When Stars Collide

Freshwater Pearls

"This is a five bedroom semi detached duplex, with four baths and a two car garage. You can see that your next neighbor is about ten feet away, the asking price is sixty eight million and it's non-negotiable." Hibba looked at Salman who was nodding slowly at the realtor as though taking in all that was being said. She jerked her lips wryly, they definitely would not be taking this place, it was far too big and they didn't need it. 

"What do you think, Jaan?" She turned to him with a grimace and he suddenly noticed her mood change. He took her aside and asked what the problem was. 

"It's too expensive and far too big." He smiled at her and shifted Ummi higher with a movement of his hands. 

"Expensive? I have seventy five million with me for our house, too big?" He pointed at Ummi and asked her with a mischievous smile that Hibba wanted to smack off his face. "We have Ummi, we'll have others. Let's buy the house now and focus on other amazing things as we go on. How about that?" 

She didn't smile back at him, so his self assured smile died off and he seriously asked her if she didn't like the house. "I do, I just feel like we're wasting money." 

He shook his head at her response, he adjusted Ummi to sit at a more comfortable position on his joined forearms, letting the toddler's hands go to his curly hair. 

"We're not wasting money, the house is built well, built to last and for the next five to ten years, we shouldn't think of changing houses. We can also look at it as an investment, we get to live in this location that is already a hot point, our children get to attend schools in the best areas. Buying a house in a good location is more than just the house, it's a whole lot."  Hibba sighed and asked him to lead the way into the large house. 

"I suppose we can think like that. I just wish you'd put that money in your business, we don't need a flashy house so early." He stopped at the door of the house that he was opening and turned to her with a frown that cleared up almost immediately. He seemed to understand what she needed. 

"I promised to take care of you, that includes buying you a comfortable house and making sure you're sleeping and waking each day in a house free of worries." She stopped staring at him and took a step forward, opening the door to the house. She went to the first window she saw, looking out to the small courtyard they'd just been standing on, she imagined them living and loving each other in this house, she imagined their successes and their near fails, it seemed like she could take it so she did. 

She walked to the kitchen while she heard the sound of Ummi singing fragments of a  nasheed that Salman played everytime on his car radio. 

The kitchen was a marble heaven, cabinets tucked away into the walls and a space that she felt they could push a refrigerator into. It was fitted with a six by four feet pantry with more built in marble shelves, windows that let in just the right amount of sunlight. 

As Hibba stood there, watching the birds out of the window she picked the house already. When Salman came down back with the realtor about fifteen minutes later, the realtor gave them some minutes alone seeing how pensive Hibba looked. 

"Jaan?" Salman called out, Ummi was on his chest, playing with the buttons of his shirt. Hibba walked to him a stood a few meters away from him, he smiled unsurely and she laughed. She didn't laugh at the fact that he was unsure, she laughed at the fact that she'd never thought she'd be with someone who cared so much for her input on things, on big and small things he asked her opinion, he wanted to her thoughts, he weighed in his and they took the best decision.