Tawakkul

Chapter 10

Aaliyah took Sultan into their room with urgency in her voice. She closed the door and spoke in a sharp tone.

"You're leaving me and going back to the UK?

Aaliyah's brows were furrowed, her eyes were narrowed and she gave him an intense stare.

Sultan looked as though he wanted to avoid this conversation, he sat her down on the bed in an attempt to calm her.

"I'm going to go back to the Uk, yes, but you don't have to stay here, you can go back to your parents home"

Aaliyah's mouth widened at his audacity and she tilted her head to the side.

"Sultan, I didn't marry you to go live with my parents, I am your wife now, I am a guest even in my parents home."

There was a tightness in her voice. Sultan remained quiet, he had foolishly not thought this far.

"Aaliyah, I don't have a secure job, or a proper place of residence in London"

"I dont care" her voice was hushed but strong.

"I'll live in whatever conditions i have to, just take me with you"

Sultan sighed, running a hand through his hair. Aaliyah never thought she'd have to have this conversation.

"Okay fine, I'm leaving in a week's time, I'll go there and find a job and in the meantime we'll apply for your visa." He spoke in a measured tone watching her expression. Aaliyah nodded content with the suggestion.

The week ended faster than expected and Sultan bid his farewells, leaving back to the Uk. They tried to apply for Aaliyah's visa but it was a long and hefty process. Sultan then talked to Daniyal who assured him he'd get the job done.

***********

Sultan sought everywhere he could for a job, and he tried to concentrate on stabilising himself, but his mind was elsewhere. He was thinking about his Mrs, he wondered if she was okay and what she'd been doing. It was moments like these where he wanted to impulsively buy a ticket back to Pakistan just fir Aaliyah. He'd call her and there wasn't a day where she didn't pick up, the time difference posed as no issue, since Aaliyah could not fall asleep until she was sure her husband was okay. No matter what the time was at night, Sultan had to call her, if he were late at doing so he'd have to hear an earful from Aaliyah.
If sultsn was worried Aaliyah would figure out in a heartbeat bit he felt lighter being able to share his problems with her.

He smiled to himself looking at the ceiling, the phone held close to his ear. Aaliyah was figuring out how much these calls were costing them and if there were a cheaper way to stay in contact.
"If you call me on your phone that's so much more money than if I use the home phone with a scratch card"
"But how would that work?" There was silence on the other end.
"Phone booth. You could go to a phone booth since that would also be cheaper, you could ring me on the phone booth and then I'd call you on the number that is displayed on the home phone." He stared at the phone with a grin of satisfaction and surprise.
"You're so smart"
"Thank you" Aaliyah smiled back at the phone.

And that's how the saga of the phone booth started. Sultan got a part time job and on his breaks ran to the phone booth, ringing Aaliyah and then waiting eagerly. Their calls weren't too long but they needn't be, hearing eachothers voices, knowing they were there was enough.
Sultan became conditioned to the ring of the phone booth, the sound of it excited him and he felt as though it was his and Aaliyah became accustomed to the timings sitting infront of the phone in advance. Even in this hassle there was a romantic charm, one that made their efforts worthwhile. If things were too busy they sometimes didn't speak for a few days but when they did they would speak with worry and love.