From Aliya to Hafiz

Epilogue.

Hafiz.

Aliya snores.

Not like in an obnoxiously loud manner or anything, but tiny little puffs of breath that escaped her soft tiny pink lips that I had become obscenely familiar with over the past week.

Her lips were a sin.

So were her eyes.

And smile.

And body

Anyway, she drove me crazy.

The sheikh wasn't kidding when he said it was going to be a battle. It was like my dormant drive flared up all of a sudden and I needed release. As desperately and nastily as possible.

I let my hand roam up and down her back as she slept, you would think I would avoid contact with her but this was also a form of sweet torture. Her closeness and her scent reminded me that she was right here, with me, and that she loved me just like I loved her.

I had been taking my lessons with the sheikh online after Fajir since I came here and he said I was making decent progress. I couldn't see it, and there wasn't that much change in my life except the five daily prayers and the morning and evening Azkar Aliya made me do. It was easy enough to practice Islam when surrounded by people good at it, I just followed their leads and that was it.

I couldn't be more grateful.

I knew that eventually, I would face challenges, and the devil would study me and tailor-make a scheme to screw me over, yes I heard he does that, but for now, Alhamdulillah. I would strive to do what I had been doing since I converted to Islam one and a half months ago.

I felt her stir in my arms so I eased my hold and gave her room before propping my head against my fist to study her in amusement. I watched as she stretched out her limbs with a low cry before rolling to the left twice and once to the right. She then rolled over casually so her head was lying on my arm.

"Good morning," she mumbled, voice a bit deep from sleep.

"Done with your ritual? What's next, riding a broom?"

"You're the weird one for not stretching as soon as you wake up. It's like, the first thing you do before even opening your eyes."

"That's not a stretch, my dear. That's demonic possession but you do you," I leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Good morning, Lia. Sleep well?"

"Mm," she smiled at me. "But I think you snore."

I immediately rolled my eyes. "Get off me, you're the one who snores."

She gave me a pitying kiss on the cheek. "Sorry, my dear, the truth isn't always easy to accept."

Shaking my head, I pushed her face away gently. "Whatever, get up and wash up."

She groaned. "Why is it always bathing as soon as you wake up with you? Can't you laze around in bed?"

"We can, but aren't Aunt Fatima and the others coming? To address my cousin's issue?" I asked making her eyes widen.

"I totally forgot about that! What time is it!?" She sprang up so I held her arm to steady her.

"What's the rush? It's just after nine, they should be here by ten, I think."

The reply I got was her rushing to the bathroom after throwing my hand off. Sighing helplessly, I let her be and went to freshen up in my room. When I came down, Mother, Jasra, and Aliya's mom were in the kitchen busying about while Father and Unaissy sat having breakfast at the dining table.