Chapter 48: Congratulations!

*

"The eyes speak, 

when the lips can't."

-2am- 

*

The hotel restaurant was well lit with people buzzing around and soft music in the background. Yazdan held onto Aanabia's hands as the two navigated through the place, to the second floor which was completely secluded for the Zaeef Reservation.

"They have outdone this time" muttered Yazdan and Aanabia laughed. Of course they have. They are the Zaeef's after all.

"Sure they have"

"Come on" the two walked into the large room to see the Zaeef's calmly waiting for them. Aanabia immediately walked over to greet the grandmother and mother Zaeef while Yazdan walked over to his siblings.

"Where is Zamaairah?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at the brothers who shrugged. He knew she would come.

"She should be here soon" replied Kayan, glancing over at his 8 month old child on the baby stroller where he slept calmly.

The conversation drifted off into multiple directions in the room until everyone arrived. Aanabia's family, Yazdan's family, Yahyah's family and Zamaairah finally took their seats and started discussing food. The Zaeef's were a huge fan of food and Korean Drama's, Aanabia found out which was surprising to her. They ordered and Aanabia looked at Yazdan who was fidgeting anxiously. She frowned at him before placing a hand over his.

"Stop" she whispered to him and he blushed slightly. God. This feels like he is having dinner with my family, not the other way around.

Yazdan stopped fidgeting and stood up, turning to her with a small smile. She raised an eyebrow at him. The two were seated beside each other at the large table, housing all the guests. They said guests looked at them with smiles and grins. Some with expectant looks while others with confused one. Amyrah and Kayan grinned at each other before turning to the couple.

Yazdan took a deep breath and smiled at Aanabia who looked at him with a confused smile. What is wrong with this man?

"I knew the moment I saw you, you were bad news" he told her and she opened her mouth to retaliate but he beat her to it. "-Wait. Hear me out" What does he have to say after that? But she nodded nonetheless.

"Bad news for me. But I was wrong. You were everything good and more and I swear by Allah, Aanabia. I will not make you regret your decision to marry me. With that, I pray that we remain together, as one until the very end. Please accept me as I am?" he asked her. By now, he was on one knee with a black velvet box opened in his hands. In it rested a ring, with rose gold band and a black teardrop shaped diamond at the top. Along the shape of the black diamond, rested small white ones, forming a V shape at one side of it and merging with the band.

Aanabia felt her breath hitch. Not because of the beauty of the ring, but the beauty of the man who was on his knees in front of her, asking her to love him forever. And there could be nothing more emotional than this. She slowly nodded at him, smiling slightly and wiping away any stray tears. Yazdan took her left hand from halfway to her face and slipped in the ring on her ring finger. It set beautifully on her finger and she smiled at him before pulling him in a hug. She rested her head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat which was fast. The table erupted into cheers and whistles (Safwah) before Aanabia blushed and let him go. He took a seat beside her, still holding her hand.

"What about your ring?" she asked him and he nodded towards Amyrah, who was holding out another black velvet box. Aanabia took it from her and opened it, revealing another silver and back ring, except this was a thick band (around half an inch or so because Aanabia is very bad at matrix so) with four square black diamonds studded in between the two thin silver bands. Aanabia took it out and grinned at Yazdan had held his left hand up and was waiting for her to put a ring to it. Aanabia did exactly that and Yazdan grinned back at her.

"You both are officially engaged!" said Grandfather Zaeef, holding up his glass of water and everyone did the same with laughter.

"FOOD!"

-

Dinner went good, according to Yazdan anyway. His family was very accepting of Aanabia and that made him happy. Because if they weren't and he had to choose between family and her, he knew he would end up choosing family. The two finally made it back to the hotel, with the rest of them before midnight (They were dining at Resort Monro, which is different from where they were staying). He had asked her if she wanted to take a walk around the city but she had declined, saying she was tired. Of course she was. So when they were at the hotel and into the elevator to head to their room, Yazdan felt his heartbeat increase. First time being alone with a woman, not just any woman. My wife. In a room. Alone. His thoughts were haywire and when he glanced at Aanabia, he found her tightly clenching to his hands (almost stopping blood supply, he noticed.)

"Calm down" he whispered to her, before standing straight and waiting for the elevator to stop at their flood. Kayan and Amyrah were with them in the elevator as their room was on the same floor. Kavyaan was in his stroller, happily playing while Kashaf was standing beside his father, holding his hand.

The elevator opened at their floor and the two couple and kids walked out. Kayan and Amyrah bid them goodbyes before walking to their suite. Yazdan rolled his eyes and walked over to his room. Swiping in the key card, he opened the door and stood aside, letting her walk in. The room was familiar to both of them, the white walls and the large chandeliers. The room was into four parts; one being the living room with couch and TV, the second being their bedroom with a king size bed and closet, the third being the kitchen and the last part being the laundry room which housed the bathroom and washroom.

Aanabia walked into the room and called out to him, saying she was going to change.

"Sure" Yazdan muttered and walked over to the couch and took a seat before switching on the TV. He took off his suit jacket and stretched out on the couch in his white shirt and black pants. There was a random Korean drama playing and a few minutes into it, he recognized it as Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. Perks of being with his family. He remembered he watched it with them.

"Yazdan?" He heard Aanabia call out to him and he looked over his shoulder to see where she was.

"What happened?" he asked her, getting up when he saw she was still in the bedroom. He walked over to the door and knocked.

"Aanabia? You okay?"

"The door is open" she called out to him and he heaved a sigh and opened the door, walking inside. Aanabia stood in the middle of her suitcases, wearing his t-shirt and shorts. Yazdan tried real hard not to ogle at his wife but it was her who was making it hard. She turned to him with a frown. Her eyes, Yazdan. Her eyes, damn it. 

"What is it?" he asked her, in an almost strangulated voice and she shrugged. God this is so tough. 

"I cannot find my charger" Yazdan let out a laugh, before walking over to his laptop bag. He pulled out his charger and handed it to her. She gladly took it and placed it on charger before turning to him.

"What is it?"

"Beautiful" he told her, walking over to her. He was yet to change, she realized. Very beautiful. Yazdan gently placed his hands on her slender hips, his heart in a marathon. He pulled her to him, until she hit his body with a thud. She reached his chest only and he could comfortably place his chin over her mess of a hair. So he did. This is nice. The heat of their bodies warmed them in the coldness of the room, making them realize they were actually cold. But this is nice. 

"This is nice" she whispered in his arms and he smiled.

"Indeed" he replied. She shifted a little more until she was looking up at him causing him to look down at her. He observed her delicate features. It was like he saw her the first time. Her eyes had dark black lashes rimming it and they were brown, beautiful shade of brown. She had slight freckles dusting her cheekbones, which were nearly invisible.

"What?" she asked him, heat rising into her cheeks but she made no move to break eye contact.

"If I could kiss you-"he did not get to complete his sentence because her lips were on his. She kissed him with passion and fiery and everything in between. Sparks flew, fireworks existed and everything felt too hot. Maybe this is how it's supposed to be. Yazdan was the one to pull away for air and grin down at her.

"You always make the first move" he told her and she laughed slightly before placing a kiss on his jaw (because she could not reach his forehead where she wanted to place a kiss, not that she would admit she was short in front of him) 

"You are too beautiful not to" she told him, showering his jaw and cheekbones with kisses before littering small kisses on his collarbone causing him to laugh as it tickled. He was bright red by the time she stopped. She stood in his arms, grinning at him. He grinned back. They looked like idiots in love, to anyone who could see.

"Are you sure you want this?" he asked her, placing a kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes, cherishing the moment. She liked the feelings she had when he was with her, touched her and kissed her. Even if it was the first time, she felt she could get used to it forever. 

"If it's you, I am willing" she whispered back, her breath hitched as he kissed her cheeks while her eyes remained closed. She was too scared to see her reaction. Yazdan then placed a kiss on each of her closed eyelids and her cute little nose, causing her eyes to flutter open. She saw the love, respect and something else which she could not determine, in his eyes that he held for her. And she was happy. Happy that he was hers just as much as she was his.

Yazdan, with thudding heart, picked her up in his arms and gently laid her on the bed before pulling close the curtains and dimming the lights of the room. The moonlight still managed to seep in through the curtains, illuminating the room, being the only witness of a night of passion for the two as they became one. Finally. 

*******

Salaam my pandas! 

1. I am very bad at romance. haha. Tell me how it was. (I am working on my romance writing skills)

2. I HAVE SUCH DIVERSE READERS! Australia, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UAE, UK, USA and Zambia. (I am sorry if I missed your country, do know I appreciate you too. ☺)

3. Q: What day is it today? 

Thank you soooooooo much guys. For all your support. :) 

| R - C - V |

xx, 

-Aalihha.