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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I lay here watching my wife sleep peacefully and I can't help but admire her. It's time for fajr and she didn't wake up, when the alarm rang.
I suppose she's quite tired after last night's events. The mere thought is warming up my cheeks.
I lean forward and kiss her forehead pushing her hair behind her ear. "Liyati," I call out softly, trying to wake her up and not scare her in the process.
She squints her eyes but doesn't open them. "It's fajr time, habibti," I inform her, brushing my thumb against her cheeks, slowly. Her skin feels like petals under my finger.
She stirs again and murmurs something incoherent. "Fajr, my baby!" I remind her again and she groans snuggling closer and hiding her face in my chest.
"Please, I'm tired, I can't wake up now," she whines and I smile at her mumbling without opening her eyes.
"I would never deny you anything, but salah on its time is important and I can't budge on that," I assert.
She whines again and fake cries. "We're not doing this again if it leads to missing the prayers," I point out and she lazily rubs her eyes.
"At least carry me!" She stretched her arms towards me and I shake my head at her cute behavior.
"Liyati, are you okay? Was I too hard on you? Is it paining?" I ask worriedly, as I'm seeing her like this for the first time.
"I'm just tired," she answers and her hands lock around my neck while I hold her close and descend the bed. Walking to the bathroom, I put her into the bathtub, opening the warm water.
"Don't sleep," I warn her and proceed to pour the water on her hair. "Aaliyah open your eyes!" I sternly ask and she does.
She pouts but I give her a sharp look and help her do her Ghusl. If it wasn't for the fajr prayer, I wouldn't have woken her up, but salah is mandatory.
After we're done with her, she wants to stay a little longer in the warm water and I let her and proceed to the shower to make my ghusl.
As I'm done, I wrap a towel on my lower and help her wear a bathrobe. I carry her to the counter and dry her hair while she is now at least responsive and is opening her eyes lazily. At least not sleeping.
"I want too!" She demands and I frown at what she wants. She takes the dryer from my hand and excitedly dries my hair.
I lean my hands against the counter, caging her and enjoying the feel of her hands in my hair. "Done!" She exclaims happily after a few minutes, which makes me look at the mirror behind her. I smile and she seems to be fully awake now.
"Let's go, it's about time for fajr!" I say and lift her up, her hands locking around my neck. In the closet, I help her wear her clothes and she picks out my clothes. We both wear our matching prayer clothes and go to the adjacent prayer room, which is designed only for prayer.
