I sat in front of the fire place, my legs folded under me, a blanket draped over my laps to keep my legs warm, fire crackled in the hearth. The tip of my slender fingers glided smoothly over the soft page of the book. The novel I held towards my face was one of the novels Raihana had given me as parting gift. The cover of the novel had worn out and old, cello taped many times to keep the torn paper together. The pages were brown and fragile which could tear easily without care but the words printed on the pages were captivating and touching at heart drawing my mind and soul into the world of the writer. Raihana had told me the novel was a gift from a friend she might never meet again. She had decided to give it to me because it was special.

I tore my gaze from the book to the fire cracking fiercely. The red glow and soft heat that eloped from it wrapped me in the warmth I wanted during the night. There was something about the fire that was so powerful, something that touched my heart giving me the inspiration of what to paint next. I had done lot of things to keep me busy until Amir arrives. I had lots to tell him. I have had enough of what was going on. After what happened in the evening, I needed to talk to him. If he had been with me, Aaban would not have the audacity to do what he had done neither would his mother and sister.

I closed the book losing interest in it as my mind drifted to sadness creating a great hollow in my heart. Leaning back against the sofa to rest my back, I picked my phone that rested on the white Persian rug underneath me to check the time. It was two o'clock in the morning.

The door creaked gently alerting my mind and head. I turned around to see Amir walking into the room. The light from the hallway streamed in as he glided his body quietly through the door trying not to make any noise.

"You can switch on the light" I spoke through the darkness.

"Why are you not asleep?" his tired masculine voice echoed through the room as he switched on the light. I squinted my eyes at the white light that illuminated the dark room.

I got up to switch off the fire burning and switch on the heater to keep the room warm, the day's event played in my head causing my eyes to water. Straightening the wrinkles on my night dress, I turned around to look at Amir. Amir took silent steps towards me. I could not prevent myself from revelling in his looks. Even though he looked so tired, there was something attractive in the way his shirt was roughly tucked into his shirt, his collar flown out, his hair rough and the way his eyes drooped with tiredness.

"Angel" he called, worry in his husky voice. A tear fell against my will. He dropped his suit jacket and messenger bag then walked very fast towards me. "Did something happen?" he asked raising a hand to wipe away my tear but I moved away. Lines creased on his forehead. He stared at my face for a while before I looked away, more tears spilling. "Did you cry Hayati?" I sniffled wiping my tears but more fell. "Look at me, Angel" he grabbed my face. "Did something happen when I was away?" he looked into my watery eyes.

His beautiful eyes gazed at me with concern. I pushed his hands away and backed away from him. Staring at him made me cry more. I just could not stop the tears from falling. "Please answer me" he begged, his voice soft. "Did I do something wrong? Please talk to me" he moved closer but I took another step back.

"Yes something happened when you were away" I cried. "Amir, I have had enough of you coming home by this time of the night. This is enough. I have tried. Do you know how much it hurts to know you are concealed into your work? I want you here with me, not every time but I want you to have my time"

"Did something happen today? Is that why you are saying this today?" his voice was low, his shoulders slumped.

"Look at yourself Amir" I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the full length mirror. "Look at yourself" I pointed at his image in the mirror. "The man there is not my husband. There are bags under your eyes from lack of sleep. Did you even notice you have lost some weight? Work! Work! Work!! It is killing me Amir" I wept.

"Noor" he called to move towards me.

"Don't come closer!" I barked, closing my eyes. Two lone tears dropped on my hot cheeks "Amir you annoy me right now" I shifted back and opened my eyes. "I tried to make you stay at home but your work has always been the first" I wiped away the hot tears. "Today, I was accused of infidelity. That bastard called Aaban wanted to kiss me forcefully" the thought made me disgusted and water streamed down again.

The look on Amir's face changed. His eyes narrowed and his tapered eyebrows puckered. There was movement in his jaw as he clenched his fist.

"Today was not the first time, Amir. It is not the second time, third or fourth. He had tried it many times. I have slapped him, kicked him and pushed him away but he kept coming. He had touched me wrongly and why did he have the chance?" I clapped my hands. "Because he knows you do not stay at home and took advantage of the situation. It was a plan with his mother and stupid sister to chase me out. They wanted you to end your marriage with me"

"Why did you not tell me that this has been going on for a while?" he asked his voice dangerously low. Despite how low his voice was, I could hear the anger in it.

"Where were you to be told?" I questioned back. "Did you even have my time? Those days you and I were able to talk and see each other was just luck. That night you came for the family dinner, it was because I begged you, so don't ask me such a question Amir" I sniffled and wiped my tears away.

Amir exhaled closing his eyes. He pressed his forehead, a hand on his waist. He was so sexy even though he looked tired. I can't help but admire him through my anger. When he said nothing, I whirled around, exhausted and irritated from the day's event. I just hope whatever I had said, he would understand and things will get better.

I rushed to the bathroom, closed the door strongly, rinsed my red and swollen face then walked back to the room. His eyes followed my movement from when I cleaned my face to when I slipped under the covers, closed my eyes and allowed sleep to come as tears rolled down.

***

I woke up to my alarm ringing. It screeching sound was irritating and clanged like someone was scratching a wood with nails. I slipped my hand under the pillow with a grunt, stopped it and put my head back on the pillow to sleep. I wanted to sleep again. I was off salat so I could not pray. I turned my head to my right and waited for sleep to engulf me again.

"Wake up Angel" Amir's voice rang through my ears. My eyes flew open with a frown. I just heard Amir's voice. I sat up rubbing my eyes. Near me, Amir was standing grinning at me as if we had not quarrelled last night. I huffed then looked at him before speaking.

"Why are you still in the room?" I asked with a scorn.

"What sort of question is that?"

"I am surprised Amir. By this time whenever I wake up, you are always not in the room" I sneered.

"That's true" he smiled then sat down. I moved away.

"Are you still angry with me?" he tried to touch my face but I pushed my head back. "I want to pray Fajr with you today" Soft mockery laughter left my lips.

"This is so funny Amir" I said amused. "You want to pray in the room today? Is this because of what happened last night?"

"Can you stop making fun of me" he held my hand. His tenderness was welcoming but even though everything I was doing was an act, I pulled away. I was not angry. Yesterday had gone so there was nothing I could do but I just wanted him to feel more remorseful.

"I am not Mr Hussein. I am just surprised. Well, I am off salat. I am on my period" I ridiculed with another laugh.

"So you can't pray?" He gulped. I noticed the guilt his eyes held.

"Yes" I answered firmly.

"Okay" he got up, his head hanging. "I really want to make up for our lost time but since you can't pray and still angry with me, I will say my prayer in the room today. I am sorry for everything" he kissed my forehead.

His words melted my heart. They softened it. I wanted to get up, hug him and tell him that I was not angry with him but that will be too easy. He had hurt me indirectly but he needs to know I am tired of him getting too involved in his work. I just stared at his back then sadly slip back into the soft blanket.

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