Muslimah in love

22. The Maldives Part 2

I suddenly woke up. It was 2am. After tossing and turning and failing to fall asleep again, I knew what I needed: A midnight swim. I wondered to the wardrobe and took out the unused red swimming costume. What was the point of the suit of I didn't even use and I probably won't use it again, unless there was going to be another holiday in the sun. Since Zaid was sleeping away along with probably all of the hundred or less people on the Island, there was no risk of anyone seeing me, so I decided to make use of it.

After putting the costume on, I wrapped a soft fluffy towel around my waist. I crept past the bed and opened the sliding door where the cool air greeted me. I drank in the breath-taking view in front of me of the navy sky, the white moon and the lamp-like stars reflected over the silvery swimming pool and the distance ocean. I closed the door behind me and didn't bother turning on the lamps. Somehow the darkness felt right and all the more magical.

I dove into the pool like a swan; the water danced around me and the warm water soaked into my skin. After a few soothing laps, I floated on my black and stared up at the sky, wishing that time would freeze in this serene and mesmeric moment. I closed my eyes and after while ,opened them.

Suddenly, I felt a tug on my foot, I kicked and again another tug that pulled me all the way under. I splattered as I gasped for air. What the hell was going on? I looked around me. No being was visible. What had just happened? The water became still. Thereupon, I noticed a small ripple in the far right corner. Huh? Has an vertebrate managed to creep in like the film 'Piranha? Horror flared in me as I realised that the ripple were coming closer towards me. I began to swim frantically towards the edge. But the ripple began moving faster. I began to pray any of the supplications that i remembered.

I looked up and before crying out for help, realisation hit me. The open door which I had most definitely shut, was open. So, I stopped and tread water as I waited for my pursuer to reach me.

'Can you please stop doing that! You nearly scared the life out of me! Why on earth did you did that at this time of night anyway?' I shrieked as Zaid rose up from the water and wiped his hair back. I had been so bloody scrared. I wasn’t very fond of unknown creatures and those shark or crocodile horror flicks had a way of haunting you and making sure that you looked over your shoulders once in a while. I wasn't a huge fan of the genre, but knowing that my macho and courageous husband was next to me, I felt slightly at ease. I wonder if Zaid felt afraid after the horror movies we watched.

'I was trying to teach you a lesson. I woke up and found the bed empty-'

'Teach me a lesson?'  Was he being serious? What lesson did I need to be taught?

'What are you doing swimming at this time of night?'

'because I felt Like having a  swim.'

'At this time of night, or should I say morning. Anyway 2am?' He said facing me.

I swam away. 'Well haven't you ever wanted to swim at night, when the whole world is asleep and you're like the only one awake, all alone?'

Zaid peered at me closely.

'Ok..' He came closer again.

'I think I'm done.' By now I was at the edge of the pool.

Zaid came closer yet again.

'Why do you keep swimming away. '

'What?' I pretended not to know what he was on about.

'Yeah. Every time I come close to you, you keep moving somewhere else. Have I done something?'

'No.' He hadn't done something. It was me and the stupid outfit I was hiding beneath the water. The swimming costume wasn't exactly modest. It was backless and the only way it wasn't a bikini was due to the flimsy triangular piece of cloth that was attached on the front part which went through the golden coloured loop on the chest part. Zaid could walk around or dive into the pool topless, But I didn't feel that confident. Argh! Why had I even worn it? I felt so shy and embarrassed. I kept moving back as Zaid moved forward until my back hit the wall. Great, I had no chance of retreat. Oh God, what had I gotten myself into! I was never taking a risk like this again. Clearly sleeping was an action that could not be relied on fully.