A man like khalid

Chapter 17

A Month Later: Quiet Moments and Unspoken Feelings

It had been a month since Nadeen gave birth, and life had settled into a quiet rhythm. The days passed in a blur of feeding Hanif, trying to catch moments of rest, and adjusting to the new normal. Yet, despite the tranquility, there was an undercurrent of emotion that Nadeen couldn't quite shake. She wondered how her life ended up like this.

Tonight, she found herself curled up on the couch, a blanket draped over her legs, half-watching Emily in Paris on Netflix. The room was dark, the only light coming from the TV, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The familiarity of the show was comforting, a distraction from the thoughts that constantly swirled in her mind.

The soft sound of the door creaking open broke her concentration, and she instinctively turned toward the noise. Her heart skipped a beat as she wondered if it was Khalid.

"Oh, it's you," she said with a smile, a hint of relief in her voice. "You're back early. You were gone for only two hours. You said you might be back late"

Khalid walked in, the sound of his sneakers soft against the floor as he pulled them off. "Yeah, I got bored of the game and just missed Hanif. Decided to come back and see him," he said, his tone casual, but his eyes softened as they met hers. "Where is he?"

"He's in the room, asleep," Nadeen replied, her gaze following him as he moved closer to the couch. She noticed the slight weariness in his steps, but also the warmth in his smile.

Khalid sat down next to her, close enough that their shoulders brushed. The closeness sent a small, unexpected shiver down her spine. He reached over and took a handful of popcorn, popping a few pieces into his mouth. "What are you watching?"

"I'm rewatching Emily in Paris," she said, turning her attention back to the screen, though she could still feel his presence beside her.

"Hmmm," Khalid mused, a small smile playing on his lips. "Why are people so obsessed with that show? The other day, I heard some of my colleagues talking about it and I felt completely left out."

Nadeen laughed softly, the sound easing the tension she hadn't realized she was holding. "Maybe because you're more obsessed with books than watching films," she teased, catching the surprised look on his face.

He raised an eyebrow, amused. "Is that so? And how would you know what I'm obsessed with?"

She grinned, feeling a bit mischievous. "I may have been curious about what you have in your room. I know I've been in there before, but when I went to put Hanif's blanket away, I found a lot of books I never knew you had. It's like a mini-library in there. I thought it was a secret room. And remember you once told me about your favorite books but I didn't know u were so obsessed with books."

They both laughed, the sound mingling with the soft glow of the television. "really I did." he was surprised he had told her about his favorite books, he really couldn't remember when he did. "I love books," Khalid admitted, his voice quieter, almost tender as he gazed at her. "Always have."

Nadeen felt her heart flutter under the weight of his gaze. It was moments like these, small, intimate exchanges, that made her feel something she couldn't quite name. But it was there, growing stronger every day. She quickly looked away, her eyes back on the TV, trying to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks. "Since we got married, I never really asked what you like and don't like. We need to know each other more."

Khalid's expression softened even more, his voice gentle. "We do. But we have time for that. It's only been a few months."

There was a brief, comfortable silence between them before Khalid spoke again. "Are you done packing?"

Nadeen rolled her eyes playfully, feeling a little embarrassed. "I was waiting for you to help me pack," she confessed, knowing how ridiculous it sounded.

Khalid gave her a look of mock disbelief, his lips curving into a smile. "You're kidding, right?"

She giggled, feeling her cheeks warm under his gaze. "I really hate packing. Mostly, Mom used to help me with it. I just can't finish packing in one day at all."

Khalid chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "You don't need to be embarrassed about that," he said, still smiling. "Let's go, I'll help you. It's getting late, and your flight is at 12 p.m."

They both stood up, Nadeen pausing the show before following him to the bedroom. As they began packing, the atmosphere was light, filled with laughter and teasing. Nadeen felt more at ease than she had in weeks.

"So, when you come back, I'd like us to go on a vacation," Khalid said casually as he folded one of Hanif's tiny onesies.

"Oh, really?" Nadeen's eyes lit up with excitement. "Where do you want us to go?"

Khalid smiled, enjoying the sight of her happiness. "Tell me where you'd like to go."

"I'd like to go to Abuja," Nadeen said, her smile widening. "I've only been there once, but I really liked it."

He laughed, scratching his nose in amusement.

"What?" Nadeen asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I was talking about a vacation outside the country," he said, still chuckling as he neatly placed Hanif's clothes into the suitcase.

"Oh." Nadeen laughed at herself, shaking her head. "I thought you meant here in Nigeria. I'd love to go to Paris."

Khalid looked up at her, surprise written on his face. "Paris?"

Nadeen nodded, her smile softening. "Yes, Paris. Why? You look surprised."

"I was expecting you to say the Holy Land, Makkah, or maybe London," he said, still studying her as if trying to figure out what was going on in her mind.

Nadeen chuckled, carefully folding a piece of Hanif's clothing. "I've been to the Holy Land many times. We go for Hajj and Umrah almost every year with my parents."

"Wow, and you don't have hakorin Makkah?" he asked, genuinely surprised.

"What's that?" Nadeen looked at him, confused.

"The Makkah teeth," he clarified, a smile tugging at his lips. "Why didn't you get it? Your mom has one"

"Because I don't like it," she said simply, shrugging her shoulders.

"Really? You don't?" Khalid's surprise was evident. "Wow! Let me tell you, a lot of Nigerian girls would kill to have that opportunity. If some Nigerian girls went to Makkah five times, they'd probably get the teeth five times. Most of them are obsessed with it."

"That's crazy," Nadeen laughed, the sound bright and full of genuine amusement. They continued packing, their conversation flowing easily. Nadeen appreciated how Khalid always seemed to remember that she wasn't from Nigeria, even though she looked like she could be, with her light skin and slightly different accent. It was a small thing, but it made her feel seen in a way she hadn't expected.

As they worked, the banter between them grew more playful, more intimate. She found herself increasingly drawn to Khalid, not just as the father figure in Hanif's life, but as a man. His kindness, his humor, the way he looked at her—all of it was weaving a complex web of emotions in her heart.

Then, a small cry broke the moment. Hanif made a soft sound, his tiny voice cutting through their laughter. "Oops, I think we woke him up with our laughing," Khalid said, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur. He walked over to the crib and carefully picked up Hanif, cradling him in his arms.

Nadeen watched them, her heart swelling with emotion. Khalid looked so natural, so at ease with Hanif in his arms. She knew he wasn't Hanif's biological father, but in that moment, it didn't matter. Khalid was everything she could have hoped for in a partner, in a father for her child.

And as he walked back towards her, Hanif nestled against his chest, she couldn't help but feel a pang of longing. She wanted more moments like this, more quiet nights filled with laughter and love. But she also knew that the road ahead was uncertain, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to navigate the complexities of her feelings.

Khalid sat back down next to her, Hanif now content in his arms. He looked at Nadeen, his eyes filled with a mix of tenderness and something deeper, something that made her heart race.

"Nadeen," he said softly, his voice just above a whisper. "I know things have been complicated, but I want you to know that I'm here for you. For both of you. Always."

Nadeen's breath caught in her throat. She wanted to respond, to say something, but the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she simply nodded, her eyes locked with his.

For a moment, they just sat there, the silence between them filled with unspoken words and shared feelings. The world outside might have been complicated, but in that moment, everything felt right.

And as they sat together, Hanif peacefully asleep in Khalid's arms, Nadeen allowed herself to hope that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to make this work. Together.