Meerab sat on the edge of her bed, staring suspiciously at the door Murtasim had just walked out of. It had been two weeks since their wedding, two weeks of trying to adjust to this strange new life where the man she had once despised was now, inexplicably, behaving as though he was madly in love with her. It didn’t make sense. At all.
She had grown up with Murtasim, hating his guts for as long as she could remember. He was arrogant, controlling, and absolutely infuriating in every possible way. They had never gotten along, constantly bickering and challenging each other in every childhood game or family event. If someone had told her two months ago that she would marry him, she would have laughed in their face. And yet, here they were, husband and wife.
And the strangest part? Murtasim, the man who had once delighted in tormenting her, now looked at her as though the sun rose and set in her eyes.
Meerab frowned, recalling the intensity with which he had gazed at her earlier that day during lunch, his eyes soft and warm, a smile playing on his lips. He had barely touched his food, too busy watching *her* with a look so full of affection it made her uncomfortable.
"Why?" she muttered to herself, pacing the room. "Why is he acting like this?"
She couldn’t figure it out. It was like someone had flipped a switch inside Murtasim the moment they signed their marriage papers, and suddenly, he was head over heels for her. It wasn’t normal. Not for him, at least.
Meerab narrowed her eyes. There had to be something going on. People didn’t just wake up one day and decide they were madly in love with someone they had barely tolerated for years. Something was off, and she was going to figure out what it was.
---
Later that evening, as Murtasim entered their room, his face lit up with the now-familiar, annoyingly lovesick smile.
"Meerab," he greeted softly, his voice warm. "How was your day?"
Meerab didn’t respond. She was too busy observing him, her eyes narrowed as she scanned him from head to toe.
Murtasim paused, sensing her scrutiny. “Uh… is something wrong?”
Meerab crossed her arms. “Yes.”
His brow furrowed in concern, and he quickly crossed the room towards her. “What is it? Are you feeling unwell? Do you need anything? I can—”
“Why are you being so nice to me?” Meerab interrupted, cutting him off.
Murtasim blinked, taken aback. “What do you mean?”
She stepped closer, her expression dead serious. “Ever since we got married, you’ve been… different. You’re being all nice, and sweet, and… weird. It’s creepy.”
Murtasim’s face softened as he tried to suppress a smile. “Creepy?”
“Yes!” Meerab insisted, throwing her hands in the air. “One minute we were childhood enemies, and the next, you’re acting like you can’t live without me. It doesn’t make sense! What are you hiding?”
Murtasim sighed, his smile fading as he shook his head. “I’m not hiding anything, Meerab.”
“Oh really?” She eyed him skeptically. “Then why were you watching me so much during lunch today?”
“Because I enjoy looking at you?” Murtasim replied, confused by the accusation.
Meerab groaned in frustration. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about! Since when have you ever *enjoyed* looking at me? You used to call me annoying, remember? You said you couldn’t stand me!”
