The Secret Behind Her Hijab | ✔

13. The Surprise Visit

Suhad

I felt like a total baddass. I just left my husband rooted to the spot and completely dazed. I wanted to make it up to my dear husband for what happened that day in my bedroom. I had expected him to touch me, yes, take my hand, may be, but to kiss me? That was totally unexpected. I was so taken aback that by the time I had reacted his expression had morphed into that of frustration. I had wanted to explain but he had already left the room by then. I gave him a swift kiss today and now he was in the same spot as I was that day. I wanted to laugh out loud and I think I did because bhai asked what was so funny and I just brushed him off.

Ma was already standing in the living room ready to see me off. I glanced at our bedroom door but Shadab didn't make any appearance. I wrapped the dupatta around my head as a hijab and hugged ma.

"Take care." She said.

"You too."

And with that I left with Bhai. I was hoping for one last glance of Shadab till the moment I sat in the car but that didn't happen. I felt a little sad by that. I wished he had come to see me off.

"So how are you choti?" Bhai asked as we started the short drive towards home.

"Back to choti, are we? Then what was that hey sis or thanks sis back there?" I said air quoting those words.

"Eh... I just didn't want to embarrass you in front of that Dabbu and his mom. Speaking of, how was it spending a day with him?"

I thought about that question. How was the day? Thinking back I hadn't spent much time with my husband. When we had gone home Shadab busied himself with watching tv and ma was the one who had shown me around the house and spent most of the time talking to me. After that little "scene" in the bedroom at night Shadab had slept. And then there was today morning, where I woke him up for Fajr. That was the only real conversation we had, if you counted his grunts and groans as responses and also the miming acts he was doing when he was frustrated with my questions. That bought a smile to my face.

"Earth to Suhad." Bhai said breaking me from my reverie.

"What?"

"I asked you something."

"I have to tell you something." And I told him all that happened during Fajr. "I mean, I guessed he wasn't a practicing guy but I didn't think that he wouldn't be practising at all. That came as a huge shock to me." I concluded.

"But at least he prayed today."

"Alhamdulillah."

"Don't worry sis. He prayed today because of you, in sha Allah he will become practising. All you have to do is take baby steps." Bhai said reassuringly.

"I like it when you call me sis."

"From all that I said, you only got that?"

"No! I got what you said. And in sha Allah, Allah will bless him."

"Hmm. Now get out." He said in a mock serious tone as we reached our home. I just laughed but obeyed his command.

***

"Oh my baby! Marriage is suiting you so much!" Mom exclaimed. We had spent our whole day already and were now sitting in the living room talking. Uncle Junaid who had come to stay here with his family for the wedding left after dinner. It was fun to hang out with everyone for a while. And it felt so good to be back. Even though I was away for only half a day, it felt like I had been gone for years.

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"Your post-wedding glow says it all." She said. She leaned in towards me and then whispered, "I take it Shadab loves you a lot, huh?"