She's barely 13 years old yet she has to deal with the most mature facts of life. She's still innocent yet she has to face the cruelty of the world. She was still young yet had to deal with what even elders find it hard to deal with.

He's stressed, his worried lines won't go away from his forehead. He's getting married in a few hours yet he doesn't know his bride. He agreed when his father told him he found him a new bride yet he didn't get to know how. Whenever he'd ask anything dealing with this, his father would avoid the subject. He didn't even see his wife, nor did he have any information about her.

Holding her secret box tightly against her chest, she let the lady lead her to her new room, in a new home. Everyone was oblivious to her sorrow. No one saw her moisture eyes. No one dared to look into them to see she was hurt. No one realised that such a decision upset her.

Sohaib entered his room after a tiring day with his friends. He was absent minded when the figure on his bed caught his attention.

"I'm... I'm sorry...." these were the only words coming out of his mouth when he saw the young girl hugging her knees on the bed.

"it... It's..." she couldn't say anything further as her throat was hurting, her voice started to shake and tears threatened to fall. She started to sob in no time.

Sohaib stared at the girl in front of him. He was shocked as realisation hit him.

They were married. She's his wife. He's her husband.

Ahlam continued to sob and chock. She was oblivious to the world and what was happening around her. She was oblivious of the guy standing in front of her shocked with the news that just hit him. She was oblivious of the bathroom door that just got slammed.

Sohaib went to the bathroom to get changed and couldn't help but slammed the door out of frustration. How could his father do this to him? How could he get him married to a child?

"Do... Do you... Do you want to get changed?" The voice startled her. It was deep. A man's voice. Yet not the one she used to hear. This one was soft, caring and gentle. She simply nodded without looking at him and went to her suitcase to get her clothes.

Once he made sure she was in the bathroom, he got out of his room and made his way towards his father's study room. Luckily he was out town since the afternoon. He went right after signing the nikah and let the documents on his desk. Once he found them, he checked them to have some information about her.

When she got out of the bathroom, she made her way to the bed with a sigh of relief. The room was empty. She opened her box and extracted a notebook. She wrote and wrote and wrote til she fell asleep.

After knowing her name and her age, Sohaib swore. She was over ten years younger than him. He stayed there for some more time wondering what he was going to do with her now. She was uncomfortable, this was obvious. But he had to find a way to make her at least talk to him. Or even glance at him would be enough.

Days passed by and Ahlam got more and more comfortable around Sohaib. He'd ask her to pic his clothes and choose his out fit. He'd bring her to the shop and push her on the swing in the park on their way home. He'd do everything to make her smile. Within this period she never thought of returning to her previous home or complain about it. She'd not even think of it. She started to like her new life.

Sohaib didn't tell anyone about his marriage except his friend Sa'd. The only one who knew that Sohaib was a married man. But he didn't know any further. Whenever he'd open the topic, Sohaib would just five a short reply and avoid it.

Ahlam didn't have any friends to share her life with. But now that she was completely used to Sohaib as they've been married for months now, she started to believe in friendship. She saw him as her best friend and thought of sharing her life and feelings with him.

Sohaib got home after a tiring day at work with only one thing in mind: relaxing under the heat of the shower. Yet something better was waiting for him. His parents were at some relatives place. So he was alone with Ahlam. That girl. He was confused as to how he should call her. She wasn't his sister, nor his friend. But she was too young to be called as his friend.

Ahlam picked her favourite outfit for Sohaib to wear while he was under the shower. She let them on the bed and went back to the kitchen to get the food ready. She was ready to tell him everything.

"What do you say about watching some movie?" She asked even though she wanted to speak with him more than anything else. When he nodded she went upstairs and chose one of the numerous movies on the shelves.

Sohaib was wondering what she was upto. She never took steps by herself yet she did today. She prepared his favourite dish for dinner, took his outfit she loved the most for him, and matched her own. When she came with his favourite movie, which became hers with time, he gave her a questioning look.

When she saw the look on his face she lost her confidence. She didn't know how to introduce the topic. So she just turned on the movie and went to sit next to him with his arm around her shoulder and her head on his.

"Can you hold me please?" When he heard her say that he looked at her and executed her order when he saw her supplicating eyes. He wondered what happened to her but didn't dare to ask in fear that she might back up and not say anything for days.

She took a deep breath after feeling his strong arms around her. She could make it. She never tried but believed in it.

"When I was a child... I mean..." Sohaib paused the movie and looked at her when he heard this. Finally she was opening up. "I never knew my father. He died before my birth. My mother died few years after I was born. I was like 7 years old I guess. She met with an accident. So I lived with my uncle the whole while until... You know..." He nodded, knowing too well what she meant. "But he never liked me. He was harsh with me. Yet he never put his hand on me, be it gently or not. I mean he never beat me. And I'm glad for it. But what he did instead was just as bad. He'd prevent me from eating. He'd just treat me like his maid. I knew he had some financial issues with your father. I didn't know if it was a debt or business issue but I never thought it would go this far. I..."

She couldn't go further as sobs started to get out of her mouth. She buried her head into his chest. She was never this close to him. But tonight she decided to take a step closer. She didn't know what faith had in store for them. She had to take every moment she got to spend with him.

After her revelation, he started to measure how stupid he was. No parents in this world would marry a child who barely reached puberty. No parents in the world would put such responsibility on a child's shoulders. So he held her tight and soothed her without trying to hush her. Let her get her sorrow out.

She was thankful to him. No one took time for her. No one got to spend time with her. Yet he did. He spent every spare minute he had with her. He bought her a phone so that he could call her whenever he had time. She had no one to share her pain with. Now she'd him.

Days passed by after her revelation and Sohaib decided to share everything with Sa'd. He called him in the park with Ahmad. The boy entered everyone's heart and Sohaib wondered if he'd enter her heart.

"So you finally decided to share your experience as a married man with me huh?" Sa'd teased. But his smile faded as soon as he saw his friend's serious face. "What's the matter?" he asked not understanding his friend's behaviour.

"She's a child." Sohaib only stated which made Sa'd open his mouth in shock. From there Sohaib told him everything about this marriage. He didn't share what his wife told him days back about her own life.

"Wait man! Why didn't you search further about her before your wedding?"

"Because I couldn't. Whenever I tried to ask about her, I'd face that blank look on my father's face. I'd just speak to a wall. So I left the matter in my Lord's hands. Don't make the same mistake as me of not insisting to see the girl before giving your consent."

"Don't worry." when Sa'd said this with a big smile playing on his lips Sohaib knew that his brother didn't tell him everything either.

"This smile isn't innocent, is it?" Sohaib's teasing tone came back within seconds.

"I saw her yesterday. With Ahmad. And guess what! She accepted him." This was what he wanted. He struggled to find a girl who'd accept Ahmad. No woman wanted to assume a child that wasn't hers. And this was his first worry. No matter how good the girl was, if she doesn't accept Ahmad then there's no point in going any further.

The last one he saw seemed to love the boy and enjoyed talking with him. Sawsan was a good girl with a good family background and a better reputation. What did he want more than this? However he sought his Lord's help in choosing her and now he gave his answer right before meeting his friend.

Days turned into weeks. Weeks became months. And today it has been 3 years that Sohaib and Ahlam were married. Today realisation came to her mind. Today was the big day she thought.

After she told everything about her past to Sohaib, Ahlam started to develop feelings for him. Whenever he'd call her, her heart started to race faster and faster. When the time he got home neared she started to become nervous. When he came near her, her hands became sweaty. Yet she always missed him when he was at work, she was disappointed whenever he told her that he'd come later than usual, she cried when he went on a business trip. She was always longing for his hugs, his kisses on her for head, his arms around her when they'd sleep.... His presence became vitale for her. She depended on him in a way.

Sohaib decided to buy some flowers before heading home. No special occasion. Only to put a smile on Ahlam's face. No roses he remembered. She hated them. They had this discussion about flowers days back and he laughed remembering it.

When he got home she didn't get out of the kitchen. He thought she was busy but in fact it's because of her nervousness. She got everything ready and went to hide in the kitchen, pretending to get the dish ready.

He found his clothes on the bed but noticed that they weren't his usual outfit that he wore at home. However he decided to make her happy tonight and took them. He let the flowers in the car on purpose.

Taking the opportunity that he's freshening up to light the candles and set the dishes but went back in the kitchen once she was done. She was still nervous, her hands are shaking and sweaty, her heart thudding and her legs are becoming numb. She prepared her speech the whole afternoon yet she still felt unsecure.

After coming out of the bathroom Hi e went straight to his car without paying attention at anything on his way. When he came back the sight in front of him left him speechless. There, lying on the dinning table were candles and his favourite dish. Yet his wife was nowhere to be seen. He took the opportunity to put the flowers in a vase and place it in the middle of the table before heading to the kitchen.

She just bite her lower lip and played with her finger while staring at them when she sensed his presence in the room. She couldn't bring herself to look up at him until she felt his fingers taking her chin to force her to look up. He smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

He sensed her nervousness yet failed to find the reason behind all of this. He just decided to follow his instinct and take her hand to lead her to the dining table. He complimented her as he enjoyed the meal but still she was uncomfortable. He didn't quite know what to do to make her feel at ease. It was easier the first day they met, he thought before thinking of something that might bring her to her normal self again.

"Do you know what you want to be in the future?" She was startled as she heard his question. She was never allowed to think about it before. She never got to dream of a future. Yet one single answer came to her mind. Be the mother of his children. But never is she going to express it like this to him. At least not yet.

She didn't quiet realise that she was living most girls her age's dream. She was married with a religious, handsome, helpful man. One that every girl wish to have as a husband.

When she shook her head indicating that she didn't have any, he smiled at her and asked her what he was thinking about for days now.

"How about you become my manager?"

"Oh my! Your what?!"

She was overwhelmed by the proposition. Yet her smile faded when she realised something, and this he didn't fail to notice it.

"What's the matter?"

"I... I... I don't have any qualification. How can I...."

"I'll form you myself."

When he said this she dared looking at him in the eyes for the first time in the whole dinner. Her bright eyes met his. She lost herself into them until he spoke up.

"I'll let you think about it. I still have much to do to be able to open it anyways."

Since he was young, Sohaib had a dream to be a dentist and open his own cabinet. So far, he achieved the first part of it and he's a qualified dentist. He met Sa'd at college and as they both realised that they had the same dream, they decided to work together on it.

Once they were done with dinner they both unset the table and Ahlam came with the dessert. It was his favourite chocolate and almonds pudding. Sohaib couldn't wait any longer to know what was behind all of this.

When he asked her she took a deep breath and decided that it was the best moment to tell him. She thought that if she didn't tell him now she'd never tell him and all her plans for the night would be in vain.

"What... What do you think of this marriage? I mean..."

"What?! Whey are you asking me this?"

"Have you never thought of getting a second wife? One that is old enough to get married? I mean... I..."

"You're jealous?" He said with a smirk to lighten the atmosphere.

"No... Not at all... But you know... I have been reading about husband and wife's rights since a while and... I... I know you have rights over me which you didn't.... I mean..."

"Hey! Don't worry for this! I know all of this. But..."

"So... Back to my previous question. Have you ever thought...."

"No. One is too hard to handle, I won't even dare to think of having a second one." He teased and she chuckled.

"But... Don't you... I mean..."

"Okay you want me to tell you what I read think of all of this marriage stuff right?" When she nodded and didn't say anything further he went on. "At first I wasn't pleased with my father's choice. You were too young and innocent to face all of this. Then I started to get attached to you and...."

"And you saw me like a little sis."

"Exactly, but don't cut me off." She let out a chuckle and let him go on. "So, we started to get closer and closer to each other. You started to open up and you were completely at ease around me. So my confidence came back to me as I lost it with you. And day by day I started to see you more and more as a young lady and no more as a child. You know that I even fought with my father cause of this which led to the whole moving and taking a place for only both of us. But never did I think of divorce or a second wife. It was out of question. It wasn't in my principles. And when you told me about what you were living before coming here as my wife, I understood my father's decision. And you know, when I fought with him he told me one thing that I understood only that night." He paused before telling further. "He told me that I'd be happy that he chose you when I'd understand the reason behind it. And now I do. I know why he chose you, and why he got you married to me as a fulfillment of your uncle's debt."

"Why?" she whispered, tears threatening to fell down her eyes.

"Cause of what you were living. He wanted to get you out of this. He didn't tell me explicitly at first. But I knew my father wouldn't take such decisions without a wisdom behind and when you told me about your life, I put two and two together and went to apologize and discuss the matter with him. So he told me that when he went to your uncle's place to discuss some matters, he saw you and the way he was treating you. And he took this decision after days and nights of thinking and praying istikhara everyday and every night."

By the time he said all of this she was crying. She was upset with him at first. Why didn't he tell her? But then came to the conclusion that it might have hurt her or upset her. So she let go and threw herself in his arms. He held her tight and stroked her back to sooth her pain. It is only then that she realised he'd do anything for her.

"Can you go further?"

"And make you cry even more?" he teased and made her smile through her tears.

"Please?"

He couldn't refuse in front of her puppy eyes looking straight into his and holding all the emotions she was feeling right at the moment.

"For you happiness sake only." He winked at her while saying this and she smiled putting her head on his shoulder.

"Then I started to see you differently each passing day. You became a best friend. You knew things about me that Sa'd didn't. You knew each and every step 'was ready to take in my life. And now..." he paused and scratched his neck. He didn't know how to tell her. "Now I see you like a... A wife. Yes... I see you like a lady. I mean... Really... You've grown up to be a gorgeous lady ma sha Allah. MY lady."

When she heard him say this she lifted her head up and caught his eyes. They were reflecting her emotions. He was feeling the same way as her. And without them realising what was happening, their lips met and closed any gap that was present in between them. Be it emotional or intellectual or physical.

"I love you Habbou."

"I love you Ahlami. "

Here the most awaited update.  I hope you didn't cry a lot 😜. I really enjoyed writing it, even though it took me time.

Children marriage is a SERIOUS PROBLEM. I just wrote this as a late teen and I attenuated it. But in reality, most of the time it'd have been Sohaib's father who'd have married Ahlam not his son. And the story would have been much much much different. But I wanted it to be happy, so I chose to write it like this.

Anyways who liked the characters? I did!!! And these are the most perfect ones I have. The others are plenty of defaults. They'll make the characters of all my short stories in this book. Ahlam&Sohaib, Sawsan&Sa'd and of course our dear Captain Ahmad.