𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟑𝟑

ARZO

I wake up to the sound of my alarm, feeling a weight over my waist.

The weight being Faizan's arm.

I reach out my hand and turn off the alarm. I release a sigh and sit up, making Faizan's arm lay on my lap.

I turn towards Faizan's sleeping figure and can't help but smile at his peaceful face. I gently crease his cheekbones and move his hair from his forehead, trying to wake him up.

He slowly opens his eyes, squints them then looks at me.

"Time for fajr." I sign.

He nods and removes his arm from my lap. I get up from the bed, put my hair up and go to the bathroom to do wudu.

After I step out of the bathroom, Faizan goes to do his wudu. I walk in the closet to take out my hijab and two prayer mats.

I put on my hijab after placing the prayer mat on the bed.

I'm about to open my phone to check the direction to place our prayer mat when Faizan steps out of the bathroom.

He picks up the prayer mat and lays them down so I don't have to check the direction on my phone.

We both stand on our prayer mat, I give Faizan a smile and he returns a hint of his before we start offering Salah.

After offering Salah and making dua, Faizan takes my hand and does Dhikr on my fingers while I rest my head on his shoulder.

Warmth spreads through my body whenever his skin touches mine. I may have initiated the kiss on his cheek but he was the first one to interlock our hands together. It gave me the kind of safe feeling I never thought I'd experience.

He kisses my hand after he's done then kisses my forehead making me smile.

We stay on the prayer for a while before we decide to head back to bed for a nap.

Faizan folds our prayer mats and puts them back in the closet while I put away my hijab.

We both climb back in the duvet. He puts his arm back around my waist and pulls me closer so my back is flushed against his chest.

I close my eyes and quickly drift to sleep.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

I wake up around 8:15 when my second alarm goes off. I turn it off and release a sigh.

Ammi and Abbu will bring breakfast to our house today and today is also the valima.

I carefully pull away Faizan's arm from my waist and get up to get ready. I take my clothes from the closet and go to the bathroom.

I take a shower and change into a pastel blue kurti and trousers.

I step out of the bathroom and find Faizan sitting on the bed, rubbing his eyes.

I wave at him when he sees me. He gives me a small smile and waves back.

"Ammi and Abbu will arrive around nine." I sign to him.

"Okay."

He gets up from the bed and goes to the bathroom.

I sit on my dressing table and get ready. Since it will only be us four, I let my hair down. I wear some silver earrings and rings on my fingers then pull out the necklace Faizan gave me last night.

My lips form a huge smile as I stare at the necklace around my neck.

I let my dupatta rest on my shoulder and get up to check my whole outfit.

Faizan steps out of the bathroom and halts in his step when he spots me.

"How do I look?" I sign.

"There aren't enough words to describe your beauty, amar."

My cheeks heat up at his words. He knows exactly what to say to make butterflies take off in my stomach.

I seriously don't know how I will survive.

I kiss his cheeks as a thank you then tell him that I'm going downstairs. He mutters, "okay," I pick up my phone and leave the room.

I was really tired last night and couldn't fully see the house setting.

In the living area, two couches and two sofa chairs are placed facing each other with a coffee table in between. In the dining hall, a dining table with chairs arranged around it completes the setup.

Faizan said I could buy decorations and decorate the house if I want to when I move in. I'll go shopping in a few days.

I stop in my tracks when I see a woman- in her mid-forties- in the kitchen taking out plates.

She turns around and spots me. Her face breaks into a warm smile, "Assalamu Alaikum, Ms Arzo."

I quickly open my phone and type out the greeting, "Wale Kum Assalam,"

"I'm Salma. The cook and maid of the house."

"Nice to meet you." I type out.

"Likewise. Would you like something to eat? I know your parents are arriving with breakfast."

I shake my head, "I'll just take a bottle of water and don't worry, I will take it myself. I promise I am not one of those people who make people do the tiniest thing."

Salam lets out a small laugh, "I know. And it's alright, you can ask me for the tiniest thing and I will do it."

I smile and type, "thank you," but still make sure to take my own bottle.

We decide to make chai since I'm pretty sure ammi abbu won't be able to bring it.

Faizan comes downstairs after a while as well dressed in blue kurta and white shalwaar.

"Assalamu Alaikum, Mr Malik." Salma greets him.

"Wale Kum Assalam." he greets back, "I see you both have been introduced."

I nod and Salma smiles, "she's a lovely girl."

I grin at him and he gives a hint of a smile as he looks at me and says, "she is."

"I have something to show you, amar." he says after a beat.

I exchange a glance with Salma and she says, "I will check the chai, don't worry."

I sign, "thank you," to her and Faizan translates it before I let him take my hand and go upstairs.

Excitement bubbles into my chest as I realize he's taking me to the room he told me was a surprise when we came to look at this house.

I gently squeeze his hand in excitement as he opens the door.

He steps aside and gestures to me to go in.

I step into the room and my jaw drops.

The room is spacious, with tall windows that let in streams of sunlight. In one corner, a long desk holds an array of painting utensils, including paintbrushes, various types of paints, a palette, small canvases, empty sketch pages, and a sketchbook, all neatly arranged.

A shelf stands in one corner, and an easel is positioned a few feet away from the window, with a comfortable chair beside it. A beautiful white rug lies in the middle of the room, and a whiteboard is attached to the wall. A separate table and chair hold a laptop.

He built an art studio.

I turn around and find him standing a foot away from me.

"You did this." I sign as a statement.

"A painter should have their own space to work." He signs, "especially if a painter is as beautiful and talented as you, amar."

My face breaks into a huge grin and I throw my arms around his neck, squishing him in a tight hug. His arms quickly wrap around my waist when my feet lift from the ground.

I am not short. He is just tall.

I place a loud kiss on his cheek before I pull away and he freezes.

He stares at me, unblinking while I grin at him.

Slowly, I notice the tip of his ear turning red.

Is he... blushing?

He clears his throat, "so, I'm guessing you like it." I nod, eagerly, "good." he nods, "good, um, we should go. Um, your parents will be arriving."

He turns around and quickly escapes from the room and I let out a soft chuckle.

What did I do to deserve this?