Hawwa's Paradise

Chapter-30 #Rewritten

It was an afternoon after a couple of days later. With headphones in her ears, Hawwa was watching an episode of an anime series called, "Rose of Versailles" on her laptop. She was leaning against the head of the bed and beside her, Qibriyah was taking a nap. Sounds of groaning reached her ears. Pausing the video, she looked left. 

The sounds were coming from Qibriyah who then lied on his back. Hawwa witness Qibriyah's face scrunched up in pain, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Her eyes widened.

"Qibriyah! Qibriyah!" Hawwa shook him by the shoulder, her voice drowned in concern. He didn't wake up. Rather, he groaned more, slowly shaking his forehead. She frowned "Qibriyaaah!" Then She screamed by his ear. His eyes suddenly opened as he gasped.

"What did you see?" Hawwa asked sitting straight as she rubbed the sweat from his forehead. Noticing her, Qibriyah stared at her intensely for a few seconds before replying.

"The dream from before about you." Hawwa's jaw widened.

"Is this the second time you are having?" Qibriyah nodded. Hawwa's lip pursued. Her gaze moved away from him.

What could be the reason even after they went through pre-marital counselling?

"Do you want water?" She returned her eyes at him.

"It will be nice." 

Then Hawwa got down from the bed. Qibriyah noticed her mobile beside the laptop. With his heart racing, he picked it up. But his finger tensed when it hovered over her mobile for a few seconds. 

The images of the two types of Hawwa floated in his mind.

I have nothing to worry about.

Sighing, he placed the mobile back to where it was. Then he stared at the ceiling. 

I have nothing to worry about

"Here." Hawwa appeared over him with a tray carrying a glass of water. 

Hawwa's second semester began during the last week of July. It was a night, three weeks later, 

Hawwa was lying on her left side when she got woken by the ringing of her mobile. Frowning, she lifted herself on her elbow to see the caller id. For a moment, her heart squeezed in fear of hearing anything bad regarding Khadija's health. The time on the mobile read 1:13 am. Qibriyah was woken up too.

"Who is it?" Qibriyah narrowed his eyes at her back which was facing him.

"A classmate named Nahid." Hawwa picked up the mobile. Qibriyah's face hardened.

"Give me the phone." Sitting up, he placed his hand forward. Hawwa stared at him in confusion. Taking advantage of the moment, Qibriyah snatched the phone.

"Hello. Why are you calling at this time? It has been more than half an hour since we went to sleep." Qibriyah snapped. Hawwa's gasped her hands flying to her mouth.

"...I am sorry. But I wanted some help for tomorrow's class test." The younger man sounded shocked.

"You had a full day to speak about that."

"I sat down-"

"Don't you know Hawwa is a married woman?" Her face cringing, Hawwa covered her face with a hand.

"Yes."

"Don't call her at this time anymore." Qibriyah cut the call. Hawwa dropped her hand.

"Qibriyah, what do you think my classmates will say if he tells this to them?" Hawwa's voice panicked.

"Tell them your husband has boundaries." Qibriyah dropped her mobile on her lap.

"You could have let me pass your message to Nahid." Qibriyah lied down, his back facing Hawwa. 

"My method is more effective." Qibriyah tilted his face slightly towards Hawwa. "Don't talk anymore. We must sleep." He then closed his eyes. Giving him a look of disappointment, Hawwa laid down on the bed in the previous fashion.

Next morning, as Hawwa entered her classroom she looked around with anticipation churning in her stomach. 

Nahid hadn't arrived yet. He hadn't. She noticed Tasnim waving at her sitting by a desk on the fourth row. Hawwa waved back. Her three friends hadn't arrived yet. Taking a seat at the next desk, Hawwa brought out her note copy of Sociology to revise.

"Hawwa." After sometime when Hawwa heard a voice. She froze. Mustering up the courage, she lifted her eyes slowly from the copy. She came face to face with Nahid who was standing at the front of the first row of seats.  

"Yes?" She asked calmly. 

"You should have informed us beforehand that your husband doesn't like males calling you for studies late at night." He scoffed. All the students in the class turned towards them. Hawwa closed her eyes for a moment as her cheeks heated up.

"I didn't know anyone would call me at such an hour."

"I also didn't know your husband was this crazy. Acting like I called to have a relationship not help for studies." Nahid rolled his eyes.

"He is not crazy." Hawwa spat, anger boiling in her heart.

"Sounds like he is controlling." A girl looked behind with her eyebrows shot up.  She was sitting at the next column. 

"No, he is not." Hawwa stood up glaring daggers at her. "He has certain boundaries in our marriage. I also have boundaries. Don't judge him without knowing him."

"Maybe you haven't realized yet that...he is contro-" The girl's voice held caution. 

"Shut up!" Hawwa banged her hands on the desk. The girl flinched. "You too." Hawwa warned Nahid glancing at him. He opened his mouth to speak when some students started heading for their seats. Hawwa turned to her right. The course teacher was a few steps from entering the classroom. So, Hawwa sat down lowering her eyes to her notes. 

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