The Gentle Touch!

        

        In the afternoon, the main door creaked open, and I reached to open the entrance door, my heart racing with anticipation. As I pulled it open, I saw him standing there, a warm smile spreading across his face. He entered, and his warm, strong hand reached to held mine.

"Where have you been? I've been waiting for you," I said, while placing both of my hands in his hand, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.

"Waiting? You could've texted me, I would've run back to you," he said with a smile, his lips brushing against my forehead as he kissed me, sending a gentle tingling sensation through my skin.

"I know... Actually, I have some abdominal pain. I don't know what the reason might be... maybe I've displaced my navel," I said.

"How? Did you carry something heavy?" he asked, his eyes searching mine with concern, his brow furrowed in worry.

"No, I haven't done anything," I replied, shaking my head, feeling a slight ache in my stomach.

"Let's go to a physiotherapist then," he suggested, his voice firm but gentle.

"No, I want to see my gynae," I replied firmly, trying to assert myself.

"As you say," he said, nodding, his hand gently moving a strand of hair off my face, sending a gentle caress down my cheek.

"Atif could've driven me but I wasn't comfortable to go to gynae with him. I wanted to go there with you", I added while looking up at him.

"Of course... I'll take you. Atif is here for the house. But for you, I'm always here", he replied while moving the hair strand off my face.

        At the clinic, the doctor's words, the only voice in the sterile, antiseptic-scented room: "She had her navel displaced, but I've treated her."

"But she hadn't done anything, then... " he said, his voice filled with concern.

"Actually, she has weak abdominal muscles, which is why she has to go through this frequently," the doctor explained, her voice calm and professional.

"Frequently?" he asked, his eyes locking onto mine, and I felt a pang of guilt for not telling him sooner.

"I came here last month too, for the same reason," I replied, trying to avoid his gaze.

He understood and turned his attention to the doctor. "So, how can we prevent it? What are the precautions? What do you suggest?" he asked, his voice filled with concern, his jaw clenched in determination.

"Nothing much! Just a regular abdominal massage with some warm oil, and I'll prescribe some supplements to help her strengthen her abdominal muscles. Plus, stress makes things worse. So, make her stay away from stress," she suggested, handing him a prescription.

"Okay, thankyou so much!", he said while getting up. 

"Are you okay? Is there any pain?", he asked while he moved forward his hand, and I placed my hand in his.

"I'm fine.." I said while nodding and we walked out of the clinic.

        As we walked out of the clinic, the warm sunlight enveloped us, his fingers intertwining with mine, sending a sense of comfort and security through me.

"Why didn't you tell me about it before back then?", he asked, as he opened the car door for me.

"I thought it was just for once. I didn't know that it'll happen again...but here we are...", I replied while sitting in the car.

"What happened when you visited here last month?", he asked further as he started driving.

"I just had some abdominal pain so I visited here with sunny. Then, she treated me same as now. But she didn't tell that I've to go through this again", I replied. 

"You won't have to go through this again. We'll prevent it", he assured while kissing my hand.

        At night, he entered the room with a jar of coconut oil and a fondue cup, the scent of coconut filling the air.

"Aiiii, Mustafa," I said with annoyance, trying to roll away from him, feeling a bit self-conscious.

"Can't we do it from tomorrow?" I asked, my voice muffled by the pillow.

"But you need it," he replied, lighting the candle and putting a scoop of coconut oil in the cup to warm up, the soft glow of the flame dancing across the walls.

The soft glow of the candle illuminated his face as he started unbuttoning my shirt, his fingers brushing against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

"Is the temperature of my hand right?", he asked while moving the back of his fingers on my abdomen from right beside my stomach to my navel.

I nodded and he took the oil from the cup in his hand to check the temperature and then dropped some drops on my abdomen and massaged it in with a light pressure.

As he massaged my abdomen, the warmth of his hands and the coconut oil seeped into my skin, relaxing me, making me feel like I was melting into the bed.

After a while, he grabbed the curve of my waist, brushed a kiss on my forehead, and I felt a sense of safety and comfort, feeling like I was wrapped in a warm hug.

I briefly opened my eyes to look at him, and then closed them again, drifting off to sleep, feeling his gentle touch as he buttoned up my shirt.

He laid beside me, pulling me into his arms, and I snuggled into his chest, feeling the beat of his heart against my cheek, the scent of coconut oil and his aftershave filling my senses.

The warmth of his body, the sound of his heartbeat, and the scent of coconut oil on my skin lulled me into a deep sleep, surrounded by his love and care, feeling safe and protected.