manal | achraf hakimi [COMPLETE]

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23/1/2023

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[1087 words] - shorter chapter

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'you scared me.' manal said, gasping as she suddenly found herself beside her fiancé/husband. she was lost in thought and hadn't heard him approach her. she was pulling up the bucket from the years old well that people had now abandoned in favour the modern pumps that had sprung up around villages and towns used by the odd person.

'assalam alaikum.' he started off, making her smile. she was still wearing her niqab, and achraf just stared at her not listening to her response.

she appeared to take notice and raised an eyebrow, something that her exposed eyes seemed to perfectly showcase. her eyes had grown lighter, he noted. she reached up to take off her face veil, revealing her face underneath. she quickly put it away in her tote bag that she always seemed to carry around.

'achraf, i'm talking to you. are you even listening?' she questioned, lowering the bucket down the well. she didn't need water, but she didn't know what to do with her hands and decided to busy herself.

'yeah yeah, i'm listening.' he cleared his throat, 'was there a reason you called me here?' he asked.

'do i need a reason?' she jokingly asked, looking away when she felt some weight in the bucket and decided to pull it up. achraf shook his head, moving forward to pull the bucket up with her. his hands landed on where hers were on the ageing rope. she glanced at him as he pulled on the rope for her, bringing it up.

she had seen him up close yesterday, but today she could see his long lashes and his brown eyes from a depth she hadn't seen before. her mind wandered back to 6 years ago, where she was stood with him helping her with the water by the same well.

subhanallah. she thought. ya Allah, how perfect are your plans.

she was so busy staring at him that she hadn't even realised that the bucket of water had already surfaced and she hadn't let go for the rope. his hand was still over hers. she could feel the intricate dents and details of his hand, the smoothness of his palm, the way his fingers clasped over hers.

he was looking at her now as well, realising her vague answer was being answered through actions rather than words. his eyes flickered to where her hands were, and gently tugged on it to pull it so that it was in between them.

'if it was up to me manal, we would get married right now.' he complained about the situation.

'we are already married achraf.' she deadpanned.

'you know what i mean.'

a second passed before she spoke again. 'we've waited this long,' she was referring to the years that had passed in between their childhood meetings to present time. 'i'm sure you can wait longer.'

'the sun is about to go into its descent in the sky, while you and i stand here hand in hand. i don't think there is a more perfect time to get married than this.' he reasoned, pulling her closer, the bucket of water long forgotten.

'you've become a romantic,' she quirked her brow, not letting go of his hands. she didn't know when she became so bold, but she wanted to see him and talk to him in person.

'you make people do things unknowingly manal,' he brushed his thumbs over her medium tan hands. 'you are the most beautiful person i've ever met.' he spoke, looking into her eyes that flickered away from the intensity of his gaze.

'have you started watching those dramas iman is obsessed with, you're beginning to sound like them.' she couldn't look at him straight as she spoke. achraf pulled his hand up to reach her face. his fingers glided under her chin, raising it so she was looking at him again.

he felt the warmth radiating from her cheeks, a giant indicator that she was blushing.

'i don't think you mind so much that i can be romantic.' he whispered. the atmosphere between them became thick, the desert surroundings made them aloof from the restraints of reality. manal didn't have a reason to push him away with the excuse that someone might see them. they weren't doing anything wrong either.

'i don't.' she clarified. if this is what it felt like being with achraf, then she would have called him to come back earlier.

'i don't know about you manal, but this is kind of the bit where we kiss.' achraf half joked, wanting to ease the tension. he knew manal would never be comfortable doing anything more intimate than holding hands, especially before becoming official. but that doesn't mean he didn't want to. it felt like a perfect moment, the sun setting in the background, them alone by the well.

'astaghfirullah.' she let go of his hands, taking a step back. he's such a foreigner it's painful. she thought, rolling her eyes at his eagerness.

he stood behind her, wrapping his hands around her waist, as they looked at the sun set in real time. she didn't fight it, instead choosing to lean onto him. she wasn't a short girl by any means, taller than average. but his height made her seem way too small for her liking.

there were only 15 minutes left until maghrib.

'when we go back to spain, we'll have to host another ceremony.' he said. 'some of my family couldn't travel for the wedding.'

manal hummed in agreement, thinking about how he should shut up so they could savour the moment. but then a thought crossed her mind.

'achraf?' she asked, craning her head up to face him. he was still stood in the same position, with arms still securing her waist.

'yes love.' he replied, putting his chin on her hijab clad head.

'you'll never break my trust.' it was a declarative but posed as a question. she didn't have any concerns, except of course 'elma', but she wanted to hear him say it to her.

'i can't spend jannat with you if i go around breaking your trust, can i?' he indirectly posed the question back.

satisfied with his answer, she fell back against his chest again, trying to enjoy the moment while also keeping an eye on the watch he wore.

she needed to be home by maghrib.

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thank you for reading. i had fun writing this chapter and i hope you liked reading it too. i want what they have tbh. my husband needs to be romantic or else idk what i'll do.

your support has been insurmountable and i am forever grateful for readers like you (plural).

please comment and vote! it makes my day!

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