Her eyes widened and she gaped at the man coming out of the car. Daud was striding towards her. Nervously, she swallowed and stepped back. She hastily looked around worried if someone from the Muslim community she knew would recognize her but no one was in sight. Then and only then, she lifted her eyes to his. He was wearing black Rayban aviator sunglasses with gold rim. A smirk slowly crossed his lips, "Hey beautiful."

Her cheeks pinked and her eyes once again dropped to the floor. Inhaling deeply, she asked, "Were you here for prayer?"

There was silence, confused, she gazed at him and he simply answered, "No. I am here for you."

She slowly shook her head, her eyebrows furrowing, "Daud, Allah comes before anyone. Go and pray."

Again there was silence. Daud was thinking hard. He hadn't been to mosque for ... for like... forever. And prayer, last time he prayed was when he was a teen boy and his father used to force him. He glanced at the masjid and his heart leaped. How would he step in the masjid when he knew how sinful he is? Will Allah forgive him? It wasn't possible. No one forgives. Not even God.

"I will pray later, Nawal. Let's go," Daud said trying his best to dismiss the topic.

She took another step backwards, "No I will not go anywhere with you until you pray. Its Friday Daud and Jumma prayer is very important."

He sighed. She wasn't going to listen to him. He pursed his lips and then accepted defeat, "Fine but you promise to wait for me in the car."

Her eyes clearly showed her trepidation but her words soar his heart, "As long you remember Allah before me I will always be waiting for you."

Clicking the button on his electric car key, he gestured to her, "Go sit in the car and here take the car keys."

She took the car keys and he made his way to the masjid. His unsure legs stepping towards a sanctity he had never thought of stepping in again. His hands trembled as he switched on the tap in the toilet to do wudu (ablution). His head swirled with memories how his father used to take him to masjid. A time when he was oblivious to people's attitudes around him. The attitudes were there; they were there since the day he was born. But he was too young to gauge them. Water trickled up his forearm as he thought how much he had been neglected by his own blood. If it wasn't the love and support from his parents, he would have become an addict of some sort. His father's gentle but firm reminders of Islam and his mother's lovingly nurturing made him go on and become the man he was today.

Now standing at the threshold of the masjid, his heart hammered. He stepped a foot in the masjid. His foot sank in the luxurious thick oriental carpet. He felt a power calling him nearer. As if tranced, he took the next few steps with ease. Facing the Qiblah after decades, he raised his arms,

"Allah-u-Akbar"

He still remembered the surah and the dua his father had made him learn. He easily recited, it came naturally to him as if he had been praying every single day of his life. And when he went down on prostration, he didn't know how tears escaped his eyes. his shoulders trembled and for many long minutes he sobbed in front of his Lord pleading mercy, asking forgiveness.

But Allah was the Most Merciful, the Most Forgiving.

He was there to listen to the prayers of His believers.

He was there forgiving you knowing your heart's deepest sorrows and desires.

Allah is the All-knowing.

When Daud completed his salah, he wiped his wet face. He was astonished to feel tears. He never thought he was capable of tears. And yet, here he was with moist eyes. but most of all, he had tranquillity in his heart. Something he had been seeking for many dark and gloomy years. When he stepped out of the masjid, he looked back and his heart determined, I will come here regularly now. He said a phrase he hardly did, "Inshaa Allah."

Nawal sensed a difference in Daud when he slid behind the steering wheel. He was quiet as he started the car.

"Lunch?"

She shook her head, "No Daud I better go home. Just drop me to the bus stop."

"Non-sense you are coming with me to lunch." Daud said, steering the car out of the parking lot of the masjid.

"I will get into trouble," she whispered anxiously gazing at him, trying her best for him to understand.

"No you will not. You are my would be wife. Any one says anything tell them to talk to me. And I will give them a piece of my mind then no one will ever say anything." Daud sternly remarked.

"you don't understand..." her voice was hushed.

"I do. All I know I want to spend time with you," his hand found hers and his fingers interlacing with hers. Her heart skipped a beat. His warm hand clasped hers, he squeezed her hand affectionately making her feel tingles up her arm. This small affectionate act could race her heartbeat, he had such strong effect on her.

"There is this Arabic restaurant nearby I thought you would enjoy." He glanced at her when the car stopped at traffic light, she was still worried. Again he squeezed her hand, "Just quick lunch Nawal that is it." She still looked sceptical, "you go out with your friends for lunch all the time. Can't I spend little time with you?"

Finally, a smile graced her face and she relaxed on the car seat, "You are right but only lunch okay?"

"Of course." He let go of her hand and concentrated in driving.

Within minutes, they were at the Arabic restaurant. They were seated in secluded corner, Nawal discerned Daud had requested a quiet table away from the crowd. But she didn't think much of it. Seated in front of each other, Nawal was not able to meet his eyes. It was like they were on a date. She had never done anything like this. Maybe once only for coffee. But now knowing he was to be her husband, she was extremely shy. She fidgeted with her phone and her mind was blank as to what to talk to him about. She had become comfortable chatting to him or talking to him on the phone but now that he was in front of her. She was speechless.

But Daud wasn't shy at all. His eyes never wavered away from his girl. A tell-tale blush spread her cheeks and he loved it. Gently he took her phone away from her hands and set it aside on the table. Taking her hands in his, his fingers slid against hers. He heard her sudden breath intake. She was affected by him. He liked that, no in fact, he loved that. His thumb lightly traced her fingers one by one. Lightly touching the knuckles, the length of the fingers and then her perfectly manicured nails. Her eyes were downcast, watching their intermingled hands

"Look at me." He demanded huskily.

Her eyelids raised uncovering sparkling brown eyes. she was cute. No she was much more than that, "You are beautiful you know that." He whispered. The words that were only for her ears.

Her blush deepened, "You don't need to give me compliments."

His eyebrows knotted, "And why not? I am telling you what I feel and see."

"I don't see anything beautiful about me." She replied back and she had a distant look in her eyes.

"Why?"

She gulped, "Mom says so..." and she just shrugged unable to complete.

Raising their joined hands to his lips, he softly kissed. Nawal's eyes closed feeling the sensation of his warm soft lips on her skin. Tingles were felt all over her body. Her heart speeded more if it was even possible.

"If we were alone I would have showed you exactly what I feel for you." He murmured not taking his eyes off her face.

A small smile lingered on her lips understanding his meaning, her cheeks now crimson coloured. Her body heating up. Her pulse raising and she was breathing hard.

"Your food," the waitress pleasantly informed holding two platters. Reluctantly, Daud untangled his hand from hers allowing the waitress to set the platters on the table.

"Would you like anything else?" the waitress asked again.

"No this should do for now. Thank you." Daud said, picking his fork. He dug the fork into the square boneless chicken piece on his food platter and offered Nawal, "First bite from me."

Nawal was surprised, she nodded and tried to take hold of the fork from him but he moved it away. "I will feed you."

He brought the fork to her lips and she took a small bite of the chicken. Smirking he took the rest of the chicken piece in his mouth. She flushed comprehending he ate the same piece of chicken as hers. With shaking fingers, she clutched her fork and scooped a piece of cucumber from her Mediterranean salad. He was doing wonders to her heart.

She was falling deep into this well of love with no escape...

But he was falling with her together hand in hand.

****

"What would you like for dessert?" Daud murmured looking down at the dessert menu.

"Nothing. It is late as it is," Nawal fretfully answered. They had been eating in a relaxed manner and now an hour had passed by. Nawal was very apprehensive. Her mother kept an eye on her timing and if she was late, she was in big trouble where her mother will not listen to any excuse.

"I will get into trouble. It's late as it is," she glanced at her watch.

"Only dessert and then I will drop you home," Daud looked up at her and smiled making it difficult for her to refuse.

"What if someone sees," she thought out loud.

"Leave that to me, my darling. Now what dessert?" his blue eyes shone and her heart melted.

She hesitantly glanced at the menu, "umm...hot chocolate pudding and vanilla ice cream."

"Great we will share then." He smirked again.

Her face heated up and he had snatched away her ability to speak.

When the dessert was placed in front of them, he spooned a piece of the spongy steamy chocolate pudding and scooped little bit of the vanilla ice cream on it, he offered her bringing the spoon to her lips. Her lips gradually opened taking in the hot chocolate flavour and cold vanilla ice cream. It was delicious.

There was ice cream smeared on her upper lip. He chuckled, he leaned forward and rubbed his thumb over her lips. A gasp left her lips. He moved back and sucked his thumb, "Delicious indeed," he winked.

She was melting like the ice cream on the dessert plate. He was igniting many feelings, desires and longings within her.

****

He drove her home. He had spoken of many things during their drive back home. But she wasn't able respond much. He had cast his spell on her and her feelings for him were deepening by the second. When they were on the street where her home was she asked, "Can you drop me here. I don't want Mom seeing you dropped me off. She will ..." Nawal looked away, she didn't want to say ill about her mother. But it was the truth of the hell she will have to face if Ghazala saw her coming out of Daud's car.

"Ok as you wish. But if you fear so much I will talk to uncle about me meeting you once in a while. I am sure he will not object." Daud said, as he parked the car at the street curb.

Nawal hastily shook her head, "No no please don't. Daddy will say yes but ... but ... Mom" she swallowed. It wasn't easy to explain the situation she was in.

"I don't want you to fear what we have. I know I have strong feelings for you and I can feel you do as well. You are about to become my wife in few months. All I ask to meet once in a while. Can we not do that?"

Nawal rubbed her temple, she was confused. She really wanted to be with Daud. The last few hours were utter bliss but knowing her mother, she just didn't know. "Let me think about it."

"You are not thinking. If you have to think then I rather marry you tomorrow so no bloody person says a word about us."

Despite being stressed, she broke into giggles at his eagerness.

"Much better I love your laughter."

She smiled and gripped the door handle, "Thank you for the wonderful lunch. I enjoyed myself. I better go now. Allah hafiz." She turned and pushed open the door but Daud gripped her arm and pulled her back in the car making her whirl around facing him. "This is not the good bye I had in mind." He murmured.

He leaned forward. Her eyes widened as his lips touched her cheek, "Allah hafiz beautiful."

He released her arm and she stepped out on wobbly legs. She walked to her house and he didn't drive away until he saw her disappear in the house. Then he started his car with a smile on his face.

How will he spend these bloody four months away from her? He had to control his desires when she was near him. How much he wanted to wrap his arms around her and bring her close to his heart. But he had refrained seeing her skittish and fretting behaviour. But she harboured the same feelings as him. He had felt her turbulent pulse when he held her hand or her constant blushing spoke volumes. He turned to the main road, with time she will become comfortable and melt in his arms.

He will wait for that day.

****

Nawal stepped in the house and greeted Arbaaz he just grumbled his response. She was quietly rushing to her room when Ghazala called out, "Where were you?"

Nawal swallowed, she was in trouble now.