Mrs Mahmud, Mrs Mas'ood

57

If Mahmud was asked to describe the expression on his wife's face, he would say that she was the epitome of ethereal serenity. He meant it with every part of him.

They had a few minutes left to Fajr and he knew he had to wake her up so they could perform ghusl but there was something about how serene Hauwa looked while sleeping that had him saying he'd let her sleep for five more minutes.

Just like he did the first time they slept on the same bed the night of their wedding, Mahmud committed every detail to memory. When a twist fell forward to rest between her brows, he reached up and pushed it back.

She stirred and before he could hope that she slept for five extra minutes, Hauwa opened her eyes. He immediately felt like a criminal and her confused expression shouldn't have affected him but it did. He welcomed the effect nicely.

He shot her a small smile. "Good morning. I was hoping you'd sleep a bit longer but since you're awake, it's almost time for Fajr."

Hauwa blinked and blinked again before she took a good look at him. "What time is it?"

"It was 4:38 as at the time I checked so it should be about 4:43 now."

Her brows furrowed. "And it's almost time for Fajr?"

"The sun rises at around 5:55AM here so according to the app, Fajr starts by 4:50AM."

She closed her eyes and snuggled into his side. "We have like seven minutes left so we can still..."

Mahmud smiled when she stilled and his heart did a happy jump. Acting as though he didn't know what was going on, he kissed her hair. "You okay?"

A strangled sound escaped her throat and she covered her face with her hands. Mahmud found it hard to stop his smile from stretching. "Hauwa, are you okay?"

"I'm shy, okay?"

"I can see that."

She pulled back to look at him. Her eyes narrowed on his smile. "It's not funny."

That was all it took for him to start laughing. When she rolled her eyes and tried to pull away from him, he held her tightly and stopped her movements. Before she could protest, he brought his lips to hers and kissed her gently. She relaxed into him and only then did he pull back.

She still frowned. "It's not funny."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Are you really sorry?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Qalb."

He kissed her again. "I already played out a number of scenarios in my head before you woke up. I had a feeling you were going to be really shy. I'm surprised it took you a near minute."

Her cheeks were still burning. "I was more confident before we fell asleep. I didn't think about this morning."

"Nothing's different, Hauwa. It's still you and me, together. I don't love you any less."

She buried her face in his chest. "God, you've seen me naked."

He laughed. "I have. Permit me to say that I really, really love you without any clothes. I mean, you will kill me eventually with your beauty but then again it's unavoidable."

"Stop it."

"Stop what?"

"I don't even know."

They both laughed and when they relaxed, she pulled back one again to look at him. Her lips tipped upwards to form her signature small smile which never failed to tug at his heart. "Thank you, Qalb. You have no idea how loved I felt last night."