Chaos in the Canvas √

epilogue

"Yes." Hemayal whispered.

"Even when I get home late?" This time, there was mischief in his voice and Hemayal didn't hold back the laugh that tumbled out of her.

"Yeah, I get some me-time. Why wouldn't that make me happy?"

Turning, the darkness around them now spreading in shades, she faced her man with humor dancing in her eyes, a broad grin lifting her prominent cheekbones. Unconsciously, Ibrahim's fingers came to rest on her waist, directly above her wound - an act, Hemayal knew, was second nature to him now.

She remembered the first time he'd seen her wound, the ugly scar on her right waist just below the ribcage, while changing the bandage - how his breath had caught, how his lips had trembled. Later that night, she had woken up to his tears falling on her bandaged wound as he kissed it softly - again and again and again.

"Umm.." Ibrahim's thoughtful voice pulled her out of the sweet memory and she found him biting his lower lip in sheer contemplation. "Maybe because you love me a lot more than your supposed me-time?"

"Yeah, you wish."

A few months with this man and those three words still wouldn't come easy to her. For Ibrahim, however, they were a piece of cake - a molten lava at that. The number of times he'd repeated those words in her ear, she had no idea but one thing was certain - every time, her heart had frozen.

"So..." He pondered, going back to the topic as he crossed his arms over his chest, and a laugh erupted from Hemayal's lips again.

"What about when I infuriate you with my sleeping schedules?"

"Yeah, even then."

"When I don't let you drive alone?"

"Even then."

"When I wake you up in the middle of the night for... stuff."

"Even th - no." Hemayal blushed furiously as she smacked his arm and Ibrahim threw his head back in a rich laugh that only infuriated the woman more - and although her insides had warmed instantly, Ibrahim didn't need to know that. "Not then. Definitely not then."

"God, you can still blush, woman?" Ibrahim leaned towards her, the glint in his eyes making Hemayal's toe curl.

"Ibrahim, my dear, dear husband, shut up. We're in public, for heaven's sake." Hemayal narrowed her eyes but to no effect on Ibrahim who was still looking at her from under his lashes and doing terrible, terrible things to her heart.

"It's dark, baby, and there is literally no one around." Ibrahim reminded her, in that low silky voice of his, and Hemayal Khakwani's heart fluttered like a leaf.

"Yes, but, see ar-" She hadn't yet completed her sentence when an arm snaked around her waist and she was pulled roughly against a hard chest, a pair of soft lips coming to crash over hers.

Some other time, she would have melted in his arms. This time, she smacked the back of his head with her heels.

"Oww."

With a groan, Ibrahim pulled back, hand going over his head to massage the scalp, all the while glaring at his wife who had a sheepish smile on her face. "What was that for?"

"For public indecency act. You could be charged, you know?" Hemayal replied, stepping back from his embrace while patting his chest reassuringly.

"We could be charged." He reminded her, brows still furrowed.

"Hence the smack." The woman shrugged in response and the man, still rubbing his head, only nailed her with a glare - to no effect whatsoever.

"You're a royal pain in the ass." Ibrahim declared before gesturing to her to head back towards the parking lot.

"Well, I'll derive some comfort from the royal." Hemayal replied with a grin as she matched his steps.

The wind picked speed around them as they walked back - hand in hand - the moon peeking from behind the clouds to blow a prayer their way before scurrying back.

This time, the prayer was to be granted.

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it was such a heart warming feeling to write them again - feel their love, see their life.

honestly, i didn't want an epilogue, didn't want to disturb the ending but my poor, poor heart wanted a little more of this couple. so, here it is.

how did you think it was?

as for my next book, i've already written the first few chapters. it will probably be up a lot sooner than you think!

till next time,
salam!