Jummu'a Mubarak🥀
Don't forget to recite suratul kahf.

The responses on the last chapter were outstanding😩😭❤️
So many comments, so many accolades.
Lemme brag small💁🏻‍♀️

To have someone as phenomenal as Umma Aziza say this about the nonsense I scribble means I'm doing a good job after all😌❤️
Like I said in the previous Q&A, I wanna be like her when I grow up🥀❤️

Thank you all💕💕

The silent readers that commented, I saw y'all👀
Mhmm, now that you're out of your little shell, don't go back to being silent please🙏🏻💕

Ignore the typos 🙃
Not edited.

AAYAN

Sharing what I've been through with my wife makes me breathe a whole lot better. An invisible weight has been lifted off my chest and shoulder. The guilt of keeping a big part of my life from the love of my life is gone.

No more secrets.

Are you sure? My subconscious questioned. Well not that kind of secret.

Manal was, is a big part of my life, she's one of the people I'll never ever forget. She had so much love to give even if she knew very little of what love actually is. She was brave, a warrior. I continue to pray everyday to the Almighty to forgive her sins and lighten up her grave.

Every month I sent money to the orphanage she was raised in, it was one of her biggest dreams. To make that place a better and safer place for the kids than it ever was to her. She had so much to give when she had so little. She had one of the purest heart I've ever seen, she didn't let her situation sharpen into something she was not suppose to be.

Spread love and kindness everywhere you go. That was her motto. In a way both of my wives are similar, they are such sweet souls who sprinkle a healthy dose of joy and happiness wherever they go.

It was hard for me let go, so hard. The trials were tough but I made through, forever glad I didn't stray, forever thankful and indebted to the beautiful souls surrounding me. Everyday when I put my forehead down I thank Allah.

And to those monsters, all I can say is; Allah is sufficient.

*****

The early morning light streamed into the the room through the open drapes. My eyelids fluttered open, the intensity of the light was too much so I shut them back before opening them once again, this time slowly. My gaze landed on the sleeping beauty beside me, a smile slipped off my lips effortlessly.

She's so beautiful. She's curled up in a fetal position her head placed on her palms, her hair tucked into a cap, her long eyelashes softly brushing her cheeks. I used my index finger to trace her eyebrows, eyes, nose and finally her lips.

God I love her, I love her so much. And she loves me too. I asked how she could love are broken person like me. I'm broken too, she said.

When you have a good woman, you have to be able to let go of your fears, set aside your ego and allow her to love you with all her heart, mind, body and soul. When you do, her love has the absolute power to, not only bring our the best in you but has the power to change your whole life perspective. You just have to be open to changing the way you think about love. A good woman's love is actually a critical element to the true strength and power of a good man.

I don't how or when I fell in love with her, all I know is I am as wrapped up in her as a vine that clings to a tree seeking for sustenance. She's tied to me for eternity (till we meet in Jannah In sha Allah). She's my home. To win and hold her heart is my main purpose.

Her eyelids slowly fluttered open, there are those doe eyes I love so much. "Good morning beautiful."

"Good morning," she yawned whilst stretching. Jawahir suddenly sprang up. "Oh my Gosh, breakfast!"

"Hey, relax." I pulled her back by her arms. "It's  already—" she looked at the wall clock. "9:00 fah." she whined.

"Don't worry," I said. "I had someone make breakfast for us."

Jawahir threw me a glare. "Why?" She demanded with a pout. "You know I hate it when someone cooks for you."

"Easy tiger, I'm just kidding." I grinned. "Let's go make breakfast together."

She squealed, pulled me in for a hug before ambulating to the closet. I went to the bathroom to do my morning routine. After I exited, Jawahir went in too. Together, we went downstairs. The house is already clean and the workers have retired to their quarters.

Perfect, no distractions.

"Okay Mrs chef, what's my job?"

Tesoro patted my bicep. "Just sit and watch."

And that's what happened. She refused to let me do a single thing, claiming I'll only mess up her kitchen. I sulk silently as I watch in her element. Everything about her is so fascinating. The way she glides around the kitchen with ease, how her eyes light up whenever the result comes out perfectly, how she bites the side of her lower lip in concentration, everything.

"Food is ready!" Jawahir announced. I picked up the last tray on the counter and followed her to the dining room. The table is set up beautifully.

I pulled a chair for my dear wife before taking a seat myself.  I hummed when I took the first bite, she has magic in her hands. I know I've said it times without number.

My phone dinged, indicating that a message has been received. I picked up to see what it says.

Uthman: Bro, you need to come to the site in Lube, there's a serious problem you need to rectify.

I sighed, this is not how I pictured my day. I'm to suppose to stay in with my wife.

"What's wrong?" Jawahir asked. I showed her the message, she pouted. "You're going." It was a statement not a question. I nodded, I leaned in to kiss the pout away. "I'll be back before you know it."

I jogged upstairs to change my clothes and get my briefcase. Jawahir accompanied me to my car. "Come back soon," she whined. She leaned to place a kiss on my cheek. "I'm already missing you." I turned my neck to connect our lips properly. "I'm already missing you too."

*****

I arrived in Lube about an hour later, this city's traffic is a nightmare. I saw Uthman waiting for me with a helmet and jacket. "What's the problem?"

As we were walking, Uthman explained what the problem is. With the co-operation of the workers, everything was fixed about two hours later.

"Okay Uthman, I'll see you tomorrow." I patted his back. "See you too."

I shrugged off the jacket and took of the helmet then placed everything in it's rightful place. Whilst walking, I heard a voice yelling watch out but it was too late. A saw came flying, I was able to move but it still ended up cutting me vertically from my shoulder downward.

I winced, holding the place with my other arm. It's bleeding, ya Allah. Some of the workers quickly rushed to tend to my injury, I was taken to an office to get the wound treated.

I could hear Uthman yelling at the worker that let the saw fall. I can hear the poor fellow apologizing. It was an accident, it happens. I took off my shirt off with great difficulty, the male nurse gave the first aid required before advising me to go to the hospital.

It burns like hell, I can feel myself sweating. "Are you okay?" Uthman asked. I managed to nod my head. Uthman took over the driver's seat while I rode shotgun. We made it to the hospital, I went to accident and emergency.

It took a while before the doctor arrived. He treated me and prescribed some drugs which Uthman got for me from the pharmacy.

"Ready to go?" Uthman asked. I nodded, feeling a bit drowsy. I ended up falling asleep before we got home.

The stupid doctor drugged me.

*****

I woke to the sensation of finger tips softly trailing my face. My eyes lid slowly fluttered open and I'm greeted with the swollen red eyes of my wife.

Ya Allah!

"Tesoro?" I called out, trying to seat up. She held me back. "No please, don't."

"Were you crying?" I cupped her face with my palm, my uninjured arm. Jawahir sniffed, a few tears rolling down. "How did you get injured?"

I told her a recap of what happened. "Don't stress yourself habibty, it's nothing. I'm fine."

"When Uthman brought you in, you were barely conscious and the wound kept bleeding, I had to dress it again."

My lips stretched with difficulty. Jawahir held a cup of cold water to my lips to drink. "Thank you."

"Are you hungry?" she asked. "Oh my God!" She exclaimed before I could reply. "Let me quickly make something for you." And she was out of the room before I could speak.

I managed to sit up, with my back against the headboard. I looked down at my clothing. I'm in a simple t-shirt but my trousers are the same ones I went out with.

About thirty minutes later, Jawahir came back holding a tray. She kept it on the bedside drawer before taking a seat beside me. Silently, she fed me a whole bowl of chicken soup. After that I took my meds.

"Do you need anything again?" She fretted. "Yeah," I nodded.

"What is it?" She asked, raising to her feet. I pulled her down. "Lay by my side."

"Aayan!" She chided. "I could have hurt you." I smiled cheekily. "But you didn't." Jawahir adjusted her position, she refused to rest her body on me, claiming she might hurt my wound. I just rolled my eyes, doesn't she know I need to feel her warmth?!

Somehow, we both fell asleep.

****

The snow fell steadily, the green scenery turned white. There I saw a lady, sitting cross legged on a stool. Her hands stretched out to catch some of the snowflakes, her lips adorned beautifully with a smile. Her smile brightened when she saw me.

"Aayan?" She called softly, she stood up to envelop me in her arms. I wrapped my own arms around her. Softly swaying us back and forth. "I missed you." She whispered against my chest.

"I miss you too." I mumbled softly against her head. "We are finally married." I could hear the happiness in her tone.

I pulled away to look into her eyes. "Yes, we are finally married." I leaned down, and for the first time joined our lips. We pulled away to catch our breath. Those hazel colored eyes stared at me. "I love you." I confessed. "I love you too." She replied.

I made her sit down on the swing in the park, pushing her back and forth. I pushed a bit higher to which she squealed out loud. "Stop Aayan."

I brought the swing to a half before pulling her, we sat down on a bench with her head on my shoulder, our hands entwined. "I can believe it, after all I've been through, I get to see this day. Your mine and I'm yours." She said.

I placed a loving kiss on her forehead. "Alhamdulillah." I prayed.

"I can't wait for us to begin our journey together, I can't wait to see what life has in store of us. Our happy little family. Me, you, your famiy—"

"—not my family. Our family." I was quick her to correct her. "They are your family as much they are mine."

"Our family," she tested the word slowly. Her eyes started to water. "I've never had my own family." I hugged her tighter. "You do now Manal. You do."

"I do, I actually do." She laughed through her tears. She rose to her feet then knelt down. I curiously stared at her, the next thing I felt a snowball hitting me in the face. I gasped. "You did not."

Manal took off, whilst laughing. That laughter that soothes away all my worries, that laughter that I can listen to all day long.

We threw snowballs at each other as I chase her round the park. I finally caught her by the waist. She struggled for a while before giving up. "Got you." I whispered on her ear.

"Promise, promise you'll have me forever and ever." She pleaded with tearful eyes.

"I promise. Forever."

Yet we never got our chance at forever.

****

I woke up drenched in sweat, I haven't dreamed of Manal since the day of her death anniversary. I quietly slid out of bed and ambulated to the bathroom where I performed ablution. I offered two units of prayer, sending it to Manal's grave.

May her soul continue to Rest In Peace

And I prayed for our hereafter too, may we die while still following the teachings of the prophet SAW. Ameen.

****

For the next five days, my wife pampered me like a baby. She forcefully put me to bed rest with emotional blackmail. Ladies...

Today the stitches will be removed. Right now we are on our way to the hospital, Jawahir is the one driving. After getting the stitches removed and getting the prescribed ointments, we drove to Asokoro.

"Assalamu alaikum," Jawahir and I chorused as we walked into the house hand and hand.

"Wa'alaikumus salam. Marhaba, ahlan wa sahlan 'atfali; hello, welcome my kids." Ammiey beamed, opening her arms wide. She hugged Jawahir first—to which I playfully roll my eyes— before hugging me.

"Aayan how's the arm?" She inquired lovingly after we retired to the living room. "It's healing just fine." I told my mother.

"Where are Maheera and Kausar?" Jawahir asked, her eyes scanning to see any sign of either of my sisters.

"They went to the market." Ammiey informed. "I'm the only person at home, your father went out too."

We spent the rest of the day keeping my mother company. She and Jawahir kept talking amongst theirselves, I feel left out. I tried to grab their attention several times but they kept waving me off so I did the only I know will focus their attention on me.

"Ahhh!" I winced holding my injured bicep.

"What's wrong?!"

"Are you okay?"

They spoke at once.

"Are okay?" Jawahir asked again in a panic tone. "Actually I'm fine just needed your attention." Jawahir threw me a glare while Ammiey softly smacked me on the forehead muttering 'silly boy' under her breath.

We left around 9:30, my sisters and father are yet to return the time we left. This time I'm the one driving, I can feel Jawahir sulking beside me. "Tesoro?" I called with a sigh. My answer was silence. I called again and she still remained mum.

"Malikati; my queen, tahadath maei; talk to me." I cajoled but she refused to budget. "Hubbu hayati?" I tried once again.

"What?" She snapped. Finally.

"I'm sorry." I apologized.

"Hold your apology, I don't want it."

"Tesoro I—

"—you promised that I'll go home, didn't you." She cut me off. "Where's the promise now, huh?" She turned her head away.

"I accept my fault, I'm sorry, what do you want?"

"I want to spend a few days at my parents'"

"Tesoro...." I hesitated. "Of course," Jawahir threw her hands up. "of course you wouldn't agree, just forget it." She alighted the car the moment I parked.

I released a huge sigh and followed her in. "Habibty?"

"What's so wrong in letting me stay with my parents for a few days, huh Aayan? Why won't you let me?! I miss them! I want to see them! I know for a fact that you visit your house everyday when you leave for work, then why are you stopping from going to my own parents house?!" Her voice cracked at the end.

I walked up to her, then pulled her into my arms. She resisted at first before sighing. "Please let me visit my Mammie and Abu, please Aayan."

"Okay fine," I agreed. She let out a squeal and pull away to throw her arms around my neck, she had to stand on her tiptoes. "Thank you, thank you."

"Two days only," I gave my condition.

"But why?" She mumbled against my neck.

"Because I'm going to miss you so much."

Aloha!

How are you all? I hope we're all fine😊😊

A light hearted chapter after that heavy one😩 I hope you enjoyed it.

We're coming closer to the end, I'm both sad and happy about it🤧💃🏻 Sad because I'm gonna miss them soooooooooooooo much, happy because I did it!😭

I'm starting my exams on Monday😬😬 I know, pray for me🙏🏻 We all know what it means. We will be going on a little hiatus and will be returning anything around the 3rd week of next month. There will be NO UPDATE until then.
I hope y'all understand 😌💕

Tell me how you came across JEWELS?! I wanna know.

Don't to vote, comment and share💕🌸

Yours truly
Memzyb✨🌹