TREASURES AND THORNS

Chapter 42

Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.
                                                -Rumi
  

RUKKAYYA
<Sisterly banter>

UNEDITED

The morning came fast at least that's what I thought. Ya Ahmad woke me up for Fajr just before going to the masjid. I also went to check Mummy and Nana, turns out they were already awake.

I had finished saying my Azkar long before he came back in holding a bottle of water. I noticed the moisture on his shirt and how it clung tightly to his body.

"Good morning," I greeted.

"Hey, hope you slept well?" He sets the water bottle on a stand by the closet. On a closer look, the sweat, the water bottle, he had probably been to the gym before coming back up. For once, I became curious about the gym downstairs.

"Yes, Alhamdulilah."

I was tempted to ask what took so long but I kept it to myself. He seemed to have forgotten that he wasn't alone because the next thing he did was peel off his white shirt exposing his very fair skin and...
ABS!!! Zuwaira's voice screamed in my head.

I averted my gaze immediately. He had his back to me from where I sat on the grey couch so he couldn't see me else he would have had a field day with that. There, I'd been thinking the awkwardness had left with the night. Urgh! My heart wouldn't stop beating so fast.

"Can you pass me the face towel there?" I turned to look at him thankfully it was just for a second before I focused on where he gestured. There was a dark brown shelf left of where I sat. When I moved closer to it, I saw that the shelves housed some books and sketch pad while different colours of face towels were neatly placed on top of it. I picked the first one and walked towards Ya Ahmad. Why did the room have to be so big?

I kept my gaze on the towel in my hand. If only I could just toss the towel to him and avoid the whole situation.

"Here," I said when his feet came in to my line of vision. I silently prayed he would just collect it without saying a word but no, my fate betrayed me.

"Dimple," he started softly, automatically I looked up at him. Surprisingly, there was no hint of mischief in his eyes, so I knew he wasn't about to tease me. My oh my, I had never seen - nor paid attention to - any better looking muscle. I finally understand Zuwaira, turns out she's not crazy after all..Oh my fate!

"The towel?"

My tongue was hit with an abrupt dryness, I had to swallow before I could speak. My eyes never leaving his face because they would otherwise meet with his bare torso, I put the towel in his outstretched hand. From the corner of my eye I did catch a glimpse.