Chapter 55 - Sailing Ships

He lifted his head which he had burrowed into her hair and gazed at Lale who had barged into the room unannounced.

"Are you going to explain to me what's going on here? I was outside waiting for you, and here you are cuddled with the enemy," she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "We've missed our flight."

"Lale," he called out in a hushed tone, pressing a finger to his lips. "I will meet you in the living room okay? I don't want her to wake up."

She made a sign of not complying but seeing the look on his face, she turned around and left the room, banging the door loudly for effects.

Najmah shifted in her sleep, burying her face in his neck. He sighed, not wanting to leave the bed even for a second but knowing Lale, she would burst right through the door again and wake Najmah up.

Slowly but reluctantly, he slid his arms from under her then set her head on the pillow before living the bedroom.

{••}

"What's your problem with her? I thought you liked her," Aslan cocked his eyebrow, shoving his hands into his pockets. "You were the one who repeatedly told me to not give up on her, so I don't understand where the enmity came from. I don't understand you anymore Lale, what's going on with you?"

"You were hurting because of her," she shrugged, puckering her lips. "I was just looking out for you."

"Really? If I remember correctly, it was I who hurt her and not the other way round. She was right to do what she did."

"Right? Kardes you were in the hospital because of her, she-"

"I was in the hospital because I was stressed not because of her. Lalehan, we will speak no more about this."

"Fine," she blew out some air, having conflicting thoughts about her brother's wife. "Since you're done talking with her, can we please leave? I rescheduled our flight and the next one leaves in four hours, I don't want to miss it again."

"I'm not leaving without her," he responded with finality in his voice.

"But," she shook her head, marveled at how adamant her brother was. She knew he could be stubborn at times but that, that was on another level of stubbornness.

"We have responsibilities," she pressed, coming to stand beside him. "You have responsibilities which can not be held off any longer," she jabbed a finger at him. "You know that more than anyone else. We have companies to run, Sadek holdings can only go so long without its COO and my company cannot operate without me being the-"

"You can leave without me," he spoke in a voice that brokered no argument. "I am not leaving this country without Najmah okay? I love her, you either accept that or you don't. It's all up to you."

"Is she worth it?" she questioned after a while.

"Everything and much more," he responded, his heart filled with love he had for that one woman laying on his bed. "She's my one."

"I know that there's no justification for my behavior. I really do like Najmah for you, she's amazing. I'm glad that you have found each other," she spoke after a moment, her resolve weakening. Aslan was right, where had the enmity come from? She was stressed out and coupled with Asil's constant disappearance, she had decided to take out her anger on Najmah.

"I agree," he smiled. "Najmah's special."

"I swear sometimes I think she's bipolar," she shook her head.

"Not bipolar but..." he paused, glancing towards the door of the bedroom before redirecting his gaze to her.

"But what?"

"Nothing."

"When she wakes up, tell her that I apologize for my rude behavior and..." she paused, debating on what to say next.

Aslan quirked his eyebrow, wondering where the conversation was leading to. Lale could be the sweetest person on the planet when she wanted to but at the same time, she could be a person's worst enemy and sometimes, he found himself wondering if she didn't have a split personality disorder.

"I'll make sure she receives your message," he nodded. "You have nothing to worry about. Surely if she can forgive me for hurting her, then she can forgive you for being disrespectful."

"I'm not so sure," Lale chuckled, shaking her head. "I'm not the one she's in love with, she can stay mad at me for a long time."

"You're right about that," he conceded, a smile gracing his lips. "She might not forgive you."

"Kardes," she gasped, punching him lightly on the shoulder. "You are not helping."

"Do not fret little one," he grinned. "Najmah will forgive you. That, I am most certain and for all we know, she may not be angry at you."

"I'll count on you to make sure of that and while you're at it, can you plead with her to come work for me? She would be good for my company and the magazines agree with..."

"You know she hates those stuff right? She hates the crowd."

"A girl can dream, right?" she sighed in defeat. "I'll get going now and make sure you return home soon before Baba comes here himself and drag your butts back to Turkey."

"Yes, ma'am."

{••}

Najmah's head was pounding when she stirred from her sleep, she wanted to sleep some more, but her headache wasn't agreeing with her theory.

Her gaze swept across the room, settling on Aslan who was draped lazily on the sofa, watching her closely. His lips broke into a smile when their gaze met and she couldn't help but smile back at him, feeling content with the decision she had made.

She couldn't remember when she fell for him, but at that moment, she knew that no feeling in the world could be compared to what she felt for him, she could only hope that it wouldn't be her ruination.

"It is rude to stare, you know," she smirked, sitting upright.

"Is it?" he stood up and walked towards the bed, settling down beside her. "What if you were staring at something that belonged to you?"

"I'm not so sure," she threw her head back and laughed heartily, momentarily forgetting about her headache. She cringed, placing a hand on her forehead as the pain began to reappear.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" he questioned, placing a hand on her forehead.

"Just a headache," she shook her head, again regretting her action.

"Don't move, I'll get you some medication. I think I have aspirin in my bag."

He stood up and went towards his bag, rummaging through it to find said pills. He came back a minute later with a glass of water and the pills then gave them to Najmah.

She placed the pills in her mouth then washed them down with the water, leaning her head unto his shoulder as the pain began to reside.

They stayed like that for a moment, neither of them speaking nor moving, only enjoying the companionship they had starved themselves of for four months.

He threaded his fingers through her hair and massaged softly, knowing how much she loved it when he did that. It was an unconscious act he had taken to, ever since he made that discovery and it was an act she so desired and loved.

"There are things we need to talk about," he spoke, his voice breaking through the quiet atmosphere.

"I know," she conceded, snuggling further into him. "We have all the time in the world."

"But..." he paused, extracting his hand from her hair.

"No buts," she shook her head, grabbing his hands and wrapping them around her. "For now, I just need you to hold me. Nothing more and nothing less, I just need to be in your arms."

"If that is what you want," he placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, adjusting their sitting position so he was leaning on the headboard and she was leaning on him.

Najmah sighed in content, throwing her legs over his before burrowing her head in his neck. She no longer cared about why he had decided to let her go without saying the talaq and why he had pursued her nonstop to forgive him.

All that mattered to her was that they were back together, it was the only thing that counted in all the rollercoaster ride that was their relationship; she loved him, and he loved her too, there was nothing better she could ever ask for. He was hers as she was his and in shaa Allah, nothing would ever separate them.

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