45. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒔𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝑱𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂𝒉?

Hassan's pov

I stood just inches from her face, close enough to see her eyelids flutter in reaction to the proximity. Her brows furrowed ever so slightly, a telltale sign of her internal struggle to maintain composure. She was determined, but I could see her resolve slipping away, bit by bit.

I deliberately exhaled softly, and sure enough, her eyes fluttered more, betraying the battle she was losing. Her mouth began to quiver, her control wavering.

I placed my fingers gently on her shoulder and began trailing them down her arm, a slow, playful journey toward her sides. I knew exactly where I was headed—her most ticklish spot. She tensed, sensing the impending attack, standing perfectly still as if bracing herself. But just before reaching my destination, I changed course. Instead, I lifted my hand to her nose and pressed lightly, a soft "boop" escaping my lips in a high-pitched, playful tone.

That was all it took. The sound caught her off guard, and she let out a laugh, losing her grip on the spoon she had been balancing in her mouth. The spoon handle clattered to the floor, the egg rolling along with it.

Halimah bent over in laughter, her body shaking with amusement, and I couldn't help but join in, our laughter filling the room. When she finally straightened up, she pointed an accusing finger at me, a playful whine in her voice. "You cheated, Hassan!"

Feigning innocence, I placed a hand on my chest, gasping theatrically. "Cheated? Me? A man of honor and integrity?"

She wasn't buying it, of course. "You touched me! The rules were only sounds!" she protested, though the smile playing on her lips betrayed her amusement.

"Who made these rules?" I asked, raising a brow in mock confusion.

"You did! When it was your turn!" she shot back, her tone light but firm. "Cheater!"

I chuckled softly, knowing she was right. Okay, so I did make the rules. But who's counting?

"Come here," I said, holding my arms out to her in invitation.

She hesitated for a moment, arms crossed, as she eyed me with suspicion. Then, with a reluctant pout, she took a few steps forward and placed her hand in mine. I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her as we began swaying gently from side to side, no music playing.

I rested my chin on the top of her head, breathing in the familiar scent of her hair. She was always changing up her perfumes, never sticking to just one, but whatever it was, it always smelled amazing. Comforting. Because it was hers.

"Are you smelling me, you creep?" she asked, amusement lacing her voice.

"And?" I replied shamelessly, without missing a beat. "You're my wife."

She giggled at my response, and I felt her arms tighten around me, our bodies continuing to sway as if we were dancing to some unspoken melody, completely in sync with one another.

After a few moments of quiet, I broke the silence.

"Nur?"

"Na'am?" She murmured, her voice low and relaxed.

"You wanna go to Greece?"

She paused, caught off guard by the sudden question. "Huh?"

"Do you want me to whisk you off to Greece?"

I could feel her smile against my chest as I let out a quiet chuckle.

~

I watched in amusement as Halimah smothered Zayd with kisses. He was giggling non-stop, trying to push her away with his little hands, but not really wanting her to stop. His laugh was contagious, filling the airport lounge.

"Be a good boy for Aunty Ayesha and Uncle Saleem, okay? And don't forget to listen to your grandparents too, alright?" Halimah said as she knelt down in front of him, holding his tiny hands.

Zayd gave her a dramatic eye roll, something that always made us laugh. "Yes, mommy," he replied, his tone full of playful attitude that was far too grown-up for a four-year-old. We all laughed at his exaggerated response.

We were at the airport, getting ready for our flight to Greece, and it was time to say our goodbyes. Ayesha and Saleem had kindly offered to look after Zayd while we were away. It was the perfect solution, as we didn't want to burden our parents with his boundless energy. Ayesha and Saleem adored Zayd, and he loved spending time with them, so we knew he was in good hands.

As if on cue, the airport speakers came to life, announcing:

"Attention passengers, this is the final boarding call for Flight 725, departing for Athens, Greece. Please ensure you have your boarding passes and travel documents ready for inspection. The gate will be closing in 10 minutes."

Halimah pulled Zayd in for one more tight hug, her arms wrapped around him like she didn't want to let go. Afterward, she rose to her feet and gave Ayesha a warm embrace, thanking her for taking care of Zayd. Zayd, meanwhile, wandered over to me, arms outstretched.

I scooped him up and settled him on my hip, his soft curls brushing against my face. "Hey, twin," I said with a smile, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "Make sure you don't give anyone trouble, okay? Promise?"

Zayd looked at me with a cheeky grin, nodding seriously. "I pwomise, daddy," he said, his voice full of confidence but still struggling with that tricky 'R'. I couldn't help but smile wider. His little speech quirk always made me melt. A phase I secretly hope would last longer.

"I don't know if I believe you," I teased, shaking my head as I chuckled. He was so much like his mother in the way he acted, even if she insisted he looked more like me.

Zayd giggled, holding up his tiny pinky finger with the utmost seriousness, ready to make the promise official. I locked my pinky with his, and we sealed it with a kiss, a tradition that never failed to make him smile.

After giving him a big hug, I gently set him down, watching as he ran back to his mom for one last squeeze.

I turned to Saleem and gave him a firm hug, then faced Ayesha. "Thanks again for doing this, we—"

Before I could finish, the announcement echoed again across the lounge:

"Once again, this is the final boarding call for Flight 725 to Athens, Greece."

"Subhan'Allah! We've got to go!" Halimah exclaimed, grabbing my hand and her tote bag in one quick motion. "Love you guys, bye!" she called out as we hurried toward our gate.

We rushed down the terminal, Halimah gripping my hand tightly as we weaved through the thinning crowd of travelers. The sound of our hurried footsteps echoed around us, and I could hear her breathing quicken.

The gate came into view just as the final boarders made their way through. The flight attendants were already beginning to pack up the check-in counters. I flashed our boarding passes quickly, and the pretty attendant gave us a nod, motioning toward the plane.

"Just in time" she said with a friendly smile. "Head right in. Enjoy your trip!"

We thanked her, our pace slowing now that the immediate rush was over. Halimah sighed with relief, her shoulders relaxing as we walked toward the jet bridge.

The hum of the plane's engine was louder now, the faint smell of jet fuel filling the air. The door to the plane stood open in front of us, the cool air from inside drifting out as we crossed the threshold.

"Bismillah," We whispered as we stepped inside, greeted by the familiar sight of narrow aisles and rows of passengers already settling in. The flight attendant at the door welcomed us with a warm smile, directing us toward our seats.

We found it and I slid into the window seat first, giving her room to get settled next to me.

Halimah glanced at me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "We made it, babe," she said softly as we settled into our seats, her earlier rush completely forgotten now that we were finally on board.

I exhaled, feeling the weight of the hectic boarding melt away. She lifted the armrest between us and leaned on me, resting her head on my shoulder. "I'm so excited!" she said, her voice filled with joy. "We haven't traveled together since... our honeymoon."

Hearing that, a wave of guilt washed over me. The only time we had traveled together, I ended up ruining the trip halfway through, and since then, I hadn't been able to make it up to her. Every time I tried planning something, life got in the way. I won't say things could have been different because it's the Qadr of Allah, but still, I wished it hadn't taken this long for us to have another moment like this.

"About that," I started, wanting to apologize. "I'm sorry it's taken this long for us to get out of the country. I—"

Before I could finish, she quickly sat up, shaking her head. "No, no. I understand, of course. It's not your fault. It just wasn't meant to happen before now. All that matters is that we're here, together. Thank you for doing this."

"You're so beautiful," I blurted out without thinking.

She blinked in surprise and immediately started blushing, looking everywhere but at me. I could tell she was smiling by the way her eyes crinkled in that adorable way they always did when she was happy. She was beautiful in every sense—her kindness, her heart, and how she handled everything with such grace. I couldn't help but admire her.

She opened her mouth to say something, but the overhead speaker interrupted as the captain's voice filled the cabin.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. I'd like to welcome you aboard Flight 725 with non-stop service to Athens, Greece. We're currently getting ready for departure, so please ensure your seat belts are fastened and your electronic devices are switched to airplane mode. We expect a smooth flight, with clear skies ahead for most of the journey."

The seat belt sign blinked on, and flight attendants moved through the aisles to do their final checks. Halimah leaned her head back onto my shoulder after we fastened our seatbelts and I turned to her, remembering her fear of flying.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice low as I turned toward her. "Give me your hand, baby."

She slipped her hand into mine without a word, and I held it tightly, offering her comfort. After a moment of quiet, a thought popped into my head.

"When we get to Jannah, In Shaa Allah, what's the first thing you'll do?" I asked, half-joking, trying to distract her from the flight.

She looked up at me, her eyes softening with surprise, then glanced down at our clasped hands. She spoke quietly, "Look for you and Zayd."

Her answer made me smile. I pressed my forehead against hers as we sat there, a peaceful feeling washing over me.

"What's the first thing you'll ask for in Jannah?" I asked, genuinely curious now.

"This might sound childish, but..." she started, hesitating for a second.

"Nonsense. Tell me," I encouraged her with a grin.

She giggled, then blurted out, "I would wish for a tower of chocolate fudge cake and eat it all without worrying about getting full or gaining weight. My metabolism in this dunya is a joke"

At her confession, I couldn't help but laugh, trying to hold it in but failing miserably. She joined me in laughter, her voice light and carefree, filling the small space between us.

We didn't even realize the plane had lifted off until our little moment was interrupted. The brunette flight attendant that had greeted us earlier approached us, balancing a tray of glasses filled with champagne.

"Hello, sir, ma'am," she greeted us politely, "would you care for some refreshing non-alcoholic drinks?"

"Yes, please, thank you," Halimah responded with a smile, pulling away from me. I instantly missed the warmth of her resting on my shoulder.

The flight attendant worked quickly, pouring our drinks. As she was about to walk away, Halimah called out, stopping her in her tracks. I looked to Halimah, confused by her sudden interruption.

"Thank you for not making it difficult and bringing us non-alcoholic drinks," Halimah said with genuine appreciation in her voice.

The flight attendant's face brightened into a wide smile as she responded, "You're welcome, ma'am. You two make a beautiful couple. I'm a new revert, and seeing Muslim couples like you gives me hope to find my own Muslim love. May Allah bless you!"

"Yo—Thank you," Halimah stammered, clearly still processing the flight attendant's words.

We exchanged surprised glances as the flight attendant left us alone. The revelation left us both a little speechless. After a moment of silence, I let out a soft chuckle, finding the whole situation both heartwarming and unexpected. I lifted my glass for a toast.

"To Greece," I murmured, my voice low but filled with excitement for the adventure ahead.

Halimah blinked a few times, still shaking off her surprise, and then clinked her glass against mine with a smile. "To Greece...and the gift of faith," she added thoughtfully, her eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and joy.

We took a sip of our drinks, savoring the moment, cocooned together, soaking up each other's presence eager for the days that were ahead of us.

In a country far away from the hustle and bustle, we could finally just be Halimah and Hassan. Having Zayd in our lives is a total blessing, but we both know we need some time to just be us. We deserved a little escape from the everyday chaos.

"Wait, Hassan, did you remember to pack the sunscreen I asked you to squeeze into your bag?"

Subhana'Allah.

~

Hello October 🤍

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