28 Days Later.

"Everything will be fine, don't worry." I whispered wrapping my arms around her and kissing her head. We both were standing on our balcony with our cups filled with steaming coffee, in past days I have noticed that the two of us have made quite a lot of improvements, for instance she doesn't flinch anymore when I place my arms on her shoulder, she doesn't zone out that much, she teases me and smile, well her smile! That's the most important improvement, she does that a lot more and I am thankful to Allah with every part of my existence and from past nights when she sleeps I quietly wrapped my arms around her waist, I am scared of losing her before even completely having her and like every other human lately I have found myself fearing my death.

"I have every right to worry, and you know I am not worried anymore Wali, I am terrified!" She confessed in her silent whisper and I sighed, from couple of days we are trying to ignore the topic of surgery as much as we can but as the day is finally getting nearer the uneasiness is settling in and as tomorrow we'll be leaving for Chicago to finally meet my doctors and surgeon I have noticed she gets anxious even when I tell her to pack something we both might be needing while our stay there.

"Yeah but today you promised you won't be thinking about it! You remember our plan right?" I nudged her lightly.

"Wali I don't want to celebrate it! And we get birthday every year! I don't want to do this." She protested for the hundredth time, standing directly in front of me, pleading to cancel the plan.

"Not happening! It's your first birthday with me, still we have to celebrate it a day earlier and it's annoying but anyways, go get ready! No more arguments!" I shook my head.

"Wali, please!"

"No!"

"Okay let's do a thing..."

"Believe me Mrs. Wali Ahmed, if I have to take you like this, I'll take you! So please go get ready!" I smirked and she sighed taking my empty cup from my hands and walking inside. I smiled looking at her retreating figure and when I was sure she would have gone upstairs, I called Sabih to know about the arrangements.

As I don't want her to get suspicious I asked Sabih to take care of the arrangements on the yacht I have rented for the night, it's our first outing together and I want her to enjoy it at the most because as much as I am fearing about what future holds for the two of us I also want to make as much memories as I can with her.

Conforming about the plan I made my way back to the room where I found Khadija standing in front of the bed on which couple of her dresses were spread while she was standing with a frown, walking towards her I looked at the dresses and then shaking my head I walked towards her closet and she quickly followed me, rifling through her dress I came across a long black dress adorned with sequence of brown and bronze color, it was beautiful for the occasion, taking it out I handed it over to her who was looking at me with an amused smile.

"Wow! Thanks for such a great help." She smirked.

"Anytime! Now I'll leave you to get ready while I'll take the guest room." I replied with a smile and taking out my clothes I walked towards the door.

After half an hour I was dressed in white button down shirt, a black blazer and pair of jeans, my hair were styled in a usual manner and once I was satisfied with my looks I walked back towards our bedroom which was now locked so informing Khadija that I am coming back in fifteen minutes I went downstairs to get my car keys and went out of the apartment to pick up the bouquet and her birthday gift.

By the time I returned back I found my wife dressed up in the dress I chose for her with bronze colored hijab beautifully covering her head and light make up with high heels, I smiled looking at her who was nervously looking at me.

"You look beautiful!" I finally broke the silence and then moving towards her I presented her the bouquet of daisies and pink roses. "Advance happy birthday, beautiful!" I smiled while she took the flowers from my hand and gave me the smile I was craving for.

"They are beautiful and thank you." She said in her soft voice with a genuine smile and I nodded.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Ready." She said giving me a more confident smile and taking her hands in mine we both walked out of the apartment.

The drive till our destination was full of conversation, laughers and knowing each other in a better way. By the time we got there the sun was setting and it was almost time for maghrib. Parking the car I got out of the car and quickly went on the other side to help her out.

"A boat?" She asked with a wide smile and I nodded.

"I heard my wife is a fan of ocean so I thought why not?" I smirked and the thing which happened next was the best thing which happened to me, she moved forward and pressed her lips to my cheeks, that few seconds of her closeness and her holding on to my arms, for the first time the way she expressed her feeling took me off guard and now I know what it feels like when you forget to breathe, to have your heart drumming in your chest and to completely be in love with someone.

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Khadija's POV

I heard him gasp and subconsciously smiled, this past month had given me the most beautiful days of my life, after a long time I have started smiling in a way which please my own heart too and after Allah I thank the person in front of me who had taken a good share of my fears from me without knowing.

"It's almost time for maghrib!" I said stepping back to avoid any awkwardness and he coughed looking everywhere but me making me grin on how red the tip of his nose was.

"Umhm... yeah! Actually I already asked them to prepare the cabin for prayers and after it we can resume our plan," he said after few seconds looking at me with a cute smile and I had to control the urge in me to move forward and wrap my arms around him.

He moved his hands forward which I gladly took and then I was guided by him to the boat he rented, it wasn't big but  small and beautiful. We got inside the cabin where the two prayer mats were already kept on the bed as we weren't moving for another ten minutes we had enough time to offer namaz without the problem of direction. Taking off my four inches heels I let out a sigh and stood behind him to start our prayer. We were halfway through our dua when the captain knocked and inform Wali that we are moving so standing up I folded both of our prayers mat and joined him outside the cabin.

"Before we move forward I have to cover your eyes with this," he motioned a black color piece of clothes and I chuckled. "I am too bad at these things." He shook his head and silently I turned to have my back at him and after few seconds I feel the piece of silk loosely covering my eyes. I feel him moving a bit forward and then he took my hands in his, intertwining our fingers leading me forward guiding me through steps. After what feels like  few minutes I felt him getting behind me, he was quite close that I could feel his hot breathe on my covered neck and my neck hair start tickling.

"I am gonna untie this but you are not suppose to open your eyes, okay?" I heard his whisper and frantically nodded.

"Wali you are in my comfort zone right now!" words subconsciously rushed out of my mouth and I heard him laugh, a wholehearted laugh which made me smile and my heart swell with excitement.

Then I sensed him taking few steps back and then the footsteps started getting away which I realized that he is moving forward while I was standing still on my place and after couple seconds when I started impatiently taping my feet I heard him saying that I can open my eyes.

In front of me was a deck beautifully decorated with fairy lights and combination of different colored daisies and pink pear blossoms, in the center was table for two with candle-stand in between and on the floor there were rose petals with scented candles filling the atmosphere with the smell of chocolate. It was a sight to be seen, I forgot to breathe for a minute noticing every little details realizing that how he has took care of my liking. The things I shared to him in past 28 days were reflecting in one way or another. Picking the flow of my dress I slowly made my way towards him who was smiling widely while his hands were tucked in his pockets. As he took my hands and gave them a squeeze I started believing all which seemed fantasy till now.

He breathed out and then finally looking back at me he started, "I know you aren't a big fan of grand celebrations but I want to keep it real for two of us, we can't deny the fact that maybe the days we two have together are limited, maybe we won't have those growing old planning but it's our qadr and I am gladly accepting it because I am having this day with you, the woman I love, the woman who made me realize how wrong I was, the woman because of whom my ego got shattered that still hurts by the way," he teased and I gave a sheepish smile, "But you are the woman I want to spend my life, as much as I am granted and want her to join me in akhirat, Khadija I can't promise you all the impossibilities people promise but I can promise you one thing that till I am with you, you don't have to go through any pain and trouble alone, you don't have to hide your scars from me, you don't have to feel that there is no one for you because even then I'll be right here. I love you and this is not what I realized in last twenty-eight days, this is something I realized long time ago, I love you and I love you for my Rabb who made you my destiny," with that he leaned forwards placing a soft kiss on my head, "Happy birthday, love!"

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A.O.A

I know it's short and too late but I am extremely sorry! I like this chapter because of how better they are getting but I know it's still not one of the best :P 

So share your feedback in comments and don't forget to vote :)

TC :)

-Zehra