As Ouahib arrives in town , carrying the weight of a family that has weathered hardships, including parental separation, and the lingering echoes of a once vibrant home, he embarks on a new beginning, yearning for a different chapter.
In contrast...
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After a ride of a good half an hour, we finally reached our home. Ouahib helps me out and I can't wait to get out of this dress. It's pretty and all, but I can't keep wearing it anymore. I've been wearing it since mid-day and now it's around 9pm.
Yes, our reception isn't a party to stay up late at night.
Yemma Saliha is at the door with Narjis, Yasmin and Ishaq is also there. Me and Ouahib walk towards them, while he helps me hold my dress and walk without tripping.
"Welcome my precious kids!" She welcomes us with dates and milk which symbolise sweetness and purity. Behind us I hear firework, which has me turning around.
I regard the beautiful spectacle in front of me and feel Ouahib hugging me from behind. Narjis and Yasmin run in front of us and start jumping out of happiness. "For a new chapter in our life!" I hear him whisper and I smile gratefully at him.
After it comes to an end, Yemma Saliha feeds us the dates and then we both take a sip from the milk. Ouahib is stubborn about making each other drink another sip, so she allows us. Stepping aside, they let us in and I step into our home.
It feels as if it's the first time. So many emotions swirl within me. "We'll be leaving, enjoy!" Yemma said teasingly and grabbed Narjis and Yasmin's hands pulling them out, not even letting us the chance to bid them goodbye.
Ishaq also turned to Ouahib and whispered something into his ear, which makes him hit his shoulder. "Have a...." He turned to me and trailed off, "a peaceful night!" He completes, when Ouahib glares his way.
I stiffle a laugh and close the door after him. I feel Ouahib's presence just behind me, mere inches away. I breath in, trying to slow my heartbeat.
"Mine. In this dunya and in the akhira! Mine to cherish everyday." He whispered into my ear, sneaking his hands around my waist.
Swiftly he grabs my knees and lifts me in the bridal style, while my hands go around his neck. "Time to change!" He announces and walks up the stairs towards our room.
When we step inside, I notice that the room is decorated with a lot of roses and balloons. "Oh my God, did you do this? It looks like no one slept here, if the decorations are still so in form!" I ask, admiring the decorations.
"Yea, partially because I missed your presence and didn't want to sleep here anymore alone, so I slept in the guest room." He replies, putting me down to sit on the edge of the bed.
"You didn't sleep in this room, because it reminded you of me?" I ask, still not believing that the tough man who is such a hard nut to crack, didn't sleep in our room because it made him miss me more.
"It's childish, I know, but I did miss you a lot. Too much that I started counting the hours and minutes until our reception. To the extent that I couldn't think of anything beside you, your well-being and if you did miss me too." He plays with the pyjamas set he took out for me, looking down.
