Atonement

29. Life...

Life, is full of ups and downs. Everyday seems like a new ray of hope, accepting the negatives as they are and Thanking God for the positives. The early hours of the morning and the late hours of the day when the sun is finally declining, in Arabic we call it Dulukul shams. Even with the word perfection rarely existing, Sultana chose to define it her own way. Amidst the chaos, pain and death, she found peace, a source of light shining above her. She has accepted things are they are and finally embraced growth with her arms open.

Journaling is a way of communication and if you will ask her, it's the best for you get to write even things the world cannot comprehend. She journals, prays, smile and feel.

It's been two weeks since Qalb said his goodbyes. Feelings are things we have no control over. He has accepted that him and Sultana were perfect once but they are not each other's eternity, and that too is okay. She is right, his wife deserves a loving husband and he is going to give her one, maybe, just maybe he will live with Sultana just as a friend.
Before then, he planned on leaving the country with his family, he needs time to heal completely.

Anwar is finally recovering, his arms are healing and if things go well, he will be discharged in another two weeks.

Sultana put her journal back into her large black tote, her sun glasses in too. She is fully dressed in a blue ankara sewn into a boubou matched with a black veil and black flat shoes. She sprayed her perfume on one last time before turning off the BMW engine. With one last look in the mirror, she applied lipstick on he lips and stepped down into the hospital.

"I didn't know you are this stubborn An..." Sultana walked into the hospital room to a nurse trying to pat Anwar on the shoulder while he sat there, clearly uninterested.

She dropped her bag on the centre table and walked to the bed forcefully snatching the drugs from the nurse.

"I am sure you will respect yourself and walk out of this place." She said with a fake smile on her face and raised eyebrow. The nurse didn't hesitate nor did she speak again.

"You know, it's still pretty early for you to be frowning your face." Anwar said with a chuckle and pulled her to him. In as much as she tries not to smile, her lips gave her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled.

"And it's too early for you to be all flirty."

"Errr, no body said we have a time table for that."

She chuckled and placed her head on the crook of his neck inhaling his scent. He does the same and they both stayed in a comfortable silence. She released a sigh and hugged him more.

"I love you." She whispered and removed her head from his neck facing him.

"I love you too Mrs Anwar, What are your plans for the day?"

"Before that, take your meds."

With her veil now placed on one of the chairs, she grabbed a fruit bowl and a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

"I have a few things to get with the triplets then have the rest of the day with my husband." her head dogged down to the lower compartment to check to more water bottles. "Or  wait,should i get an orange juice?"

"Yes please, the pills taste really awkward Wallah...so what's that thing with the twins?" 

Sultana walked backed and removed the pills from their sachets and passed it to him and opened the orange juice.

"We call it the teen classic." Anwar laughed out loud and collected the fruit bowl from her.

"Teens you said?"

"Stopp ittt." He continued laughing while eating his fruits.

She collected the the bowl after he was done and placed it back on the fridge then proceeded to warm up the soup she made yesterday from the fridge too.

"Staying in the hospital is exhausting." Anwar complained adjusting his sitting position. He walked out of the bed and sat on one of the chairs, the IV tube removed earlier.

"I know i know, have this while i do something about the hospital scent." Sultana passed the soup bowl and turned towards the burner connected to a socket. She took a piece of the sandal flakes incense she bought from Unique sensation and placed it on.

She let it burn for a while then disconnects it.

"Kinci breakfast ne?" He asked totally concerned.

"Yau thursday, kamntane?"

"Oh."

Ever since the incident happened Sultana has been fasting every Mondays and Thursday and praying tahajjud every night.

Also she has made a big decision concerning her life. She informed her parents about her wanting to be a wife, to finally move into Anwar's house. They all agreed, Amma and Alhaji Waziri included so since then the triplets alongside her have been making preparations, renovating the house and planning an intimate event for just close family and friends. All of that without him knowing, she wants it as a surprise for him, even spoke to the doctor to discharge him on his birthday, exactly two weeks from now.

"I am proud of you Sultana." Anwar said placing the now empty bowl of his soup on the table. She smiled and sat close to him. She gently placed her head on his shoulder with his arms wrapped around her.

"It's soo nice hearing it from you."

Just then, Muneera, Ameera and Bareera walked in, each holding a bag.

"We are soo sorry to disrupt the couple moment but we need to take Her with us Ya Anwar."

Sultana stood up from his embrace. "Yeah baby, i really need to go." He frowned his face and stood up.

"Come onnn! Stop being a baby."

"You just called me one."

The triplets put down the bags they were holding on the centre table and sat down, looking at their brother who is miserably in love acting like a child.

"This love sweet pass honey." Bareera teased and they all laughed gaining them a glare from Anwar.

"You are sick yet you keep moving your arms, you need to rest it." Sultana scolded holding his hands.

"Come here." She dragged him to bed and sat him down.

"You are going to stay here, lay down and rest, we need the arms to heal as soon as possible."

"But it's healed." He whined pouting his mouth.

"It's not!! And you will do just as I said..you are going to lay down and yes I am going with your laptop, you can't be working, workaholic!" She added and placed a peck on his forehead.

"I am going to lay down here and wait for my wife." He said like a mock.

"And what's all the chaos?" Amma said coming in with her younger sister which they all call Umma.

"Apparently Ya Anwar is sooo in love that he can't stay a second without his wife." Muneerah reported laughing.

Sultana moved from him shyly and greeted them. After a little conversation, Sultana and the triplets left.

************************************************

With Ameera driving, Sultan in the passengers seat, Bareera and Muneera in the back seat they drove off.

"So where are we going first?" Ameera asked connecting her phone to the car's bluetooth, she played gulli mata by shreya Ghoshal and start singing alongside all of the.

"The event planner's place then to Aneesa's house." Sultana replied.

"From my list that's all we have left, Teen classic!!!" Muneera shouted and they all burst into fists of laughter, a pure girl's moment. They have become so close, best friends even. They are older than Sultana With just one year hence the way they relate. Amma said they are quadroplets and they have agreed to that.

Sultana videotaped them laughing and for the first time in forever, she posted on her socials with the caption 'Happiness looks good on us'.