I'm Right Here

Chapter 10 - "So, no bikinis?"

"Hey, sleepyhead! Time to wake up!" He told her.

"Go away or I'll kill you," she mumbled, now placing her pillow over her head.

Wow! He thought, his wife was definitely not a morning person. He was at a loss. He didn't know what to do. They had both taken a few days off after the wedding to spend time with each other, so they didn't really have any obligations. He glanced at the clock. It was 8 am. What would be a good time to wake her?

He then remembered how Fiza would wake up at 6 am and prepare their breakfast, usually something simple like scrambled eggs and toast or just peanut butter and jam sandwiches. He decided to make breakfast for them, preparing scrambled eggs that turned out a bit drier than when Fiza had made them, but they looked edible. He added salt and pepper, and he found cheese slices in the fridge, so he decided to make sandwiches as well. Halfway through, he remembered Asfia's lactose intolerance and toasted her bread instead. He then headed back to the bedroom, leaving the food on the dining table. It was nearly 9 o'clock, and the tea had gone cold.

"Asfia!" He called louder this time, shaking her gently. She opened her eyes wide, looking at him. "Oh no! What time is it?" she asked in a panic. He laughed. "It's 9, but we aren't working," he reassured her, and she sighed in relief.

"I've made breakfast," Faisal softly announced to Asfia. She couldn't believe her ears. It felt like a dream. Her husband had prepared breakfast for her. She squeezed her eyes shut and reopened them, half expecting the illusion to vanish.

Faisal couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. "Wake up, sleepyhead. I've been waiting, wifey," he whispered playfully. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and making her way sluggishly to the bathroom. About 20 minutes later, she emerged, her spirits lifted. She had changed into a beautiful orange salwar kameez and adorned herself with lipstick and mascara. "Let's see what hubby darling has whipped up," she said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Faisal had reheated the tea in the microwave, his eyes fixed on her as she took her first sip. She scrunched up her face, puzzled, and then swallowed. A strange expression crossed her face before she took another sip.

Perplexed, Faisal took a sip of his own tea and promptly spat it out. It was horribly bitter, having boiled for far too long. Asfia burst into laughter, and Faisal couldn't help but join in.

"Is the breakfast safe for consumption?" she asked in a mock-serious tone.

"Let's find out!" Faisal replied with a grin. He took a bite before she did, and it turned out the eggs were salty, with spoiled cheese. He spat it out, and she burst into laughter once more. "Okay, that doesn't give me much confidence," she quipped, their playful morning bringing a touch of whimsy to their day.

"Come on, let's just get dosa," Asfia suggested with a smile. They tidied up the breakfast table and headed over to a nearby dosa shack.

Asfia ordered a Davengere benne dosa, while Faisal opted for a Mysore masala dosa. The atmosphere was relaxed, and their conversation flowed effortlessly.

"If we were both taking three days off, we should have just gone on a honeymoon," Asfia remarked casually, taking a bite of her dosa.

Faisal almost choked on his food, surprised by her comment. Did she even realize what she was suggesting? He wondered how to respond.

"We could still go," Faisal suggested, intrigued by the idea. "Do you have any particular place in mind?" he asked her.

"Well, Goa is about 6 hours away, and Gokarna is 4 hours away. I haven't been to either," Asfia confessed, her eyes lighting up with excitement. Faisal couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm.