I'm Right Here

Chapter 31 - "Bam Bam"

Asfia awoke the following morning, bathed in the soft glow of sunlight, a radiant smile gracing her lips. Her heart fluttered with the realization that her husband had finally confessed his love for her. She stretched luxuriously, as if reaching for the heavens.

The display on her phone revealed the early hour – 7:16 am. Today held promise, unfolding before her like a canvas waiting to be painted with the hues of love.

Lying in bed, her eyes sealed shut, she savored the tender memories of the previous. She vowed to surrender herself completely to her husband today.

In anticipation, she indulged in a soothing shower, letting the warm water cascade over her like a gentle caress. She used her epilator, removing the stray hairs that dared to emerge since her last waxing session. With a hint of amusement, she embraced the whimsical gift from her friends—an electric shaver—employing it with a careful touch in the most intimate recesses.

Completing this ritual, she lathered on her moisturizer, followed by her usual skin care routine.

She wonderes whether Faisal was already awake, the anticipation of the day's events adding a delightful flutter to her thoughts. She delicately applied a touch of makeup, enhancing her features, and swept her hair into a playful ponytail, allowing a few stray tendrils to frame her face with effortless allure.

Feeling a mischievous impulse, she decided on layering her attire. Starting with a sensuous foundation—a black lace push-up bra and underwear set, something she had chosen with her cousin Alia during her wedding shopping. Next, she slipped into a black lacey cameo that hung low over her cleavage, teasing yet revealing. The pièce de résistance was an oversized pajama set, concealing the lingerie beneath, like a secret gift waiting to be unwrapped.

A knowing smile graced her lips, imagining the delightful surprise that awaited Faisal as he unraveled the layers.

With a skip in her step, she ventured into their bedroom, only to find Faisal absent. It was 8:03 am. Wasn't it too early for his gym routine? A glance at her phone revealed no messages from him, unlike the last time. Undeterred, she resolved to whip up some breakfast while awaiting his return.

Asfia danced to the rhythm of "Bam Bam" by Camila Cabello, belting out the lyrics as she scrambled eggs infused with cheese and spinach for Faisal, reserving a simpler version with just spinach for herself. Four slices of bread crisped in the toaster, adorned with a luscious spread of butter. She boiled milk in preparation of tea, deciding that she would prepare the tea closer to his arrival to preserve it's freshness.

Upon completing this, she surveyed the aftermath – her kitchen had transformed into something of a disaster zone by her culinary attempt. With a determined spirit, she started cleaning it.

When she reached the fifth song, the absence of Faisal began to cast a shadow on her earlier excitement. The clock's relentless progression to 9:30 brought a tinge of worry. Urgently, she reached out with a text, questioning his whereabouts, and sought solace in scrolling through Instagram as moments ticked away.

The clock's hands crawled to 9:58, prompting her to escalate her efforts with a phone call. The unanswered rings left her anxious, and in an attempt to ground herself, she set water to boil for tea. A disconcerting revelation struck as she descended the stairs to check for his car – it was gone. Returning upstairs, she realized that she had unwittingly locked herself out, her phone inside the apartment.

Unacquainted with her older neighbors, aware that her stay was temporary, she hadn't made efforts to connect. She decided to go on a walk to kill time.

Faisal had awoken to a pulsing headache, the weekend offering a respite from his outpatient clinics but not from thoughts that tugged at the edges of his consciousness. With a handful of patients still under hospital care, he decided to make his rounds before hitting the gym, seeking a brief escape from the complex emotions swirling within.