THE DARKEST MOMENTS
Chapter 13
The Nikkah
Episode 4
(Season 1 FINALE)
She eave a sigh of relief as soon she entered the bathroom to have a shower, she still find it very difficult to believe that she is married finally, just few days before It look gloomy due to Adnan health but he was discharged the day before and he was able to attend the Nikkah ceremony and without even his cane.
She was glad. She switch on the shower and stayed underneath and let the water run through her body, and she remember Sakinah advise that she start to make her hair... Out of all the female students in her class, she was the only one who is on low cut...
The school she attended before their parents death do not allow girls to plait hair and thus she didn’t plait her hair , her elder sister left hers to grow in her final year in secondary and hence why she plait her hair and most times they find it difficult to maintain and she had no choice than to learn how to plait her sister hair to save cost.
She run her hand slowly on her body and even though he parents seem not like her ... The Nikkah was beautifully conducted and she can’t wait for her sister Nikkah the next day.
She smiled again and open her eyes wide when she realized that she had enter the bathroom without her towel but with her underwear.
She sighed thinking of how to put on the underwear again... And then she heard a knock at the toilet door.
What is he looking for ?
Did he want to come in ?
“You will need a towel?” He said as if reading her mind, she sighed and moved closer to the door, opened it a bit and peep then stretched her hand to get the towel from him, he held the door with his hand and looked at her face ... And she try to close the door but even though he was sick, her strength is no match to his and she realized that If she open the door, she would be stark naked in his presence.
“Your towel.” He said smiling and gave her the towel, then removed his hand from the door and she closed the door quickly, she hurriedly wrap the towel round her body, then use the tip to dry her hair ...
She took her undies into a bucket and washed them immediately. She then dried them on an hanger in the bathroom.
Even though she had visited the house severally, it was her first time in that part of the house : his bedroom and bathroom.
“Are you not going to come out?” She suddenly heard his voice.
It is been over two years that a man had seen her without proper Hijab, and she find it a bit difficult to step out with her towel wrap around her body.
He had seen her hair when she opened the toilet door to get the towel.
One thing is sure, even though it was not something she was use to again, she can’t stay in the bathroom forever.
Slowly, she opened the door and came out of the bathroom and met him lying on the bed. He still look very weak and he was looking at her as walked towards her bag to get a night wear out.
“I am sorry, I should have helped you get what to where but I am tired.” He said to her and she nodded as she open her bag to get one night wear out.
She was about to go to the bathroom again to change when he stop her.
“Where are you going?” He asked her and she turned to look him where he laid on the bed and with her night wear in her hand, he was also looking at her.
“You want to change?” He asked with amusement and she nodded,
“Behind that wardrobe, there is a small room for changing and for keeping shoes.” He said to her and she nodded.
She smiled at him and followed his description, she came out in her night wear and he beckoned on her to join him on the bed.
“I won’t bite you.” He said to her
She did and moved closer to him and slowly she did what she had always wanted to do ...
To touch him ... And he let her do that as she touched his body , his face, his chest, hands and be smiled .
“How often do this happen?” she asked him softly looking at him.
“The crises?” He asked her and she nodded.
“Promise me you wont run away...” He asked half teasing.
“Why will I want to do that?” She asked him.
“Are you scared?” He asked her when she realized she was breathing heavily.
“No, I am not...it just that it feel strange ...” She says to him and he nodded slowly.
“That we are this close to each other right?” He asked and she nodded.
“My crises does not happen all time, it is just once in a while sometimes four times In year as against when I was younger that it was so often...” He said to her and she nodded.
“Is it only the legs?” She asked and he shook his head.
“Let us just say my joints mostly and the duration is usually three to seven days , since I turn twenty two, the highest episodes in a year is ten , now, three to five and during severe cases , I do need blood transfusion ... I hope I am not frightening you?” He asked her and she shook her head..
“No, ... I told you before that I have a friend who was also a patient ...” She said to him and he nodded.
“Sometimes the episodes are more painful than the other... And most times my triggers are usually change of weather and stress.” He said to her and she nodded.
“I also take a lot and lot of water daily.” He said to her.
“You should always have water beside your bed then.” She said and made an attempt to stand up but he stopped her.
“Don’t worry, there is water ...” He said and pointed to the water dispenser in the room which she had not noticed until that moment.
“I also try not to her exposed to too much of cold and extreme heat.” He said to her.
“So that is the major thing.” He said to her.
“I am sorry that you have to go through this alone.” She said to him.
“I don’t like it when you do that... Do you know I am comfortable with Idris?” He asked her and she shook her head.
“He barely say sorry...” He said to her and she nodded.
“I should be the one to say sorry having to see me like this when our Nikkah is barely twenty four hours.” He said to her and she shook her head.
“I know about your condition before I accepted the proposal.” She said to him.
“Do you at some point want to say No?” He asked her and she shook her head.
“I have always wanted this ...” She said to him.
“Really? Since when ?” He asked.
“Now you need to sleep.” She said to him ...
“You want to avoid my question?” He asked teasing and she smiled.
“I must say, you look quite beautiful today, you are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.” He said looking at her and she nodded with smiles.
“And you are nice and good looking too...your outfit fit you perfectly.” She said to him and he smiled.
“Even without my walking cane?” He asked her , he seem to be a lot better talking to her.
“I don’t want us to have memories every anniversary that I used walking cane for our wedding.” He said to her.
“But I will not mind?” She said to him sincerely and be looked at her eyes.
“I have some questions?” She asked him.
“Okay, ask.”
“Is it true you have a short temper?” She asked him and he sighed , he wonder who told her.
“People do complain that about me ...” He said to her.
“I don’t want you to get angry at me.” She said to him and he sighed deeply.
“I really will not like that too... I will work on it ins sha Allah.” He said and put his hands into his and look into her eyes.
“We can make this work ... Can’t we?” He asked her and she nodded.
“Am I the reason why the engagement between you and Anti Hikmah failed?” She asked to his surprise and wonder who was feeding her with such information, he swallowed hard and try to put his temper into check.
“No, we have just met like twice when the proposed engagement failed.” He explained to her.
“I have always seen her just like Fatimah my sister and nothing more... Aside my sisters, my mom and my grandma , you are the first woman in my life.” He said to her and she suddenly broke into tears and this got him by surprise and he wondered why she had done that.
“What is it? Why are you crying?” He asked her and she shook her head.
“I do not worth to be your wife.” She said tearfully.
“I am just in my early twenties and You aren’t my first... and you ...” She said and cry the more.
“Who cares about that? I don’t ... It does not matter, what matters now is that you are you now... May Allah forgive us of our shortcomings and besides no one is perfect.” He said to her and smiles.
“Remember we have discussed about this before... “ He said to her.
“I know you miss your sister ... Your Aunt is with her right?” He asked changing topic.
He then told her how he envy the love the two of them shared and how he want them to always do that still despite being married.
“You are welcome to my family.” He said to her and kissed her forehead, looked at her for a while and then kissed at lips which she responded to.
To him, it was the best thing he has ever felt and to she, it was a special thing she has ever felt.
......
......
Shade and Ismail wedding were just a simple one just like they had both wanted, it was done at the Imam parlour and her younger sister attended with her husband Adnan, His two brothers attended as well and Idris also attended with his wife Sakinah, that evening Shade moved to some belongings into Ismail flat and a student took up their apartment as they still had some few months rent left.
....
.
......
A week after,
She got out of the school gate and saw his car parked, she smiled and walked towards his car , he looked so happy to see her, he unlocked his car and let her him, He held her hands and smiled at her.
“How was your day?” He asked her.
“Alihamdulilah... The time table for the Waec is out.” She said to him and he nodded.
“That means extra study right?” He asked and she nodded.
“No problem, I will manage ..,” He said to her and she smiled.
“Don’t worry, I will make it up to you in one way or the other.” She said and he nodded.
“Hummm, I trust you.” She said and watched him start the car.
“After your exams, this should be what you learn.” He said to her
“What is that?” She asked
“The car... you have to learn how to drive.” He said to her and she smiled at him.
“So, I am thinking of us visiting this weekend?” He asked as he drove into the road and they head home.
“That will be too draining, let us spread it, visit a few people this week and do the others next week, and let us make it strictly Saturday or Sunday, then one of the days can be used to relax.” She suggested and he nodded.
“Ma sha Allah, this sound like the perfect idea, I like it.” He said to her.
“I was only considering your exams preparation.” He said and she shook her head,
“It will not affect anything.” She said to him with smiles.
“Oh I loves that smiles.” He said and wish she always remain happy all the time,
and The darkest moments season 1 ends
©Umm Rumaysah