Hawwa's Paradise

Chapter-27 #Rewritten

zohr: noon

***

The next day having prayed zohr namaj, Hawwa folded the jainamaj. Then she took off the khimar, revealing a turban around her head, covering her wet hair as she had taken a bath some time ago. Keeping the khimar and jainamaj in the cupboard, she picked up her mobile from the bedside table. Clicking on it, she read the time to be 1:50 pm and also noticed a whatsapp notification. Swiping down the display bar, she saw Shazia sending a new message in the whatsapp group. Opening whatsapp, Hawwa entered the group.

Hawwa, how was last night? *smirking emoji*

Hawwa giggled as she understood what her friend was referring to. It was sent just now.

Not good. Studied less.

Hawwa responded. She saw the message getting seen and got the notification of Shazia typing.

Where did you spend the last night?

home

Your husband?

mess

lmao

Same thing happened in case of my sister. Nothing weird. Wedding nights occure after the reception.

Tasfia responded to Shazia.

But Hawwa is supposed to have a simple wedding.

Shazia responded back.

Was. I am going to have a reception now as Chachu has accepted my marriage.

Hawwa responded to Shazia.

When the bell rang during the afternoon. Hawwa rushed out of the kitchen to look into the peeping hole.

"He has come!" Hawwa whispered to Khadija who was staring at the door, while sitting on a sofa in the drawing room. "Open it." Hawwa whispered again, before rushing to her room, her face glowing with excitement.

Opening the door, Khadija saw Qibriyah standing with a tote and a paper bag in his each hand.

"Oh my! What have you brought?" Khadija stepped aside to let Qibriyah enter.

"Sweets and ice cream." He replied handing the bags to her.

"Thank you. But you didn't have to bring them. We didn't have enough time to arrange food for you. It is your first time visiting as a son-in-law." Khadija smiled as she glanced at the bags with guilt in her eyes.

"It's okay." Qibriyah was taking off his shoes. "What I have brought is also simple." Next, he entered the drawing room.

"I will go call Ruponti and Kabir." Khadija responded while Qibriyah switched on the fan.

"Walaikum Assalam." When Qibriyah replied Asma and Marium's salam, he noticed Hawwa cominh out of her room with her face decorated with make up. As she walked, her pony tail waved in the air.

"Hawwa has prepared two items for you." Khadija said to Qibriyah when she also noticed Hawwa.

"Pasta and piyajer pakura." Hawwa said as she entered the drawing room. She sat on the sofa near the double sofa on which Qibriyah, Khadija and Kabir was seating. The other single sofa was occupied by Ruponti.

"Why don't you two seat?" Hawwa looked back at Asma and Marium who were standing behind the single sofas. "Get two chairs." Hawwa tilted her head towards the dining table. Shaima appeared from the kitchen with a trolley filled with glasses of manjo juices.

"Are you going to come again the tomorrow, or the day after?" Ruponti asked.

"The latter." Qibriyah replied.

Pulling a chair each in their hands Asma and Marium entered the drawing room. Next, it was Shaima. Placing the glasses on the center table she left. Taking a glass, Hawwa offered it to Qibriyah.

"Thanks." He whispered taking it. Then Ruponti picked two glasses and handed them to Asma and Marium over the single sofas. After that, Hawwa took one for herself simultaneously as Kabir and Khadija.

"That's good. Don't come tomorrow please." Ruponti smiled in embarrassment as she returned to the table. "Because we will prepare a feast for you the day after. Sorry, for the simple arrangement of today." Then she picked up the last glass and walked to her seat.

"Please don't feel bad about it. I understand" Qibriyah shook his head, his left hand raising up. He took another sip from his glass which was now partially filled. Then he turned to Hawwa who was taking a sip from her glass. "I have applied for a flat in Niloy. After we receive one, household items need to be bought."

"Where is Niloy Bhaiya?" Marium asked getting up from the chair with her empty glass.

"It's the Airforce Officer's colony in Bashar Base." He answered turning to her.

"It's strange you don't know about it. It is ten to fifteen minutes from here." Ruponti's voice was laced with surprise.

"I can go if it's during the semester break." Hawwa said. "But no long time shopping." Her face scrunched up as,she shook her head.

"You can't shop well saying that." Ruponti disapproved with a shrug after she swallowed a sip of the juice.

"I also don't like long time shopping. Then it's fixed, we will do the shopping during the semester break." Qibriyah went for another sip.

"Hmm." Hawwa tilted her head to a side before draining her glass of the remaining juice.

***

It was a Friday noon, when Hawwa and Qibriyah were walking in a hall of a hotel which was illuminated by the ceiling lights. It was their first date as a married couple. There were doors only on their left. They stopped in front of one door. Taking out a key from his pocket, Qibriyah unlocked the door and stepped inside with Hawwa trailing behind. As he closed the door behind, Hawwa switched on the ceiling fan. Then she walked to the dressing table on her right. As she was taking off her headscarf, she heard the sound of the AC. Keeping the scarf, the bob pins and the hijab band on the table, she walked to the bed.

To the left of the double bed, there was a small cabinet on which a table lamp rested. Sitting on the foot of the bed, Qibriyah was changing channels of the TV with a remote. As she sat beside him, maintaining a gap, she saw the AC was on the ceiling and below on the floor, there was an artificial potted plant. To the right of the AC below, there was a bamboo shelf. Next to it, was a set of chair and a low rise table.

"Come closer." Hawwa's head snapped to Qibriyah. He patted the space next to him. Hawwa obliged. Then he shifted closer, making their shoulders brush against each other. Uneasiness knotted in her stomach. His hand came closer making her gulp.

Is he going to bring my face closer to his?