The Ayham's Ramadan

Chapter 08

CHAPTER 08: EXUBERANT EMERGENCES

Ayna finished reading her fajr prayer along with the rest of the ladies. She raised her hands for a long duaa, and when she was done, sat up straighter. Looking around in the room, she realized that everyone had already left. Standing up, she went upstairs to her room. She took off the chaador off her head, and began tidying up the room.

For the past few days, Ayna had not been the most clean person on earth. She had strewn books all across the room, reading them when she sat at those particular places. The Qur'an at the corner table near where she offered Salah. Hadith books by the armchair. Novels in the shelf because she had boycotted them for Ramadaan. Files and documents by the bed because she hardly fell asleep.

Insomnia was a word questionable in her existence. Ayna either prayed, read the Qur'an, helped with Eid preparations, or worked for the upcoming case. She didn't even have time to think about stuff like mental health, and she was absolutely grateful for that.

Nabeel had gone into I'tikaaf with his brothers, and while she did get a single message every day after fajr, she had not gotten one today. Frowning at the phone, she tossed it onto the table, then bent down to make her side of the bed. She picked up the books and other things from all over room and put them in their respective places. In the end, she wet a tissue and wiped it on the table, voiding it of the dust that had accumulated over the past few days. Going to the closet, she shuffled through the dresses to pick out one, when her eyes fell on the white kurta pyjamas.

It had been a few days since she last ironed one of them. She pulled out the sleeves of one, peering at it for a while, and then kept it back. That's when, she heard a creak in the door.

"Aa jaayein!" she half-yelled.

As Nabeel walked in with his duffel bag, he sensed the place had been cleaned recently. And although the natural light was restricted by the thick curtains, the high lamp eliminated the darkness. So did his Ayn.

He watched as she quickly pulled out a dress from the closet, and shut the door. A welcoming smile came on his face when their gazes met, but Ayna did not smile. She counted something on her fingers and scrunched her brows in confusion.

"Chaand raat kal nahin houni hai?" she asked, unawares. Nabeel raised his brows, stunned. Then he composed himself in a humorous seriousness, and walked towards her.

"Kyoun? Tum nahin chaahti thi ke main aaj aa jaaoun?" he asked, taking the dress from her hands and keeping it on the bed.

"Waisay, haan," Ayna mumbled. Nabeel widened his eyes, but he also wanted to roll on the floor laughing with what she said next. "Mujhay kamray ki safaai bhi karni thi, aur packing bhi."

He broke into chuckles.

"Kya huwa? Aisaa bhi kya keh diya mainay?" she questioned.

"Aap jabb bhi ghar par rehtay hain, mujhay chayn se kuchh karnay nahin daytay. 'Ayna, ye laa dou, Ayna wou laa dou, Ayna idhar aao kuchh dikhaana hai, Ayna isska kya matlab hai-' Matlab, majaal hai ke main sukoon se aik kaam khatam kar sakoun," she complained, placing her hands on her hips.

"Achha, tou main waapas chalaa jaaoun?" he picked up his duffel bag and turned, but Ayna snatched it right from his shoulder.

"Achha abb aisa bhi nahin hai, jhel loungi aik aur haftaa. Phir aap office chalay jaayengay," she clarified in between giggles.

"Hastay huwe achhi lagti hou," he whispered, swiping a stray strand away from her head.

"Subb ghar waalay yahi kehtay hain. Kuchh nayaa le aayein!" she remarked playfully and stepped away, but one pull of his and she had collided into his chest. Her hair bounced forth, his his clothed torso, and the dupatta on her shoulder slipped a little down. He gently pushed it back on her shoulder, aware of her gentle gaze on his face.