Yusuf
He had been watching her since the previous week that her father had taste to death. She hadn't cried out, her lips were always quivering and he always noticed a lone tear on her face which she quickly cleaned, murmuring some words under her breath.
He was tired of this brooding even though she disliked him which was 100% opposite, he missed her. He missed her lively presence, the twinkled of her nose, the mischief in her eyes and the knit of her brows when she was concentrating on something. Or the glimpse in her eyes when she opens a new book to the emotional breakdown when her favorite characters were killed. He knew the pain of when someone close to us died but this was too much. She wasn't crying out, she was killing herself inside little by little.
She was miserable.
He'd called her best friend to come so maybe she could cheer her up but it was futile. Both of them just wallowed in their miseries. Even though when his friend- Royhan came to visit for condolence, Maryam didn't even glance at him nor threatened him as usual. Everything and everywhere was dull without her Ray of light.
He went to the kitchen and brewed a coffee; she never joked with her food nor coffee but since the incident she hadn't been eating. She'd been skipping meals and drowning in caffeine.
It was depressing and hurting.
He went to where she sat at the corner of the room that had become her favorite place in the whole house.
He crouched to her eyes level, and handed her the coffee.
"It has enough sugar with milk, how you like it" he said softly staring at her big doe eyes that he had fallen love with.
"I'm reading"she replied weakly while she tried to wipe the tears.
" Ok" he replied.
"Don't mind me, this book is making me emotional"she sniffled while he shook his head softly .
"No wifey, I've given you enough space. Let it out love"he said gently, hugging her closer to him, making her head rested on his shoulder.
"He left, he... he left .. me" she cried, her lips trembled while he patted her head.
"It's okay , let it out," he said, disheartened.
She cried till there were no tears in her socket.
She raised her head and smiled a bit "I'm sorry, I've ruined your shirt"she sniffed, straightening the wrinkles on his shirt.
"Issokay"he said softly and handed her the cold coffee.
*****
Sophia POV
"Sit down here" I yelled at him while he grumbled.
I used the pillow beside me to smack his head,"this is not how to behave with your teacher" I smirked, rubbing my hands together evilly.
"Ouch, it's painful" he rubbed where I hit him.
"Okay I'm ready teacher" he said, rolling his eyes playfully while I scowled.
I'd been teaching him some adzkar* because he absolutely know nothing but he is an Hafiz*. (remembrance or dua - prayer, someone who memorized the complete Quran).
Could you see?, an Hafiz that didn't know adzkar. It was absurd right?, but it was true.
~~
I woke up beside Yusuf, but how did I end up here?. I wondered, looking freakishly, Yusuf was snoring softly while he was tangled with the duvet and I shook my head.
I nudged to wake Yusuf up
but it was futile. An idea came to me and I smirked evilly. I went to the kitchen and returned with a chill of water. I smiled.
"Wake up"I nudged him again.
"Fifteen minutes more please" he mumbled, turning to the other side.
I sprinkled the water on his face and he stood abruptly like a person that wasn't asleep before.
I laughed hard, holding my stomach. His face looked comical, I wished I'd camera so that I could snap it.
He yawned and walked out of bed. He grumbled, rambling about how it wasn't fair, and I replied sarcastically that, 'life is not fair'.
"You look beautiful when laughing wifey, it's good to have you back" he complimented me, entering the bathroom as if nothing happened when butterflies were swimming in my stomach.
He walked out of the bathroom adjusting his shorts, I turned my head and looked at the wall shyly.
"You can turn back, I'm through," he called. " Well, there's nothing bad there in seeing me," he wiggled his brows.
"Nah, I don't want to corrupt my virgin eyes" I responded dismissively.
"I noticed something, when you woke up; you didn't say any adzkar and likewise before going to the bathroom, you didn't" I furrowed my brows confusedly.
"Is it compulsory?" He asked, discarding the towel on the floor and went to put on his shirt.
"Whaat?!" I screamed with widened eyes. "Do you know the importance of Adzkar?" I asked while picking up his used towel.
"Is it important" he asked in a small voice like a kid being afraid of being scolded.
"It is very important and part of our life. Adzkar is remembrance of Allah and the prophet (SAW)" I said " adzkar is the weapon of a believer" I added softly.
"Well, truth to be told, I don't know any," he said sadly looking down, I was shocked and surprised. It baffled me .
"How" I inquired inquisitively.
"My papa didn't allow it when I was Young. He just wanted me to learn the Quran to show off to his friends that his son is a Hafiz. And here I am with full Qur'an up here" he gestured to his head. "But without having the knowledge of Hadith or adzkar" he said sadly.
"I want to but there's no time," he said dejectedly.
"There's always time if you leave the time". I lectured, "but I can help" I announced.
"How?" he asked in a small voice.
"I will teach you" his lit up like a baby given a present on his Eid*. (Muslims festivals).
"Then will you be my teacher?" he asked softly, afraid whether I would change my mind.
I smiled and nodded my head in affirmation "yes , I will".
And then he .....