The aroma of grilled lamb filled the atmosphere.
Umaymah was in front of the bowl of grilled lamb she had just got out from the pan and examined it closely while drizzling some syrup on it.
"Perfecto!" She stepped back to admire her hard work with her hands on her hips.
She was dressed in a skinny jeans that hugged tight to her hips and a baggy plain white tee-shirt.
Her light brown hair was tied up in a huge messy bun with little strands of hair hanging out by the side.
Salman's family was going to be visiting them for the first time, so she had to take care of the food they would eat.
Like they say, "Good food makes people happy."
After admiring the lamb which she put away by wrapping some foil over the bowl, she proceeded to the pot containing rice on the gas cooker.
She had decided to try out a dish she had never in her entire life tried but always wanted to.
Chicken Biryani.
She had heard a lot of good things about it and the things were indeed true because, she had tasted it back in a restaurant along with her mum and Haider.
As she added every spice, she muttered prayers to Allah to make the outcome be delicious and nice because she had no idea what she was doing.
All she knew was that she was following a recipe from the internet.
"Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wa barakatuhu." Salman made his way into the kitchen to grab some water from the fridge.
"Walaikumu salam." Umaymah kept it short.
She felt footsteps coming closer to her, so she abruptly turned.
She was now facing Salman.
He stretched his hand behind Umaymah slowly as he placed the empty glass on the counter nearest to him.
He moved towards her.
His gaze not leaving hers.
"What do you think you're doing?" Umaymah's heartbeat increased as if aggressively pumping blood as she snapped her eyes from his.
Salman arched his brow and pulled out two containers of spices, Biryani mix and seasoning powder respectively.
"Spices ought to be on the shelves and not on the counter." he careful placed the containers in the shelves and aligned them in a sequence.
Umaymah just stood there staring.
He returned to where she was still standing and leaned towards her to get the other containers behind her before also arranging them with the previous containers.
Umaymah was still staring.
Salman noticed this from the corner of his eyes then approached her direction again.
Umaymah thought he wanted to pick up another spice container, but Salman had other plans.
He pinned her down between his two palms with her back resting on the counter.
That was his plan all along.
Her breathing felt uneasy.
Salman leaned in some more making it even more difficult for Umaymah to figure out how to breathe right.
They were now sharing one breath.
She avoided Salman's gaze.
She tried escaping from under Salman's hand, but he already figured out what she was thinking soon enough.
He held onto her waist, pulled her closer and immediately planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Umaymah froze in her position.
Her limbs went numb.
Her heartbeat racing faster than the previous second.
"Do you feel your heart beating really fast?" A smile spread across his face as he brought his face closer.
Umaymah, stunned and speechless at the same time rolled her eyes and attempted to leave that position after replying his question with a simple "No."
Salman pulled her back gently and placed one of his ears on her chest.
His smile grew bigger.
"What do you think you're doing?" Umaymah asked for the second time as she pushed her husband away from her.
"I make you feel things, you just don't want to admit it." he stared deep into her eyes with the smile still adorning his face. "Still the same ummi from back then huh." he added with his hand still around her waist.
A strong smell interuptted Umaymah's thought.
It smelt like something was burning slowly.
"Oh no! SubhanAllah!" she got out of Salman's hold and turned to the pot of biryani that was still over the fire.
It had began to burn, but luckily, it hadn't gotten burnt really bad.
She shot Salman a death glare but he just threw his hands up in the air as if surrendering before finding his way out of the kitchen.
---
The door bell rang and Umaymah immediately jerked up to answer it.
She had been anticipating and patiently waiting for her husband's family to arrive so he could stop frustrating her life.
"Assalamualaikum Aunty." Umaymah helped her mother in-law with the paper bags that were in her hands.
"Walaikumu salam Habibiti," Zeinab's face lit as she placed her palms on her daughter inlaw's face. "You look so pretty, MashaAllah."
Umaymah replied with a smile and led Zeinab into the living room.
"She always does." Smiled Amina, Salman's younger sister.
Amina was one cute looking angel as they would say.
Her chubby cheeks made her even look cuter while smiling.
Umaymah was in a very serious relationship with kids and Amina's case was no exception.
"Awwn, Thank You cute little princess." Umaymah cooed as she pulled Amina's cheek softly.
"We could have our very own if you want."Salman who had miraculously been standing by her side for a couple of seconds whispered in her ears after his low greetings to his mother.
Umaymah shot him a warning glare.
'Couldn't he at least behave well in front of his mother? '
Umaymah hissed internally.
"Akhi!" Amina ran towards her older brother and threw herself at him.
Because of how little she was, her tiny arms could only be wrapped around his legs.
Salman pulled her up and placed her on his neck with her giggling filling the room.
"How about Dad and Samirah?" Salman inquired as he held Amina's hand out wide spread.
Flinging off her veil, Zeinab replied.
"Your dad had last minute urgent work as usual," she paused. "As for Samirah, she said she was going to come later."
Umaymah entered the kitchen and came out with a tray which contained a jug of water, two cups for both Zeinab and Amina and a small bowl of fruit salad.
After a couple of how things were going conversation, a light knock was placed on the front door.
"That must be Samirah, she never rings the bell even though there's one." Zeinab face palmed herself making both Her son and daughter-in-law laugh.
Salman rose up to answer the door.
" Salman Tariq? " The mailman who held a medium sized box asked.
Salman's eyes travelled to the box then back to the mailman before replying with a "Yes."
"Okay," The man adjusted the box under his arm. "I need you to sign here."he held out a clipboard and pen towards Salman.
Salman collected the clipboard and scribbled his signature on it before returning it back to the man.
"Here you go." The mailman handed Salman the box.
"Do have a nice day." He added.
Salman just gave a nod before returning to the living room after locking the door.
He shook the box lightly with his ears close to the box.
"Was it her?" Zeinab looked over Salman to check if her daughter had arrived.
"Nope."
Everyone's eyes travelled to the box.
"It was a package for me," He answered even though no one asked." I'll keep it upstairs and return back."he ascended the staircase.
Once he was in his room, he placed the box on his bed before using a paper scissors to remove the cello tape that kept the box enclosed.
A pretty white dress was revealed as he opened the box.
He creased his brows before picking up the little note inside.
I won't be able to make it today, because I have to teach Yusuf a lesson! He kept me waiting for an hour after saying he was five minutes away! There's no need coming if I don't teach him how to act next time.
Don't you dare tell mama anything!
And the dress is for my pretty sister-in-law.
It's not yours! Yeah I had to point that out cause you might have thought it was yours or something.
I repeat, don't tell mama anything!
Be a good lil bro to avoid any difficulties, okay? :)
See you when I see you.
Your brave sister.
Salman shook his head as tiny giggles escaped from his throat.
As he read the part where she had told him to be a good little brother, he imagined the wicked smile that was plastered on her face while writing it.
Before closing the lid back of the box, he admired the plain white dress one more time.
"How long does it take to drop a single cardboard box?" Umaymah's figure flung the door of Salman's room open with her arms over the swell of her breasts.
Salman immediately got on his feet using his body to block the box that sat on his bed.
Umaymah looked over his shoulder as she stood on her toes to view what was behind him.
"Are you okay?" She sighted the box and settled back down on her feet.
Salman scratched behind his head and walked to the door, where his wife stood.
"Do I look like I'm not okay?" He asked back.
Umaymah ignored and walked into the room.
She was curious about what was in the box since he brought it in from the front door.
Her hand touched the box's lid making an attempt to open it, but another hand stopped her hand from moving any further.
"The package was for me, isn't it rude that you want to open it?" His hand held her hand softly.
Umaymah instantly withdrew her hand to herself as a frown appeared on her face out of nowhere.
"Isn't it rude?" Salman repeated.
"You were acting weird when I came in, and I noticed you were kind of hiding the box, so I decided to check." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Why do you care so much?" Salman smirked.
Umaymah face palmed herself.
"Not now Salman, I'm really not in the mood to argue," Umaymah pointed out. "Plus your mum is here, at least be on your best behaviour."
Salman watched his dear wife closely as he crafted out something mischievous in his head.
"Yeah, I've studied that smirk already, I'm not giving you the chance to do anything stupid again." Umaymah narrowed her eyes at him as soon as her mind drifted to the biryani and him carrying her over his shoulder like some lifeless sack of rice incidents.
She swiftly turned her back at Salman and walked in a nonchalant manner to the room door when she tripped on the big carpet in the middle of the room.
It was as if time had switched to slow motion as she fell hitting the floor with a big thump.
A little wince escaped her lips as she rubbed her arm after sitting up.
"Mrs angry bir..." A laugh was released from Salman.
"Is everything fine up there?" Zeinab's voice echoed as she drew near the room.
"Everything is good mama." Umaymah's voice came after.
Salman who was still holding back a handful of laughter at the bottom of his throat stretched his hand out to Umaymah who was still on the floor.
She glanced at his face, then his hand and back to his face before getting back on her feet all by herself.
She smoothened her skirt and walked out the door with Salman trailing behind her after stuffing the box he had gotten into his wardrobe.
"Do you two sleep separately?" Zeinab's question came as she stared at the newlyweds that were now beside each other standing in front of her.
It sounded more like a threat than a question.
She had just exited the room which contained things that belonged to Umaymah.
A little silence followed.
"No."
"Yes."
A confused look formed on Zeinab's face.
"Which do I believe? Yes or No?" An even more confused look appeared on her elderly face.
"Mama, we..." Salman cut Umaymah off.
"What we mean by that is we both sleep in the same room but some of Umaymah's things are in that room because they couldn't all fit into our own room." Salman said instantly.
" Oh- Alhamdullilah! I thought you were both staying separately. I was about to dish out my scolding. "Zeinab laughed at her own joke.
The family returned downstairs and had dinner after observing their late evening prayers(Maghrib).
Zeinab praised and commended Umaymah for treating them with such mouth watering meals.
Once they had rested a little, Zeinab and Amina set off for home when their chauffeur showed up.
"What a day!" Umaymah sighed as she settled down on her bed with a smile on her face.