Beinteha

05

I am a deserted sky,
And you are the moonlight.
—Manoj Muntasir

—'☆

Eliab x Akhsah

THE MORNING seems to be a little awkward for Akhsah as Eliab's confession from the night lingers in her memories. As bright as the rays that enter their room in the morning. She cannot forget the exact words even.

She gets up earlier than him, finding him to be sleeping beside her peacefully. A wall of pillows is between them, created by her last night. He sleeps on the other side, on his stomach.

His face is on the other side, his messy curls loosely hanging. She acknowledges that he is pretty to look upon, yet for her, he is not the one.

She slides down from the bed and walks into the bathroom. She changes into a pair of pink salwar and kameez, and comes out after squeezing the ends of her dark locks that hang through her back.

Behind the white net curtains, she looks at his sleeping form. Somewhere in her heart, there is comfort now. Long gone is the memory of last night. She is glad she does not have to look into his eyes for now, or else he will make her blush way too hard over what he said last night.

She grabs her prayer mat and arranges it on the floor. Putting the matching net dupatta over her head, she begins praying.

She thanks the Lord for another day. For being merciful to her. He is the Lord of the world, the God of spirits, she knows He is in control.

Last night may be hard for her to handle but this morning comes with a soothing serenade spreading through her chest like the sun itself has risen behind the rib cage. She can feel it, but wonders how it is possible.

Was it really His will to put them together?

Whatever it can be, she accepts the comfort heartedly and prays, smiling.

But all the while, she remains unaware of someone's soft gaze upon her. As Eliab has woken up, looking at her behind the curtain and admiring how lovely she looks.

She looks even prettier while praying, he tells his heart.

Once she is done, she gets up, oblivious to his gaze on her. He quickly squeezes shut his eyes while she folds the prayer mat before leaving the room.

He sighs, opening his eyes.

. . .

"Kaisi bhi madad chahiye ho, mujhe zaroor batana, thik hai?" her mother-in-law asks, her gentle voice with genuine concern touching Akhsah's heart.

(Any kind of help you need, tell me about it, okay?)

Akhsah nods gratefully. "Shukriya, Maa ji," she says along, a reply that is soft.

(Thank you, mother.)

Her mother-in-law smiles at her, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Akhsah looks different today, she notes. She expects her to adjust to a new environment and accept everything as it is now. They will not fail to love her immensely, like their own daughter.

"Vaise Eliab ko bhi khana banana aata hai. Uski madad lene me mat sharmana," she adds, her feet pausing at the threshold of the kitchen.

(Well, Eliab is quite skilled in the kitchen, too. Don't hesitate to take his help.)

Akhsah blinks in confusion, wondering why Eliab would even enter the kitchen just to help her.

No, she doesn't think he cannot handle a kitchen. Seeing that he is kind of a soft man, so like Jacob, the son of Isaac, she expects him to be good at it too, but now?