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“But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, we shall soon admit them to gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, to dwell therein forever. Allah’s promise is the truth, and whose word can be truer than Allah’s?” (4:122)

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem.

The birds chirped outside, the morning breeze blew the curtains to dance and swing with its rhythm, the sun raised over the territory of the forest yet it's sight was invisible due to the dense of the huge branched trees, and even though the trees maintained the posture of hiding the sun quite well, the rays emitted from the orange ball of fire seeped through every nook and crook of the space of the branches and filled the mighty forest.

Jesima's eyes were fixated on her husband's sleeping form. The physical distance too short between them, and yet for the first time, she didn't mind. Her gaze traveled to his messy black hair that fell on his forehead. His greyish green eyes which were closed, his straight nose and then to his lips which were parted, his body heaving rhythmically in the motions of sleep.

His beard grazed his cheeks in a beautiful way and her heart fluttered a desire to run her hand through those locks of hair. Aashiq's face was handsome in its own way which she can describe. He had a meetha texture in his facial features, none of them were portrayed bold.

Biting her lower lip, her fingers reached for his hair and gently pushed the smooth strands to fall back to leave his forehead. And her fragile fingers traveled down his cheek line above the stubble of his beard, the small hairs prickling her in a cute way. She was halfway, almost near the chin when someone took ahold of her wrist.

She looked up to see greyish green eyes staring back at her with amusement.

She scrunched her face and tried wriggling her hand from his grasp. "Like, what you see?", he purred.

She coughed hard, withdrawing her hand and got up abruptly to a seating position. Aashiq patted her back, getting along with her.

" You scared the shit out of me", she said in the fits of cough.

"Relax", Aashiq stopped patting and crawled towards her front, " I was just pulling your leg".

"Pulling my leg by sending me creeps?".

" You were having fun though".

"Don't be flattered on yourself, Aashiq", she rolled her eyes, " It was just a bug--, no there are a few grey strands", she folded her hands, "Yeah, you have started to grow grey hair".

"The first lie of the morning, ladies and gentlemen", Aashiq laughed, " Do I look like an old man now?".

"Didn't you see the mirror this morning then?", she faked nonchalance.

" I think it might have been the impact of sleeping beside you. You are a princess with this curse. The moment I slept beside you, my handsome face might have turned to grow old", he joked.

"You did not just say that?", she scoffed getting up while he ran for his dear life towards the bathroom.

" I am officially scared of you now, woman", his laughter filled her ears as he closed the door behind him, making her all the more horrific than she already was.

Did he just make me a fool out of myself?

....

Jesima put on her casual jeans with a tunic top which almost reached till her knees because Aashiq had asked her to wear clothes that won't get easily ripped and she couldn't probably wear her Abhaya on a forest trek. She quickly folded all her hair and pinned it and she neatly wrapped a peach hijab over her head.

Aashiq also wore jeans over a loose white shirt whose top buttons we're left open, clearly showing the view of his bare chest and she rolled her eyes before they popped out at the sight.

She put her phone inside an airtight bag with some other necessary things and threw it over at him which he gradually caught hold of, nodding in understanding. They silently got readied and got down the treehouse only to be greeted by no one.

The place was eerily quiet and she tried calling for her friends but they weren't at reach.

"I think they are probably still asleep".

" Oh! But it's half-past nine actually", Aashiq momentarily glanced his watch, "We scheduled to start by Nine".

" Aashiq, you don't know my friends. For Maahi, sleep is more dear than Shabna", chuckled Jesima, " and Fathima is his cousin, so trust me! She isn't any different".

"But you know, for me, my wife is more dear to me than sleep. I was unable to sleep when you were continuously looking at me".

" Uf! Please don't remind me of that awful sight, Yaar", Jesima fake sighed putting a hand over her forehead.

"You meant to say awfully delightful sight?", he grinned.

" Whatever sails your boat", she rolled her eyes, "I think you are more on yourself".

"I am not more in myself. For the first time, agree you were gawking at my face".

" That's never gonna happen", she fumbled with her feet, toeing a pebble, " Is there any place at a walkable distance?".

"Kabutongan falls comes under the area of this resort".

" You mean to say the fall whose sound was audible throughout the treehouse?".

"Yes, it's nearby".

" Why am I surprised when you know everything?", she shook her head pulling her shades and let her sneakers jog her towards the sound of the melody of the water.

Aashiq chuckled and with his long steps, in a matter of few seconds, he was leading her through the forest. The path was filled with damp muddy leaves and the rattling of the small branches which Aashiq pushed away as he walked was the only buzzing sound to which Jesima closely followed. They walked for a good amount of minutes before reaching a river bed, and Jesima swallowed at the sight.

The word beautiful would be an understatement, the water was crystal clear with margin blue as it's radiant color. Aashiq halted his steps and she came to a stand beside him, with awe by the river which was so ethnically flowing with all its glamour.

After a moment of admiration, Aashiq took his phone and started to type something. Jesima lowered herself to touch the cold transparent fluid with her slender fingers. Her hand shimmered under the water's graze. Aashiq put his phone back in his pocket and glanced at her bent self. He moved a bit away from her and climbed the rock. He called her to come towards him and he put his hand forth, for her to grab, in order to help her climb but she shook her head in rejection which made him roll his eyes and put his hand back on his pocket. She sheepishly smiled as she put all her weight on her palms, climbing up the rock. The rocks were slippery but they managed to tread them following the trail of a rope.

The rock turned to the side, both carefully took steps turning with the rock to find the fall emerging from the rocks. It was approximately a height of five meters and Jesima willed herself to quit walking. She marveled at the sight of the water which was gracefully flowing down the fall and she sat on the rock which was not too high. Aashiq gazed at her with a mock grin as he climbed further up. "Don't you dare jump on the water, Aashiq", she warned.

His hand rubbed the back of his head and he threw his jacket and phone her way which she caught with a gasp. Before she could say something more, he jumped on the water.
" Aashiq", her hand flew to the front as if to grasp his falling form.

When his face came into view and his hand comforted the water to let him float on top of it, she sucked in her breathing. It was the sight to marvel more than the waterfall. His eyes shined like an emerald. He smiled showcasing all his teeth.

"We were going to trek a waterfall. Why did you have to wet your clothes before even starting the trip?", she looked away, biting her lips.

" Can't control myself", he replied splashing water her way.

"Hey! Don't ruin my clothes", she screeched.

" Then come down", he waved his hand wafting with the flow.

"No way, Aashiq", she vehemently shook her head, " Not happening".

"I asked you something for the first time, please come. It's so nice over here", he pouted his lips.

" Someone asked me to be patient, quoting patience is a virtue. But sadly, that someone can't be enough patient to wait till going to the destination falls and that someone probably is floating in the water now".

Aashiq laughed at her sarcasm and started swimming towards her rock to pull her into the water.

"Aashiq, no", she screeched again, " We would then need a change of clothes".

"It would only take a minute or two".

" Man, it takes you a minute to get ready not me".

"Alas, Don't be silly".

" Do you think, sitting here and seeing you enjoy alone in the water doesn't tempt me?". She confronted silently after seeing him float in the water for some time.

"Come on, then", he said splashing water over her.

She thought about it one more time as she slowly stood up, placing the belongings on the rock she was sitting. " I don't know swimming", she shouted at the top of her lungs before jumping from the rock. The water splashed over Aashiq's face and then there was silence.

His eyebrows furrowed together as he swam towards where she fell. "I know you are kidding", he said holding his breath and going inside the water flow, but he couldn't see her.

He came out after a moment gasping for air and his forehead started creasing with worry while his heart thudded with fear. He again plunged inside and turned every possible direction to find her but she wasn't visible.

He pulled himself up again, " Jesima. This is no joke".

He started to swim towards another place and went inside the water, searching for her. When he was going to go underwater for the third time did she plopped herself up, laughing hysterically at his horrified face.

He swam to her in a brink of a second, cupping her face in his hands, "I said, this isn't any joke", he murmured, his breath raspy. " You aren't hurt, are you?", he checked in her face lifting her damp hijab and running his cold fingers all over the niche.

"I am alright, Aashiq", Jesima said looking at the greyness of his eyes. " I am fine", she whispered.

The next moment she was surprised when he pulled her to himself, clutching her floating body and hugging her tight. Her breathing chaotic at the remnants of the whispering of his own. Her hands fell limp to the sides. Her fragile body fell weak in his strong hold.

"Aashiq", " Jesima", voices of Ali and Maahi reached their ears. He slowly pulled her away, "Please don't fool me like this, ever again", he murmured, his scrutinizing gaze burnt her skin like fire even though she was wet with the water droplets lining her face. Her throat clotted and she couldn't find her voice. In reply, she just nodded.

" Come, let's go hide in the cave", he called her after a moment.

"A cave?".

"Yes, there is a cave behind the waterfall", he said swimming towards the fall region. A while later she found herself going inside the falls, the water that fell from the fall felt like pebbles thrown over her head. She was amazed to find a hollow opening inside it. It was a bit dark at first but eventually, her vision got adjusted to the dim light. Aashiq was standing a few feet away and she moved towards him. The water flow fell low and the water barely reached her hip line, as she walked inside. Surprisingly enough the water was pouring over them like raindrops from the small cracks above them.

" Aashiq", The voices seemed close, so she moved faster towards Aashiq. She did a double-take when her gaze fell on his abs,  as the water slipped through his six-packs making her gulp. His loose shirt buttons had broken somehow and the shirt fell limp on both sides, revealing his perfect abs.

As Jesima stood opposite to him, she can feel his gaze over her.  She could feel her white tunic top hugging all her curves, and she bit her bottom lip while the butterflies occupied her stomach, fluttering their wings.

Aashiq took a step towards her and she moved back, shaking her head. A mischievous smile curved his lip line and he winked at her making her scoff back at him.

"Dude, look at this", Ali's voice sounded nearby. " These are their belongings", it was Maahi who replied.

It was a good distraction for Jesima, as Aashiq looked at the direction of the sounds for a second. Jesima put her hand over his chest and pushed him away. He grinned looking back at her, "Someone is touchy touchy today", he laughed at her embarrassed face.

They heard shuffling of the rock above them and footsteps echoed through their upper lining of the rock. " They wouldn't have died drowning, right?", Ali asked.

"I am sure, they would not".

" Then, it might be a carnivorous animal", Ali shrugged, "You sure, there isn't any dangerous animal lurking in those shadows. What if it ate them as it's prey?".

" Ali, stop your nonsense theories".

Jesima put a hand over her mouth willing herself, not to laugh out loud.

"Bro, what if we don't find them?", Ali's voice sounded desperate, " We would live the rest of our lives in this jungle".

"And probably Jesima's ghost would come all the way to haunt us".

" She sure looks scary in her human self. I can't even come to imagine her in a ghostly form".

Before they publish a book about her with their critics, she marched towards the outlet of the cave.

"I thought you guys were worried sick about my well being", she grunted as she started again to float in the water. Aashiq came beside her, snickering.

" Course, we were", Ali jumped on the rock that surfaced them. "Aashiq had sent a text that you people are on the nearby falls. And after waiting for so long, we got worried as you didn't make a return. That's why we came all the way searching for you guys", Maahi came along the next.

" I clearly saw the worry in your tones", she rolled her eyes, " You guys are so mean, I would surely haunt your dreams if I ever become a ghost". She moved towards the clearing.

Maahi gave a hand to Aashiq as he pulled him up. Aashiq thanked him by patting his back and grabbed his jacket, retrieving his phone along the process. He jogged towards Jesima as she came out of the water and wrapped his jacket around her before she could feel embarrassed about her wet clothes sticking to her frame. Maahi ran a hand through his hair moving front, Ali on his toe.

"It always irks me, why do you even wear a jacket, if you are okay with not using them in the way?", she rubbed her cold hands together to warm up, silently thanking for his protectiveness.

" It's simple. To give it to you", he ran his hand through his hair to splash off the dripping water.

....

"Are you pregnant?", Shabna asked Jesima.

" Why do you say so?", Jesima scoffed, horrified.

They all were walking behind their guide through a passageway that was surrounded by coconut trees to reach the first point of the Kawasan falls, which was a dream destination in Cebu. As they all were already in Moalboal, it took them an hour's drive to reach the place. Aashiq had hired a native guide after arriving, to guide them.

"I am asking, are you pregnant?", Shabna pronounced the question again, " Pregnant as in pregnant with thoughts?", she playfully winked. As Jesima was lost in her own world while they walked, and only Shabna and Fathima were doing the talking.

"No, no", she laughed awkwardly, " What were you guys saying by the way?".

"Shabna was asking 'are you pregnant'", Fathima air quoted.

" Not that again please", chuckled Jesima.

The walk then shifted to dense trees lining their way. Pushing the branches from obscuring their path, they trailed one after the other, falling into silence. They reached a cliff of ten meters high and below was water gushing through the stream. Their Guide asked them to jump.

"Not happening, guys", Fathima said shaking her head and backing away after peeking down.

" What in the world?", Shabna whispered as she saw the height range.

"Why would you even plan a trip of cliff jumps?".

" Exactly, my point. That's too deep".

"Where is the adventure then?", Maahi said turning towards the ladies.

" Adventure doesn't come jumping off the cliff, Maahi. Death comes".

"Not about dying again, Jess. Already we were missing you this morning, thinking you were dead", Ali mocked.

" You are wearing your safety vests", Aashiq pointed out before Jesima threw another comeback at Ali and also before a battle of who wins who starts.

"We needed vests to swim in the deep waters".

"Shab, don't make a fuss now", Maahi said walking towards his wife and to everyone's shock, he took her in bridal style, his checked open shirt flew with the breeze and before anyone could blink what was happening, he jumped. A shriek from Shabna was heard when Jesima ran towards the edge, leaning to check whether her best friend was still alive or not.

" Fathima, you are the next", Ali went towards Fathima who was vigorously shaking her head. "Okay, how about you climb on my back, and clutch me tight?", Fathima pondered for a juncture to pass,  before Jesima could warn her friend, she climbed Ali's back, holding him as a piggyback ride and Ali ran towards the edge taking the leap.

" Jesima, it's wonderful", Fathima exclaimed from down.

"If you plan that you are going to carry me, then know already that it's a flop plan", she crossed her arms.

" I didn't even say that", laughed Aashiq.

"Okay, what do we do now?", she asked as their guide jumped on the water.

" What about holding hands, you okay with that?", Aashiq asked slowly, as he took a stand beside her.

"That sounds appealing", she nodded her and intertwined her fingers with him for the first time.

" Is there not any other option?", she asked a second later.

"Jesima, the best part is not that fall. The best part is trekking towards the fall", Aashiq smiled assuringly.

" I don't think so".

"You would be proven wrong. There are a lot of cliffs jumps on our way and a lot of adventure. I know it's scary but I assure you, it looks scary only for the first time", he pressed her fingers with his own to assure her some more.

" Wow! Aashiq, the first time you hold my hand, is also the first time you ask me to jump from a cliff. How romantic?", she nervously murmured making him laugh at her.

Nevertheless, they jumped.

The water hitting her as she reached, a second later she was immersed in the rich turquoise blue water and the next moment her face came was out of the water. It was wonderful, would be an understatement because it was much much more. They swam to canyoneer down the stream and climbed rocks with the help of ropes. Every corner was a beautiful sight. Aashiq had taken a go-pro camera with him, so they had taken different photographs. The cliffs turned shorter and higher but the first inline fear vanished as they unleashed extreme explorations.

The walked through the forest, made inside jokes, their laughter booming across the river bed. Splashing water in each other, they surfaced through the stream.  The forest trees shading them and the warm water warmed their skin with serenity.

Then they came across a dam which was the most epic of all. The water flowing through the slanting and they all slide with the water. It was so much fun.

It was when Aashiq climbed another rock and walked inside the forest, Jesima looked at his retrieving form a bit curious as to know where he was heading. She slipped from her friends and ran after him, "Aashiq, where are you going?", she asked as her barefoot got pinched by the forest's mud watery, pebbles filled skin.

Her hijab got stuck in one of the thorny branches. In order to remove it without tearing, she unpinned it. She gently took the thorns out of the material. It got loopholes as she removed it fully. She let her hair in view as she draped her hijab over her shoulders, as there was no one except Aashiq.

Reaching a big tree, Aashiq started to climb up. " You are a monkey, you know that right?", she scowled at him but he did not mind answering.

Once he reached a vertical branch, he stood on top of it and finally gave her his attention. Dimples grazed his cheeks as he smiled, his eyes glinting, making her squirm her own in confusion. His hand went towards another branch and he started shaking it.

That's when Jesima noticed the small elegant flowers whose petals were white while the stamens and pistils were pink. It was a beautiful combination, and they lined the whole tree. As he shook the branches more, the flowers started to shed and rain down on Jesima. Her lips twitched up. He smiled wildly as he shook it harder and Jesima's hand flew wide as she twirled with a wide smile stretching her lips. Some of them stuck on her bun and hair like she was wearing a crown, making her feel like the Queen of the flowery kingdom.

Aashiq jumped down and took a stand before her. His eyes trudging her face. He moved close, his fingers reaching for the flowers that were on her hair, he slowly arranged them criss-cross, making them look like the twinkling stars in the night sky of her hair.

Jesima's eyes found solace in his face. Her heartbeat beating with the rhythm of his, both chaotic. Her breathing hitched while goosebumps grazed her wet skin. The air gave chills down her spine.

"Jesima, I no longer can stop myself from proposing you", his voice sounded electric. She was hypnotized with each syllable he uttered. The rain of flowers was continuing to fall on the background. His hand working on the masterpiece. " I fell in love, the very first moment I saw you. But, you had other plans. Dreams to conquer the whole world, with your kindness. I became selfish, I wanted you for myself. I can never afford to give up on you, not for anything. That's why I agreed. This past year, you might never have noticed me. But", he paused looking down at her eyes which were staring at him. He stood towering her and their faces were mere inches away, "But, you were always my center of attention. I looked over you because I could not spend even a second away. Watching you, I fell deeper in this pit which can be framed as, Love. I have always been there for you in your back, doing nothing but love you, love you to the extent that I don't have words to put forth. Now, finally, you have achieved the territory you aimed for. I am grateful you are giving me your heed. I don't want to be quiet about my feelings for you", he breathed, his pupils shimmered like jewels of emerald, " I love you, Jesima. I love you so much so that I have forgotten to love anything, anymore".

Their locked gaze was only the testament of the happenings. "Aashiq--", Jesima whispered, her voice rasped.

Immediately, he put a finger over her lips, " Shush! Don't ruin this moment. I love you doesn't mean, you should love me back asap. I know this is the start of this journey for you while I came halfway before you even started. I did not once push you to do things that you weren't ready for. Like all this time, I am giving you, your space. Time. To fall in love with me. I will do whatever can be done in my might to make you mine, to make you fall for me, to love me. I promise".

Jesima's eyes filled with moisture and she fell for loss of words. She didn't know what took over her, her hands on their accord went to wrap themselves around him. She laid her head on his shoulder as a tear escaped her closed eyelids. For a second, Aashiq was taken aback but he was quick to recover. His strong limbs pulled her close to him, his heart. He kissed her hair, twice.

When she, at last, pulled away, she saw his dimple filled smile which reached his eyes. She felt tranquility seeping her soul and he felt his heart at peace.

She took a step away and her hands fell to her sides while Aashiq started strolling towards the side on below of which the water flowed.

"Jesima, I was joking about you being the cursed princess. But to be honest, you are the princess who ruled my kingdom with the title of my 'Queen' and pulling me in your curse of love. After drinking in the curse did I know, it was the most tasteful one I have ever sipped". He smiled taking a stand near the stream.

"I am clutching the nook Jesima, catch me before I fall", he said taking the leap and falling into the water.

Jesima stood uprooted at the same spot, his words echoing inside her brain cells, her eyes were left to gape at the spot on which Aashiq was standing an instant before and she couldn't breathe.

****

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