𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞

18. Admiration

Mashal's POV:

"Begum!" he shouted again.

Well, today is our reception, and my husband along with all the siblings and cousins are waiting downstairs. I'm the only one left. It seems like today is not my hijab's day, because it took way longer than expected. I glanced at the mirror again. "I seem okay, I guess," I whispered to myself.

"Begum!" he shouted again. I couldn't blame him. I was indeed late. Four long hours couldn't be considered early, could they?

I began to walk downstairs while adjusting my hijab one last time and fastening the bracelet he had made for me. As I stepped down the stairs...

Hassan's POV:

"Begum!" I shouted again. She's taking her time, no doubt. I don't mind waiting for her, but Ammi's been scolding me to get to the venue already.

Maria nudged me, urging me to stop yelling. I was just about to shout again when I saw her.

She was descending the stairs, her hijab perfectly in place, her bracelet catching the light as she moved gracefully. In that moment, everything else faded. All I could see was her. My heart felt strange, a warmth I wasn't used to. Mashal, my begum, was walking towards me, and I couldn't help but praise Allah for her presence in my life.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of this love that was quietly growing inside me.

As she descended the stairs, it was as if the air had been sucked out of the room. I couldn't breathe. Every step she took toward me felt like time had slowed down just for us. Her beauty was overwhelming, almost too much for me to handle.

Her hijab framed her face delicately, highlighting her soft features. The light in the room danced off her skin, her eyes shimmering with a quiet confidence I hadn't seen before. She looked ethereal, like she wasn't even of this world.

I could feel my pulse racing, and for the first time in my life, I found myself lost for words. The way her lips curved into the slightest smile, her eyelashes brushing her cheeks as she blinked—it was as if every part of her had been crafted to perfection.

My chest tightened, and I realized I had forgotten to breathe. SubhanAllah, I whispered internally, amazed at the sight before me.

In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the reception, not the people waiting, not even the scolding from Ammi. All I could see was Mashal, walking toward me, looking so breathtakingly beautiful that it felt like I could never look away again.

Her beauty was almost too much to bear. It felt like I couldn't breathe, like everything else faded away. My heart was racing, my chest tight with an emotion I hadn't expected. She was walking toward me, and all I could do was stand there, completely overwhelmed by her presence.

In that moment, it wasn't just her beauty that took my breath away. It was the way she carried herself, the grace in every movement. 

I stood there, completely frozen, unable to tear my eyes away from her. Every breath felt heavy, as if the air itself had become thick, and my chest tightened under the weight of emotions I wasn't used to feeling. She was... too beautiful, too perfect.

Suddenly, I felt a nudge at my side.

"Breathe, Bhai," Zayaan whispered, a hint of teasing in his voice.

I blinked, realizing I had been holding my breath, completely lost in the sight of her. Taking in a sharp inhale, I tried to steady myself, but it was nearly impossible. Mashal, my begum, was right in front of me, and for the second time in my life, I felt utterly unguarded.