UMMUL-KULTHUM- ON HOLD

7-Game on

In Out In Out In Out In Out In Out
Heavy breathe, breathe seizing, mouth wide open, struggling to get in the oxygen the nose couldn't give, body too heavy to carry itself. She keeps pushing, trying so hard to reach for it but seems impossible. The side lamp crashes to the ground in the process taking along with it every other thing. Creating more distance between them. She could feel her breath giving up, her eye lids closing at their own accord, limps getting heavier, ears blocked, she can feel hands touching her, more like trying to turn her and just when she had given up,she felt something pushed to her mouth, just three puffs brought her back to life.
After a few minutes, or was it hours,she can't say, she hears a voice calling her 'jalila,Jalila, talk to me, jalila, hey '
'Na'am' she replies in a crocked voice
'Are you ok?' asked Khalil in a worried tone'Say something' he added
'Yes' she replies now in a clear voice
'Have some water' he requests passing her a glass
'Thank you' she replies keeping it on the side drawer
'Should we go to the hospital?' he asks
'No there's no need' she replies
'Are you sure' he questions
'Yes, very sure' she insists
'Ok, get some rest, we will talk later' he concludes
'Bye'
'Bye'

************************************

Next morning
Waking up to the call for prayer, jalila drags herself to the bathroom, did her business then got ready for prayer. She took her time to supplicate and thank Allah for giving her another chance. She recited the Quran until sunrise. After that she decided to continue reading her mum's diary while she waits for him.

05\03\1985
He is coming back, yes him.He is the dream man of every girl, the one who turns heads when walking by, the man who puts the rest to shame,the way he walks,speaks,eats,drinks, everything is special. Who is he? He is the first prince, prince Jalaluddeen. He has been away for four years with his wife for studies but now he will be back and rumors says that he is planning on taking another wife immediately he is back. I believe there will be alot of drama this time of the year and I can't wait to write about it

I know what you are thinking, but that is not it. I don't have a chance with him and I have accepted that, by the way, he is not my type. OK maybe he is a little. Or a lot. So as I was saying about the rumors, what happened was that one woman, I can't remember her name. She is such a gossip, when ever she comes to our house, she only talks about what other people said or did when my mother was not there and I am sure she used to do the same in other places, the other day when she... Wait this is not the time to talk about her. OK I was telling you, she told my mom that her friend's sister who was friends with the queen's maid told her that the prince will be taking another wife. And you will be thinking why she would tell my mom. Well, she wants her to prepare jamila for him, so that he will take her as his wife and not me. You see they don't even consider me. Welcome to my world once again.

As she flips through the next page,Jalila's stomach rumbles reminding her she didn't take dinner last night. Folding the edge of the page as a bookmark, she drops it on her side drawer. She goes to the kitchen to make a cup of tea,she puts on the electric kettle. As she waits for the water to boil, Khalil comes into the kitchen, too carried away by his phone,he didn't notice her presence. He opens the fridge and brings out a bottle of milk.
'Good morning' she says
He almost dropped his phone, surprised to see her up so early 'hey, you are awake, how are you feeling'
'Much better' she replies
'Ok,Alhamdulillah' he adds
The kettle makes a click sound. Noticing the water has boiled she takes to out cups. ' tea?' she asked him
'Sure' he replies
She makes two cups of tea and passes him one. They both seat in the kitchen and sip their hot cups of tea in silence.
Breaking the silence she says 'thank you,I don't know what I would have done'
'You are welcome, are you sure you're ok?' she questions worried
'I'm very fine, don't worry' she replies
'Ok, I called the house help, she will be coming early today, she would be around incase. I will be leaving for work but I will be back by six.' he says
'Ok, can we talk when your back' she asks
'Yes,I will be all yours' he replies with in a playful voice
'Ok, thanks, all the best' she says with a smile
'Bye'
'Bye'

************************************

Khalil comes back from work to meet Jalila in their parlour watching SpongeBob SquarePants and he couldn't lie that he likes the sight of it. Going in with a Salam, he seats dropping his things on the centre table.
'Welcome back' she says
'Thanks, how are you doing' he replies
'I'm alright, how was your day?' she asks
'Not bad' he answers.
This was their first civilized conversation after weeks of marriage and Khalil can't deny that he is happy, maybe his plan might just work, both firstly he needs to lay the foundation.
After he has freshen up and eaten, he joins her in the parlour.
'Ehmm, can we talk? That is if you are not busy' Jalila speaks
'Sure, I'm all ears' he replies dropping his phone
'I want to thank you once again for helping me yesterday, I honestly don't know what I would have done if you hadn't find me, I wish I can repay you' she says
'Ok, is that all' he asks expecting to hear more than that
'Yes' she replies
'Are you sure thats all' he questions again eager to hear more
'I'm sure' she insists
'Then you owe me for that' he states
'What?' she questions suprised that he said so
'Yes, you just said you wish you can repay me,well let's say you are and I need 3 favours from you' he says
'No I'm not doing anything for you plus you just helped me once why should I do 3 favours for you' she argues
'Because I saved your life and that is something you can't pay me back for, I'm just helping you again by asking for just 3 small favours' he defence
'You can't be serious' she says still shocked. After a while she says ' fine, tell me' in a defeated voice
'Perfect, here the are' he comments happily passing her a piece of paper from his trousers pocket. She collects it still shocked by how ready he is and wandered why she agreed in the first place. Unfolding the piece of paper,she reads out load:
1) we are to ask each other at least 3 questions each about ourselves for 3 months(Note: different questions)
'You've got to be kidding me, I'm not doing this nonsense for 3 months' she says
'Then let's make it 2 months' he suggests
'2 weeks' she argues
'No way, 6weeks and that's final' he concludes
'A month or I'm not doing at all' he replies in a finality
'Fine' he agrees

2) we are to go out together at least once a week
With a laugh she said ' I don't know what you think you are doing but I know I will like this one'
'Not so fast, I get to decide were to go unless I say otherwise' he hurriedly replies making her laugh more
3) We have to cook at least a meal together every Sunday (note: I can't cook)
'Well that's not surprising, I didn't expect you to know how to boil water talk less of to cook. This wouldn't be a problem either.' she says
Wow that was easy, why not we add you cooking for me every day' he suggests with a smile
'dont push it' she warns making him laugh
'So we have a deal then' he asks giving her his hand to shake
'Yes, we have a deal, bring it on' she replies shaking his hand

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