For the first time in my thirty-one years of living I have woke up as soon as the alarm went off and the reason behind it was my body is painfully curled on the couch to get myself in the area provided by the furniture or else my feet were either falling down or the sides of the couch was hurting my toes and now I have realized the importance of a good mattress and a comfortable bed. Though it was my decision that I sleep on the couch while Khadija takes the bed but now with a sore arm and stiff neck the rejected idea of sleeping in the guest room was mocking me. As I tried to move up and sit a groan left my mouth and I jerked my arms to bring them back to life, I hardly slept for three hours even when I went to bed earlier than usual time. Moving my neck slowly I stopped my movement to look at Khadija, there she was peacefully sleeping with her face half covered with her hair and lips slightly apart. I smiled at how beautiful she looks even when she is sleeping.

Is it possible that your pain either if it's physically hurting you or mentally disturbing you leaves as soon as you look at someone you love?

Shaking my head on such love-sick thoughts I got up to get ready for my fajar prayer. After I came out dressed in T-shirt and sweat pants I found her tossing while the alarm on her phone was playing loudly, dismissing the tone I turned towards her who was still snoring lightly with her arms covering her eyes. I tried to call her out couple of time but she didn't even move a finger.

A heavy sleeper, I see.

So after dismissing a lot of futile ideas I shook her lightly by her arms and got some incoherent mumbles in return.

"Khadija it's time for fajar." I tried again after patting her arm because now she was turned on the other side with her back facing me.

"Sonay do mujai!" (Let me sleep) she said while throwing a pillow at me and I chuckled.

"Theekay (okay)! I'll tell mom you are not willing to meet rest of your in-laws." I said a bit louder clearing my voice and turned.

"What?" She quickly moved and I looked at her with a smirk and found her lips forming an 'o'. "It's really you..." she whispered and I laughed.

"Yeah Khadija we really got married." I said suppressing my grin as she looked at surrounding most probably remembering an eventful yesterday. Her cheeks turned red as she tied up her hair avoiding looking at me. "It's okay! I didn't hear anything." I said chuckling while going towards the table to get my prayer mat.

"Is it already fajar?" she asked with amusement and I nodded with a smile, spreading the mat. "Thank you for waking me up!"

"No problem." I replied and nodding she walked towards the bathroom.

By the time I was done with my namaz she was half way through so sitting on my side of the bed I started reading the surah (chapters of Quran) I missed last night. When I looked up she was sitting there making dua. Her small frame covered with long scarf while her head was slightly bent down but as soon as she moved her hands towards her face I quickly looked back at Quran opening surah Ar-Rehman.

"I won't mind if you would look at me while I'm praying." She said with a small laugh and I looked up with a smirk.

"Good because you should become used to of me looking at you again and again." I said with a grin and she rolled her eyes but I did catch the ghost of smile spread across her face.

Placing the prayer mat on the coffee table she came and sat at the edge of the bed opposite to me while all this time I was still making myself believe that the girl in front of me is real because as much as I have seen her in my sleep, having her with me seems too good to be real.

"Are you going to read today or should I?" She asked snapping me out of my thoughts.

"No I was waiting for you to read," I said giving her the Quran, "I have selected surah Ar-Rehman."

"Oh Great!" She gave me a beautiful genuine smile and reciting tauz and tasmia she started the recitation in her beautiful voice, her melodic voice made me close my eyes and resting my head on the headboard I listened to her. Her calming voice was relaxing my aching nerves and repeating the ayats along with her I was enjoying the most beautiful morning I had so far.

Twenty minutes later when she ended I opened my eyes to find her looking at me, "You really had a beautiful voice Masha Allah." I said getting up from the bed. "Um... I am thinking of going for my jog if that's okay with you," I said rubbing my neck because mom asked me to not move out of the house today.

"Sure!" she quickly said with a small smile.

"Thanks! Well if you want to sleep you still have couple of hours before mom and dad get here, our flight is around eleven or if you are staying awake suit yourself and you know where kitchen is." I said while she places the Quran on the shelf.

"I'll be fine." She said with a small laugh and I nodded. Walking towards her I stood in front of her while her eyes were looking at me intently I bent down kissing her forehead, "I'll be back soon." I said placing another kiss while she relaxed and I smiled on the little success and walked out of the room.

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It was more than an hour when I returned back from the jog drenched in sweat and my body yearning for a shower but as soon as I entered the apartment the strong aroma of coffee along with the addictive aroma of breakfast dragged me towards kitchen and the sight was enough to made me smile from ear to ear because standing there, showered and dressed up, with her back on me she was humming while mixing something and a sudden hunger of grabbing her and kiss her rose in me.

Ya Allah this idea of giving space and taking it slow won't work out for me!

"You're here!" I looked up to her and quickly smiled. "When did you come?" She asked placing parathas (round fried bread on the counter.

"Five seconds before," I grinned taking further step forward "The smell brought me here! What have you made?"

"Well parathas (round fried bread), khageena (scrambled egg curry, I took out kebab from the freezer, jam and yogurt which I haven't made obviously," I laughed while she smirked, "Coffee and tea because mama and dad just called they will be here any minute."

"Oh well I guess you just became dad's favorite with all the desi nashta (traditional breakfast)." I smiled wrapping my arms around me and she laughed.

"We'll see but right now Mr. Wali Ahmed you should really go and have shower," she scrunched up her nose.

"I am not stinking Mrs. Wali Ahmed!" I pouted and turned to run upstairs because, Man! I was sticking!

The room was all cleaned up with bed made and my clothes were already out on the bed with towel and I guess this woman is successfully making me fell head over heal for her again and again. Picking up the towel I moved towards the door when I suddenly remembered something and rushed towards the closet opening it I quickly tried to open the drawer which was locked and I exhaled, unlocking it I looked at the leather box lying there as I kept it three days ago taking it in my hand I opened it and looked at the necklace and earring with a sapphire studded in centre with other small stones around it.

It was nothing big but this was the first piece of any feminine stuff that I have bought alone without anyone's suggestion and help so I was just looking for the right moment to give it to her hoping that she would accept it and like it.

"Wali?" I heard Khadija's voice so quickly keeping it inside I went back to room.

"Why haven't you gone for the shower? Aren't they right for today?" she hesitantly asked looking at the check button down shirt and the trouser she took out for me. Walking towards her I confidently took her hands in mine and looking at her face which was getting red, I smiled, "They are perfect! And never doubt about what you do in this house. It's as much as yours as it's mine." Kissing her forehead which I can't stop myself from I moved back and walked back towards bathroom.

"Wali you forgot your clothes!" I heard her and mom's word came into my mind.

"Mrs. Wali I am used to of coming out in towel, is that a problem?" I asked with a smirk which she can't see and I am sure she must have gasped because I heard a loud call of 'Ya Allah' after that from her and laughing I went back to work.

When I came out of the bathroom I found myself trapped in the changing room with curtains drawn together separating bedroom with changing room my clothes were hanged with a piece of paper attached to the hanger and a note neatly written on it,

Don't you dare set your wet foot in the room- mom and wife.

And I laughed, seems like these ladies are already against me. Quickly changing into my clothes I entered the room and start setting my hair, I was midway in completely getting ready when I heard a cough and found Khadija standing there with a smirk.

"Found the note?" she raised her one eye-brow.

"Poor Wali." I shook my head and pouted while she laughed and I just stood there looking at the way her eyes get closed and those dimple appears when she laughed and the way her face turns red.

Allah! When did you made me so fortunate?

"You look beautiful when you laugh like that, you know!" I said to her looking directly at her eyes and her laugher fades away, quickly she stopped and with the information that my parents are waiting for me she walked outside.

I know you aren't ready Khadija but I promise you that soon I'll break these walls you have created around yourself.

Sighing I went downstairs to find my parents and my wife seated on the dining table while laughing at something.

"Asalam O Alikum," I said smiling at the three most important people in my life.

"Walikum as Salam," my parents responded with the genuine smile and I took my place beside Khadija who was sitting on dad's left side. As I sat I felt Khadija shifting a little as upsetting as it was I didn't let my smile falter and took my seat. The rest of the breakfast was filled with the embarrassing stories from my childhood on which the rest of them were laughing while my face was heating up and I was just sheepishly defending myself and my honor. After we were done for the breakfast it was almost time to leave for the airport and the rest of the family was supposed to be arriving anytime now so I handed over the keys of the rooms downstairs and asked my mother to locked all the doors while Khadija and I made our way to get our stuff.

Entering the room I turned off all the extra switch and electric appliances and gathered my stuff which I was taking to Virginia for the weekend, Khadija was also silently working and gathering her essentials as I saw her moving towards the mirror to pin her hijab I rushed towards the closet to take out her present. Grabbing the leather box tightly in my hands I quickly breathed out to calm myself, today I was getting extra anxious and my hands were continuously sweating so drying them for the last time I locked my side of the closet and looked at her side which was already locked. I went back to the room and she was busy setting her hair and applying makeup.

"Khadija?" my voice was barely audible to my own ears.

It's okay Wali! She is your wife!

"Khadija?" I called a little louder and still it seems like my voice was stuck in my throat.

C'mon vocal chords it's time to act!

How did you manage to call her so loudly in a public place seven year ago?

"Khadija!" and she turned.

"Yeah?" she looked at me and I realized that my last frusturating thought made me finally call her.

"Um... uh..."

"Are you okay?"

"Definitely!" words were coming out involuntarily.

Ya Allah! What is wrong with me?

"Okay," I exhaled loudly and looked at her who was observing my every move with a confused yet cute expression which made it harder to even speak so I used the trick which I used in my childhood when I wanted to tell something risky or something which was hard to confess, I closed my eyes and started speaking, "Well I was supposed to give you this last night," I moved my hand a bit forward my eyes still shut tightly but I felt her taking it from me and our fingers brushed a little, "But you know after namaz and all when we came back it kind of slipped my mind," I was shamelessly lying, Good Wali! The trick still works! "And we were so tired that we just slept; it's a little wedding gift I know it's nothing big and expensive but when I was there it just caught my eyes! I got to know that blue is your favorite color so you know," I peeked a little and I saw wetness in her eyes which were looking at me and a small beautiful smile tucked on her lips. "I hope you like it." I completed my sentence not moving my eyes away from her face. Taking a step forward I raised my hand to dry the wetness from her cheeks.

"What happen?" I asked confused.

"Nothing! You really used that childhood trick your mom was talking about?" she asked in a sweet slow whisper.

"It works for me, I guess." I shrugged and guiltily smiled. "Won't you open it?" I asked a bit impatiently.

"Oh yeah!" she quickly looked towards the leather box and running her hands on the box she lifted up the covering and I looked at her face which wasn't really showing any emotions and I stood there in tense silence for her to speak something.

"Wali...oh my Allah! Wali! Ya Allah it's so beautiful!" She said after few senconds placing her hand on her chest and giving me a smile and the warmness in her eyes supported her words, it was enough for me to smile and it felt like a burden is lifted off my chest but then she moved forward and wrapped her arms around me and for good few seconds I was stoned to my place and forgot to breathe but then when I feel wetness on my shirt I moved my arms around her hiding my face in the crook of her neck.

"Thank you so much." I whispered and the silence surrounded us letting the two of us to enjoy the support we were providing to each other but our moment was short lived as we heard the door bell rang from downstairs we moved away and silently wiping her tears from her face and kissing her head I went to pick our bags.

"Wali?" I turned to look at her who was looking at me with a shy smile, "Can you please clasp the necklace?" I looked at her with amusement and then smirked.

"It would be an honor!" I moved towards her with a wink.

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A.O.A

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