He slowly placed her on the sofa, went to the fridge and brought out a bottle of water; slowly sprinkling it on her face.

She laboriously took in a deep breath, which brought out a smile on Sadeeq's face. He helped her sat upright; while he sat very close to her.

"Ihsan, why would you let everything into your heart? Why wouldn't you act strong? You're strong enough, what happened?" Came Sadeeq's sympathetic voice, as it was laced with care.

She rolled her eyes at him, hissed, and yawed her gaze from his sight. "What did he told you? And when did my health became your problem? Isn't it my life?" She asked sarcastically, Sadeeq knew what would happen.

"It was about your studies, trust me, Ihsan," Sadeeq replied, hoping she would smile; he desperately craved for that.

Her facial expression suddenly lifted up, a smile creeping out of her lips, as she turned completely looking at him. "I thought it was something else. But I know he'd talk to you about something, don't concurr please," albiet she was glad they haven't talked about the 'thing', Sadeeq couldn't miss the scintilla of pain in her voice.

"What happened, Ihsan? Are you hiding something from me?" Sadeeq asked, he felt something at the peak of his stomach.

"It's nothing. I think I need to rest," with that, she slowly sauntered upstairs, flashing him a smile.

He stood up to leave, but was halted by Daada whom heard what happened, he heard when she dashed out, and almost came out, but Maama held him; saying if they get married he'll get used to it.

"Umm..Sadeeq, are you leaving?" He asked, sitting on the sofa he was sitting on.

Sadeeq turned, rubbing his nape, "Yes Daada, I've got some things to take care of," he informed, hoping Daada wouldn't hold him.

Daada adjusted his eyeglasses and spoke with a tone of finality laced on his voice "Sadeeq, you'll go to hospital with Ihsan tomorrow. Call her so you all could fix the time you think would be condusive."

Sadeeq kept rubbing his nape, he didn't know how he would tell Daada that he didn't have her number. But it loomed she wouldn't come out nor could he snub Daada's order.

"Umm...so..I don't have her number," he stammered, looking at everywhere but Daada's face, he didn't know why but he's having more than expected respect for Daada.

"Have it then," Daada spoke and handed him his phone, a small smile plastered on his lips. He really hoped they'll make out something good.

Sadeeq copied the number, handed him back the phone and bid him adieu. He sauntered out of the house but not after taking a glimpse of Ihsan's door. He wondered what she was doing there that she couldn't see him off. 'What has gotten into your brain? It's Ihsan for godsake,' his inner subconscious remindered.

***

Ihsan didn't have her dinner, but only made a fruit salad, ate and ascended back to her room. She had been acting sombre upon seeing Sadeeq, not that it was really the mood she was in, but to show Daada that she still couldn't concurr to their marriage thingy.

She was extremely bored, so she brought out her Macbook and started watching a korean series named 'Legend of the blue sea'. She had came to the scene where hoo joon jea's father died, where he was crying profusely, she didn't know how she started crying, the sight was really heart detrimenting.

Her phone's ringtone jolted her out of her trance, she paused the movie and reluctantly picked the call, as it was a new number. "Who's on the line, please?" She asked, trying so hard to sniff her sob.

"Ihsan..," he drawled, as he palmed his face. "Are you always crying please? You're such a lachrymose. What happened now?" An enraging tone was laced on his voice, but she couldn't miss the scintilla of care in it.

She let out a snort, she didn't need any explanation again, she knew who it was, Sadeeq of course. "Would you please let me be? Who gave you my number in the first place? And what do you want?" She asked, annoyed. She wasn't over with what happened in the movie, and he's now adding more salt to her wound.

"Ihsann..can't you for once be nice? God! I didn't call because of something, for I couldn't bear damaging my eardrums myself. Daada said I'll take you to the hospital tomorrow, so get ready by 4pm, hope the time is okay?" He asked, not that he cared wether it's okay for her or not, all he knew is by hook or by crook, she must be out by 4.

"I've heard, and that doesn't mean I'll make it by 4. So bye, I've got more important things to do than hearing this voice of yours," with that, she rolled her eyes and ended the call not wanting to hear what he would say next.

She slept off watching the movie. The call for Subh prayer woke her up, she squinted her eyes, shut down the Macbook and sauntered to the toilet. She came out and offered her salat, read some verses from the Qur'an, before slumping back on her bed. Her eyes were closed when she heard her phone beeped; emanating she got a message. She took the phone and read out the text.

~Morning, Fleshless bone! Don't you dare hang up on me again, the retaliation wouldn't be nice you know. And I'm still onto my words, of marrying you in three weeks time, it only remains a week. So get ready, my would be bride.

Be ready by 4, or else I'll enter your room myself and take you out.~

A loud hiss escaped her lips when she finished reading the text, but deep down she was afraid of what would happen when they told him about the marriage thingy, would he accept? Did he really meant his words of marrying her? Ya Rabb! She wouldn't want to be the second 'Maryam Sanda'.

Sleep slowly drifted her off but she woke up after some hours of sleeping, she was drenched in sweat and it was probably going to be a sunny day. She on the Ac and sauntered to the toilet, took her bath and exited the toilet.

She wore a faded jeans with a knee length grey top, which has some flowers on it's chest. She wrapped her silky hair with a black veil and descended the staircases, whistling. She didn't know why she was happy.

"Good morning, Maama," she greeted, slightly hugging her, as she made her way to the dinning table.

"You're fully dressed, albeit it's bit sunny today," Maama had to ask, the curiosity was eating her up. It wasn't good for Ihsan's health when it's sunny to be fully covered and thankfully, Ihsan wasn't the type of full clothes, unless she's going out.

Ihsan looked up from her plate "Oh yeah. That boy said Daada told him he'll take me to the hospital, so I have to dress fully," she informed and continued eating her food, as if what she said wasn't a big deal.

Maama gasped, "Ihsan! He would soon be your husband, why calling him a boy? He would be the father of your children. It isn't good please, learn how to respect him," Maama preached, she hoped Ihsan wouldn't be infuriated.

Ihsan abruptly stood up, so even Maama had concurred to this 'thingy' of theirs? Well, then so be it. "He would never be my husband, and I can't respect him. He's too young, Maama. And for the children, don't pray for that to happen," Ihsan bellowed and stomped to her room, banging the door so hard.

She prayed her Zuhr prayer in her room, and snubbed the maid when she brought her lunch. She looked at her phone and it was almost 4, so she stood up, prayed, and adjusted her veil; before descending the staircases.

There wasn't anyone in the living room,  so she sat down and waited for almost five minutes, before the 'king' arrived. They darted off to the hospital, without saying a single word, she hated seeing him by her side, whilst he wanted to compliment her dressing so bad but he couldn't just drop his ego uno.

They halted in front of the hospital, that's when Ihsan furiously turned and looked at him. She didn't know why she was angry, was it because he snubbed her? Ohh nooo...that's the least she could care for.

"What are we here for? I'm fine as you can see," she asked, rolling her eyes at him.

Sadeeq didn't respond, rather, he brought out his phone from his pocket and dailed Daada's number, whom picked at the third ring.

"Sadeeq, how are you? Any problem?" Came Daada's voice, as it filled the car, for it was on speaker, he thought he didn't have the time to tell her what Daada would say.

"We're fine, Daada. It's about the hospital you said we should come. So, what.." he trailed off, he didn't know how to put the question in words.

Daada let out a small laugh, he loved how Sadeeq respected him. "Oh Sadeeq my dear, it's nothing. You all are carrying out every test those supposed to be married should, hope you understand?" Daada enunciated, as his voice was devoid of emotion.

"Daa..," Ihsan wanted to yell, but when she felt Sadeeq's palm on her luscious lips, she couldn't help but lose the track of time. It was their first touch.

"It's okay, Daada. Thank you for your time," Sadeeq slowly whispered and ended the call, he was flummoxed, how could they carry out the test those supposed to be married should? Something is surely enshrouded.

"Let's go inside, how could you argue with him like that?" He slowly spoke, as they opted out of the car.

They entered the hospital, and straightly moved to the laboratory, they were well known, especially Ihsan. Their blood samples were taken, and they were told to come back in less than an hour.

They sauntered back to the car and sat down, both of them lost in their thoughts. It suddenly somersaulted in her; that she's craving for an ice cream, and some chocolates.

"Sadeeq?" She slowly whispered, hoping her voice sounded innocent.

He looked at her, and gave her the 'spill' look, without uttering a word. The whole thing was rummaging in his brain, and he still couldn't fathom a single thing.

"So please, I'm craving for an ice cream, pizza, and chocolates. Don't say no please, I'm seriously craving," She pleaded, making her best puppy face, as her doe-like orbs were amalgamated with his.

How could he say no? Ya Rabb! The look, just the single look took off his worries in the blink of an eye. "It's okay, but the ice cream would be little," he warned, before igniting the engine and they drove off.

They drove to Dominos, bought the pizza and headed to cold stone; where they bought one ice cream. Sadeeq saying it would be enough for them, since Ihsan isn't going to take it too much. They went to shoprite and bought the chocolates before darting back to the hospital, where they collected the result and made their way back home.

They almost passed where Ihsan saw a sand shore, the place was beautiful and serene, there wasn't people there. "Let's stop here and eat our goodies," she beamed, smiling genuinely at him.

Sadeeq didn't know how, but a single smile from her could drive him nuts. He steered the wheel and halted there, they opted out and sat on a bench they spotted.

Sadeeq started eating the pizza as he was hungry, whilst Ihsan was after the Ice cream. She was almost done with the Ice cream when he gasped. "Ihsan! What is this? I haven't even take a spoon," he whined, as he stretched his arms, wanting to collect the disposable cup.

"Ha'an, let me feed you, isn't that how those Arab couples are?" She said with a chuckle following behind, as she lifted up a spoonful of the ice cream and slid it through his mouth.

They looked at each other, not able to fathom the feeling ebbing in their hearts, it was something equivocal, they weren't used to it. He collected the cup and began feeding her with the pizza, whilst he licked the ice cream.

They finished eating, and were taking the chocolates when Sadeeq brought out his phone and lifted it up.

"Ihsan?" He called out, she turned when he too was trying to look at her; at that instant, her luscious lips fell comfortably on his subtle cheeks. The electric shock he felt, made him clicked the snapping button. The contact made them shuddered, eyes locked, and hearts etched with an unfathomable feeling.

"Let's go home," Ihsan slowly uttered, and she stood up. She didn't like how her heart was having some feelings she couldn't assimilate.

Sadeeq heaved a sigh, placed his hand on the spot she pecked, and sauntered towards the car, they both entered and drove off. The sojourn was a hushed one, it was drop dead silence. They were both engrossed in their thoughts.

They halted in front of Daada's house, Ihsan opted out of the car, Sadeeq following behind. Together, they entered the living room with a salaam; where they met Abbu, Ummu, Daada, and Maama sitted, and were talking seriously.

"What's the result?" Daada asked, his gaze glued on them and so the others.

Ihsan knew where that was leading to, so she make a fiesty expression, wearing her sturdy and over confident facial expression and spoke. "So sad, he is an AS."