- Noor's POV -

I tilt my hand to the left and right to see the stone sparkle against the sunlight. It shines as if there's some magical fairies living in it, making it glow in rainbow colours every time light hits it. It's so mesmerizing, I get distracted by it too often than I'd like to admit.

It also reminds me every day that I'm married... to Yasir Khan.

Crazy, huh?

The ring has started to feel lighter as days go by but there's still that weighty feel. As if the ring itself isn't ready to accept me yet or maybe I'm not ready to accept it yet.

Anyways, you're probably wondering about how I broke the news about Turkey to my parents? I didn't. I asked Yasir to.

It's the same as having a friend ask your parents if you can go out or do something just so the chances of them agreeing is higher.

But I keep forgetting I'm married to this man so my parents wouldn't need much convincing, but it's better to be safe.

They agreed almost instantaneously, actually. They thought it would be a great idea for Yasir and I get to know each other and see how we get along. They were even more excited that I finally get to travel and the leave the country. I've been wanting to go for years but we couldn't afford a good vacation forever.

All the money I saved up from work is going straight into a fund to send my family on vacation.

I got too excited and ended up doing some shopping for dresses to wear. I packed a cosmetic bag with all my makeup because I'm not about to look like a zombie in any of the photos. I also packed sneakers and cute, comfy sandals so there will be no complaining! I also packed a few of my fancier, chiffon hijabs along with my usual cotton hijabs, just in case I feel classy mid-trip.

For the flight outfit, I'm wearing high-waisted dark brown palazzo pants with a simple short sleeve white shirt tucked in. I covered up with an oversized brown cardigan.

My hijab colour? Black. I only wear colour when I'm feeling brave.

I chill in my living room, waiting for Yasir to pick me up.

"I cannot believe you're going to Turkey! How did that even happen? What did you threaten him with in the car that day?" Ayesha complains.

"I told him I'd snatch up Nadira's soul if he doesn't take me on this trip." I laugh.

"If you don't send us on vacation next, I'll actually consider cutting ties with you." She teases.

"That sounds more like a gift than a threat." I raise a brow and both of us burst into laughter.

Farrah couldn't come today to see me off because of work but I FaceTimed her. She's equally as envious as Ayesha but in an excited way. I promised them I'll bring back souvenirs and both of them instantly became excited.

I get a text from Yasir that he's outside and I jump up from excitement.

"He's here? Let me go greet him." Ayesha grabs her scarf and runs out before me to see him.

Once I roll out my luggage, I see Ayesha in front of the rolled down window, laughing about something with Yasir.

What is she up to?

I pick up my luggage and place it in the trunk of his white Rover, no thanks to Yasir.

"What are you two laughing about?" I ask as I make my way to the car door.

"You." She grins. "Have a fun trip!"

Amma and Abbu wave at me from the door and I wave back with a big smile on my face.

"What did that little Shaytaan (devil) tell you?" I ask Yasir as I shut the car door.

"She told me to be careful about your sleep habits." He smirks.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask defensively.

"Nothing." He smirks.

"Ugh, whatever." I roll my eyes. "Also, you creep, how did you know I would wear this colour?" I say as I realize his coat is the same colour as my trousers.

He raises a brow. "I didn't say anything when I saw you at my window, peaking through to see what I was choosing to wear."

"Haha. Very funny." I stick out my tongue.

But, my God, he looks so handsome. I don't know how he'll survive a long flight in jeans but he'll look good struggling.

I proceed to connect my phone to his car to play some music to distract myself from how flustered I am from staring at him for too long.

"Did I give you permission to play music from your phone?" Yasir asks.

"Did I give you permission to have a girlfriend while married to me?" I bite back.

"That's a bit harsh but touché." He accepts defeat.

I turn on the song Losing My Mind by Charlie Puth.

"Charlie Puth? Really?" He sighs.

"Do you want me to make another Nadira comment?" I argue.

He groans.

"I didn't think so." I smile, winning this time.

"You know you don't have to wear that around me. I don't care." He says suddenly.

I stare at him, in pure confusion. "Wear what?"

My mind thought he was talking about my clothes, for some reason and I was about to go off but that's not it.

"Your scarf. I won't force you to wear it." He says.

I snort and then burst into laughter. "You think someone forced me to wear it?"

He looks genuinely shocked. "You chose to wear it? How come?"

Clearly he hadn't been educated about this as a child or as an adult.

"My rich prince, you have no lack of wealth but you really seem to lack brain cells." I tease him.

"My impudent princess, I can still cancel our flight." He threatens me.

"I'm just saying! What makes you think I'm being forced? Does my hijab represent oppression to you?" I sigh.

He sort of shrugs his shoulders.

It's time to educate this man. "I chose to wear it because it bring me closer to my Creator, religion and spirituality. I'm saying this with the utmost pure intentions, I need you to stop assuming that hijab equals oppression. That's a mindset that is extremely problematic and disrespectful. I'm not saying there aren't women who aren't forced to veil, the world isn't perfect. But that's not the main idea of it, though. A hijab is not and should never be forced, it defeats the whole purpose of veiling. It's incredibly ignorant to assume that a woman who veils herself is oppressed because I know that most of the time, they do it for themselves and for their relationship with God. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am." He nods.

"Good. Don't ever point finger at my hijab ever again if you know what's good for you." I say half-jokingly.

"You really enjoy terrorizing me." He chuckles.

"I do. It's quite fun." I laugh.

There's silence again but this time, music is filling up the space. It's actually nice.

"What did you do with Lateef the other day?" He asks, out of the blue.

I whip my head towards him a little too quickly. "How did you know?"

"He's my best friend, how else would I know?" He answers.

"Does it matter? I don't ask you what you do with Nadira." I'm always getting defensive, but I can't help it.

"You can ask me now, since we are officially together in the eyes of the public." He says.

I can feel a serious argument arising and I want anything but that. I really don't want to spoil the mood.

I sigh in defeat, "We went out for lunch. I didn't see him at all at the engagement event, so I thought we could catch up and I could scold him for not seeing me that day."

"You like Lateef, don't you?" His eyes are glued on the road as his hand slightly tightens on the steering wheel as if that question hit nerve.

I go rigid on spot as I give out a nervous laughter.

Shit.

Might as well tell the half-truth again. "Correct but also incorrect. I did have a crush on him, back in high school. Can you blame me? He was so sweet and not to mention, handsome."

He doesn't reply back, making this so awkward that I physically cringed at the silence.

In hopes to make it less awkward [or make it more awkward, who knows?], I poke his cheek.

"Is someone jealous?" I say in a taunting tone.

"No." He answers flatly as he flicks off my hand.

He's clearly upset, which is unfair because he can go around doing whatever with Nadira but I can't have a harmless lunch with Lateef!

"Oh, come on! It was just lunch! I'm not sneaking off with him to do anything shady. Plus, it shouldn't even matter to you if we—"

In the spur of the moment, he pulls the car over in such a motion that I thought we'd crash into the barrier on the side of the road.

"What the hell, Yasir?!" My heart almost jumps out of my chest and I'm sure my soul had left my body halfway.

"I don't want to see you with Lateef like that!" He yells.

"Like that? Like what? We're just friends! What's wrong with you?!" I yell back.

But then I think... he is jealous. There's no way someone would react like this if they weren't jealous.

Jealous that I'm stealing his friend or jealous that I might fall into Lateef's arms?

Yasir being jealous and protective about me? Now, this is a sight to see. Maybe I am building a little space for myself in his heart.

The thought brings a small smile on my face. "Are you jealous, Yasir? Come on, be honest!"

"It doesn't fucking matter." He mumbles as he merges back into the main road.

I slide my hand into his left hand, that's resting on his lap. A bold move I didn't expect myself to make.

Am I going to force myself into his head and maybe his heart? Yes, yes I am.

However, he shakes off my touch, still irritated about this.

I grab his hand again, and this time, bringing it over to my lap.

"Don't worry, my angry, rich prince. I'm not cruel enough to think about someone else while I'm already in a relationship." I say honestly while slightly throwing shade at him and Nadira.

But I also cannot think of someone else while I'm in this relationship because I'm in a relationship with the person I'd be thinking about.

His expression softens but he doesn't look away from the road and he doesn't snatch his hand away this time. Instead, he does something I wasn't expecting. He interlocks his fingers with mine, giving it a gentle squeeze.

My soul has left my body for a different reason this time. Every bit of boldness I had in my body seconds ago has disappeared and I'm putty in his hand.

For the rest of the ride, he'd always grab my hand when I let go of his to check my phone or something. It's as if he finds some comfort or warmth in the action.

Is this what feelings are supposed to do to you? Because it's nice except for the fact that this is definitely a one-sided thing in my case, I think. Maybe? I don't know!

Or maybe his fight with Nadira was bad. Bad enough that he needs me to replace her temporarily.

Yasir does seem like the needy type, even though he would never ever admit it. It's obvious though because whenever he's with her, he's always craving attention and affection.

I should be offended that I'm a stand-in for Nadira but instead... this is a great chance to sneak into his heart, don't you think?

- - -

- A/N -

• Outfit aesthetics below (not the exact same but close enough)!

• Yasir's always sending mixed signals! I hope he figures his shit out!

Next Update: Friday and Saturday, Insha'Allah!

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