Our love language

Chapter 1. The blind girl and her deaf-mute husband

As Yaqub stepped into his home, he was met with a surprise that left him speechless. His mother's face was beaming with joy, and she greeted him with an exuberant, "Now, my son, you too will become a groom!"

Yaqub, unable to hear or speak, relied on lip reading to understand his mother's words. Her announcement struck him with disbelief. Who, in their right mind, would marry a deaf and mute man like him?

"Ma," he signed, "Have you seen a dream?" He couldn't believe his ears, or rather, his eyes. He was exhausted from a long day of carpentry and had planned to build a large sofa.

"Oh, no, my dear, it's no dream. I've just arranged your marriage. I've found the perfect bride for my moon-faced son, a bride as pure as silver."

His mother followed him as he washed his hands and face in the basin. His sister, Mariyam, handed him a towel. His mother stood directly in front of him and announced, "Your wedding is this Friday."

He wiped his face and handed the towel back to Mariyam, staring at his mother in disbelief. "Sister," he signed. "I need three suits. After all, it's my only brother's wedding." Mariyam grinned.

"Do the girl and her family know that I can't speak or hear?" he signed, furrowing his brow.

"Oh, yes, they know. It's a marriage, after all. What's the big deal?" Romana, his mother, replied nonchalantly.

His brow furrowed even deeper as he signed, "Then what's wrong with the girl?"

This time, Romana hesitated, and Mariyam's smile faltered. "Well, there's nothing really wrong with her. She... she... can't see. She's blind," Romana stammered.

Yaqub's eyes widened in surprise as he grasped the meaning of her words.

"Oh, that's nothing. If she can't see, she can still do all the housework. She's beautiful and speaks so sweetly, as if honey is dripping from her tongue," Romana assured him, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Yaqub rolled his eyes and looked at his mother, who simply smiled back.

"Ma, you're seriously mistaken. How can I marry a blind girl? How will we live together?" Yaqub asked angrily, his hands gesturing wildly.

"Just like everyone else does," Romana replied curtly.

Yaqub's brow furrowed once again. 

"The what do you expect me to do? No one else is willing to give their daughter to me  for you, except her family. You're already 28 years old. Do you intend to remain unmarried for the rest of your  life?" Romana questioned him, her voice filled with frustration and exasperation.

Yaqub let out a deep sigh and stepped forward, gently taking his mother's hands and kissing them. "Ma, how can I live with a blind girl? I wouldn't have said anything if she were mute, deaf, or even crippled. Because then we could still live together. But how will I communicate with a blind girl? You know I can only speak through sign language," he explained, trying to make his mother understand his predicament.

"We'll find a way somehow. Don't worry about all that. Just focus on your wedding. There's a lot to prepare for, and time is running out," Romana replied, leaving no room for further discussion.

Yaqub looked at her helplessly.

Mariyam, unable to contain her amusement, chimed in, "Bhai, let me tell you something. It will be quite an unusual pair, the two of you. One can't speak or hear, and the other can't see. I wonder what your future holds."

With a burst of laughter, she ran away, leaving Yaqub standing there, troubled and lost in thought.

On Friday, the wedding ceremony took place, and that very evening, the bride was brought home. Both families were filled with curiosity about this unusual union. While the wedding was conducted simply, a large number of guests attended to witness this unique couple. When the groom was asked to accept the bride, people couldn't help but snicker. Muffled laughter filled the air.

Rahel sensed that something was strange, but she couldn't quite understand what. Her aunt and uncle had kept her in the dark, never revealing that her groom was deaf and mute. They didn't see the need to inform her, and even if they had, what could she have done? For her, the relationship with Yaqub and her aunt and uncle's approval of it were enough. Her presence had become a burden to them. Despite her blindness, Rahel managed all the household chores along with her own work. She had learned to read Braille while her mother was alive, but after her mother's passing, she had to give that up too. Her father had never been a part of her life. After their divorce, he never even looked at her once.

Today, she felt his absence acutely. Her aunt and uncle had tried to contact him, but to no avail.

Adorned like a bride, Rahel sat on her husband's bed, awaiting his arrival. Her sisters-in-law treated her with great affection, providing a brief respite from her unsettling thoughts. Or perhaps, she was growing terrified at the thought of why anyone would marry her.

Just then, the sound of the door opening echoed through the room. Footsteps followed, and the entire room, once filled with the sweet fragrance of flowers, was now enveloped by the scent of a masculine perfume.

Rahel's heart pounded in her chest. Her henna-adorned hands grew damp with perspiration. She felt nervous as she anticipated the approaching moment.

Yaqub, who had been standing outside the room for quite some time, finally gathered the courage to open the door and step inside. Upon entering, he was taken aback by the sight of the bride seated on the bed, her laughter echoing through the room. Amidst the flowers, she resembled a blooming rose, radiating an ethereal beauty. Forgetting everything else, he walked towards her.

This was the first time he was seeing her. And he was grateful to his Lord that he was allowed to look upon her. He could gaze at her as long as he pleased. No one could stop him. For he wanted to keep staring at her, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Was it her beauty that had cast a spell on him, or was it the pure bond that had been formed between them? No, it wasn't her beauty alone; it was the connection that transcended their disabilities. No amount of gratitude could express his joy.

Yaqub sat down right in front of her, and Rahel felt as if her heart would burst out of her chest.

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