselling." Qibriyah spilled.

"Sure." Then she raised her one eyebrow. "Is this related to you being distant to me a couple of days ago? Were you angry at me for any reason?" Qibriyah didn't show the amazement he felt.

"I wasn't angry. I had a dream." Then he started to reveal the scenes one by one of that cursed memory. After Qibriyah was finished, Hawwa was left with horror in her eyes, her face devoid of any blood. She couldn't bring herself to say anything.

"D-do you think...I could do these things in real life?" Qibriyah closed his eyes for a moment before responding.

"One part of my mind says yes and another no." He saw pain flashing in Hawwa's eyes. Her heart ached for him having a past which shaped his present and for herself, for the way she was portrayed in his mind. "If you want, you can end this courtship."

"No!" Hawwa vigorously shook her head. "Don't you want to court me?" Her voice softened as her shoulders slumped.

"Yes."

"Then we will attend the counselling." Hawwa cheered up. "I am ready to prove that your life with me won't end up like your dream by sharing my passwords, dna test at birth and other things needed. But...you have to get rid of your insecurity as it's your personal responsibility. For your peace and the peace of our future marriage." Her voice turned grim.

"Yeah." Qibriyah replied after a pause. Lines were visible on his forehead, his eyes distracted even though they were staring at her.

"What are you thinking?" Hawwa's face leaned forward, her inquisitive eyes demanding an answer.

"I wish we could know people fully."

"Yeah." Hawwa nodded.

"Then I wouldn't have these insecurities and you wouldn't have to agree for doing things to prove yourself."

"If I had the same insecurities I would have done the same. And as paternity is harder to determine, if I was a man, I would have asked for a DNA test too." Hawwa consoled. Qibriyah nodded with gratitude softening his features.

"I want to share my passwords too."

"Yes!" Hawwa tapped her forehead. "I forgot to mention it. But this sharing has to be temporary. At one point you have to trust me without doing these things. Else, you might end up losing your...trust in me even when there is no reason." Hawwa's stomach turned into knots at the thought of such possibility. She then shook her head to calm herself.

"Let's do it now." Qibriyah's hand went in his black dress pants pocket to bring out his mobile.

"Okay. Let's exchange our phones and check for suspicious activities." She handed out her phone.

Bismillah

Reciting in his mind, Qibriyah began going through Hawwa's phone by tapping on WhatsApp, an unsettling feeling crawling under his skin.

"I have found nothing." After a few minutes, Qibriyah replied looking up from Hawwa's mobile, with relief comforting his skin.

"I am almost done." Hawwa responded. Then a few seconds later. "I have found nothing too." Hawwa looked up. "How do you feel now?" She asked as they were exchanging the mobiles.

"Less complicated." Qibriyah replied earning an amused glance from Hawwa.

***

On Friday, Qibriyah and Hawwa visited Mahir as per their appointment at 4:00 pm.

"What is currently the biggest issue in your courtship?"Mahir asked Hawwa and Qibriyah who were sitting next to each other across the table to Mahir.

"My trust issues." Qibriyah replied taking a glance at Hawwa. She nodded at him.

"Did you two argue over this?"

"No." The two replied in unison.

The session lasted for an hour.

"Do you want to eat or drink something?" Qibriyah asked when he and Hawwa were coming out of the building, the session took place. Accompanied by white clouds in the sky, the sun was shining brightly.

"I want to drink a mojito." Hawwa replied stepping on the footpath out of the building following Qibriyah. Three women slightly older than Hawwa walked past them to enter the building. The hot rays of the sun touched her skin, leaving discomfort. Ahead, the road stood having vehicles running. "I read on internet that there is a restaurant nearby selling only drinks and beverages."

"Do you know the exact address?" Qibriyah asked crossing his arms.

"I will use google map." Hawwa's hands reached out to unzip her purse hanging by her waist to the left. Bringing out her mobile, Hawwa opened the google map. "Here." Typing the name, she looked up to see Qibriyah staring at her intensely. They were a step away from touching each other by the shoulder. Heat rose up her neck. Qibriyah then lowered his gaze to her mobile, his face leaning forward. "Ta-take it." Hawwa inhaled sharply at their proximity, Qibriyah's masculine cologne reaching her. But he seemed unaffected as he was grabbing the mobile. Hawwa moved a few steps to her right, creating more gap between them.  

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