Bowled Over By The Broken

Chapter 35: A Perfect family?

19th November, 2017

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Exchange gifts, you will love one another."

Narrated by al-Bukhaari

Chapter 35:

A Perfect family?

Anabya tied the strap of her brand new gladiators, and resting against the arm rest of the couch, she waited for Shamaaz. Having come exhausted after his match, he straight up went to sleep and it had taken her gallons of coaxing to finally wake him up after just an hour. Now, as he walked out of the bedroom, she caught hold of her sling bag, her smile widening.

"You ready?" She chirped and smothered a laugh when the grumpy guy grunted his response.

"I didn't even think you'd be so excited for shopping," he finally said, his voice still slightly hoarse and in a way, she liked it. She'd hear him that way every morning but she still hadn't got used to his sleepy voice, it was just the right amount of everything! However, as the house door clicked close just as the elevator doors opened, she found her cheeks tinging a pretty shade of pink upon realized the direction of her thoughts.

"It's not that," she replied as they took the empty elevator to the basement parking. "We're leaving for home in the morning in sha Allah, and I like the idea of shopping for all our relatives. I've already thought what to get for a few of them and this is just exciting! I've never done this before," she grinned and Shamaaz gave her a peculiar look, certain that he had never seen this side of Anabya so far.

It was probably the first time he was seeing her this excited and he didn't even have to guess the reason, it was obviously because they were returning to their hometown the next day.

"It's crazy just how happy you are," he finally verbalized his thoughts. "It's almost like a caged bird being let free."

"What? You don't have to put it that way," she answered, pursing her lips. "You don't understand," she continued as she got into the car, "It's the first time I've been away from them for so long and it's the first time in years that I'm going to see them!"

"First time in years?" He laughed at her exaggeration. "Bya, we haven't even been here for a month."

"Ever heard of hyperbole?" She rolled her eyes. "It's used in literature when someone wants to make an exaggerated claim that is not meant to be taken literally. You get it now?"

"Oh so from apart from everything, now I also need to understand the double meanings and exaggerations in your statements?"

"Of course you need to!" She grinned sweetly and Shamaaz couldn't explain just how much he was enjoying this version of Anabya.

"Wait, what do you mean by 'apart from everything'?"

"Come on, don't tell me you don't appreciate me for surviving your tantrums!"

"Excuse me? What tantrums are you referring to?"

"Too many to mention," he teased.

"Please, I'm the easiest person to live with," she countered. "I'm hardly demanding."

"If I remember correctly, you were the one going on and on about putting the wet towel in the balcony and not on the bed, not messing all the clothes while looking for a shirt, removing my socks before going to bed, and the list is endless."

"Yeah, that's because I can't believe I'm married to a typical chauvinist who isn't responsible of his stuff, and thinks his wife needs to do all this for him."