Chaos in the Canvas √

37 | date

"Nonsense. Nothing happened to me. You know these kids, they just exaggerate." Ammu brushed off and Hemayal felt herself smiling at the way her gaze melted to love at the mention of her kids.

"I'm sure they do. You look healthy as ever." Hemayal remarked and felt a smile lifting her mother-in-law's lips.

"See, there's a reason Abi can't get over you. You flatter too much." Mustafa remarked from across the table and after a second of silence, the whole restaurant shook with the ring of their laughter.

"Shut up." Hemayal rolled her eyes at him as she said, her pressed smile and scarlet cheeks a sight to behold as her gaze went to Ibrahim.

"Don't tease her, Mustafa." Safaa said, eyeing Mustafa in a warning, but the smile on her face was too soft to convey the message.

"Sure I will. She's the only chance I'll ever get to rile up Abi." Mustafa said, a lopsided grin now a permanence on his face.

"Yeah, like you don't have enough." Hadeed Lala said and a fresh pair of laughter broke across the table.

"These kids, their banter will never end," Baba said, a small smile on his face too as he gazed across the table and Hemayal's smile dimmed by a notch. "Should we first decide the date of their marriage?"

"Sure, sure." Ammu said as she sat forward in her seat, eyes widening in sheer happiness and anticipation, and Hemayal smiled at her reaction.

"How much time will we need for preparations?" Ibrahim's father asked, eyes pondering.

"Two weeks, I think. Three if they want a lavish affair." Anisha Bhabhi answered, looking at the two of them in question.

"Definetely not lavish," Ibrahim quickly said but stopped to look at Hemayal, raising brows in question. "If that's okay with you."

"No, nothing big." Hemayal acceeded with a slight shake of her head and Ibrahim smiled.

"Then two weeks is more than enough. Right, Ammu?" Safaa said, turning to look at her mother who seemed deep in thought.

"Yeah, I think it'll be enough," Ammu said, coming back from her thoughts with an encouraging nod. "What's the date two weeks from now?"

"9th November." Mehmal replied, pulling out her phone to confirm the dates.

"9th seems fine to me." Baba said, looking at Hemayal and Ibrahim with question who hadn't yet uttered a word.

"Me too." Ibrahim said, such a bright smile on his face that Hemayal's breat hitched in her throat for a second.

"9th it is." Hemayal whispered with a shy smile, looking straight at Ibrahim with nothing but deep love in her gaze, and the table instantly broke with cries and hooting.

After that, everybody dissolved in different conversations - some discussing the wedding, some politics and some just eating food - and Hemayal and Ibrahim were left to stare at each other in peace, their smiles too bright for the world, their happiness unmeasurable. A second later and her phone vibrated, indicating a message.

"Green suits you."

The message read and Hemayal's smile instantly widened, fingers hurrying to type a reply.

"Wish I could say the same."

The expressions that marked Ibrahim's face after reading the message made a small laugh leave Hemayal's lips, her insides warming at his sour features.

"You fine with the date?"

Hemayal looked up at him only to find his eyes already set on her, deep and probing. A small nod and a smile escaped her together and Ibrahim visibly relaxed in his place.

"If it's too soon for you, let me know."

Another message came through and Hemayal sighed deeply before smiling, fingers already typing a response.

"It's him, isn't it?" Mehmal leaned towards her and asked, her eyes although directed ahead as she talked to Mustafa.

"Yeah." Hemayal replied with a laugh as Mehmal shook her head, straightening.

"When, and please focus on the when, I have second doubts, I'll let you know!"

Ibrahim's expressions hardened after reading the message but when his gaze rose and he saw the mischieft and smile in Hemayal's eyes, he only shook his head and chuckled softly.

"Can we go somewhere after the dinner?"

The message came and her heart skipped a beat just as Ammu engaged her in a conversation about the number of functions she wanted to have and Hemayal could only nod in response, too distracted by his blatant words and wandering eyes.

"It really doesn't matter to me. As many as you want." Hemayal replied to her, putting the phone down for a second.

"What do you mean by that?" she made a face as she said and Hemayal let out a small laugh. "It's your wedding, you decide how many functions you want."

"Three, I guess. Mehendi, Barat, Walima. Or maybe we could make it one, MaShaLima." Hemayal shrugged her shoulder as she said, fingers itching to type a response as she felt Ibrahim's hot gaze on her.

"Three it is." Ammu hurriedly said and this time, Hemayal laughed out loudly - the older generation and their desire for wedding functions for their children.

"Where?"

Hemayal typed a response and Ibrahim cast her a meaningful smile before lowering his head to pull out his phone and read her message.

"I do know some nice places in the city."

The message brightened her screen, the words her heart.

"I'll see."

The words were a lie because everywhere Ibrahim wanted to take her, she knew she'd gladly go.

"Sure you will."

Ahh, Ibrahim, he knew her too well, Hemayal thought with a smile as she shook her head before finally putting the phone down.

After the meal had ended, Hemayal ordered green tea along with others, stomach and heart both full. The happiness that had enveloped the table was refreshing, peaceful and warming. Never in all her years before had she witnessed such utmost joy before and despite missing Dadu terribly, she for the first time in her entire life felt that she'll be alright.

Ibrahim be with her and she'll always be alright.

As the waiter came around the table to place her tea in front of her, Hemayal felt something being dropped in her lap and her confused eyes went from the note folded in her lap to the waiter who had his eyes downcast and serious expressions on his face. She cast a quick glance across the table but everyone was busy with something, Ibrahim included who talked with her father.

Hands shaking, she picked the note and straightened it, eyes narrowed in confusion, heart fluttering in fear. On it, only a single line was written in a neat, cursive handwriting and Hemayal felt the storm nearing as her heart skipped multiple beats at once.

"Your ninth will never come."

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...and what do you think? more trouble in paradise?

do vote and comment!

till next time,
salam