The Sabr Untold.

CHAPTER 12.

Chapter 12: A trip to the store.

*



“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”

-Robert A. Heinlein-

*

Safwah did not sleep a wink that night. He didn't know what he was thinking when he agreed to sleep over at Zamaairah's room. He didn't mind though as he watched her sleep like a guardian. No harm can come to you when I am around. He knew he had to live up to that and he aimed for exactly that. But other than that, his mind wasn't exactly innocent when it came to Zamaairah and at some point during the night, he felt guilty about it. She trusts me with her life and here I am, with such (dare I say) coarse thoughts.

"You look like you need coffee." Karmaan commented as he, Safwah and Yazdan set on the kitchen counter of the main house. Yazdan pointed to himself and then to Safwah.

"This bro." Karmaan replied, nodding at Safwah who let out a scoff.

"I need to run to the convenience store." He muttered as he placed his head on the cold marble counter.

"Why?"

"Stuff." Just then Sahl entered the kitchen.

"I'll go with." He muttered as he opened the fridge and searched for something to eat.

"You know there's food at the other counter, right?" Yazdan told him and Sahl shrugged, still rummaging through the refrigerator. He finally seemed to have found something and turned to Safwah. He placed the cold can of energy drink over his brother's face making him flinch in the cold. Ah this is what he was rummaging in the fridge. Torturing me seems like his new favorite habit.

Safwah set up straight on the bar stool and eyed Sahl with disdain.

"Where's V?" he questioned, taking the drink and opening it. Sahl shrugged, taking a seat opposite Safwah. Karmaan eyed them with distrust.

"What?" Sahl finally asked him and Safwah turned to Karmaan, who was still frowning at them.

"Who takes energy drinks at 7 in the morning?"

"People who haven't slept, Karmaan. That's who." Sassed Sahl, clearly in his savage mode. Yazdan raised an eyebrow at him.

"I would understand Safwah, but why you?" he questioned making the twins turn to him in confusion.

"What do you mean I understand Safwah?" questioned Safwah, mimicking Yazdan's voice the best he could (which wasn't much honestly).

"Everyone knows Safwah, you weren't exactly discrete when fighting for a hair dryer." At this, Safwah turned and glared at Karmaan. The previous night, he and Karmaan were arguing over his hairdryer and the boys heard it alright.

"It was for me." The rest rolled their eyes.

"Why are you so tired, Sahl?" Aanabia questioned as she entered the kitchen with baby Yasharah. As soon as Yazdan saw her, he immediately held his arms out. But baby Yasharah seemed to have other plans as she tried to leap towards the youngest uncle.

Karmaan laughed and took her from her mothers arms, making Yazdan glower. Aanabia smiled at him and walked over to him.

"Work." Sahl muttered, sipping his can of energy drink while Safwah stifled a laugh. Probably was hearing Vardah's lecture.

After a can of energy drink, Safwah seemed to have gained some energy and he set up straight on his seat.

"Alright, I am headed out." He said, standing up. Sahl raised an eyebrow at him.

"Where?" Yazdan asked him.

"Convenience store."

"I'll come with," replied Sahl, standing up too. He gulped down the rest of his energy drink and picked up the two cans on the table.

"It's fine. I can go alone." Safwah told him, rubbing his forehead. If he comes, life will be harder.

"Unless you want Miss. Siddique trailing you, let me come." Sahl said as he disposed off the cans in the recycle bin.

"Go together. This is the first time Safwah is getting out of the house on his own anyway." Yazdan added. Safwah rolled his eyes but nodded anyway. It's not alone per say if I have Sahl with me.

"You guys want something?" the rest shook their heads. They knew that Safwah was going on a personal run. Ultimate personal run, because if it wasn't, he would have just asked the maids or someone around to get it for him.

Safwah said his salaams and headed out of the house with Sahl trailing behind.

"We are taking my car." Sahl said, dangling up the keys. Safwah shrugged and checked for his phone and wallet. Ah I have them. The morning sun was bright and shining. And annoying, that's what. It's probably because I haven't been out in the sun lately. Come to think of it, the most I have been out was yesterday for the game.

"You made a decision yet?" Sahl broke into the silence they were walking in. The garage was about a good 2 or three minute walk from the main house.

"Yes. I just have to talk to Vardah about it."

"You joining us?" at the sound of us, Safwah glanced at his brother. He noticed how his brother had changed recently. Sahl was no longer the fair, blushing person. He was more tanned, his beard was more prominent and he seemed like he was, if Safwah dare say it, glowing?

"Probably." Safwah replied with a smirk. If there's something going on with him, I am sure he has a good reason to not tell me.

"Well well well. What do we have here?" Safwah flinched at the taunting voice of Vardah Siddique. Oh my god, I can't deal with her this early. It's too early for this!

"Ah the voice of the devil-" he said, turning around to see her. His eyes widened when he saw Zamaairah standing behind her with wide amused eyes. He frowned.

"What are you doing here?" Zamaairah frowned at his question and he caught himself. "No. I mean I thought you were sleeping in." he corrected himself and Zamaairah blushed when Vardah gave her an amused smirk.

"We are going to the pharmacy. You guys?" Zamaairah replied, looking from Safwah to the other twin standing by the vehicle.

"Convenience store." At this, Vardah grinned. Its too early to be that happy.

"We'll join you." She said, walking towards his twin. Safwah turned to Zamaairah and smiled. It's a good idea. I get to spend time to Zamaairah without holding back or worrying that people will find out.

"What are you thinking?" she asked in a soft voice from beside him. He shook his head.

"Nothing," he replied, shooting her a smile again. "Finished your medicines?" Zamaairah nodded, looking away. Safwah nodded as they began walking towards Sahl.

Safwah opened the door for Zamaairah who thanked him before getting onto the back seat of the black SUV. Vardah had called dibs on the front passenger seat, not that Safwah minded. It's a good thing.

"The story of Bilal Ibn Rabah (R.A), anyone-"

"Don't." At Sahl's monotonous reply, Zamaairah turned to Safwah with a questioning look. Safwah smiled softly. He really hasn't gotten over it.

"Don't do it Vardah. It's his favorite Sahabah after Hazrat Umar (R.A) and each time he hears the story, he is a crying mess." Safwah informed Vardah who turned to Sahl. Safwah caught a glimpse of her expression softening.

"Its beautiful, isn't it." She muttered, looking away. Safwah and Zamaairah exchanged looks but said nothing. Something is going on between them?

Safwah ignored the two in front and turned to his wife.

"Would you like me to accompany you?" he questioned her and she shook her head. Her green eyes glittered in the sunlight and Safwah found himself more drawn to her. He spent a lot of time with Zamaairah but this development in between them was new. Something different.

"Vardah is going with me." Safwah nodded without questioning. He placed his hand over hers and she turned to him with wide eyes. Realization drew to him and he shook his head with a sheepish smile while tightening his hold on her hands. Silence passed between them as they simply smiled at each other.

"Do they not see us?" Vardah muttered to herself as she leaned onto the passenger seat, closing her eyes. The morning sun was too bright for her and even though she was happy, she didn't like the burns it was giving.

Sahl glanced at her tired form. He leaned towards the passenger side and pushed down the sun visor, effectively blocking some amount of sunlight through the windscreen on Vardah. The woman glanced at him in amusement before leaning back and closing her eyes. The silent thank you that passed between them was missed by the couple at the back.

***

Vardah stared down the receptionist while Zamaairah tried hard not to squirm in discomfort.

"Well?" at Vardah's enquiry, the receptionist snapped out of her trance and nodded with an uneasy smile before turning to the pharmacist and handing over the prescription to them.

Vardah rolled her eyes and turned to Zamaairah who shot her an appreciative look. A while later, the receptionist handed them the packet of medications and stated the price. Zamaairah swiped her card and paid for it before taking Vardah's hands and rushing out of the pharmacy. By far, the most embarrassing experience I have ever had.

"You should have let me talk to her-" Vardah fumed and Zamaairah chuckled. More like have a throw down with her.

"It's okay, V." Zamaairah muttered as they walked past people, shopping.

"No it's not. We are all women and honestly, she shouldn't be looking down on women like that." Zamaairah saw the feminist in Vardah speaking and she was glad she met this woman.

Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around Vardah and hugged her. The taller woman stumbled a bit before catching hold of Zamaairah and flinching. Her hand was already gripping the knife at the edge of her leather jacket while the other had a deathly grip on Zamaairah's. When she realized Zamaairah was hugging her only, she relaxed.

Zamaairah half expected Vardah to push her away but she didn't. So with a smile, she let go. Hopefully she doesn't kill me.

"Why'd you hug me?" Vardah asked her as they stood awkwardly in the corridors surrounded by people. Zamaairah blushed and shrugged. Felt like it?

"Thank you." She replied instead. For being there for me. Vardah shrugged.

"It's the 21st century. Come on. s*x shouldn't be a taboo topic in this era. Jeez. And we didn't even talk about that, all the prescription said was combined oral contraceptives." Vardah muttered with a roll of her eyes. Its not for um.. that. Zamaairah wanted to explain herself but how exactly?

"It's not for that," she finally muttered as they descended the stairs to the ground floor. Vardah halted and turned to her with raised eyebrows.

"You know its fine, right?" Vardah told her and Zamaairah blushed bright, shaking her head.

"I- I know. I take them because of endometriosis." She admitted, looking away embarrassed. Great. One more person finding out about my condition. Admitting to Safwah was embarrassing enough. Zamaairah didn't understand why she felt the urge to tell Vardah everything. She felt she could trust the woman with her life. Like I already am.

"Endometriosis?" Vardah questioned and Zamaairah nodded.

"It's a condition where the uterus tissues are outside the uterus."

"Outside where?" Vardah asked curiously.

"Outside. Um, so the female reproductive system has the uterus, fallopian tubes and the ovaries, right? The tissues in the outer lining of the uterus are the ones that shed out each month as blood. In endometriosis, these tissues are found in the fallopian tubes, sometimes over the ovaries or even the stomach wall. It depends." Zamaairah explained and the two of them began their walk again.

"Wait. So why do you need OCP's for it? Does it hurt you?" Vardah questioned rapidly, curiosity lacing her words.

"Okay so for the OCP's, every month when the uterus sheds and I bleed; so does the tissues in other places. Which means the tissues on the fallopian tubes and ovaries also bleed and that's a lot of pain. I got myself checked when I came to UK with Ayisha for the first time. My periods were painful but later on, they got worse."

"So this blood, they just collect?" Vardah was unsure but the painful expression shows she was imagining it.

"They do. So OCP's are used to regulate menstrual cycles and when they do, they stop the pain which is a plus. It's a 21 day hormonal pill and the other 7 days are iron pill days." Zamaairah explained her best to Vardah but the look on the other woman's face said she was partially in daze.

"So much information." She muttered making Zamaairah laugh as they rounded the car-park. Wait till you learn how exactly OCP's work. It's alot of information to take in. The boys were standing there, talking.

"Let's go boys!" Vardah yelled as she walked towards the driver's seat. Sahl threw the keys at her without question. Zamaairah walked over to Safwah who held out his hand. She took it as they rounded the vehicle. He opened the door and held his hand at the edge on top while Zamaairah got in.

Safwah closed the door and headed to his side. He got in turned to his wife, the two of them smiling at each other.

Vardah looked over to Sahl who was buckling up. He met her gaze and glanced at the back to his brother. He shrugged and leaned back on his seat.