Hidden bonds of love

48.

Mrs. Fatima was overjoyed that Khalid was getting married; all the preparations were complete, and her love for Ihsan ran deep.

When Ihsan first saw Khalid with Mrs. Fatima, she mistook her for Khalid's new girlfriend due to Mrs. Fatima's youthful appearance. This misunderstanding led to a heated argument. However, Mrs. Fatima eventually invited Ihsan and clarified that she was Khalid's mother, leaving Ihsan both shocked and pleasantly surprised.

The journey to their wedding faced its share of challenges during the introduction phase, and at times, they even feared their parents might not approve. Despite these setbacks, they eventually set a wedding date. Khalid underwent a transformation, becoming a calmer and more likable person, even gaining admiration at work.

Mrs. Fatima harbored concerns as Khalid still seemed distant in accepting her as his mother. This emotional distance pained her deeply, but she felt powerless to change it.

Furthermore, she and Maryam had been spending quality time together, rekindling their friendship. Additionally, Mrs. Fatima and Uthman had reconciled, with him agreeing to take her back as his wife since they were never legally divorced.

❀

Najiba's wedding had begun, and everyone was having a wonderful time. The ceremony was a success, and Najiba was now officially Khalifa's wife. It was a joyous and unforgettable occasion.

After the wedding and delivering the bride to her husband, Maryam also enjoyed her time with Suraj. It seemed like she had fallen in love with him.

Once their exams were over, and they were on holiday, Maryam was lying on her bed, peacefully asleep when her phone suddenly began to buzz. She groggily woke up, reached for her phone on the nearby nightstand, and squinted at the message on the screen.

As soon as she read the message, her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped in astonishment. However, she ended up face-planting back into her pillow in her sleepy daze. It was a video from Suraj, wishing her a happy birthday. She was completely taken aback; it was already midnight, and she hadn't expected it at all. She blushed as she watched the video; he was both funny and charming.

After watching the video, she noticed a video call from Suraj. Realizing she was in her nightgown, she quickly put on her hijab before answering.

"Hey, I saw your video. Thank you for the birthday wishes," she said with a shy smile.

"Did you like it?" he asked.

"Yes, a lot. I totally forgot it was my birthday," she admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Maybe it's because of all the stress from exams. I'm glad you're done; now I can see you more. I've missed you a lot," he said, sounding genuinely happy.

"I miss you too," she replied.

"Look what I brought you," he said, showing her a cheeseball, her favorite snack.

"A cheeseball? You're so funny," she laughed heartily. She found everything Suraj did amusing; he had a way of doing things that made her smile.

"Did you like it? I know it's your favorite," he said.

She nodded, wanting to ask how he knew it was her favorite, but he beat her to the question.

"Ahmad gave me a gift to pass on to you for your birthday, something he entrusted me with before he passed away. I'll give it to you when we meet," he said in a calm and gentle manner, trying to avoid making Maryam feel sad.

Maryam nodded and offered a slow, grateful smile. "Thank you," she replied softly.

"Yeah, you should go back to sleep. We'll see each other tomorrow," he suggested. They bid each other goodnight.