When Love Lasts.

VIII

Abdulmateen's POV.

Saratu has been behaving oddly all day and I can't deny that it's getting me worried.

"Babe? What's going on?" I ask sitting next to her on the bed.

"Babe" I touch her arm but she pulls it away aggressively.
"What's wrong?"

She hisses "I'm not a fool Abdul, stop treating me like one"
"When have I ever treated you like a fool?"

She huffs "Right now, that's what you're doing and it frustrates me. I'm not stupid"
I stay quiet.

"Now you're quiet?! Be a man and speak up"
I huff "Speak up? When you haven't told me what my offense is?"

"Don't do this. Don't try to make me a fool because I'm not, I'm not!"

Did I ever mention my sweet wife has anger issues?
Yeah it's really serious.
I huff "What makes you doubt me? What makes you think I'm lying?"

"You've been spending quite some time at your brother's place"
I raise my eyebrows "And I can't spend time with my brother?"

"Yes, not when that girl is there. Why didn't you spend as much time before she was there?"
"Because my brother was barely home, so you're trying to say I'm cheating on you with Safina?"

She scoffs "It won't be the first"
"That happened three years ago and we weren't married. Look, there's nothing going on between Safina and I" I say walking past her, entering the bedroom.

"Abdul?! Where are you going?! We need to settle this now!"
I groan.

::

Safina's POV.

Akbar and I are seated on the rug.
I made us muffins and tamarind juice, he can't seem to stop eating them.

"That's really good" he says gulping down his drink.
I smile.
He and I do this a lot, most nights and I love them, they're the best part of my day.

"You look vibrant this night" he says smiling.
I nod "Yeah, being here like this always makes me feel better"

"I'll try to make it back as early as I can"
I smile.
He'll do that for me?

"You and I have known each other for months, I've never heard you talk about someone you like or relationships aren't your thing?" He asks.

I instantly shake my head "No—I love relationships"
"So why aren't you in one?"

Is this a sign?
Is he trying to make his move now?

I smile "I guess I didn't meet the right man"
He nods.
"Good men are scarce these days"

He smiles "When was your last relationship?"
"Uh—three years back"
He gasps "A pretty girl, single for that long? I don't believe that no one made a move in three years".

"Well, there have been moves, just none that interest me"
He nods "I understand, it's better you meet someone worthy of you but does that mean I'm not a good man?"

He's really making a move.
"Well—you haven't made a move"
He smiles "I didn't mean it that way, I meant you said good men are scarce, would you categorize me as a good man?"

"It depends"
"On what?"

I huff "Nothing"
He just smiles.
"What about you? I'm curious how many relationships you've had"
"Okay, I want to look good infront of you, I really do but being completely honest, I never counted. They just came along and ended almost immediately after"

"They don't last?"
He huffs "Let's just say—uhh—I didn't find the one"

I make a funny face "Where you even looking for the one?"
He laughs "I wasn't, I was just dating for fun actually but—that was years ago"

"So it is true you dated Hanifa?"
"I did. Before I met Hameedah"

I raise my eyebrows "Who is she?"
"The first girl I actually loved, I really endured a lot just for her to notice me, she barely looked at me twice"

I nod.
Whatever it might be, Hameedah is gone now.

"But I want you to be happy, I want you to meet that good man you've always wanted"
"I do too"

He smiles "Maybe he's closer than you could imagine, thinking of you right now" he laughs.

He's laughing it off but I get what he means.
"So? You're not dating Hanifa at the moment?"

He shakes his head "No, then what kind of man would I be? Definitely not the good one you're talking about"
"But she's divorced"

"I'm not talking about her, I'm talking about myself. I can't do that, do I need to explain it further?"

He asked like it was something obvious and I didn't want him to think I was slow witted so I smiled.
"Of course".

::

Akbar was in the living room working on his laptop while I was cooking lunch in the kitchen.
My phone starts vibrating and I pick it up.

"Hello sister" Noor says waving excitedly.
"You missed me that much?"
She nods "What're you doing in the kitchen?"

I roll my eyes "To sleep" I answer sarcastically.
"Anyway, I decided to video call you instead so I can finally meet—Akbar Abdulshaheed"

I shake my head "No you're not"
"I want to meet my soon to be brother in law"
"That's exactly why I won't hand over the phone to him, you'll disgrace me"

"I want to meet Akbar"
"I see no reason why" I turn around and see Akbar standing by the kitchen door frame.

I smile sheepishly.
"She has to go study" I come up with an excuse.

He walks over "I want to meet her, except if you don't want me to"
He says blankly.
He seemed like it didn't matter whether I agreed or not but I didn't want him to think I was ashamed of him because it's far from that.

I raise my phone so he could see her.
He stands behind me, keeping a safe distance.
Meanwhile my sister was smiling so wide you could spot all her teeth, like she was in a toothpaste commercial.

"Hello, Hi" she says nervously.
"You must be Noor, Safina talks about you a lot"

She giggles "You're more good looking than she lets on"
He chuckles "I hope school is treating you right"
She nods "Yes, I'll admit I've been on edge about my sister living with a stranger—I'm relived now, you don't look like a kidnapper"

He laughs "I'll let you two talk" he walks away.
"Noor, what the hell??!! Why would you compare him to a kidnapper?"

"But it's true. My only sister is living with a man she barely knows, I have the right to state my opinions but I really do like him, he seems nice"
I smile "He really is Noor. He and his brother. They treat me like family"

She smirks "Maybe because you'll be part of that family really soon"
I blush thinking about it.

"You think so?"
"Of course. If not then why is he so nice to you? He let you live in his house, how is he sure you're not a witch"

I roll my eyes.
"But seriously I really think he loves you, I think he has real feelings".

I nod.
I hear the door bell.
"Safina, Can you please get the door?" Akbar shouts.
Probably back in his study.

"I'll call you back, there's someone at the door"
She nods.
"My regards to Awwal"

She frowned but nods anyway.
I keep the phone and hurry to the door.

Hanifa was standing infront of me.
She looked shocked.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She asks annoyed.

::