Atonement

Beyond eternity

Happiness is an emotion. It defines a person's physical appearance for the glow is different. 

At the age of 9, Sultana thought perfection os the taste of Rice and tea in a person's mouth. At 19, Sultana thought That perfection means Molly.
Now Sultana thinks that perfection means watching her husband, dressed perfectly in a well adorned black Babban Riga and hulan saki as he walked towards her.

Its 9pm, the stars shining brightly in the dark sky and the moon is already spreading her goodness. She looks at him, her moon on earth smiling widely as he approaches her. The scent of his perfume, as usual, clouding her sanity. 

"Careful princess, your eyes might bulge out completely." He said to her smiling before his smile slowly fades. He held her hands and stared deeply, with different emotions that mere english words  cannot explain.
She placed her head on his broad chest that is rising and falling slowly. He wrapped his arms around her without hesitation, claiming what's rightfully his, his wife, his Sultana, the bane of his existence.

"Should we remind you that you are at a event?" The MC's voice came through the mic, that was when the both realized. She slowly pulled away blushing and trying so hard to avoid eye contact with the audience.

As planned, the event is intimate with a few of Anwar's friends, Abdoul, his friend from Malumfashi together with his wife,Nadeeya, Annur, Kabeer, their family members, parents and siblings, a few cousins from both sides, aunties and uncles, Qalb and Maryam together with their new baby.

The event passed in a blur with Anwar staring at Sultana like a delicious midnight snack ready to be devoured.

                                                  ************
Anwar carefully placed his Towel back on the toilet hanger and walked out. He scoured the room for Sultana but she was no where to be found, instead he saw a paper on the bed with 'meet me in Safe Haven' written on it. He smiled, sprayed more perfume on his black T-shirt, her favorite perfume and walked to the safe Haven. He reached and it was utter darkness.

"Sultana, Are you there?" He asked talking more steps forward. Suddenly the light comes on, an arrow placed on the wall with "Hey handsome, you are almost there, come to the pool arena." He smiled and walked towards the pool arena with his hands in his pocket.
SLowly, he opened the door and walked in. The lights dim with candles carefully placed on the walk way. He followed the trace until he is fully in the space. His eyes widen at the decoration, black balloons hanging and scattered in every nook and cranny of the place and even inside the pool. There was a small black tent with a mattress in it covered in a black bedsheets and topped with black pillows and duvet.

His attention moved towards the pool when he heard a poof sound, like something dropped inside the pool only that it wasn't'that. A white projector sheet hung from above and the ceiling suddenly turns into a galaxy filled with bright stars.

The lights went dimmer and then 11:48pm was projected. He stood there in awe as the counts.

"Errr...Hello Anwar or Assalamualaikum warahmatullah. I am not sure which to use."

Sultana's voice came through as she walked from the darkness, dressed in an armless black fitted gown, her hair curled to one side with no make up on her face.
His eyes turned to her, totally forgetting his identity as Anwar Waziri. His body and soul entrapped in her aura. He removed his hands from the pockets of his sweats and stared at a whole meal, freshly made.

"You know, I was taught love is an emotion, but now i know love is you, love is being in your arms and love means the smile that sits on your face. My father used to call me a princess when i was three years old and yesterday, he called me a queen. I wondered, how can i be a queen without a kingdom? Only that i realized a Queen claims her kingdom..." She smiled and moved forward until they are just an inch apart, staring into his eyes, piercing through his soul and ready to devour.

"So this is me telling you...i am here to claim and take my kingdom." She gently placed her henna adorned hands on his chest.
"And this...this is my kingdom and i shall rule it forever. I have read a couple of love stories, from Laylah and Majnun to Romeo and Juliet but all their loves are faint...so i don't want ours to be like theirs for i don't want us to die in agony...." She moves her hands to cup his face gently placing a soft lingering peck on his forehead. He placed his hands on both sides of her  waist reminiscing the beautiful scent of her perfume.

"I want to redefine love with you so it raises a question to Shakespeare's definition...see, i am not an artist but if you present yourself as a canvas, i will paint you in 99 shades of love, my love." He bends to place his forehead on hers, his eyes staring into her.

"I love you Anwar, I really do and Happy birthday." She finished with a slight kiss on his lips. She pulled back looking directly into his soul through her eyes. "Till death to us apart."

With that, he carried her up in a bridal style and walked towards the mattress. He then placed her gently and followed suite, his figure hovering over hers.

He moved to her ears and whispered "I am not sure i want death to be the end of our love Sulty, i want something beyond eternity, So till Jannah reunites us In sha Allah ." He sealed their lips together, savouring every inch in her mouth, pouring down the emotions words cannot explain. She closed her eyes, wrapping her arms round his neck.

In love and peace, they sealed their mind and body in an eternal embrace.

                                       *THE END*