Captain Qadrul Hafiz

Part 12

In their room, Aishah stood by, helping Qadrul with his uniform, her fingers expertly buttoning it up. Her smile was both encouraging and bittersweet.

"Alright, all done. You're ready to go," Aishah said, her tone light.

Qadrul pouted playfully, his voice carrying a hint of reluctance. "Ah, I really don't want to leave."

Aishah chuckled softly, her eyes dancing with affection. "Now, now, my prince charming, duty calls. You have to go to work."

Qadrul's expression softened as he looked at Aishah. "What am I supposed to do if I miss you?"

Aishah gently admonished him with a playful tone and pinched his arm, saying, "Save those sweet words for later, Qadrul. Behave yourself, okay? Don't go throwing your sweet words at some other women."

"Who could I possibly be flirting with, Mi angel? Terrorists?" Qadrul chuckled, playfully pinching Aishah's nose in return.

"Auch,Qadrul! Don't pinch my nose. I hate this new habit of yours," Aishah scolded while swatting Qadrul's arm away, a playful frown on her face.

Qadrul simply smiled at his wife, thoroughly enjoying teasing her.

With a warm smile, Aishah leaned in and kissed Qadrul's hand before softly saying, "Now, off you go. This country needs its protector. My prayers will always be with you, Mi Luz."

Qadrul returned the smile and bent down to press a gentle kiss on Aishah's forehead. "Wait for me, okay? I'll be back, InshaAllah."

*****************

"Don't stare at me too long. My angel might get jealous," Qadrul taunted, a wicked smirk playing on his lips as he loomed over their last enemy for the day, who cowered beneath his boots.

Bravo team watched in awe and amusement. Their captain had definitely undergone a transformation since his honeymoon – he was now a force to be reckoned with, and it seemed like married life had given him some extra swagger

Bang!

"Target eliminated,mission accomplished." Qadrul announced over the comms with unwavering confidence.

"Alright, time to head back home," Qadrul said, his steps light and bouncy, like a kid eager to show off his new toys

"Wow, he's really something," Daniel couldn't help but exclaim.

"Terrifying and impressive at the same time," Ridhwan added

"Yeah, he must be impatient to get back home to his so-called angel. I wish someone were waiting for me like that,"Ridhwan said with a wistful sigh.

"Ah, the perks of being a married man," Daniel sighed dramatically, earning a chuckle from the team.

"But hey, we've got each other, right? Single club, forever," Ridhwan said with a grin, raising his fist for a team huddle. However, his enthusiasm faded when he saw Iman also raising his hand, "What are you doing, Iman? Shu Shu Shu. You don't belong here," Ridhwan said.

Iman chuckled and smirked, "Alright, alright. I'll go, you loners."

"What loner!? Hey, where are you going? Come back here!" Ridhwan exclaimed, attempting to catch up with Iman as he hurriedly left the scene.

********************** 

After a successful mission, Bravo team had returned to their base. It was late in the night, and the barracks were quiet as the team members settled in for some much-needed rest. Iman and Qadrul shared a room within the base, finding solace in each other's company after the challenges they faced in the field.

Iman emerged from the bathroom after his shower, the sounds of trickling water replaced by a soothing recitation of the Quran. He recognized Qadrul's voice, melodically bringing verses to life. Curiosity piqued, Iman made his way to his bed and sat down, allowing the beautiful words to wash over him.

As Qadrul's recitation came to an end, Iman noticed the soft smile that graced his friend's face, a smile that seemed to radiate with warmth and love. Qadrul's focus shifted to his phone, his fingers tapping away at the screen. Iman couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

Suddenly, Qadrul's eyes widened in surprise as he realized Iman's presence in the room. "Astagfirullah, Iman! Can't you make some noise or something? You startled me. When did you come in?" 

Iman raised an eyebrow with an unimpressed look. "Well, if you weren't so busy smiling at your phone like a love-struck teenager, maybe you would've heard me entering."

Iman's smirk grew as he added playfully, "Can't blame you, though. Probably couldn't sleep without your angel beside you, huh?"

Qadrul rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a fond smile. "And you act like you've never done something similar with Lily."

Iman burst into laughter, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, you win. I guess we're both just hopelessly whipped for our wives."

Their exchange was filled with camaraderie and light-heartedness, a testament to the deep bond between the two men. As their laughter subsided, Iman's curiosity got the better of him. "By the way, what were you doing on your phone? Recording your recitation?"

Qadrul nodded, his smile softening. "Yes, I was. It's for Aishah. After our honeymoon, she mentioned that she finds it hard to sleep without hearing me recite the Quran. So, whenever we're apart like this, I record my recitation and send it to her."

Iman's smile grew wider, his eyes reflecting genuine admiration. "You guys truly are something else." He then let out a playful smirk and continued, "I never thought that my bro, the one with the cold and composed captain facade, would turn out to be such a romantic at heart."

Qadrul's smile evolved into something more profound, his gaze distant yet resonating with a depth of emotion. " I just realised how wonderful this marriage is. Each day feels like a new journey and I'm grateful for this gift bestowed upon me."

Iman's smile held understanding as he nodded. "Seems like you've found your co-pilot for this incredible journey."

Qadrul's smile remained as he gazed out towards the moonlit night. "Yeah, I believe I have."