(On Hold)The burning candles in our hearts

19

Muhammad was sleeping when he heard his phone ringing. He woke up and saw himself in his wife's room with Hafsat still in his arms. He probably didn't know when he fell asleep. His phone started ringing again.

"Who is it at this time of the night?" He said to himself.

He pulled a pillow closer and he put Hafsat's head on the pillow before he turned to pick up the phone. It was his father calling him. It was around 11:30pm

"Salam alaik" he said picking up the call.

"Ameen wa alaikal salam. Sorry I woke you up. The moon has been sighted few minutes ago. Barka da Sallah in advance" daddy said before he ended the call.

Muhammad remembered how he always stayed up all night during the last day of ramadan with his father waiting for the news whether the moon has been sighted or not and when his father always called him and told him the news first when he was back in school.

He slowly got up and pulled the duvet covering her curled up body before he left the room. He went to his room and started praying nafl prayers.

After he was done he raised his hands up to pray to the Almighty "ya Allah bless my parents. Grant them jannatul firdaus grant them Good health and make us all die good muslims. Ya Allah bless my wife for me and give us good offsprings when the time comes.Allah forgive her and give me the heart to always do right by her. Ya Allah this marriage of mine coming up in two weeks ya Allah bless and protect us from every evil that comes with it." He finished up and picked up his Quran. He read and read until he started dozing off again. He took a pillow and slept there on his praying mat.

Hafsat heard her alarm ringing and she woke up. Muhammad was not in her room. She smiled to herself before she put off the alarm. She made ablution and prayed raka'atanil fajr. Muhammad usually wakes her up before her alarm. She was surprised he didn't come today. She went to his room to check if he was awake. But she saw him sleeping on the praying mat with his Quran beside him. She went closer to him and squatted near him admiring his handsome face. He had the long typical  fulani nose. He was sleeping but he still had a smile on his face. She bent down and gave him a kiss on his cheek. He moved a little she got scared he knew she kissed him but he just turned to the other side. She used her hands and felt his hair before she talked.

"Muhammad wake up" hafsat said waking him up.

"You are going to be late for masjid." She said again

He woke up and saw her squatting near him. He checked his phone and it was almost time for prayers. He thanked her and rushed to the bathroom. Brushed his teeth and made ablution and he headed for masjid.

"Today is Eid" he said coming in.

He saw her in the kitchen with their house help.

"Ina kwana uncle" she greeted him.

"Lafia an tashi lafia?" He asked her.

"Yes I woke up to a message saying the moon was sighted " she said replying what he said earlier

"Daddy called and told me. You were already asleep thats why I didn't tell you" he told her.

"Ohh no problem. We are going over their today right?" She said referring to Muhammad's house

"Ohh yes later before zuhr in shaa Allah"

"Toh. I should be done by then. I want to cook him something" she said

He wanted to ask her what she was going to do about the snacks she started making last night but he didn't want to bring up last night so he decided not to.