Four

She raised the coffee mug high so it shielded her face from his view.

"Oh come on luv, intend on hiding behind that awful mug all day?". He said smugly. "Bride's hide behind veils not ugly mugs".

She chuckled and lowered the mug, she was glad her dark skin wasn't so easily flushed else he'd know she had been blushing from his comments about their wedding night which was just some hours ago.

"Show the mug some love". She said as she set down the mug which for some reason had a rather distorted shape.

"Sure, why not?, I mean the mere sight of it could attract and angel yeah?". He said sarcastically.

"It's cute".,she defended it.

"It looks like a hippo's derriere". He said bluntly.

She scrunched up her nose feigning disgust.

"I happen to be drinking from what you just called a hippo's derriere".

He chuckled.

His gaze softened as he stared at her, her usual warm smile curved her lush lips which were still red full from all the deep kisses, he smiled and sipped from his equally ugly mug.

"Lapsing into silence are we?". He said.

"Table manners luv". She said and wink.

"Oh please, if only I didn't know how loud you can get". He said returning her wink.

She almost chocked on the coffee she had just sipped.

"Raysham!". She whined.

He laughed.

"Alright alright, I'm done teasing, forget I said anything". He said.

"Yeah sure, I'd take you seriously if you hadn't said that nine times this morning".

He smirked.

"Accept it luv, you love it when I tease, it gets you—"

"Dont say the word!". She cut in sharply.

He shrugged.

"It gets you excited". He said. "Not in the mood for dirty talk I see?".

"If you keep this up I won't talk to you at all". She said.

"Of course, why talk when we can......". He let his words trail off.

Once again she found herself hiding behind the mug again.

"Fine then, keep depriving me of seeing my bride's blushing face,soon enough we'll have little ones running around and I can stare at angelic faces all I want". He said.

She lowered the mug but he shook his head.

"Put it back, I don't want to see your face anymore, I changed my mind". He said.

She lowered completely, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Really now?". She said.

He smiled, a heart wrenching smile which made her fall deeper in love.

"When are the little angels coming?". He said.

"I can't believe you're already looking for angels to replace me". She scoffed.

He chuckled.

"Worry not luv, I could never find a replacement for you even if searched the entire world, I can never get tired of seeing your face, even if it gets all wrinkly". He said.

She smiled and reached across the table to hold his hand.

"I love you Raysham".

Her eyes fluttered Olen as she awoke from a peaceful slumber filler with dreams of times she wished she could relive all over again.

A tear drop slid down her cheek unexpectedly, she sniffed and wiped it off quickly.

No, she wouldn't cry, not when it was bright and early, not when the day seemed promising, she wouldn't dwell in the memories of the past.

She recalled the tears in Hytham's eyes yesterday when the doctor had said she didn't have much time left, of course she had known all along, it was her body after all, but it still hurt to hear it being said, she knew she was slipping, slowly......yes, but surely.

She took a deep breath and sat up, she heaved a sigh heavily, so, she didn't have much time left, Hytham had told her to stay home today, she could do with a day off he had said, she'd spend the day watching movies she liked, at least she wouldn't have to think about Raysham and all that could have been.

***

He made his way down the stairs and walked to the dinning table to have breakfast, Latifa was seated there waiting for him as always, the table was set and the food did look appetizing but it would be tasteless, just like everything else had been since she left him, he didn't wish to eat or spend time with his 'young and competent wife', one who had been forced on him by his oh so loving mother, she wasn't the one for him, they both knew it.

"Morning". He greeted as he pulled back the seat at the head of the table and sat down.

Dinning hours had been torturous since Sayya left, the mere memories of having breakfast with her sort to be his undoing.

"Morning". She said quietly.

He picked up his cup of coffee and took a sip, he set it down as memories of her began swirling in his mind, memories of when she left him.

Stay, I'll leave if you want, just stay, I can't watch you leave. He had said to her.

Niether can I. Had been her simple reply.

The house that used to be their beautiful home which held their love and warmth in every brick of it had been abandoned, left to be devoured by darkness and dust.

"You don't like the coffee?". Lateefa's soft voice spoke up.

It was then he realized he hasn't touched the coffee after he'd sipped it once.

"Its great". He said simply. But it was nothing compared to the one she brewed.

"Mother called yesterday". She said.

He almost scoffed at that.

"What did she have to say?". He asked bitterly.

"She.....she". She trailed off.

He raised his gaze to meet hers, he took in how uncomfortable she seemed, how timid and inexperienced.

"She called to find out if I was treating you well?". He asked. "What'd you tell her?".

She let out a shaky breath.

"She called to find out if she'd be having a grandchild soon". She said quietly.

He laughed humourlessl before he turned to face her fully.

"So she called to fund out if her new daughter in-law has succeeded in where the other one failed, remarkable". He said.

She said nothing.

"She must have been disappointed when you gave her the news, I mean who wouldn't be?". He said.

"Why do you hate me so much?".

Her words caught him off guard, he flinched, she thought he hated her?

"You think I hate you?". He said quietly.

"It seems so, everything about me repels you".

Her eyes became glassy with unspilled tears.

"Every part of me disgusts you, why?". She choked out quietly, her voice thick with emotion.

She blinked and her tears broke free.

He watched the tears slide down her cheeks and it stirred up guilt within him, indeed he hadn't been fair to her, he knew that, but he couldn't help himself.

"Lateefah.....". He began but trailed off.

"I never wanted any of this, I just wanted to get married and live peacefully, I wanted to be happy". She sobbed. "It was never my intention to come between you and Sayya".

Words seemed to have failed him, he just stared at her unable to say a word, he didn't blame her for any of this, hell, she was just as much of a victim of his mother's games as he was.

"I'm not asking you to love me, or to forget Sayya, I'd never do that, I just want to be treated like......a person". She clamped her palm against her mouth to muffle the sobs leaving her.

Slowly he reached for her other hand and held it.

"I'm sorry". He said softly as he rubbed circles on the back it to calm her. "I'm so sorry I made you feel inconsequential, I really am".

She sniffled and nodded.

"I understand, you don't have to apologize, I shouldn't have said anything in the first place". She said.

"No, not at all, I'm glad you said it". He said.

She said nothing.

"You don't repel me, not at all, I swear you're all that keeps me sane, the fact that you're in my life keeps me from losing my mind, knowing you are my responsibility keeps me from going adrift, I was stupid to make you feel so low and unwanted". He said to her.

A small smile curved her like but it didn't reach her eyes.

"You'll be late". She said as she glanced at her wristwatch. "You should eat quickly so you can get going".

He nodded and let go of her hand after a gentle squeeze.

"Please excuse me". She said as she stood up and walked away quickly.

He rubbed his temple wearily and sagged into his seat, the vibration of his phone in his pocket interrupted whatever thoughts he was having..

He pulled it out and answered the call.

"Its wiered that the person that hates me the most is calling so early in the morning". He said.

He heard Hytham laugh humorlessly from the other end.

"You think I'm calling to find out if you slept well?, to check up on my oh so responsible brother in-law?". He said.

Raysham pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Why exactly have you called?". He said.

"Its Sayya".

His eyes widened and he sat up straight at once..

"What happened to Sayya?, is she alright?". He said at once.

"She's unwell, you should go check on her,she won't be going to the office today". Hytham said.

"What's wrong with her?, has she seen a doctor?, screw that, I'm going to see her right away". He said as he jolted up.

Hytham sighed.

"She'd feel better if you're with her". He said.

"Yeah, thanks for letting me know". He said.

Hytham grumbled a "welcome" before he disconnected the call.

He grabbed his keys at once and turned to leave but stopped when his gaze fell on the untouched food on the table, a small part of him felt bad for leaving like that, after all Lateefah had made it herself.

Screw that, Sayya's unwell.

He had no time to waste, he needed to be with Sayya as soon as possible, he turned around and walked away quickly.