Paasban

Chapter 20

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Zyra's POV:

It had been two weeks since our marriage, and life was starting to settle into a rhythm. Musa had gotten busy with work, often gone during the day, but he never let that stop him from spending time with me in the evenings. No matter how exhausted he was, we'd always find ourselves either out on a quiet date, watching a movie at home, or cooking together in the kitchen, his light-hearted banter making every moment feel special.

Tonight was no different. We were both in the kitchen, Musa rolling up his sleeves as I pulled out ingredients from the fridge.

“What’s on the menu today, chef?” he asked with a playful smile, watching me as I set out some vegetables.

“Pasta. You better be ready to chop some onions,” I teased, handing him a knife.

He grinned, “Challenging me already, Mrs. Musa Jawad?” He took the knife and started chopping, our casual banter filling the cozy kitchen as we worked side by side. Moments like these made me forget about the long hours he spent at work, the little silences during the day, and the growing routine. He still made me feel like a priority, and that meant the world to me.

But even as I smiled at him, there was a part of me wondering how long this balance could last.

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"Mhm... I'm a great chef, ain't I, Zyra?" Musa asked, grinning as he savored the pasta.

I chuckled, shaking my head as I took a bite. "You're decent," I teased, raising an eyebrow. "But don't get too confident, mister. I did most of the work."

He laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'll take whatever credit I can get," he said, leaning back in his chair, looking proud of himself.

I smiled at him, feeling the warmth of the moment. Even though he'd been busy with work, he still managed to make me feel cherished. It was little things like this that reminded me how lucky I was.

As we finished our dinner, I couldn’t help but wonder how long this phase would last. Work was getting more demanding for him, and while he always made time for me, I could sense the stress creeping in. Would it eventually get in the way?

"Earth to Zyra," Musa waved his hand in front of me, snapping me out of my thoughts. "What’s on your mind?"

I shook my head, giving him a soft smile. "Nothing... just thinking about how good this pasta is."

He chuckled. "Good answer. Now, how about a movie? Or are you going to make me clean up the kitchen?" he teased, standing up and stretching.

"How about both?" I suggested, grinning as I stood up and started gathering the plates.

"Deal," he said, playfully bumping my shoulder.

As we cleaned up together, I couldn’t help but think about our future. But it was so soon to think about that.

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I sniffled a sob, burying my face into Musa's shoulder. "Why did he have to die?" I asked, my voice cracking as tears streamed down my face. Musa, ever so patient, patted my head gently, his thumb brushing my arm in soothing circles.