Disaster's Aid

The white plump clouds are soaring overhead. The green grass is spread out like a carpet. The man in my life is trying to understand what I put in his lasagna.

Pfft. Like I'm going to tell him I used baby spinach.

"I told you I'm not fat, I just don't work out here. In Pakistan I play sports every day. Tell me what this green ingredient is." Tariq says looking at the layer of green between the noodles.

"Just try it." I say.

"Is it tofu with celery in it?"

"That's not random at all." I say giggling. He grins at me.

"Please eat it. I want to know if you like it." Tariq glances at me and puts his plate down. "I made it especially for you."

He picks up the container with the lasagna in it and digs his fork in and continues to eat for a full ten minutes. Finishing it off.

I stare.

He lies down and turns his head towards me.

"Delicious. Compliments to the chef." He grins at my shocked face and reaches over to close my jaw. "The best thing someone ever made especially for me."

And then he pinches my cheek.

My face is burning up. I eat my lasagna and lie down near Tariq to stare up at the clouds.

"See that over there?" I glance to where Tariq points.

"It looks like a camel doesn't it?" He breathes pulling his arms under his head.

"And look that on top looks like a rider flying off." I say and look over to catch his grin.

"And those clouds over there look like the Olympics symbol."

"Sort of, it looks more like a lazy cat. Or a Tariq." I say nudging his stomach. I'm met with muscles.

"I could take you in a game of soccer right now Sara." He says and mock crunches his eye brows at me.

"Oh yeah? Bring it on." I jump up and pull a soccer ball from the picnic basket.

Tariq rolls over and starts doing push ups with ease.

I could start doing sit ups...but that would look extremely lame compared to him.

He pulls one hand behind his back and does one handed push ups.

Uhh...maybe cloud watching was a better idea.

Tariq stands up and stretches. He rolls his neck. He punches the air.

"C'mon Mohammad Ali, let's play soccer. Try not to K.O. the ball into the water."

Tariq chuckles.

"I won't make any promises right now. You've implied that I'm fat."

"I didn't really say that, you know." I grin back at him.

I throw the ball down and start to kick it away.

"Bismillah." I whisper. (I begin with the name of Allah).

Tariq chases after me taking the ball with ease.

A few minutes of Tariq playing by himself he kicks the ball to me and we just pass it back and forth.

We slowly walk back to our picnic blanket and plop down to lean on each other. We lounge and stare at the empty park.

"You're going to have to teach me how to kick if you want to avoid embarrassing yourself." I say

"Yes, I wouldn't want my wife playing amateur soccer and dishonoring me. But you know Sara, if I train you then it won't be as fun to watch me win. You'll become competitive like me."

"Don't worry, I'll teach you how to be happy when I win."

"You don't need to teach me." Tariq says and takes my hand in his warm one. "I'll always be on your team."

He kisses the back of my hand and a soft smile touches my face.

We stare out into the blue expanse of sky.

"It's baby spinach."

"Baby what?"

"I added spinach into the lasagna."

Tariq stretches his legs out in front of him and I follow suit. He is way taller than me.

"I love spinach and everything you make me." Tariq says turning to me.

Is he saying he loves me, is he telling me that? I want to reply to him. I want him to know.

"I love you too." I breathe. My heart racing more than when I ran from him.

Tariq grins.

"I love you more than spinach."

I giggle and push his straight hair off his forehead and he hugs me lightly.