Mehrem- The Confidant

09

Illiyeen

Here we go. I was married.

The hustle and bustle of the day was finally starting to settle, but inside, I still felt a whirlwind of emotions. I couldn't quite comprehend how everything had shifted with just two words: "I do." I sounded and felt different as if those simple words had flipped a switch in my life.

I was now a married woman. And across the room sat my husband—a man who, for some reason, seemed to enjoy staring at me. His gaze made my heart race, though I wasn't sure why. My mother always said marriage changes your perspective on life. After 27 years of marriage, my parents were still deeply in love, their trust unshaken by the world around them.

But Umair and I? We were nowhere near that. There were miles to go before we could even think about trust, respect, or—love.

Love felt like a distant concept, something far off on the horizon. I wasn't sure I knew what that word meant for us yet.

Despite my hesitations, I kept stealing glances at Umair. Every time, without fail, his head would turn in my direction, catching me in the act. The knot of anxiety in my stomach twisted tighter. Was he judging me? Did he hate my outfit? Did I look ridiculous with this makeup? I couldn't help but wonder how I'd ever adjust to this new role—his wife.

Finally, after an eternity of stolen looks, we found ourselves alone.

"What's wrong?" Umair broke the silence, his voice steady, but there was a warmth in his tone.

"Nothing," I replied, quickly turning my gaze forward, hoping he wouldn't catch the lie in my voice.

Umair shifted, finding a more comfortable position, then said, "Were you staring at me?"

I blinked, unsure of how to respond. He noticed.

Umair let out a soft laugh and leaned slightly towards me. "It's okay," he said, his voice teasing. "You can stare as much as you want. You have the license now."

"License?" I repeated, trying to steady my racing heart.

"Yeah," he said, a slow smile spreading. "You're my wife now. You can gaze at me all you want."

My breath caught. He was enjoying this far too much. "I wasn't staring at you," I said defensively.

"Oh really?" His eyebrows arched, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Then who were you staring at?"

"I was looking at our fathers," I answered quickly, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

Umair chuckled, glancing toward the door where our fathers stood. "They're right there," he pointed, his smirk deepening. "If you were looking at them, why does it feel like you've been watching me?"

He had me cornered, and I knew it. So, I played my best defense—deflection. "Well, you were staring at me too!"

Umair's grin widened. "Of course I was. You're my wife."

I blinked, taken aback by his straightforwardness. "I was admiring you," he said, his voice dropping to a husky tone that tingled my skin. "You look... extravagant." He bit his lip slightly, his gaze softening as he took me in.

Heat crept up my neck, but I fought the blush threatening to spill across my face.

Umair's posture relaxed as he leaned back in his seat, his eyes still holding mine. "I'm yours," he said gently. "And you have every right to gaze at me, just like I have to admire you."

My heart fluttered. His words were so sincere, so open.

He wasn't done. "Illiyeen, I know this isn't easy, and I know we didn't start like our parents, but we can build something—if we're honest with each other. I've seen relationships grow with trust and honesty, and I want that for us. I'll try my best to be a good husband, but more importantly, a good friend. I hope we can build that trust together."