My Halal Boyfriend

Part :10

Saad's head jerked back as he got startled by her reaction. "I..I was gonna tell you today. But you seemed upset." He sluttered.

"How can you think about leaving me and Maa for so long? You can't go anywhere. Cancel your plans." Her tone dismissive.

"Calm down, my love. Why are you overreacting? I'm going for work. I'll return as soon as possible." He said softly, after a sharp intake of breath.

Grimacing, she spoke, "I am not overreacting Saad. I don't know why you think this is a mere thing."

"Maha, I think we should stop this conversation right here. We'll talk about it later when we meet." He spoke in a calm tone.

"Alright." She sighed and muttered in a cold tone, as she didn't want to say something she would regret later.

There were still months left till Saad left for Turkey. He wanted to take a look at the work going on there, as he never got a chance to pay much attention to that branch, living so far. Saad's father would visit Turkey once every year when he was there.

But after his death, as Saad got all the responsibilities and he had to study alongside handling business, some mishaps were happening there. And so he wanted to fix the issues as soon as possible which lead him to planning for a visit just after finishing his exams. As that branch was being neglected since the last 3 years, he decided to make the stay a bit longer. But Maha being unaware of all facts, bursted on him.

°°°°°

The month of Ramadan started. Maha's parents invited Saad and Saima for iftar on the 1st Ramadan. Maha and Rabia took all the necessary preparations for their arrival.

Maha hadn't met Saad since that day and she decided to not mention that topic again before they meet.

Sometime after they arrived, everyone settled on the table and started having their iftar hearing the azaan.

"Saad Bhai, taste this kheer. Maha Api made it specially for you." Adam said, spooning out for Saad.

Saad glanced at Maha and saw her smiling gracefully looking at him. As he put a spoonful of it in his mouth, he got the taste of perfection. The sweetness, neither less nor much, just perfect.

"This is ambrosial, Maha." He spoke devouring it "Umm, so good."

"Thank you." Maha's face beamed as cheeks pinked.

°°°°°

After everyone was done with Taraweeh and Isha, they had their dinner together. Rabia spoke as they settled in the living room after dinner "Maha go get the Ice cream. We need some desserts now."

"Okay I'll get it." She spoke rising from her seat.

"Maha get me some kheer rather than ice cream. I loved it." Saad said earning an ear to ear grin from her.

"Sure." She departed being elated by the compliment, trying to control her bouncy steps.

As Maha was in the kitchen, she heard them gossiping, and the topic turned to Saad's Turkey trip in no time.

"I'll see the business and also I really want to explore the place." Saad spoke as Maha's father asked something.

"How long are you willing to stay?" Adam asked.

"4-5 months approximately." Saad answered .

Maha clasped the spoon is her hands tightly as blood started roaring in her ears hearing Saad. She is not ready to let him leave for so long even if it's work, and here he's planning for vacations. "This is ridiculous." She thought.

She was lost in her thoughts, when a mischievous smirk replaced her furrowed brows. She moved swiftly according to her plans and approached the living room acting as if nothing happened though she was holding loads of grudges.

She handed everyone the desserts including Saad faking her usual warm smile, which wasn't caught as everyone was busy in their chatter.

Maha was waiting for Saad's reaction as she plopped down next to him. He turned to look at Maha with wide eyes as soon as he put the spoon in his mouth, as it tasted salty. Meanwhile, she was trying to control her laugh pressing her lips together tightly.

"So when are you leaving for Turkey Saad? I think you should go as soon as possible and spend as much time as you need. You should explore the place when you get time also." Maha said blinking rapidly, innocence dripping her face and Saad understood exactly what she meant.

He flashed an I'm so done with you look towards her and rushed towards the washbasin.

Maha followed him excusing herself from everyone and spoke leaning on the wall next to him with her arms crossed, "So, when are you going to apply for visa, my dear husband? You should give more time to your first wife WORK."

"Maha, why are you behaving childish? I'll be back after some time." He spoke frowning, in a resigned but gentle tone.

"Some time!! 5 months might seem like sometime to you but it is a really long period for me. I was convincing myself that you are going for work purpose and you'll be back after a couple of months. But you are going to EXPLORE the place and you plan to stay for so long." She bursted on him but making sure nobody could hear her.

"It's nothing like that Maha. I'll try to return as early as I can. And when someone goes out of country they roam around a bit. What is wrong if I want to do the same?" He replied.

He added after a while gaining no response from the frowning Maha trying to lighten her mood, "And that surely doesn't mean you'll put salt in kheer. It was so good and you spoilt it for no reason."

She looked up at him in disbelief from the spot she was staring at and murmured in an indignant tone, "You can continue worrying about kheer and Turkey. And stay in Turkey forever, don't come back. Now I feel like there is some other reason behind your trip."

He held her shoulders and spoke in a hushed tone "What are you saying love? What other reason would there be? I told you already that I'm going to see how the work is going on in that branch."

"You told me about staying 2-3 months only. Now you are saying something else. There must be some other reason."

"What is wrong Maha? Why are you behaving like that? You were never so sensitive about anything. Tell me what the matter is." He said cupping her face in his hands in a worried tone.

"Nothing is wrong. The only thing that is wrong is I thought I am important to you and you share everything related to your life with me. I was wrong." She spoke moving his hands and going past him.

But he held her hand and pulled caging her wrapping his arms around her before she could leave and spoke in the softest of his voice, "You are not wrong, Scarlet. I share everything with you, I share my life with you let alone things."

He made her look into his eyes holding her chin with his fingers "And you are absolutely precious to me. Stop thinking about absurd things. I promise you I'll be back within two months."

"If that's so, then tell me why you are so eager to leave?" She said, her gaze not as sullen as before.

"Because I want to finish all the work soon to shift you in our house near me
as soon as possible." He spoke near her ear, still having her in his arms giving her chills down her spine.

She couldn't help flashing a shy smile as she felt the warmth of his deep affection towards her.