TREASURES AND THORNS

Chapter 69

Omniscient

*Nemesis*

UNEDITED

The tranquility he had once known returned back to his life. He prayed with so much ease that morning. He almost skipped the mosque to do the azkar  with his beloved in his room, merely resisting the urge.
Indeed, he had underestimated how much she meant to him. Never in a thousand years could he ever had known that her unwanted entry in to his life could bring so much meaning to it. He had always felt blessed with the best of whatever he so desired till he met her. Allah had blessed him with the best wife he could ever had asked for. From the beginning he felt she had come in to his life at the wrong time, on rethinking everything he couldn’t think of any other time better than that. Indeed, Allah’s plan and timing are both never wrong. What a way to bless him after all he had been through! Even despite messing up grandly, he had woken up to her dimpled smile. What more could a man wish for?

She looked peaceful in her sleep, so peaceful he wished he didn't have to wake her up.

Ahmad inches closer to her, whispering her name. She opens her eyes immediately.

"Rise and shine baby, its time for breakfast. "

Rukkayya covers her yawn with her right hand.

"Come on," Ahmad gently pulls her to a sitting position.

"I'm not hungry," She says after a while.

He slowly squats before her, taking her hands in his, Ahmad says, " I have missed you,  I'm so sorry I put you through all that."

Rukkayya 's thumb strokes his hands softly. "I have missed you too."

"Honestly, I never expected to find the peace I found in you. I thought I'd have to endure you for the rest of my life but you gave it meaning and purpose."

"Ahmad."

Looking straight in to her eyes he continues. "I've made silly mistakes. Mistakes that you shouldn't have to suffer for and I'll spend the rest of my life regretting that. In your eyes I see the path that I'm meant to thread, trust me I've looked in so many places for that. I __

"Ahmad..

"I'm insanely in love with you,  Rukkayya Nasir."

Just like that, the words flew out of him. Even saying it out loud made him feel lighter.

Rukkayya's mouth opens and closes several times but no words come from it.

"Look I still need clarity, you're yet to fully explain yourself to me."

"I know, I'm sorry about that. I have to tell you something, I don't know how you'll take it but umm__

"I'm listening."

"The restaurant photo, She had just returned to town. I was still much confused, we were just talking then she suddenly fell__I know how this might sound bu__

"Go ahead."

It didn't matter how it sounded, she just needed something to hold on to. A sort of explanation.

"I was trying to help her up when she__came at me."

"The day I was uhm, attacked. You left me to be with her right?"

"About that__

"Yes or No."

"Yes but I__

Rukkayya holds a hand up. " I know I was forced on you so its understandable to an extent though I__it hurts a lot Ahmad. I was scared out of my wits, the only hope I had was you returning but you went to her," Rukkayya sniffs. "It says a lot."