Match Made In Heaven

Assalamualaikum, everybody!!

So this is it I guess.  I'm not much of a writer cos I'm not really good with words.  So letting me write a story is like giving my barely-2 years old nephew a rifle.  To those who don't actually know what that means, it means that the story I write might not be that good.  But hey, it's worth a shot right?  Without further a due, here's the story.  Enjoy........... ;-)

~*~

He loosened his tie around his neck with one hand while the other was on the steering wheel.  He liked how he looks when he wears a tie but hates that choking feeling he has wearing it.  Since the road was a bit of a crawl, he decided to turn up the radio a bit so that the traffic won't bore him to death.

Probably some people gawking at an accident, he thought.  

Static was heard when he pressed the tune button on the radio.  Then he heard some techno song coming from it.  "Why in the friggin' world do they ever put this kind of music here?  It's all beeping but no singing," he muttered under his breathe.  He never liked techno.  Even during his high school days.  It's not that he hates it but it's just that to him, it's not music unless there are words in them.  He tuned and tuned and finally found his favourite station.

"Here at AR.fm, we got the traffic updates.  Good news and bad news of course.  Traffic on the PLUS Highway is looking clear and things are looking A-ok on the Johor causeway.  To those who are going back from work, I suggest you to NOT go on the Federal Highway as traffic is a bit heavy there.  A trailer tripped over but luckily, no casualties and only minor injuries.  Clean-up is on the works as we speak," the female voice on the radio said chirpily.  "Great.  Now she tells me," he said.  "That's all for the traffic updates for now.  For those who are ON the Federal Highway, there's a band that can keep you company with their no.1 hit.  Here's We The Kings with "Every Single Dollar" on AR.fm, your "home" for alternative rock."

Now this is more like it.  We The Kings has always been his favourite band.  Besides religion, his family and friends, music was also what helped him through his ups and downs during the college years.  And this song in particular is what helped him swoop his wife off her feet.

"With every single dollar,
I'll be sure to buy you flowers.
Cos money ain't no problem when love is free.
Oh, I'd trade in all my years,
To spend with you a single hour.
As long as you spend it with me."

After a day of stressful work, he really was looking forward to coming back home.  It's been 6 years already since he married the love of his life.  And the sight of his precious family is already enough to make him feel like the richest and luckiest guy in the world.  His lips broke into a smile at the thought of his 3 year-old daughter running across the living room to hug him when he comes home.

Today was a bit of an important thing cos he had to do a presentation on the acoustics for the new Istana Budaya.  Apparently something went wrong a few years back.  The ceiling was made of a material that seems to keep the bad vibrations in and the good vibrations out.  It's quite a wonder that no one noticed.  That was until Pinchas Zuckerman, world-renowned violinist, soloist and conductor, told the directors of Istana Budaya about it.  All in all, the presentation was good.

Alhamdulillah, he thought.

He just can't wait to return home.  Since it was a Thursday, he was fasting.  So was his wife.  He can't wait to taste the food his wife cooks.  Ayam masak merah.  His favourite..

~*~

Finally arriving, he parked his Chevy Camaro and took out the office stuff.  He walked to the front door of his house, smiling.  With only his family in his mind, he unlocked and opened the door.

"Assalamualaikum.  I'm back," he chimed in a playful tone.  "Papa!" was the only thing he could hear after locking the house door.  And just in time to catch his daughter when she jumped to him.  

"Papa!  Family picture!," her daughter said, handing him a crayon-drawing of their family.
"Wow!  It looks great, dear!"  He meant it too.  It's amazing that at her age, she has hands and ideas like a female Picasso.  And English better than him when he was her age.

He carried her across the living room towards the kitchen.  Right in the middle of the living room, his 6 year-old son was sitting on the sofa, controller in hand and eyes on the T.V.  The sofa was quite far from the 40" LED T.V but his eyes was mere meters away. 

"Hey there, kiddo!  I think you better back it up a bit or you might be eating carrots for the rest of your life," he joshed around, ruffling his son's hair.
"Ok, Papa," his son said, chuckling.

He walked to the kitchen and smelled something that made his heart pumped more blood than physically possible.  After that, his heart stopped immediately at the sight of the gift that Allah S.W.T gave him.

Right there in the middle of the kitchen, setting the table was his wife.  Elegant, beautiful and breath-taking as ever.  It was near maghrib and suppose to be dark but it was like the whole kitchen and house was lit with a million lights.  She was radiant and dazzling, just like the first time they met.  Since he had a meeting and was coming home late, she went back early with her friend who dropped her at the house.  Lucky for her, the friend was also coming home early to cook dinner for HER husband.  

Silently, he placed his daughter on the floor and whispered, "Go play with your brother, ok?"  She nodded.  He walked towards his wife from behind and said slowly at her ear with a smile, "Assalamualaikum, lovely."  She turned slowly at the sound of the velvet voice.

"Waalaikumussalam, dear," was the response as she held out her hand to salam her husband.  He kissed her forehead lovingly and turned to the dining table.
"You really outdone yourself this time, sayang.  Pot of rice, fresh dates, tea, bandung cincau, ikan masin.  Tapi you tak rasa like there's something missing ke?"
"If you mean that, then no, I don't think anything's missing," she said pointing at his favourite home-cooked food.

He looked at the red-sauced fried chicken like it was the mother-load of food.  He smiled from ear to ear.  Literally..

"You know me too well la tau tak?" he said, playfully tapping her nose.
"I married you, kan?  My business la to know you and of course ONLY you," she responded, smiling that smile that her husband's knees weak.

They looked at their kids in the living room.  Their son was teaching her sister how to play a game on the gaming console he bought for him.  Back then it was just PS and Xbox.  Now, the brands and companies are harder to pronounce.  They just looked at their kids laughing.  It's like having re-runs of your favourite happy ending of a movie; always making you smile.  A gift from Allah S.W.T and result of their marriage.  A blessing like no other.  


~*~

He checked his Rolex and right on cue, Azan was being sounded.

"Abang, tutup the game and bring your sister here and makan.  Wash your hands," her voice trailed to the living room.  She washed her hands and her husband did the same.  Everybody was at the table and the head of the household recited the prayer to break his and her wife's fast and to eat.  "You never seem to amaze me, you know?  Manis air tgn wife I ni," he sounded, winking at his wife.  If you could put a ripe tomato at her cheeks, they were exactly the same colour.

Soon after that, they did the maghrib prayers together in the master bedroom.  To him and his wife, there's nothing more important than teaching your children the basics of Islam.  You gotta start somewhere right?  Yes, he realized that even though he was a little over 30, he knew that this life was short.  The Almighty can take everything from him and his family.  The roof on their heads, food on their plates and to him, the love of his life.  Those who repent are good.  Those who repent at an early age are even better.


~*~


Even though it was Thursday night and the next day was a school day and work day, it was always movie night.  "Which one yang kita nak tengok: Animated or action?" he asked his kids.  "Action!" said the son.  "Animated!"  said the daughter.  They glared at each other like they were sworn enemies.  He could just smile and look at his wife who was giggling.  "Hmmm..Susah ni.  How about we make it an "ANIMACTION" story?," he said, putting intrigue into his kids' heads.  "Yeah!" his kids cheered.

They watched an old movie.  "Toy Story".  It wasn't really an action movie but hey, it's pretty close.  After the movie, they went to the master bedroom again for the Isya' prayers.  "Adik..Abang..It's 11 already.  You better go to bed.  Especially you, abang.  Nanti you'll be late for school," she said leaving their rooms.  "Brush your teeth, you guys!"
"Ok, Mama!" they said in unison.

~*~


When she walked to the living room, he caught his husband smiling to himself.  I wonder what he's grinning about, she thought.  She walked and wrapped her arms around her husband from behind.  He placed his hands on hers, smiling even wider.  "What are you smiling about ni?" she asked, nuzzling his shoulder blade.  "Nothing la.  I'm just lucky.  That's all," he said, fiddling with her fingers.

"Mmm..you're not the only one, sayang," she said.

Besides the sound of the aquarium filter and the fan, there was nothing but silence as they enjoyed each others company.  The night was perfect.  Quiet and mildly-dark thanks to the dimmed lights.  He turned and held her hands, soft and silky as ever.  The gazed into each others eyes.  He only saw his hopes and dreams swirled in those hazel eyes.  Most of which had already came true but one was in the making.  To grow old together.  Their hearts were beating as one........


~*~

I praise Allah for sending me you, my love
You found me home and sail with me
 And I'm here with you
Now let me let you know
You've opened my heart
I was always thinking that love was wrong
But everything was changed when you came along
Ohhhh..And there's a couple of words I wanna say

For the rest of my life
I'll be with you
I'll stand by your side
Honest and true
Till the end of my time
I'll be loving you, loving you
For the rest of my life
Through days and nights
I thank Allah
For open my eyes
Now and forever, I
I'll be there for you
I know it deep in my heart

Now that you're here
In front of me, I strongly feel love
And I have no doubt
And I'm singing loud
That I will love you eternally

For the rest of my life
I'll be with you
I'll stand by your side
Honest and true
Till the end of my time
I'll be loving you, loving you
For the rest of my life
Through days and nights
I thank Allah
For open my eyes
Now and forever, I
I'll be there for you
I know it deep in my heart

~*~

They looked at each other still.  A tear escaped down her cheek.  He put his hands on her cheeks and wiped the tear with his thumb.  She smiled and it was replied with a smile from him.  He kissed her forehead and gazed into the swirling vortex of love in her eyes.  He wrapped an arm around her waist and gently pulled her head to his chest.  She was listening to his heartbeat.  No words were needed at this point.  It said it all..

I love you, sayang.  Forever and always....

~*~

That's it.  I'm sorry if it's too boring.  Like I said, I'm not good with words.  Hehe.  Hope you guys like it.  Comments and reviews are totally welcomed.

See you guys on the flip side!! 

P/S:  Thanx to those who helped me directly OR indirectly.  You know who you are ;-)