A Promise From My Heart

Chapter Twenty-Seven

YUSUF'S POV

A feeling of contentment and peace could be the best feeling anyone would have. When everything is in place just the way you want it to be, you feel light chested. Thanking Allah for what he has done for me I still could not thank him enough. The smile I had worn the past few days could not be more radiant than it has been. The lines of worries and tiredness beside my eyes were long gone. I could feel an unbearable pleasure of joy pumping through every vein in my body.

With Amatullah by my side, we both stared at the home we had left for over a year, the home where our lives had begun with so much joy and happiness and unforgettable memories. I held her closer to feel her warmth.

"We are back" she said gazing up at me.

"Yes baby. We are back"

I gestured towards the windows pulling the curtains apart. The first rays of light gave me a clear view of the state of our house. I stared at the living room my eyes wide, amusement on my face, a laugh beginning to rise in my throat.

"This is not happening" Amy spoke.

There were layers of dust on every single thing in the living room including the sheets covering the chairs. I pulled one out and the dust that had flown in the air had me coughing.

"I have lots of cleaning to do" Amy said, a hand on her head as she stared at the living room with an awe expression.

"You don't have lots of cleaning to do. We both have lots to do. I am not leaving you to do this alone. Alhamdulillah tomorrow is Sunday. We can do the cleaning together" I walked back to her and held her face in my hands. She stared at me, her eyes twinkling with joy and appreciation. I kissed her forehead then gazed down at her "You should go and change. I will switch on the power supply and be in the room with our bags"

I brought back light into the house and proceeded to the kitchen to get a glass of water to drink. Turning the faucet, what I got was a drop of water. Nothing more. I groaned remembering I had to switch water from the main source which I did. The marble top of the kitchen, the utensils, and every single thing had dust. I ignored the state of the kitchen and headed to the room.

The house was a three bedroom bungalow I had bought in one of the private estate in Ikeja which was just few minutes' drive from my father's house in mainland but when there is a terrible traffic jam, I could spend hours on the road. There was a living room, bedrooms, dining room, kitchen and a garden. Every part of the house had Amy's touch. She had decorated the house giving the perfect furniture, colour and decoration to the house. The kitchen which had been her best part of the house was big enough and had the colour of lemon green, silver and white. The cabinets and kitchen equipment had the same colour. I remembered it had taken her two weeks to get her perfect kitchen. Each room had an en suite. The master bedroom had a walk in closet, an en suite bathroom with a Jacuzzi and a sliding doors leading to the swimming pool. There was a short hallway leading to the bedrooms. The hallway had a mirror, art and paintings on the walls, a big frame with Ayatul Qursiyu written on it, an antique table and flower vase with artificial flowers in it.

Getting to the bedroom, Amatullah was standing by the nursery, a doll in hand.

"Have you figured out what to do with them?" I asked wrapping a hand around her from behind pulling her closer.

"I thought we should give them to the orphanage" she replied, her voice tiny and a bit strained as if she had a terrible sore throat. She dropped the doll into the crib "Yusuf" she turned and hugged me. "How much pain I must have caused you. I don't know how to show you how grateful I am for every single thing you did to me. Thank you very much" she kissed my jaw. I felt wetness on my chest where her face was.

"You have to stop saying that" I held her at arm length. "You have to stop thanking me. You are my wife. You are my other half. You are my responsibility. Your family had given you to me as Amana. They have trusted me with you. Your pain is my pain. Your laughter is my laughter. Your happiness is my happiness. Your sorrow is my sorrow. Don't talk as if you are a stranger. You have to stop crying over little things" I ran my hand gently on her face pulling her closer. "I love you Amy and I will do anything to give you joy. Anything I can to see you smile. When you fall I am ready to hold you. I will always be there when you are in need of anything. I will walk any part with you good or bad. Nothing would happen to you because you are my world, my heart and my life" I pressed my lips on her.

She responded. The kiss was not fast or yearning. It was slow and promising.

"I love you very very very much Yusuf" she said hugging me after pulling away.

I was contented. I felt more light chested than I have ever been and that feeling had been the best feeling for me.

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With Amy curdled very close to me, we watched the television with little attention.

"Have you ordered for new arrivals?" I asked playing with her hand.

"Yes, it will arrive in Nigeria the next two weeks" she replied.

"Okay and the shop" I placed a feather kiss on her temple.

"It is almost ready. The furnishing is almost finished"

Amy had owned a shop in Victoria Island where she sold different clothing materials, abayas and Islamic wears before her accident. I had thought since we had every back in place, she should go back to her business which had been lucrative. Her friends and customers had patronized her well.

"Did you....." my phone rang cutting me off. I grabbed it from the coffee table. It was Noor calling.

"Assalamu alaikum" I said into the phone.

"Walaikum salam, I have gotten to the camp and settled down" she said.

"How is the place?"

Amy turned to look at my face. She smiled then pressed a kiss on my neck. I groaned inaudibly and glared at her which she giggled at but had her hand over her mouth to muffle her giggles.

"It is okay Alhamdulillah" she replied.

I had told her when she settled down in the camp, she should call me and inform me.

"It is a very good place and I think I might enjoy my stay"

Amatullah moved out from my arm. She got up, ran her hands through her hair to make it look a little bit rough but sexy in a way I could not explain. She turned back to me, she bit her lower lip. Moving in a very seductive way, she laid beside me half of her body on top of me then kissed my Adam apple. For a moment, my breathing hitched.

"That nice Alhamdulillah. Have you spoken to Amir?" I said trying to make my voice steady. Amy wore a victory smile gazing up at me.

It was still surprising to know Noor was in love. Noor who had not believed in anything like falling in love even though she had witnessed love in our parents' marriage was in love. Noorie was a cold person and a man she had barely met for a long time had melted her. She had cried for him and she had cried because of him. So all those visit she gave him almost every day had something to do with her heart. Whoops, that is so unbelievable.

"Not yet. I will call him after our conversation"

"Remember to tell him everything" Amatullah ran a slender finger slowly on my chest which sort of tickles and sent shivers around my body. I tried to ignore whatever she was doing. "Don't forget to tell him dad had said you can't meet him until he meets his family. You have to tell him he should come with his family after his stay in the hospital. Noor don't wear that ring" my voice was firm with hard warning "You have to return it to his aunt and tell him to come and ask for your hand in marriage the right way" Amatullah used a hand to loosen the second button of my shirt making sure her finger brushed through my chest. I let out a sigh and gave her a warning look.

"So you and dad are accepting him?" her voice was soft with emotions.

"We don't know yet but let's meet him first. I love you Noor and I want the best for you"

"I love you too bro. I am really grateful" her voice shook. "How is everybody?"

"They are fine" I tried not to groan when Amy loosened another button. With a smirk, she loosened another then kissed my chest. I shuddered a bit as cold went up my spine.

"I will speak with them after my conversation with Amir. Have you settled down in your house?"

"Yes and Alhamdulillah it is just the way we left it" Amy leaned closed, her lips almost touching mine, a hand on my chest. I gazed down at her puckered lips that seemed to call out for me. I gulped. Ya Allah, does she need to be cunning and inviting at the same time?

"Okay then, bye. We shall speak soon In Sha Allah" Amy pressed her lips on my jaw then gazed up at me with a daring and playful look.

I have been married to her for years but there are just some things she does that I can't refrain myself from falling for especially when she uses what she calls the power of a woman. I still do not understand those words "power of a woman".

"Ameen, bye" I said and the call got disconnected.

With a growl, I threw the phone to my side. The phone bounced a bit on the chair then grabbed Amatullah by her shoulders. My action was so fast and quick that she had shriek when she found herself under me. A laughter that sounded like a tinkling bell left her lips.

"Amy, it was not funny" I groaned but it seemed as if my words made her laugh more. "I am serious Amy. It was not funny"

"Why?" she asked, a daring look in her twinkling eyes.

"Because.....because.....Just forget it" I groaned sitting up. She laughed harder.

"You could not concentrate on your call because you could not resist me" she said very pleased with herself as she sat up. Like a cat, she cuddled softly to me until we had no space between us. I leaned closer to her ears.

"Yes, you are right" My voice became low and husky. "I couldn't because you looked so tempting" I bit her ear lobe. She cringed which made me smile.

"Seriously, you think you will win?" she huffed looking away.

I took a handful of her hair and brought the soft strands to my nose. She smells nice like always. Dipping my long fingers into her soft hair, I pulled her nearer. I used my index finger to move her chin. Her gaze held mine, her lips curved up into a little soft smile.

"I think I will" I joined my lips on hers.