Hidden bonds of love

40.

He kindly offered to capture a moment with all four of them, using Najiba's phone to snap a picture. After taking the photos, they bid their farewells to him. As they strolled back to their car, he emerged from the background, observing them. Maryam couldn't resist one last glance at him before getting into the car.

As they drove away, Maryam couldn't help but notice his persistent smile. "What's making him smile so much?" she pondered aloud.

"That's just Suraj for you; he finds joy in everything," Najiba explained.

Maryam chuckled and added, "I never thought I'd encounter a mini version of Ahmad, someone who radiates happiness over everything. I miss him," she confessed, and Mustabshira echoed her sentiment, expressing her longing for Ahmad and wishing him peace in the afterlife.

Upon their arrival, Maryam, Valeria, and the others entered the house. They found Alamin in the sitting room, engrossed in his laptop. Valeria greeted him cheerfully, saying, "Good day! We've safely brought your daughter back home."

Alamin observed with a warm smile, "I can tell my daughter had a wonderful time today; she can't stop smiling." Maryam laughed with happiness, bidding her friends goodbye and expressing her gratitude for the memorable day before they departed.

After Maryam quietly entered her room and closed the door, she turned around, and in a moment of whimsy, twirled like Cinderella before flopping down onto her bed. Her gaze settled on the full-length mirror in her room, and memories of her conversations with Suraj flooded her mind. She couldn't help but feel a profound sense of happiness, reminiscing about his words, especially when he had remarked, 'I've never seen someone's eyes turn so bright with nervousness; it makes you special.' Overwhelmed with joy, she jumped onto her bed and buried her face in the sheets, letting out a silent, gleeful scream.

"Oh, Allah, he looked so charming saying those words," she whispered to herself, clutching a pillow tightly.

As Maryam basked in her moment of bliss, her phone buzzed nearby. She reached for her bag and retrieved her phone, finding a WhatsApp notification awaiting her. Upon opening the app, she noticed two messages from Suraj. The first contained a picture they had taken during their initial encounter at the wedding, while the most recent message read, 'I hope you reached home, my beauty.'

A radiant smile graced Maryam's face as she placed her phone on her chest, overwhelmed with happiness.

❀

Ihsan was in the kitchen, diligently preparing dinner. Over the past few weeks, she had embarked on a mission to transform Khalid into a better person. The Khalid who once led a promiscuous life had shed that past; he no longer engaged with girls. Under Ihsan's influence, he had embraced a more devout lifestyle, praying regularly and reciting the Quran. She even took the time to teach him passages from the Quran. Ihsan offered guidance, imparting wisdom to help him navigate life's challenges.

Khalid had undergone a profound transformation, a change that filled him with a strong desire for redemption. His heart was set on seeking forgiveness from his uncle, Alamin, and also from Mrs. Fatima, his mother, for separating Maryam from her. His actions in taking Maryam away stemmed from a deep-seated jealousy. He resented the fact that his own mother showed more affection for Maryam, who wasn't even her biological child. This jealousy led him to manipulate Maryam and coerce her into keeping her departure from the house a secret. Unaware of the tragic events that had unfolded, Khalid remained oblivious to Ahmad's passing.

When Ihsan entered the living room and set the food on the center carpet where Khalid was seated, fresh from work, her gaze lingered on him. Khalid noticed her contemplative expression and inquired about it.

"I will be going home," Ihsan revealed.

Khalid, looking somewhat surprised, remarked, "You used to go home almost every night. Is something bothering you?"

Ihsan's gaze shifted to the plate of food before her. "If I leave, I won't return. I want to leave behind this life and start anew," she admitted, a hint of sadness in her voice.

A moment of silence filled the room as Khalid put down his spoon and fixed his gaze on Ihsan. "Are you leaving me too, Ihsan?" he asked, his voice tinged with despair.

Ihsan lifted her head to meet Khalid's eyes. "No, I'm not leaving you," she assured him before falling silent. After a pause, she inquired, her gaze becoming more intense, "You mentioned wanting to marry me?"

"Ihsan, I'm genuinely serious. I want you to be my wife," Khalid affirmed.

Ihsan sighed, then questioned, "What changed? I thought all you wanted from me was just physical desire."

"That was in the past. I know I've been with many other girls, but now it's you I desire, not just for physical intimacy, but to have you take care of me, help me with my anger issues, and guide me back to Allah. Ihsan, you've changed me," Khalid replied, his voice slow and calm.

She smiled warmly at him. "This is precisely why I want to go home. I want to mend things and set them right with my family. If you genuinely want us to marry, then allow me to do this. Let's reconcile with our families before anything else. Your family may not easily accept me, given your history, but they don't know me. It's time we change that and make amends so that both our families can embrace our relationship," Ihsan explained with a compassionate tone.

The room fell into a thoughtful silence for a moment. Khalid finally spoke up, "You're absolutely right, Ihsan." He paused briefly before continuing, "I'll do my best, and I promise to pray and read the Quran as you've encouraged me. And, most importantly, I love you deeply."

They exchanged warm smiles, their hearts lighter, and continued to enjoy their meal together, filled with hope and happiness.

After their meal, Ihsan prepared to leave, and Khalid offered to drive her home. However, before they reached her house, he made a thoughtful detour to pick up some gifts for her. As if that wasn't sweet enough, he also grabbed some ice cream, knowing she had a craving for something cool. Her eyes lit up with joy when she saw the ice cream, and she expressed her gratitude with genuine happiness.

While she enjoyed her ice cream, Khalid found himself captivated by Ihsan's endearing demeanor. Her soft-spoken voice and charming expressions filled him with happiness, even though he knew he'd miss having her around once she left. Despite the bittersweet feeling, he couldn't help but watch her with a smile as she savored every bite of the ice cream.

Ihsan noticed Khalid's intense gaze and playfully remarked, "Are you not driving me home anymore, or did you want a taste of the ice cream?" Her tone held a hint of seduction, adding a romantic element to the moment. Talking in a sexy way has been her nature.

Khalid felt a surge of desire building within him as he met her gaze. He hastily nodded, signaling that he wouldn't indulge in the ice cream, then redirected his focus to the road. Ihsan shrugged playfully and continued relishing her ice cream.

Overwhelmed by his emotions, Khalid decided to pull the car over to the roadside. His intense gaze remained fixed on Ihsan, who responded with a quizzical expression, wondering why he had stopped the car. Lost in a whirlwind of thoughts and captivated by her alluring eyes, he leaned closer to her, his focus now on her inviting lips. As he inched his lips nearer to hers, a charged moment hung in the air, with Ihsan patiently awaiting Khalid's move, their chemistry undeniable.