A Piece Of His Heart

Thirty-four

Eliza

"I can't believe I have a job." I said to myself in the reflection, still a little shocked. I hadn't processed that information well enough two nights ago when Waleed had told me. But now that I was awake this early in the morning— I woke up anyway to see Waleed off— it felt more real.

"You're ready?" He sneaked up behind me, pulling his jacket on. Then he gently tucked my hair behind my ear that I was yet to put up in a pony tail. I raised an eyebrow at the small smile he had as his eyes roamed all over my face.

He kissed the top of my head and whispered, "Masha Allah."

"What?"

"You look happy, Eliza, and I want you to stay happy like this."

I was surprised by his sudden mood. "Cheesy much?"

He chuckled lightly and picked up his watch from the table, where I asset it beside mine. "And here I thought you would say something nice to me."

"You've heard enough nice things on the weekend." I muffled a laugh when he squinted at me. "But, because I love you, I hope you stay happy, too." I picked the hair brush and hair tie to put my hair up.

Then he suddenly muttered a curse under his breath, asked me to wait here as if I was going to fly away, and rushed out of the room. Weird, but I shrugged it off.

Five minutes later, he returned with a bowl and spoon. My eyes widened and I couldn't help but laugh at the situation. "Seriously?"

He grinned and nodded, holding up the spoon of yogurt to my mouth. "Mama asked me to do it, and," he reached for his wallet and pulled out all the cash from it before spinning it over my head, "this too."

"I think I got more lucky with my mother-in-law than my husband. Because seriously, where does one find such good mothers-in-law?" I told him honestly because it was true. Shazia Aunty had never made me feel bad about anything.

"I like that you get along with all of my family. It would be a disaster if you didn't." I hummed in response and leaned up to quickly kiss his cheek before I grabbed my bag and walked out of the room.

"Allah Hafiz, kaam pe jaa rahi hun mein!" I called out over my shoulder and waved at him, hearing his loud laugh behind me. He was supposed to be my ride considering we were going to the same place.

*"Allah Hafiz, I'm going for work!"

"Mein chhor dun aapko, meri mehenti biwi?" He caught up to me after switching the lights off. I paused and put a finger on my chin, pretending to think about it then smiled up at him and hooked my arm with his.

*"Shall I drop you, my hardworking wife?"

"Okay, fine. I'll let you drop me." I passed him a wink that made him smile wider. Outside, once I'd locked the front door, Waleed held the door open for me, still acting like my driver.

"Nervous?" He glanced at me once before turning back to the road in front of him. I shook my head confidently, because I wasn't nervous, not at all.