A Prayer Heeded

by Samreen Ahsan

  “There is a lot to see, Adam. I don’t know if—”

  He covers her mouth with a passionate kiss, one like he has never given her before. She moans in pleasure and he claims her whole mouth with his tongue. The air in the room suddenly sucks in, and their bodies burn in passion together. He pulls away for a second.

  “No one is going to come between us. I won’t let anyone.” His eyes are speaking the truth, and she wants desperately to trust him. He takes her to the bed again and lays her down on the pillow.

  “Ouch.” She articulates her pain, and then starts giggling.

  “Five pounds on your head, huh?” He smiles, looking toward her head. “Let’s free your hair first.”

  She sits at the corner of the bed, feet down, facing the dresser where she can see her reflection. Adam jumps behind her, knees on the mattress, and begins unpinning her hair.

  “By the way, how much time did this hairdo take?”

  “Oh! Don’t ask. It felt never-ending. My head is spinning now.” She looks at him through their reflection in the mirror.

  He opens the front of her beaded emerald chiffon robe, and slides it down her arms, off of her hands. He kisses one of her bare shoulders and speaks.

  “You are very beautiful, Rania. I feel so lucky to have you.” His sweet tender words melt her heart with pride. He continues pulling the pins from her hair, but their eyes are locked together through their reflection, tied to a rope of passion, pulling them slowly toward each other. He looks at her hair.

  “They’ve spilled a whole can of hairspray, or what?”

  Rania laughs at Adam’s amusement.

  “No, seriously! How many pins do we have? I guess I’ve pulled out almost twenty here, and we have more. It’s gonna take the whole night.” Rania is enjoying this treasured moment between them. It is rare and priceless.

  Finally, after fifteen more minutes, he frees her hair. It is frizzy, but the way it flows down on her bare shoulders knocks Adam’s heart out. He kisses her once again on her shoulder, but this time on the other side.

  “Can I ask you something?” Adam turns her around to look in her eyes.

  “Hmm?” Rania whispers.

  “When we were in Edmonton, and I came in the washroom after your shower…were you...I mean, was he there too?”

  She looks down and nods in silence.

  “Does he always come when you’re naked?”

  “No.” She instantly looks up. “Only when I feel intimate about someone.”

  “But what about that day? Were you...?” She blushes like a red rose. “Oh, come on, Rania, you can tell me now.”

  She smiles shyly. “I was fantasizing about you, Adam. When I was taking a shower, I fantasized about you touching me everywhere…” She looks everywhere except at him.

  “And?”

  “He came to warn me. He said he had been observing that I let you sleep next to me. He also observed that you were falling for me, so…”

  “So he doesn’t come every time you take your clothes off, right?” Adam confirms. Rania looks at him with shock, wondering why he is asking such questions. “So if you feel intimate about someone...I mean that night in our bedroom before you went to the pool, was he there when I—”

  “When I told you to take me wherever you wanted me to…he was right there. I just shut my eyes and ignored him, but he was roaring loudly at me to push you away. But when he noticed that I was ignoring him, he threatened your life and...” She looks down once more, not sure what to say.

  “But he can’t harm me, right? Or even you. I asked Fadil. He said he only warns you and plays mind games with you.” He holds her face in his hands. “You need to start learning how to ignore him, like you did that night. He won’t harm us, Rania. And I will sleep with you very close; he can’t take you away from me. I don’t think God has given him enough powers; nothing is stronger than love. If he warns you or calls you somewhere, you need to tell me, okay? Do you promise that?”

  She nods her head in acceptance.

  “So, has he ever tried to make a pass—”

  “No, he cannot touch me against my will. Unless I feel him deeply through my soul and allow him to touch me, he has no chance. That’s where his power fails.”

  “Good for us. At least he is better than the other perverts in our world,” he says. He climbs off the bed and gives her his hand. “Come. Let’s get your hair washed.” He smiles seductively at her. She looks at him with her mouth open.

  Of course she hasn’t seen this side of Adam; she is not used to this kind of gesture from him. But since it’s their wedding night, she will have to get used to the fact that he is her husband now and he has the right to demand anything from her.

  She gives him her hand and he leads her to the en-suite. He realizes that during their entire conversation, he hasn’t even taken off his jacket. When he starts unbuttoning his shirt, Rania puts her hand over his and speaks from her eyes. He pulls his hands away and lets her unbutton it.

  The moment just freezes between them, and they both feel like traveling to some other world, where nothing exists other than desire and passion. His body has craved her touch too long. When he assures her that he will not let anyone harm her, she wants to believe him.

  She pulls the shirt from his trousers, slides it down from his strong arms and throws it on the floor. She places her head on his warm chest, taking all the warmth and pleasure inside her. His woody scent is diffusing in her blood like a drug. She rests there for a while and he tucks her closer to feel her body against him. She can feel his erection over her belly and it is arousing her more. She is enjoying the idea that she is now married to him and there is no sin involved in doing anything her heart would desire.

  She unbuttons his trousers, and the hard muscles of his abdomen clench at her touch. She is admiring her husband’s sexy, lean, cut body, and she has no hesitation over admiring him and touching him. He’s her husband now, and she has the right to appreciate him. She runs her fingers over his chest, and his eyes burn deeper with desire at her dancing touch. Her head is still lying over his heart and she can hear his heart pumping in her ear.

  “You are very handsome, Adam…” Her appreciative words make his heart swell with pleasure. “And mine…”

  She passes her fingers from his chest trail, right to the groin. He smiles at her affection.

  “Yes... all yours, my love…”

  He tucks her more closely to his body and starts combing her hair through his fingers. As soon as she unzips his trousers, they slip down his legs, to his ankles. He steps out of them, holding his wife close to him. She places a deep passionate kiss on his chest as if she has been craving a dessert after a long hard diet. He caresses her back with his hands, and her desire burns so hot she feels as though the fabric of her dress will melt off her body.

  He unzips her dress, revealing her back, and a thousand waves of current pass down her spine. She digs her head into his chest. He feels a teardrop on his skin and he pulls her head away to look in her eyes. He’s astonished to see that she is in tears.

  “I am scared, Adam.” She speaks in a trembling voice. He looks around everywhere, and then to her.

  “He’s not here, is he?” His eyebrows draw down in concern.

  She shakes her head. “He will come any time. I don’t know…I want to feel you, Adam…”

  He doesn’t let her speak any more, just covers her lips with his and gives her a passionate kiss. His hands still work, pulling her dress down her body to the floor. She squeezes her arms tightly around his waist as if she is trying to hide herself from someone, and there is no safer place than his arms. He reads her trepidation.

  “You remember what Mr. Kareem said? You are my garment and I am yours. I’m going to be your cover, Rania. You’re not alone in this misery.” He looks down at her naked body; she is wearing nothing other than her black lace bra and panties.

  “God! You are perfect. I haven’t ever seen a more beautiful woman than you. Alt
hough I have seen you a lot more naked than this, but now that I know you’re mine forever, it’s making me insane. Don’t blame me if I go wild tonight.” He kisses her forehead and she smiles at his comments.

  She is feeling beautiful because he’s making her feel beautiful, and worthy of his love.

  “Come, let’s wash this hairspray off your head.” She’s still wearing her undergarments when he opens the shower. He knows as soon as she strips off and feels Adam’s touch, Khaldun will blow their magical moment.

  He takes off his boxers without any thought and takes her to the rain shower. She can see and feel his erection against her body, and she is highly aroused at the sight, but with this, she is also scared that he will appear to spoil their intimate moment. She waits for Adam to take off her undergarments, but he doesn’t. “I’m not going to take off the rest. Don’t want that prick to enjoy the view.” His tone is serious.

  Adam washes her hair thoroughly, all her modesty and hesitation about Adam flowing down with the water. He massages her hair with shampoo, to take off all the chemicals sprayed on it.

  “Keep your eyes closed. I’m going to wash away the makeup too.” He massages her face with soap and water, and then rubs the body wash on her smooth skin. She keeps her eyes closed. He can see her body completely through the lacy bra, which is soaked in water. He places tender loving kisses on every part he washes. She smiles and moans with pleasure.

  The warm stream beats gently against their skins as they lock each other in a kiss. They are entwined, connected in every possible way. She keeps her eyes closed and feels all she can—the water, him, the pleasure. It’s greedy and decadent romance to indulge in, as he draws her closer to him.

  After a minute of privacy, she stiffens suddenly and Adam feels the change in her body. It is getting cold, like an iceberg. He hugs her tightly at that very moment.

  “No no no, Rania. Don’t listen to him. Just keep your eyes closed.” He knows Khaldun is around here somewhere, but unfortunately, he can’t see him at all. Rania’s sudden change of body temperature, even under the hot shower, tells him clearly that Khaldun is communicating with her.

  “Keep your eyes closed. You don’t need to see him or listen to him. Just ignore him. Pretend he doesn’t exist.”

  “How do you know?” She is panting hard, but she tries to keep her eyes shut. She is hiding her body with fear when Adam wraps his arms around her to make her feel secure.

  “I know your body, Rania. You’re my wife. I can read your body like a blind man reads Braille. There should be nothing hidden between us. I can feel his presence. What’s he saying?” He speaks in her ear, enveloping her in his arms.

  She digs her head tightly into his chest and cries, “Go away…I don’t want to listen to you…no, go away... I am not your wife... I will not go anywhere with you…I belong to Adam only...no…”

  “Rania, what’s he saying?” Adam interrupts her conversation with Khaldun.

  “He is saying he will take me away from you...I don’t want to go anywhere, Adam. He is cursing me for betrayal. I would prefer dying in your arms than…”

  “No, he can’t take you anywhere. I’m here, Rania. I’ll always be here to protect you. My love will work like water on his fiery existence. He cannot stand against my love for you. He will have to believe in the fact that this is what the Almighty has planned for us. He has created us for each other. Ask him, can he hear me?”

  Rania nods in silence. So Adam’s voice is reaching Khaldun. He looks around the shower for any clue, but it’s hopeless.

  “So if he can hear me, he should know that I am not Jibran. He cannot pollute my mind with his cruel intentions. I won’t let that happen to me, and I won’t let you go either. We live together, we die together. Tell him he has not been given the power to take someone’s life. He’s not an angel of death. He’s just a fucking Jinni.”

  He kisses Rania passionately, keeping in mind that Khaldun is watching him. He wants him to observe their intimacy in order to defeat him. “Keep your eyes closed, baby. Just feel me and no one else. There is no one between us and there never will be.” He starts kissing her neck, holding her tightly in his arms. “If I don’t bloody see him, he doesn’t exist for me.” He plants a kiss between her breasts. “So my love, when you close your eyes and don’t see him, pretend he’s not there. Let’s see how long he’s going to stand here.” The rawness of his hunger is a serious aphrodisiac for her, as he passes ripples of sensation through his touch.

  She starts melting in his arms, ignoring how Khaldun is cursing her in the background. She is only focusing on Adam’s titillating touch. He keeps kissing and licking her, all over her beautiful body, making her feel like he is worshipping her. But since he knows Khaldun is watching his wife, he doesn’t take off her undergarments to make love. He doesn’t want his wife to be exposed to anyone, even if he’s not able to see Khaldun. He doesn’t want anyone to witness their lovemaking. That should be their very own private moment, with no one else sharing it.

  “This is our world, my love. We make the rules here, not him.” He strokes her cheek. It’s a gentle touch, as tender as it is sensual. “He thinks he can spoil our wedding night like this?” Rania can feel rage in Adam’s voice. She is not sure what he plans to do. Her body starts to stiffen, and Adam realizes he is going too far.

  “Don’t be afraid, baby. I’m not going to take you here if he’s watching you.” He cups her face. “Open your eyes, Rania, look at me.” She opens her eyes, warm water pouring on both of them. “I don’t want to create a memory of our first sex like this. So don’t worry, I’m not making love to you while he watches you come.” He plants a soft kiss on her lips. “We will make love in our own world, where no one is watching and cursing us, where you only feel me and take in all the pleasure just for me. There will be no one between us.”

  “I don’t know if that’s ever going to happen, Adam.” She starts crying. “I don’t know if I will ever be able to give any pleasure to you.” She digs her head into his chest.

  “It will happen, Rania. I will make it happen,” he says with utter confidence.

  He turns off the shower and wraps her immediately in the bathrobe. She lifts her head. “He’s gone.”

  “I know.” He smirks at her. “I told you he’ll have to go, but he will pay a heavy price for spoiling our first moment.” She looks at Adam blankly. “Tell me where he originally lives?” He takes her out of the shower and starts drying her hair with the towel.

  She is enjoying the lovely treatment. Her body is no longer tense and cold. Adam’s love is magic.

  He works on her hair, completely engrossed, and she looks at him with affection. She can’t believe her fate would bring so much happiness in the form of Adam. The man who never believed in God’s existence is now fighting against his fate and demons for his love. He works discretely, strand by strand, drying them like a professional with a blow dryer. She keeps smiling at him and for a moment their eyes lock. The moment sucks the air out of the room and they gaze at each other like predators, ready to attack any moment. But the question is, who will make the first move, keeping in mind that Khaldun can come back at any moment.

  After spending a few more minutes pampering his wife, he asks her once again.

  “You told me he saw you for the first time in the pyramids. Is that where he actually lives?”

  “I guess so. I know for sure that’s the place where Kiya died. No one knows if her body is buried there or if it’s gone. Even Fadil doesn’t know.” She takes a deep breath. “Khaldun possesses many powers. He can travel from east to west within seconds. He can appear in front of anyone in any form, if he wants.”

  “Oh...that’s...fucking creepy.” Adam takes her hand and leads her out of the washroom. “So when he married Kiya, was he able to make love to her?”

  “He cannot make love to a woman unless she allows him to, surrenders her soul to him. When he held her close, she found out at that moment…”

&nbs
p; “Oh, so the testosterone is still driving him.” He chuckles. “I don’t blame the poor creature, carrying his libido for four thousand years…damn…it’s quite hard.” He looks at her, and they both burst into laughter.

  “Grab something to wear. We’re walking down the beach. I’m going to order hot chocolate, and we can talk about him.”

  THE PYRAMIDS

  ♂

  “Welcome to the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. We welcome you to our city of Cairo.” A man in his late forties greets us at the reception desk. I still don’t understand why my beautiful wife is in a state of shock that of all the places in the world, I brought her here, to the city where her fate was cursed.

  I don’t want to give her the feeling that I’m repeating history or haunting her past, bringing it into our present, and I’m not sure what she’s feeling right now. I believe if her fate was cursed in this place, I’m going to bury the curse in the same damn place. I’m just worried about how much she will freak out if I tell her what my intentions are. Right now, she’s just following me blindly and I am more in love with her, feeling that no matter what I do, she still has faith in me.

  “Thank you.” I offer him my President club membership card. “I need some information regarding the Great Pyramid. I would like to speak to the president of Egyptian tourism.” I say it in a mild tone, but my wife looks stupefied. I’m not sure how long she’s going to stay like this—speechless. Maybe she would react if I tell her my plans.

  “Tell him I’m here for some investments, but I don’t have much time. I would appreciate it if he can meet with me today.” I sign the necessary documents and hold Rania’s hand to take her to our room.

  She follows me quietly to our presidential suite, facing the River Nile with the pyramids in the distance. We have a lavish panoramic view of the majestic ancient city.

  After our unusual but expected wedding night experience, we left Dubai the same night, traveling to Cairo by air. It’s very early morning in Cairo right now, and I see how exhausted my pretty wife is. She gawks at the room and walks toward the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. I follow her and snake my arms around her from behind.