love and devotion

chapter number 1 ~~~~~~by Noor ul sehar ~~~~~~~ It was 3 o'clock in the night. An old woman sat on her prayer mat, immersed in prayer. After finishing her *salah*, she raised her wrinkled hands for *dua*. Her face glowed beneath a white shawl. She had a wheatish complexion, black eyes with thick lashes, and a dark mole under her lips. Tears were flowing down her chubby cheeks. Today, after twenty-five years, she allowed herself to cry. She did not hide her tears. She turned and looked at the old man sleeping on the bed beside her. With teary eyes, she smiled softly. After folding her prayer mat, she sat down next to him. Gently, she held his hand and kissed it with love and devotion. She gazed at his face with affection. When the man stirred in his sleep, she immediately let go of his hand, not wanting to disturb him. For two minutes, she just looked at him. Then she switched off the light and walked out, because the *Fajr* *azan* was about to begin. The moment she stepped outside, the man opened his eyes. He looked in her direction and smiled. *** Outside, the woman was walking on the grass in the lawn. Her mind was somewhere else. Maybe it had traveled 25 years back in time. The scene of 25 years ago flashed before her eyes. *"It's been a long time since I remembered you,* *But it's not like I forgot you."*