The Nearest Heaven

Part 32 - Burning Inferno

Part 32 – Burning Inferno

If Allah helps you, none can overcome you: If He forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you? In Allah, then, let believers put their trust.

~Surah Al-Imran, verse 160.

Fadiyah woke up disorientated. Her hair was strewn messily around her face, neck and pillows. Irritated by her hair tickling her neck, she sat up then squinted immediately from the sunlight peeking through the gap. She hadn't shut the curtains properly the night before and suddenly found herself regretting her idiocy and her inability to check that she had closed the curtains perfectly.

As she combed her nimble fingers through her thick, long hair, she looked around the room. First, her blurry eyes settled on the blindingly beautiful sun rays as they peeped out of the space and she glared at it, upset that it had woken her up. Slowly, she looked around the room and frowned when she noticed Faraaz wasn't in the room. Her heart sank, but she was thankful that at least her husband was out and moving. Fadiyah knew that he was more than likely exercising with his physiotherapist downstairs, or he could be spending time with his father.

When her eyes landed on the clock, Fadiyah let out a loud gasp. "Oh my gosh," she dragged out as she hopped off the bed and rushed around the room to make the bed and tidy up the room before opening the curtains and windows. "Oh gosh, oh gosh," she mumbled angrily as she fumbled her way around.

With hard stomps, she made her way to their cupboard, pulling out a pair of comfortable jeans and a loose flowing abaya, she rushed to the shower. As the scalding water soothed her over sleepy muscles, she lathered shampoo in her hair and washed it as thoroughly as she could before moving onto washing her body clean.

In less than twenty minutes, Fadiyah was out of her shower and changing into her clothes and calmly trying to make her way downstairs without stomping like an elephant and alerting anyone to her state of urgency. At the last step, she paused and ran her thin, pale fingers over her abaya and smoothed out non-existent creases before she strolled to the lounge.

She pasted on a smile and tried to seem non-plussed despite her flustered state. "Assalaamu Alaykum," she greeted when she saw her father-in-law seated beside her husband as they shared a platter of delicately cut fruit.

Love swelled in her heart as she noticed how Faraaz straightened his spine, sat up and turned his head eagerly facing her with a broad grin. His beautiful brown eyes shone with love and happiness seeing her, and Fadiyah felt proud to call him her husband. "Wa alaykumusalaam!" he replied cheerfully beating his father and Jacob in returning her greeting. "How did you sleep?"

With a crinkle of her button nose and shrug, she spoke softly as she came to sit near him. "Okay, jazakallah."

"Wa alaykumusalaam, dear," Aasif said after clearing his throat to gain their attention. He had a feeling that the love birds would have continued to talk amongst themselves for a long time before noticing everyone else around them. "How are you?"

Fadiyah turned rosy at the question as she realised that she hadn't spoken to her father-in-law. "I'm well, Alhamdullilah. How are you, dad?"

He beamed at her, his wrinkled face making her smile in response. "I have no complaints, all thanks to Allah. All Praise to Him. Did you know that Faraaz pulled himself out of bed last night, Fadiyah?" The pride in his voice was undisguised.

Within a heartbeat, Fadiyah spun on her chair and faced Faraaz. Her eyes were wide with disbelief, casting an innocent and excited look on her face. "Why didn't you wake me?" she asked, but there was no malice in her tone. She was far too proud of the fact that he was able to get out of bed by himself to be angry.