A man like khalid

17

A Month Later: Quiet Moments and Unspoken Feelings

It had been a month since Nadeen gave birth, and life had settled into a quiet rhythm. The days passed in a blur of feeding Hanif, trying to catch moments of rest, and adjusting to the new normal. Yet, despite the tranquility, there was an undercurrent of emotion that Nadeen couldn't quite shake. She wondered how her life ended up like this.

Tonight, she found herself curled up on the couch, a blanket draped over her legs, half-watching Emily in Paris on Netflix. The room was dark, the only light coming from the TV, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The familiarity of the show was comforting, a distraction from the thoughts that constantly swirled in her mind.

The soft sound of the door creaking open broke her concentration, and she instinctively turned toward the noise. Her heart skipped a beat as she wondered if it was Khalid.

"Oh, it's you," she said with a smile, a hint of relief in her voice. "You're back early. You were gone for only two hours. You said you might be back late"

Khalid walked in, the sound of his sneakers soft against the floor as he pulled them off. "Yeah, I got bored of the game and just missed Hanif. Decided to come back and see him," he said, his tone casual, but his eyes softened as they met hers. "Where is he?"

"He's in the room, asleep," Nadeen replied, her gaze following him as he moved closer to the couch. She noticed the slight weariness in his steps, but also the warmth in his smile.

Khalid sat down next to her, close enough that their shoulders brushed. The closeness sent a small, unexpected shiver down her spine. He reached over and took a handful of popcorn, popping a few pieces into his mouth. "What are you watching?"

"I'm rewatching Emily in Paris," she said, turning her attention back to the screen, though she could still feel his presence beside her.

"Hmmm," Khalid mused, a small smile playing on his lips. "Why are people so obsessed with that show? The other day, I heard some of my colleagues talking about it and I felt completely left out."

Nadeen laughed softly, the sound easing the tension she hadn't realized she was holding. "Maybe because you're more obsessed with books than watching films," she teased, catching the surprised look on his face.

He raised an eyebrow, amused. "Is that so? And how would you know what I'm obsessed with?"

She grinned, feeling a bit mischievous. "I may have been curious about what you have in your room. I know I've been in there before, but when I went to put Hanif's blanket away, I found a lot of books I never knew you had. It's like a mini-library in there. I thought it was a secret room. And remember you once told me about your favorite books but I didn't know u were so obsessed with books."

They both laughed, the sound mingling with the soft glow of the television. "really I did." he was surprised he had told her about his favorite books, he really couldn't remember when he did. "I love books," Khalid admitted, his voice quieter, almost tender as he gazed at her. "Always have."

Nadeen felt her heart flutter under the weight of his gaze. It was moments like these, small, intimate exchanges, that made her feel something she couldn't quite name. But it was there, growing stronger every day. She quickly looked away, her eyes back on the TV, trying to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks. "Since we got married, I never really asked what you like and don't like. We need to know each other more."

Khalid's expression softened even more, his voice gentle. "We do. But we have time for that. It's only been a few months."

There was a brief, comfortable silence between them before Khalid spoke again. "Are you done packing?"