Sabrina is driving me absolutely crazy in this house. She's such a diva—she gets what she wants, does whatever she wants, and gets away with it. But honestly, I'm not going to put up with it. She's only a few months away from turning two, and I swear it feels like she already thinks she's the boss of everyone.

"Layloş, your house smells amazing! It's got this unique scent, like coffee mixed with bakhoor," Norah said as she settled on the couch beside me.

"Really? I don't even know what it smells like here anymore," I replied, laughing a little.

Norah had just returned from school for the summer break and was staying with me to help take care of Sabrina, since her nanny decided not to return from her vacation back home.

Today is Sunday, and I've got absolutely nothing planned. Muhammad is away on a business trip in South Africa and won't be back until Friday, inshallah. I miss him so much.

"Norah, ne yapmalıyız? Sıkıldım, What should we do? I'm bored," I asked my sister.

"Bilmem ki, how about we go for a walk around the neighborhood?" she suggested, and I immediately agreed.

"Let's go visit Aidah's house, Aidah Deribe," I said. "I'll call her and see if she's home."

Norah's face lit up, her eyes widening. "Wait, the Aidah who married Sayyid Remawa last month? You know her?"

I sighed dramatically, feigning exasperation. "Evet, onu biliyorum. Yes, I know her."

I grabbed a long navy blue scarf to go with my light blue bubu, and I quickly dialed Aidah's number. I changed Sabrina into a cute yellow summer dress with her pink crocs. She looked absolutely adorable—mashallah!

As we stepped outside, I took Sabrina's hand, but it didn't take long before she started fussing, wanting to be carried. So, we decided to strap her into her pushchair.

"So, how do you know Aidah?" Norah asked as she pushed Sabrina along.

"We met when I was still at El-Amin minna, before I transferred to LBIS. And her husband is Muhammad's friend," I explained.

"Oh wow, that's nice!" Norah replied, smiling as we made our way down the street, nearing Aidah's place.

"What are you planning for your birthday?" Norah asked, her voice casual, though I could tell she was curious.

"Hiçbir şey planlamıyorum, I'm not planning anything at all!" I said, shrugging.

Muhammad won't be around for my birthday, which is a bit sad.

Norah scoffed playfully. "We're not letting you get away with that. We've got to do something big for you!"

I rolled my eyes but smiled as I rang the doorbell. A few moments later, Aidah answered, her face lighting up. "Layla Hussein!!" She squealed and pulled me into a big hug.

"Aidah Deribe, you're married now!" I grinned, wrapping my arms around her.

She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh please, that doesn't change anything!" she said, ushering us into her living room.

As we settled on the couch, Aidah immediately called for her maid to bring refreshments.

"So, how's everything?" Aidah asked, her hands reaching out for Sabrina. To both Norah's and my surprise, Sabrina willingly went to her, snuggling into her arms.

Norah and Aidah exchanged pleasantries, while the maid brought in some snacks. Aidah settled next to me, holding Sabrina carefully in her lap.

"It's been so long since we last met! You missed my wedding!" Aidah said, her face twisting in mock frustration.

"I know! Time just flew by. Wallah, we were out of town during that time," I said with a sheepish smile.

We spent some time catching up, reminiscing about old times. Eventually, it was time to leave. By the time we got home, it was already Maghreb time. We prayed, then settled in the upstairs living room to watch some TV.

"Norah, what should we have for dinner?" I asked, feeling the hunger pangs set in.

"I don't know... how about Indomie?" she suggested.

"Yay, Nonii!" Sabrina squealed excitedly.

Norah and I exchanged amused looks, laughing at how cute Sabrina was.

"Baby, do you want to eat Indomie?" I cooed at Sabrina, giving her a playful look.

She grinned back at me. "Evettt."

I kissed her chubby cheek softly, smiling at how adorable she looked.

"Aww, that's so cute. Seriously, you make me feel like I want to get married and have my own kids," Norah said, her voice full of longing.

I smirked. "Look at you. I don't even think you have a boyfriend, and here you are talking about marriage!"

She shot me a mischievous look, crossing her arms. "You really think I don't have a boyfriend?"

I scoffed, "I know you don't."

She chuckled softly, teasing me. "Ah, Layloş, you have no idea."

"Hmm, kim o? Who is he?" I asked, trying to keep my face neutral, but I couldn't help being curious.

"Ah, I thought you said I was lying," she laughed, raising an eyebrow.

"Hatice! I'm serious, who is he?" I pressed.

She smiled shyly, blushing slightly. "Najib Remawa."

I could feel my eyes widen in surprise. "You're dating Remawa? You know he's a friend of mine, right? We went to the same school!"

She blushed deeper. "Yeah, I know."

I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. "That's good. At least you chose wisely. Najib is a great guy, harika bir adam."

"Evet, çok tatlı ya. Yes, he's so sweet," Norah said, her tone soft as she thought about him.

We continued chatting for a while as I cooked us some noodles. After dinner, we went to our respective rooms to relax. Just as I settled into bed, I heard a notification on my phone. It was a message from Muhammad.

Mr. Moh – Hey baby, how's my love doing today?

Layla – Hey babe. Honestly, I'm not doing too well. I miss you so much.

Mr. Moh – I miss you more, darling. You and my little honeybun. I swear, I think I'm losing it over here. I can't seem to function properly without you. scratching head

Layla – Oh sweetheart, you'll never function without me. By the way, I hope there are no South African babes catching your eye, huh?

Mr. Moh – Come on now, babe. You know I've only got eyes for you and only you. But I have to admit, the South African babes... they are, well... enticing.

Layla – Excuse me?! Enticing? Don't talk to me again! In fact, don't even bother coming back! Goodnight!

Mr. Moh – Bebeğim, you know that was a joke, right? You're the only one I love, always and forever.

I pretended to ignore him, though it was hard not to smile.

Mr. Moh – Baby? Honey cakes? Darling? Habaa, my one and only, uwar gida, the only sugar in my tea, the only baking powder in my chin chin, the only Lipton in my hot water, gimbiyar mata, sarauniyar zuciyata. Ke kadai ce kifi a cikin rafi na. (You're the only fish in my river.)

That last part had me in tears of laughter. Wallah, Muhammad is something else.

Layla – That last one was epic, I can't even. But don't think for a second that I forgive you. I do not.

Mr. Moh – Baby, I'm really sorry. Tell me whatever you need, and I'll get it for you. Just please, forgive me.

Layla – I don't want anything. Go ahead and spend your money on those 'enticing' South African babes. mockingly

Mr. Moh – Babe, I'm sorry, okay? I love you. You know I do.

Layla – Now that's more like it.

Layla – I love you too.

Mr. Moh – Where's my princess?

Layla – She's sleeping, alhamdulillah.

Mr. Moh – Send her kisses for me. 😘

Layla – Will do, inshallah. When are you coming back?

Mr. Moh – Friday, inshallah.

Layla – Allah ya kaimu (May Allah bring you back safely). Goodnight, babe. I love you.

Mr. Moh – Goodnight, Hafsatu. I love you more and more every day.

Few days later.

Muhammad truly caught me off guard today with his unexpected arrival. He had told me he wouldn't be back until Friday, but to my delight, he showed up early. He had lied to me, but in the best possible way. Honestly, that didn't matter at all now that he was back. I was simply overjoyed to have him home again.

Not only did he surprise me with his early return, but he also told me that we would be going on a trip, just the two of us—without Sabrina. He wouldn't tell me where we were headed, though. The only thing he would say is that we'd be spending an entire week at the destination. I was beyond excited, yet my curiosity got the best of me. He kept insisting it was a surprise. He called it our "post-honeymoon" getaway.

Ever since he walked through the door, I've been completely immersed in his presence. There's nothing like being in his arms again. The warmth, the comfort, the familiarity. God, how I missed him. I realized just how much of a void his absence had left in my life.

"Have you packed Sabrina's things? We should drop her off early," Muhammad asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Yes, everything's packed. She's all ready to go," I replied with a smile, feeling a little giddy.

We decided to drop Sabrina and Norah off at my parents' house before heading home. We were supposed to leave early the next morning, so we made sure to get some rest. I changed into my cozy pajamas, and he did the same. We snuggled up in bed, and just being near him felt like heaven. Within minutes, sleep took over, and we drifted off, but not before I whispered a silent prayer of gratitude for having him back.

****

The morning came quickly, and before I knew it, we were boarding our flight.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We have safely landed at Dubrovnik Airport. The local time is 2:30 AM. We hope you had a smooth journey. Thank you for flying with KLM," the captain's voice came through the loudspeakers, signaling the end of our flight.

As soon as the announcement was made, I could barely contain my excitement. Dubrovnik. A city I had dreamed of visiting for so long. Muhammad had gone there with Meena some years ago, and he had raved about its beauty. Ever since then, I had longed to see it with my own eyes. And now here I was, finally, about to experience this gorgeous city for myself. I had always admired Croatia's unique charm, and there was another reason I was so eager to visit: Dubrovnik was the filming location for Game of Thrones, specifically the scenes set in King's Landing. Being a huge fan of the show, it felt like a dream come true.

We quickly gathered our luggage and took a taxi to our hotel. After a short ride, we arrived at Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik, and as soon as I laid eyes on it, I was in awe. The exterior was stunning, but it was the inside that truly took my breath away. The hotel was both luxurious and welcoming, with a serene ambiance that instantly made me feel at home.

"So beautiful," I whispered, my voice full of wonder, as Muhammad wrapped his arm around my shoulder, a protective and loving gesture.

"It sure is," he responded with a smile, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. "I can't wait for you to see the rest of the city tomorrow. There's so much to explore."

As we entered the lobby, I marveled at the rich decor and the elegant atmosphere. We walked to the elevator, and Muhammad pressed the button, guiding us up to our floor. When the elevator doors opened, we stepped out into the hallway, walking down the corridor and stopping in front of room 303. The bellman, who introduced himself as Bill, used the key card to unlock the door, and with one swift motion, the door swung open.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt my breath catch. The room was absolutely exquisite. The lighting was soft and romantic, casting a warm glow across the space. On the bed, there were scattered red roses, their fragrance filling the air. I could hardly believe it when I saw the roses floating in the large bathtub in the en-suite bathroom. Everything about the room felt so thoughtful, so intimate. It wasn't just a hotel room; it was an experience. The room truly felt like something straight out of a honeymoon suite.

The scent of the roses and the luxurious atmosphere made it feel as though time had slowed down. It was the perfect setting for a romantic escape, and I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude. This was exactly what I needed—a beautiful surprise, a getaway with my love, and a place to create memories together.

Bill handed us the key and left, leaving us alone in the room. I turned to Muhammad, my heart overflowing with emotion.

"This is so wonderful," I murmured, letting my arms snake around his neck. Standing on my tiptoes, I kissed him gently, savoring the softness of his lips.

"Not as wonderful as you," Muhammad whispered when we pulled away, his voice tender and full of love.

"Now, let's change, pray, and then we can rest," he added, his smile warm. "We've got a lot of exploring to do tomorrow, inshallah."

We quickly changed into more comfortable clothes and prayed the salats that we had missed during the journey. Afterward, we crawled into bed together, the exhaustion of the trip settling in. The bed was incredibly soft, and the sound of his steady breathing beside me was the perfect lullaby. I couldn't think of a better way to end the day—by his side, in a beautiful place, ready to begin our adventure in this breathtaking city.

As I closed my eyes, I thought about how truly blessed I was. I couldn't wait to see what the next week would bring. For now, all I needed was a good night's sleep, wrapped up in his arms, ready to wake up to a new day in Dubrovnik.

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