4. Cramps

Halima saunters into the walk-in closet and locks herself in it. She picks her phone from a table and makes a call. Minutes later she receives a message saying it's in front of your suite. She smiles mischievously and quietly strolls out making sure not to wake Sa'eed up. 

Walking out she sees a white box. She picks it up and enters the other room in the suite. After dressing in the contents of the box she wears a big black hijab and enters the other room where Sa'eed is asleep. She removes the hijab and enters the bathroom. She wets her two hands with cold water and sashays out again. 

She grins mischievously then places her now cold hands on Sa'eed's face. Sa'eed flinchs and the first thing he notices is her outfit. She's wearing a milk colored lingerie. She's dressed in his favorite color. Seeing that Sa'eed is checking Halima out, she blushes. He drags her to his lap and as they look into each other's eyes, they both know exactly what they want. 

They go ahead to do what they should have done on their wedding night; consummate their marriage. They didn't consummate their marriage on their wedding night because Sa'eed wanted to give Halima space and make sure she's ready. But now, they both are sure as hell that they are ready. 

************

Halima wakes up beside her husband and blushes remembering how they had shamelessly hovered over each other a few hours ago. But it isn't shamelessness, after all they are married. 

She enters the bathroom and performs ghusl and ablution then prays Zuhr since it's already after two. She wakes Sa'eed up after she's done praying and he does the same. After that Sa'eed orders for food and they silently eat. As both are busy relishing their food in comfortable silence Sa'eed's phone rings. He picks it up and excuses himself to answer the call. 

After finishing her food alone Halima calls someone to come and take the dishes. Seeing that Sa'eed is not coming back anytime soon she decides to go and tour the hotel. 

She picks up a grey viel to add to her grey and soldier green A-shaped gown which she had worn before praying. Going out, she reaches the reception and meets Violetta there. Violetta hasn't even acknowledged her presence as she's busy ogling at someone. Halima traces her eyes and sees that she's looking at Sa'eed. She immediately gets angry seeing that Violetta is still ogling at her husband. 

"hey Violetta. I see you still have your eyes intact." Halima says and Violetta immediately stiffens before forcing a fake smile on her face. 

"good afternoon ma'am. How may I be of help to you?" Violetta says getting all formal all of a sudden. Halima scoffs. 

"you can help me by simply taking your eyes off my husband or i won't hesitate to use my cooking skills to whip out the best Violetta left eye soup, with Violetta right eye barbecue. " 

Violetta immediately touches her eyes making Halima laugh out loud attracting Sa'eed's attention. Sa'eed immediately comes there and plants a lingering kiss on Halima's forehead. Halima smirks at Violetta who's trying so hard not to look at a smoking hot Sa'eed in a white shirt and black faded jeans. He doesn't have abs or pacs, but he sure as hell has some hot muscles. 

"I'm organizing a birthday party for Aleesha." Halima immediately stiffens hearing Aleesha' s name. What's her problem with her husband? And why is Sa'eed hell bent on grabbing any opportunity to be with Aleesha? 

"it's been long since I saw her so i decided to throw the party for her. It's not a surprise though. Please you need to be there. I've invited some of our classmates that happen to be here. The color of the day is black and silver. " Halima just nods not trusting her voice as she knows she can blurt out something stupid. 

He plants another kiss but this time on her lips and he leaves. Seeing that her mood has been spoilt she decides to go back to the suite and stay there. Sa'eed never organized a party for her since eight years ago when he confessed his feelings for her. 

And now all of a sudden he just met Aleesha and he's already organizing a party for her. What is he trying to imply? Halima was hoping that she would tour around Santorini with her husband but now none of that is even happening. 

She decides to call Fatima, her best friend, sister inlaw and cousin. 

"Hello", Fatima's voice booms from the other side of the line. 

"Ameen Wa alaikis salam", Halima sarcastically replies. 

"dan Allah {for Allah's sake} Halima not today. Ya kike? {how are you?}." 

"I'm fine, and I'm not fine" 

"why? What happened? And where's Ya Sa'eed?" 

"calm your horses girl. He's busy organizing some party for that Aleesha girl." Halima scoffs as she says Aleesha. That Aleesha is sure a pain in the arse. 

"wait, you guys are in Santorini right? Then how is Aleesha there? I thought she's in the states?" Halima sighs as Fatima bombards her with questions. 

"Teemah wallahi i also don't know. But she's here on some business whatever and your brother is busy ignoring me for her. I want to come back to Nigeria nikam." Halima replies massaging her temples. All this Aleesha talk is giving her a headache. 

"I'm pretty sure he missed her that's all. Just go with the flow okay? But if it's the Aleesha i know she might be a little problem because of... Never mind" 

"because of what?" 

"Lalalala. I'm not telling you anything. Ask Ya Sa'eed and he'll tell you. Bakina a lekum. {my mouth is sealed}." 

"ayyaa bestie just tell me mana." Halima whines and Fatima chuckles. 

"wallahi {i swear by Allah} I'm not telling you anything. Ai he's your husband you can go and ask him." 

"wallahi Teemah you're a party pooper" Halima whines again making Fatima laugh.

"meye kuma party pooper ni Fatima? {what's party pooper?}." 

"get outta my phone jhor." and Halima cuts the call. What did Fatima want to tell her? She shrugs it off and a sharp pain travels down her lower abdomen making her wince. She feels her underwear getting wet. 

"oh my God Ya Allah please don't make it what I'm thinking." she prays silently as she walks to the bathroom. 

She almost shouts in frustration seeing blood on her underwear. It is meant to come on the twenty fourth and today is just twelfth. That's twelve freaking days early. She quickly calls Sa'eed but he doesn't pick. She calls again and he still doesn't pick. Seeing that he's too busy organizing the so-called party she uses the intercom to call room service. It happens to be a woman which she is thankful for. 

She begs the plump older woman who looks like she's in her late fourties to help her with a tampon or sanitary pad and the woman goes out. A few minutes later she comes back with a thick black nylon and she gives her. The older woman even offers to give a back massage which Halima is greatful for. 

Back massages always ease menstrual pain. After the back massage, Halima wears a red gown and sleep in the other room in the suite. Turning and twisting in pain because of the pain she's feeling in her lower abdomen. 

Menstrual pain is always the worst for her because it brings up a fever, diarrhea and some other sicknesses. She ends up weak and skinny. After some more twisting and turning she stands up to go get Sa'eed so that he can get some guava leaves and boil for her because that's what her mother always gives her to take morning, afternoon and night. 

She would've asked for fenugreek but it makes her nauseous. As she starts walking she feels dizzy and decides against going downstairs. She uses the intercom to request that it should be announced that Sa'eed should get to his room immediately.