Married To A Captain

Chapter 23

After A Year,

A year had passed, and Muhammad still hadn't woken up. Fatima had grown noticeably slimmer, her cheeks were hollow and her eyes dulled with exhaustion. Dark, heavy bags marred the skin beneath her eyes. 

She cried every night for Muhammad, praying fervently to Allah for his healing. She also prayed that if it was his time, may Allah make it easy for him. She was tired from everything, she just wanted her husband back, but it's seems her wish isn't going to come true so, she stood up from the bed and left the chamber before going to Muhammad's chamber

She got ready, donning a laffaya. The laffaya was made of rich, flowing fabric in a deep indigo, embroidered with delicate gold patterns that traced intricate designs along the hem and sleeves.

She wrapped a  headscarf around her . Gold bangles jingled softly on her wrists, and her earrings sparkled faintly in the light. With each piece perfectly in place, she took a deep breath and made her way to Sarauniya's chamber.

Inside Sarauniya's chamber, Sarauniya was sitting with someone. Fatima entered and greeted both of them politely. Sarauniya smiled and introduced the woman, "Fatima, this is Uwani, Mai Martaba's sister."

Uwani gave Fatima a bombastic side eye before saying to Sarauniya, "Itace matar da ɗan mu ya aura? A duka gari ya rasa wadda za ya aura sai ita," she hissed. "Ki kalle ta kamar jaba."

Fatima was shocked and flabbergasted. Sarauniya gave Fatima a reassuring smile, then turned to Uwani and said, "Bata fi yayanki kyau ba? Har kina da bakin magana akan kyau? Lalle, Uwani."

Uwani then said, "Sabo da ita kike gayamun magana, Adda? Anya wannan ba asiri ta muku ba?"

Sarauniya then asked Uwani to keep quiet. "Kiyi shiru tunda ba ki iya magana ba."

Turning to Fatima, Sarauniya said, "Kar ki damu da abun da take cewa. She's just spouting nonsense, don't mind her."

Fatima smiled, saying, "It's alright," before bidding them farewell and going back to her chamber.

That night, as Fatima was praying her Tahajjud, she heard some movement near the bed. After saying her Tasleem, she stood to check, but saw nothing. She shrugged it off and then went to bed.
****

In the middle of the night, the silence of Muhammad's chamber was broken by a faint stir. Muhammad's eyelids fluttered as he slowly emerged from the darkness he had been trapped in for so long. Disoriented and weak, he felt a heavy weight pressing down on him, his body foreign and unresponsive.

His throat was parched, and he struggled to swallow, his lips parting to draw in a shaky breath. The familiar scent of the room filled his nostrils, mingling with the faint, lingering fragrance of Fatima's perfume. Confusion clouded his mind as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

He blinked, his vision adjusting to the dim light filtering through the curtains. Every movement was an effort, every breath a struggle. He felt a dull ache in his chest and the sharp sting of his wounds as he tried to shift slightly. Panic briefly seized him, but then he remembered, Fatima. He needed to see her, to know she was safe.

Slowly, painfully, he tried to lift his hand, reaching out towards the bedside table where a small lamp cast a soft glow.

His fingers barely brushed the surface before he had to stop, exhausted by the simple action. He took a few more ragged breaths, willing his body to respond. He needed to see Fatima, to feel her presence. His mind clung to the image of her face, the sound of her voice, as he mustered the strength to call out.

"Fatima," he croaked, his voice barely more than a whisper. It was weak, but it was a start. He tried again, louder this time. "Fatima."

Fatima woke up feeling thirsty, but the jug beside her bed was empty. She quietly got up and made her way to kitchen to refill it. As she entered the room, her eyes met Muhammad's.