- Noor's POV -

A text... He broke up with me through text on our nikkah day?

This has to one of the highest levels of bad luck out of all the bad lucks someone can experience.

Omar could've done this weeks ago. He could've told me the day we met, he could've told me the day before I started handing out the invites. Hell, he could've told me yesterday!

I can't believe this is happening. I can't believe my parents have to go through this. I'm a woman, and in this society, no one will mock Omar. They'll mock my parents and I. Why? Just like I said, because I'm a woman.

My parents have to live this down. Omar gets to get away without a single scratch on his name because he's a man. People will forget what he did to me but they'll always remember what happened to me.

I don't care about that. I don't care what people think about me. But what about my parents? What about the years my parents used to build up respect in this community? Omar didn't think about that?

It was so easily avoidable. It was so damn easily avoidable. All the embarrassment and hurt was easily avoidable.

My eyes flutter a few times before finally opening to focus on my surroundings.

I remember my legs giving out and I'm sure I fell?

Once my eyes open, I realize someone's holding me, lightly trying to shake me awake.

"Noor! Noor, can you hear me?" It's Yasir.

I stare at Yasir and there's a sincere flicker of concern for me. Instantly, tears down streaming down my face but I refuse to start sobbing.

I cover my face with my hands and Yasir slowly lets go of me and takes a few steps back.

"You're okay, Noor. You're okay." Farrah holds me.

I'm going to take a quick guess that everyone has seen the text because I see the anger in my father's expression and the sadness in my mother's eyes.

There's a quiet argument taking place further away from me.

"Your daughter must've said something! Our Omar wouldn't just not show up!" I hear Omar's mother yelling.

"Our daughter? What would she say? She's the one who's been embarrassed and hurt!" Abbu yells back.

My head is throbbing from all the noise.

"Maybe this is a plot to get out of the wedding that your daughter didn't want to have in the first place." Some random uncle chirps in.

"She's always been too high spirited. Things were bound to go wrong." An auntie says. She only ever sees me twice or thrice a year.

"Your daughter's luck hasn't always been amazing... and now this. Lord knows if you'll find her a good husband with the amount of rejected ones."  The same random uncle says.

Who even is this man and what right does he have to speak to my father like that?

"Your daughter this, your daughter that. Why not blame the son?" Yasir's voice is loud and clear.

Suddenly, everyone goes quiet.

"Excuse me? And who are you?" Omar's father asks.

"It doesn't matter who I am. Your son didn't show up. He probably ran away with the woman he loves while Noor fulfilled her promise. Who's fault is that?" Yasir's words slip out with no hesitation. In fact, he actually looks bored with all of this.

"You don't understand, this girl is full of bad luck. No wonder Omar didn't want to marry her." The auntie says.

Yasir snorts. "So, you're still not going to blame Omar? Why? Because he's a man?"

I would give Yasir a big hug, if I could.

"Son, thank you for defending my daughter but there's no point of getting involved with the likes of these people." Abbu pats Yasir's back.

I see Yasir's parents proudly looking at him as if they've never been prouder.

"You seem to be going above and beyond to defend her without knowing her. Why don't you just marry her? Save her and her family the shame?" Omar's mother says in the most irritatingly, mocking way.

Yasir goes rigid and his eyes are on me. There's a calculating look in his eyes, I've seen this look during meetings, during talks of new projects, while creating new contracts... He's thinking, he's considering this...

No way! I'm imagining things.

But I'm staring back at him, only thankful to him for defending my family.

He looks back at Omar's mother, who made the comment and rolls his eyes.

Suddenly, he walks out of the house.

He could've just stayed! My God, he didn't have to walk out after that one specific question. I wouldn't make that bad of a wife.

But of course, I wasn't expecting him to marry me or anything. That's just absurd.

He could've handled it better without walking out though. He could've said she's not for me but someone will marry her someday.

However, I can't expect everything to go perfectly. I'm extremely grateful that he even bothered to defend me and point out exactly what I was thinking: that Omar is at fault and not me.

"See? If she was so amazing as you tell everyone, then I'm sure that young man would've said yes." The random uncle pipes in.

I'm about to punch these people in the face. The only thing holding me down is my parents and their already dwindling respect.

"Why would he?" I realize that those words just came from my voice. "Why would he marry me when that was Omar's responsibility?"

"What did you do to make Omar run away with someone else?" Omar's mother attacks me with her words.

I let out a short, sad laugh. "All you do is blame the woman in the situation. Even if I did something, he should've called off the wedding. That was on him. All of you need to get that light bulb in your heads fixed so you can finally see what's really happening in your surroundings."

"You'll bring nothing but shame to your family. How embarrassing and disrespectful. Talking to your elders like this. You'll never find a good husband." The uncle says.

How hypocritical! They were just mouthing off my family and I and no they're saying I'm embarrassing and disrespectful?

"The imam will be here in 20 minutes." Yasir announces as he enters.

I stare at him, confused.

"If Noor agrees to marry me, he'll be here in 20 minutes." He leans against the wall.

All eyes are on me and I don't even understand what he just said.

"What?" My jaw drops. "If I what?"

"If you agree to marry me, I'll call the imam back to make preparations and he'll be here in 20 minutes or so." He says causally.

"Why would you want to marry her?" that one auntie who's rarely seen me says. "You've seen her luck."

"I want to marry her because I think she'll make the perfect wife. If Omar didn't see it, I do." Yasir says.

Why is my heart fluttering? What do I do to make it stop? What is he up to?

"Sir, can I speak with you for a minute?" I could barely form words. I don't understand what's going on or what his plan is behind all of this.

He shrugs his shoulders and follows me. I pick up the heavy skirt of my dress and take him to the furthest point of the house, away from prying eyes and ears.

"What were you thinking? I won't accept any kind of pity from you!" I scold him and instantly feel bad. "I appreicate the fact that you defended my family and I... but this... I don't understand."

"So, you can pity my situation with Nadira but I can't pity you?" He raises a brow. "Besides, its not pity."

"Then, what is it? You're saying you want to spend the rest of your life with me just because? Are you finally going to confess your undying love for me?" I couldn't help but smirk.

I always make stupid jokes during the most inappropriate times. I can't help myself.

He rolls his eyes. "Let's be real here, these intrusive uncles and aunties are going to spread the most rumours about your family starting this very moment. Your family's reputation will be dragged across the mud for God knows how long, unless..."

I see where he's going with this.

"Unless I sign those nikkah papers with you right now." I think about it. He's not wrong. No matter how much I want him to be wrong, that's how our toxic society is. "What's in it for you?"

"My father is looking for a suitable bride for me to marry very soon. I refuse to marry someone my mother and he would choose." He explains.

"So, I'm just an object in your plan that you would use to rebel against your family?" I ask.

"Not quite. They'll be happy with almost anyone I choose. I'd rather it be you." Yasir says, nonchalantly.

My eyes widen. "Why?"

"Why do you ask so many questions?" He groans, annoyed with my curiosity.

"Because my life is on the line. The rest of my life. It's not to be taken lightly." I state the obvious.

He sighs. "Because we already know each other and are comfortable enough tie the knot."

Comfortable enough to tie the knot? Is he crazy?

"What about Nadira?" I ask, knowing the answer.

"What about her?" He asks back.

He'll avoid the question, I know it.

"You'll keep seeing her?"

He goes silence.

His silence did enough talking but his offer is hard to refuse. I hate society.

"Your mother isn't very pleased with her, you know?" I say, thinking about what she was saying to be just an hour ago.

"I know." He shoves his hands in the pockets.

"You should probably realize that Nadira isn't the one." The words suddenly come out of my mouth.

"You're always sticking your nose into situation with Nadira! Why can't you just leave that out?" He knits his brows together in annoyance.

"Because I care!" I accidentally blurt out. "And I care because I watch you everyday, slowly crumbling away for someone who's—who's not giving you attention in a way someone in love would want."

"Oh? You care for me, all of a sudden?" He inches closer to me. "If you care so much, why don't you just fucking marry me? You can care for me for the rest of your life."

"That's what I'm afraid of. I'm afraid that if I sign those papers, I'll have to care you for the rest of my life without getting anything back." I whisper.

"Whatever. Do whatever you want. I'll be waiting in that room for your answer." And just like that, he leaves me.

Without any comforting or encouraging words.

Without any other reasons why I should accept his hand in marriage.

This day couldn't get any messier.

- - -

- A/N -

• Ramadan Mubarak! ❤️ Ramadan doesn't start here until tomorrow [Saturday] but I know some people already started!

• That was a rollercoaster ride! 😳😰

• The whole talk about society blaming the woman for everything, I based off of real life. That's just how life works sometimes. Especially in Asian or Middle Eastern cultures (from what I know from experience). I've literally seen/heard conversations like the one I wrote above in real life, it's absolutely horrifying.

Next Update: Every Friday and Saturday, Insha'Allah!

Please vote and comment and let me know how y'all feel!!