- Noor's POV -

After thinking, long and hard... and by that I mean thinking for about five minutes, I've decided on an answer.

I spoke with my parents, my sister, and Farrah. All of them had one answer: whatever I chose, they'd be 110% content with.

I want them to tell me what to do because I'm scared and confused. I just had my fiancé break up with me over a text and now my boss wants to marry me in 20 minutes.

I've decided on an answer but is it the right one? I guess I'll find out after I live with the decision for the rest of my life.

I walk back in to see Omar's parents have left.

No doubt, this must've been extremely embarrassing on their part even though they tried to blame me.

I breathe in a big whiff of air.

My eyes linger on my parents for bit and they're looking at me with obvious pity. But they're also hoping I make a good decision.

I slowly pan over to Yasir's parents, who, shockingly, look hopeful, as if they'll be over the moon if I say yes. I must be the saviour they've been looking for their son. But right now, I feel like I'm the one who needs a saviour.

Was my saviour supposed to be Yasir?

Then, finally, my eyes rest on the man himself, Yasir Khan.

The rest of my life... I think.

He's looking back at me with a softer look in his eyes. Even he understands that this is an important decision. A decision he had easily made because he's the one who proposed the idea.

"What did you decide, Noor dear?" Yasir's mother asks softly.

"I..." my fingers start twisting the ends of my scarf. While staring at the floor, I give my answer. "I'll marry you."

I slide off the existing ring off of my finger, a weight leaving my shoulders.

There's silence. It's so silent that I can hear my own heartbeat and I swear everyone else can too.

Suddenly, I see to feet appear right in front of me. I slowly look up to see Yasir standing way too close.

I would gasp but even I know it's too quiet for that.

I only stare at him with wide eyes.

"You'll marry who, Noor?" His voice has gotten deeper.

I look up at him in confusion. I just told him I'd marry him, was he offering someone else?

The space in between is almost magnetic. It feels like something is pushing us against each other and I'm trying my hardest to stay still.

His eyes search mine, waiting for me to answer.

Is this his way of confirming my answer?

"Look me in the eyes and tell me you want to do this. Tell me you want to marry me." His tone of voice is almost bewitching. 

I couldn't breathe. I could barely hold up and he wants me to look him in the eyes to answer him again.

"Look at me." He whispers loud enough for only myself to hear.

I do, I look up at him again. My heart rate is so fast that I thought I was about to pass out.

"I–I want to do this." My breathing is shaky. "I'll marry you... I'll marry you, si–Yasir."

Amma bursts into a sob and Yasir's mother quickly goes to give her a hug.

"Good choice." Yasir says.

Good choice? What was this? A business transaction?

Suddenly, a pair of arms hold onto me and it's Yasir's mother.

"I'm so sorry for today! This day couldn't have taken such a drastic turn but it may have been for the best. Welcome to the family, Noor." She says.

I stay silent and tears begin to fall down my cheeks again.

"Aw, Noor dear. You'll be okay. You'll be okay." She pats me as Amma stands right behind me with a hand on my shoulder.

After Yasir's mother finishes with the hug, my mom holds me.

"I'm so sorry, Noor. If we had known this is how it would turn out, we would've stopped it immediately." She's sobbing.

I quickly wipe my own tears. "Amma, stop crying. I'm still getting married. Just not to the man that it was planned to. This is Allah's plan. He has something... or someone better planned."

Do I believe this myself? I'm not sure. But does my mom need those comforting words? Yes.

Lateef approaches me and says the imam is 10 minutes away.

10 minutes away? That means Yasir called him even before I confirmed. He knew I'd say yes.

Isn't he just so caring, respectfully waiting for me to give him an answer before he takes the next step? I think sarcastically as I want to roll my eyes.

"You're really doing this, huh?" Lateef asks quietly.

I nod. "I am."

"Tell me the truth, are you doing this for yourself or your parents?"

I sigh. "My parents, of course. They've raised me with so much love and freedom, sacrificed so much for me. This is the least I can do."

"You can still back away from this. You don't have to do this. You don't have to spend the rest of your life with Yasir." He's making me double guess my answer.

"I already gave it a lot of thinking," or as much as I could in 10 minutes. "I know what I'm signing up for. I know he loves someone else, I know I'll probably never be able to replace Nadira but we can live harmoniously. I've spent time with Yasir and I know we can get along, even if it's just like friends."

"Noor, you're marrying him. Your relationship is supposed to be more than friends. There has to be love and affection. What if he won't give it to you?" He's bringing you exceptionally good points.

I give him a sad smile. "Then there's no one else to blame but me. Again, I'm marrying him knowing everything. It's true, I might be completely unprepared but I'd rather fake my happiness to my parents than have them go through any further embarrassment."

Lateef silently mumbles. "I really wish you and Yasir the best. From the deepest part of my heart, I hope you two will find nothing more than love for each other."

"Insha'Allah and Ameen!" I smile. "Thank you."

Obviously, this is absolutely crazy for any normal person to think about. Which sane person would get themselves into marriage knowing their partner loves someone else and will probably never be able to make space for you in their heart? Only an idiot would enter into this matrimony. I'm that idiot. The biggest clown of them all.

But I don't care. The smile on my parents' face will alway surpass the hardships. They look so happy talking to Yasir's family, they look so proud.

The auntie and uncle who were making snarky comments about me look absolutely miserable. I love that.

My sister, Ayesha, helped me take a seat on the couch.

"You didn't let me down when I told you to marry rich." She winks.

"Ayesha, oh my God." I try to shush her.

Yasir's mother guides him to sit beside me.

"Mash'Allah!" She says as she steps back to look us. "A match made in heaven."

I was about to laugh but I held myself back. That would be really rude.

"What was Lateef talking about to you?" Yasir asks.

"He was trying to convince me not to marry you." I answer truthfully.

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Because I'll be ruining my life if I do this. He was pretty convincing."

"Oh, come on. I'm not that bad." He rolls his eyes but doesn't deny anything. He knows Lateef doesn't deceive anyone.

"That's... that's not the problem." I sigh. "It's–never mind."

"No, tell me. What's the problem?" He sounds like he genuinely wants to know.

"We'll never be a husband and wife, will we? Like real husband and wife? Because you'll always love someone else no matter how hard I try." My voice slightly cracks.

Yasir is silent for a few moments. "Maybe there's a chance."

His voice was too low and honestly, I can tell he didn't believe the sentence himself.

It's fine. I'll be fine, Insha'Allah.

Another 10 minutes later, the Imam finally arrives with our nikkah papers.

My father and Yasir's father had gone over the nikkah papers over the phone with the Imam beforehand. Everything is set in stone.

All I have to do now is say 'I do' and sign the papers.

Suddenly, my heart starts racing and I couldn't breathe yet again. I hate when my nervousness takes over. It almost feels like I'll die.

"Are you ready?" Ayesha squeezes my hand in assurance.

"No." I whisper. "But do I have a choice? It's now or never."

The Imam starts with a prayer and begins asking Yasir if he's accepted this marriage. Yasir doesn't look at me while saying his vows.

He says 'I do' three times and the Imam moves on to me.

"Do you, Noor Malik, offer yourself in marriage in accordance with the instructions of the Holy Qur'an and the Holy Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him?" The Imam asks.

My hands are formed into tight fists and I can feel the sweat droplets on my forehead.

My mind is screaming, 'No! Stop it right now! You can still stop it! Don't you want to be loved? And appreciated, like Lateef said? You deserve better!'

I look up at my parents, who are in tears from happiness. And I look up at Yasir's parents, who are looking at the two of us with such adornment.

I know I've been quiet enough for Yasir to tilt his head up to stare at me. His gaze is drilling a hole in the side of my head because of the intensity.

"I do." I repeat three times.

My heart won the debate. My heart always wins the debate no matter how logical my mind is.

And for some reason, for some odd reason, I feel this deep pull that my heart will make decisions that will eventually break me.

- - -

- A/N -

• Welll... There's that! Good luck to her. 💀

• Okay, but who can't wait to see Nadira's reaction to this? 😏

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

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