A Sea Of Brown

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 12

'Assalamu alaikum'
'Wa alaikum salaam' I answered.
He stood in front of me for a few seconds without saying anything, I could only see his feet from beneath my veil.
He then reached out and slowly pulled the veil backwards.
'MashaAllah' he said in a low voice. I didn't look up.
'Safiyya' he spoke my name. I still didn't look up.
'Thank God I can now do this' he said then I felt his hand on my chin gently lifting my face up. His face was inches from mine and we were looking straight into each other's eyes. His face broke into a really wide smile and I smiled back. He laughed a bit and said 'Ahamdulillah, You scared me'

'Why?' I asked.
'I thought you were never going to speak, or the cold shoulder like the first day'
'Sorry' I smiled again
He just kept staring at me. Then he said 'we should make wudu'. He pointed to the bathroom and said 'Brides first'

I went in and I was happy to see it had almost everything I needed and I washed off my makeup first because I didn't want to look like the bride of Frankenstein after the wudu. When I was done he went in and performed wudu' too and he led us in salah.

When we were through with salah he placed his hand on my head and prayed. I could feel this amazing warmth spread from that point under his palm through me to the very tip of my fingers and toes. Ali took my right hand and held it between his two palms, it was like a single piece of lettuce between two golden sandwich breads. He had such long beautiful fingers, I smiled to myself.

'What?' Ali asked when he saw me smile
I shook my head
'Please share' he said in the same low tone
'Your hands,' I paused
'What about them?'
I was about to compliment Ali for the first time, I wanted to but I've never done it before. What the heck right? He is my husband now
'MashaAllah' I said, 'they are beautiful'
He chuckled and said 'you're the first to think so'
Ali got up still holding my hand and he pulled me up, 'you must be hungry and tired' he said before I answered he bent and lifted me up like I was no heavier than a pillow. He carried me the short distance to the bed and lowered me gently.
'I'll be back in a minute' and he left the room
My heart was racing, so that was what it was like to be picked up by ones husband I laughed to myself.
In just over a minute he was back again this time with a plate in his hand.
'Something to eat for the fair one'
'I'm not hungry really' I said
'Just in case' he said dropping it by the bedside
'Thank you'
'That's what husbands are for' he leaned forward slowly, kissed me once on the forehead, once on the nose and then he lingered inches from my lips before he kissed me, properly.

I wouldn't say it was unexpected but for a girl who has never been kissed before my breath was stopped momentarily, my heart went wild and I could feel the vessels in my finger tips pulsating.

'You should sleep' and he backed away smiling, well biting his lips and trying to stop himself from smiling.
I couldn't find my tongue. It was lost somewhere in my mouth, he left before I could say anything. I didn't even have anything to say I was speechless. Ali just kissed me...

**********************

I turned once and then again, not wanting to open my eyes. I wanted to sleep more, maybe if I got a bit more comfortable I would go back to that sweet sweet sleep.
'What's the time?' I asked myself.

I felt around for my phone without opening my eyes. The phone was slipped beneath my hand and when my hand brushed somebody else's my eyes snapped open.

My new Mr. was beside me, looking at with a half smile on his face. 'Morning' he said
'Morning', I smiled back
'You look like you could use some more sleep' he said, was I looking horrible?! I bet I looked bad, then as if he heard my thoughts he quickly added 'I don't mean you look bad, I mean it looked as if you didn't want to open your eyes'
'How long have you been staring?' I asked
'I actually don't know, but long enough to tell you that you still have kohl in your eyes' and my fingers reflexly went to my eyes. 'I'm joking' he laughed.
I started patting my hair hoping it wasn't one of those days when it decides to go everywhere.
'You look beautiful. Even more so without the make up' my cheeks started heating up. Will I ever get used to early morning complements? 'It's amazing how I can actually think it and say it out loud, I don't have to feel so haram and guilty anymore' he added
He took hold of both of my hands and it looked like he wanted to talk so I sat up.

'Where do I start' talking more to himself then speaking to me this time he started saying 'I know it must have been a bit odd when you heard of my proposal... It's now safe to say I have liked you for a very long time now, when I say long I mean for as far back as my memory can take me since knowing you. It didn't bother me when I was a lot younger. When I got a older it became hard for me to be around you, that was why I vanished when ever you came here. I was trying to control myself, I thought not seeing much of you would help. There was a day you came here and after you left I heard my mother talking about how you're such a sweet girl and how you had nothing to do with dating and boys and things like that and you can not possibly imagine the relief I felt. Wallahi Safiyya you are the first and only girl I have ever felt anything for. When I came back I was looking forward to seeing you again and on Eid day I could not control myself, Allah forgive me for that and for my behavior every time we met afterwards. I was afraid sometimes I was making a complete idiot of myself. You see I didn't want to risk losing you to some brother who would propose before I did so I pestered my parents to ask your father. I made so much du'a (prayer) day and night that you would say yes'.

He paused for a few seconds then continued 'I am not perfect, far from it, I am just a regular Muslim striving and trying hard to be a good one and I can't promise to be perfect but this I promise, I promise to try my best to be a loving husband, to dedicate that part of my heart that was meant to be for you entirely to you. I want to be complete and one with you and I want to be worthy someday of your hand and heart in every way possible'

He held both my hands to his lips as if he was breathing me in with his eyes closed.
Were I able to find my voice at that moment I wouldn't have been able to string together a single comprehendible sentence. That last part made my heart go wild again. The first part was just unbelievable. It did explain some of his behavior but I still couldn't get my head around it.

'Say something' Ali said
I composed myself and said 'I... Umm... The first part was unexpected, I don't even know what to say...'
'I know' he cut in
'For the second part', I continued, 'I am not perfect either and I don't expect you to be to but I will, inshaAllah, also try my best to be a loving wife and be deserving of that place you have given me in your heart'
Ali pulled me closer and said 'Thank you' smiling really wide
'What for?'
'For saying yes', he kissed me once on the forehead, once on the nose and once on the lips and then left the room.

Before I could get myself to leave the bed I heard Farah's voice, 'Assalamu alaikum' she asked permission to come in.
'Wa alaikum salaam' I answered, 'come in'
'Good morning' she said as she came in holding a breakfast tray 'for you'
'Oh habibti you shouldn't have'
She only giggled and put the tray on my lap
'If you want anything let us know, me and Sadaf, we are at your service'
'Thank you habibti'
She tilted her head and curtseyed, 'you're welcome' then left.
On the plate was toast with jam and a stack of pancakes and by the side all I needed for tea. I put down the tray on the bed and went to the bathroom first. I washed my face, tidied my hair and came out. Ali was back in the room.
He pointed at the breakfast and asked 'Farah or Sadaf?'
'Farah' I answered
'Ahh, they promised to spoil you'
'Did they? That's sweet of them' I said and sat back 'what about your breakfast?' I asked him
'Oh, I'm going down for it now'
'Lets eat this one' I smiled
'Looks really good, you sure you want to share that with me?'
'This once, yes'

Ali sat on the bed facing me. The light from the window lit his eyes and the honey trapped behind his lenses started sparkling, this time I didn't make myself look away, I could stare at him for as long as I wanted. It's now so legal I told myself.
We shared our first breakfast together between stares and glances. I felt this lantern being lit in the left part of my chest, right where my heart should be.