One month later.
They were still in the honeymoon phase, except they didn't actually go on one. Work has kept them both extremely busy. But Murat and Mashal were on that phase of passing all heart eyes, holding hands at every chance they got to sharing their favourite food to stealing kisses and hugs. They were so annoyingly attracted towards each other and weren't all that shy in expressing it.
"Is Ginny going to be okay? Should I call over Meher to watch her?" Mashal asked her husband as he locked the main door, "she'll be fine. I've trained her to be good when I'm gone. I have pet camera installed in the living room anyway. We can have a look at it anytime." He explained calmly. She nodded in relief. Over time, Mashal and Ginny seemed to have formed a great bond. And she was in love with that fluffy cat already.
Mashal laughed for half an hour straight when he first told her that his cat's name was Ginny. It was such a cute coincidence that her sister's and husband's cats were named after Harry Potter characters. She loved Harry Potter and so did her husband it seemed. Murat found that very amusing as well.
It was a bright Saturday morning. Holiday for both of them. Mashal was smiling cheerfully as she sat in the passenger seat of her husband's SUV. He held the door open for her and whispered something dirty in her ears making her go red as he closed the door. She tightened her seat belts and mock glared at him as he innocently sat on the driver's seat and passed her a mischievous smile.
"We have a busy day ahead, stop wasting time and get going already." Murat looked pretty smug. She swatted his nice-looking biceps and huffed slightly. That man always loves making her blush and never leaves a chance to stop teasing her. And he was so annoyingly handsome. It was so hard to pretend to be mad at him.
"As I said earlier, we could do so many better things," there was a suggestive smile as he said those words and she tried to avert her gaze feeling too shy. But too bad, he looked extra handsome today with his white t-shirt and fitted blue jeans. And adding to that was his sunglasses. He was looking like a freaking runway model once again. Not a new thing at all. It's been a month and she was still not used to his handsomeness. She could stare at him forever and ever. Being married and all gave her these bragging rights.
"You should stop looking at me like you'd eat me alive. I don't mind it at all, but we gotta go somewhere as you insisted," his eyes twinkled with mischief. She turned beetroot red and pulled his glasses from his nose.
"You should look ahead and start driving. I really want to redecorate our home. It's nice, but I want to add some touch to it. So please take me shopping." She replied shyly while playing with his Ray-ban glasses. She was very good at changing subjects.
Murat liked the sound of our home from her. He smiled at her affectionately before ruffling her hair, she whined annoyedly, saying, "ugh, Murat. It took me half an hour to get this perfect wavy hair and you had to ruin it."
"Doesn't matter, you look beautiful either way." She opened her mouth to talk something but words fell short, she tucked a few hair strands under her ears and flashed a small smile at him, feeling happy with his compliment. She loved her long silky hair and according to her, there's nothing wrong with feeling good about receiving compliments.
"You're wasting too much time, start the car." Mashal made him wear the glasses back and he sneaked a small kiss on her fingers before she could take back her hands. Her cheeks flushed as usual.
"Let's go." She muttered before turning on the radio, "wait, is that mama?" Her hands automatically go to switch it off.
Both of them looked outside of the car to find Malaika carrying something heavy, "I think she went shopping for something from the store down the street." Murat added before getting out of the car, "I'll be back."
Mashal had a wide beam on her face as she waved at her mother. She wanted to get down and talk with her mother, but she stopped herself knowing if she went down, she'd be taking hours in there. So she decided not to and Malaika seemed cool with it. Mothers are always very understanding.
And her smile widened more as she watched her husband take the bag from her mother's hand and help her carry it inside their home. He was so kind. Just another reason for her to swoon over him. He was more than just a handsome face and she was counting all the reasons why he is the best.
It was a silly thing to do, but she wants to remember these things for when they have any real conflict. Because everyone has positives and negatives and her parents have taught her to always remember people's positive side more than the negatives. That's exactly what she was doing.
"Have fun, you guys!" Malaika waved at her from the porch with a satisfied smile on her face. Mashal excitedly waved back at her mother and grinned as Murat sat back in the car.
"Thank you for helping her," she said as he finally started driving. Her insides felt mushy as he gave her a cheeky smile, "she's your mother and that makes her very important for me. I wouldn't just let her carry something that heavy in front of my eyes. Not a big deal. Don't say thanks," was Murat's honest response.
"You're so sweet," Mashal gushed as she played the radio and before they could realise the supermarket was already here. Her breathing became uneven as she got down from the car and eyed the building with a nostalgic smile.
The last time when she came here, it changed her whole damn life. And now, she's back here once again, as a married woman. It felt so unbelievably good. Who could have imagined that she'd be coming back here after marrying her one and only crush? She didn't of course.
"This place holds a special place in my heart," she heard him say. He has parked the car and was standing beside her. Mashal eyed him quizzically as he placed his hands on her shoulders.
"I think this is where Amina khalla met you and talked my mother into agreeing to the marriage," Murat explained with a fond smile. He did remember that incident, of how his aunt wouldn't keep quiet and sang through the entire ride back home on top of her lungs. Her excuse was that she's too happy and now he understood for what.
Mashal was stunned for a moment. She didn't want him to know about her crush on him, not at this moment at least. Amina did say she won't tell that to anyone which made her sigh inwardly as a small smile formed on her lips.
"You remembered that day, huh?" Tilting her head a little bit up, she questioned him but he discreetly pecked her cheeks and acted cool making her stare at him wide-eyed.
Frantically she looked around to see if any onlookers saw them but they were all too busy in their own world to notice them, much to her relief.
"Murat... We are in a public place. Stop goofing around." She smacked his shoulders and got away from his hold. He just laughed at her before walking towards the carts and pulling one swiftly.
"Shall we?" He asked cheekily. She shook her head as they walked together. Her cheeks were the deepest shade of red. Nothing very new.
For the next half an hour, Murat silently followed her behind with the shopping cart as she selected all the grocery items and a few house decoration stuff. They halted at the chocolate aisle. She was confused for a moment.
Till now all she selected were things that were for their home. But chocolates was something that she wanted. And Mashal was a bit hesitant wondering if he'd feel anything if she purchased all the chocolates from the store. That's what she has always done for the past twenty-two years. But that was her father's money. Murat was her husband now and she was definitely a tad bit hesitant.
"Why did we stop?" Murat asked her with raised brows. His muscles flexed as he held the cart's handle tightly. He was such a big distraction and her eyes turned red as she noticed some girl from behind them, who was checking him out so openly.
"Nothing, what is our budget today? I mean I just wanted to know it roughly so I'll purchase limited things," she glared at the person and asked him nervously.
"You know I have money, shop all you want. I don't care. It's for us both anyway," Murat shrugged, totally not understanding why were they having this conversation.
"I know, but it's good to have a budget, Murat. We can have something today, there's no guarantee that we'll have it tomorrow as well. It's a good habit to save money, you know." Mashal had no idea why she was blabbering nonsense suddenly. It's one bad habit of hers. When she's nervous, she'd blabber irrelevant things.
"I do save money, Mashal. Shall we go ahead now?" He gave her a gentle smile making her sigh in relief. Thank god that he didn't take any offence.
"Yes. Of course." Mashal smiled back softly and walked ahead but stopped because of his clasp, "what happened?" She turned to question him as he held her wrists tightly, sending chills down her spine. His every touch had that freaking effect on her.
"Why aren't you buying any chocolates?" He questioned her curiously and moved aside as a couple of people walked past them.
"Uh, no reason. Shall we go ahead? We have lots to shop in the furniture corner. I want to buy a vanity table. I can't place my makeup items properly-" she stopped midday realising this was another personal request. She didn't want him to think he has married a gold digger. Demanding him to buy costly stuff surely made her sound like one.
"Nevermind. I think we are done. Can we go home?" Her face fell as she tried pulling her hands from his grip, but he was stronger than her. Obviously.
"What's wrong, Mashal? You were so excited to shop in the morning and why the change of mood?" He seemed genuinely confused. She gave him a tight-lipped smile.
"Nothing Murat, I just. Um. Realised something." She bit her inner cheeks.
"That is?" He gave her an encouraging smile, asking her to go ahead.
"Um, well. You see. I'm a shopaholic. I love shopping and I'd buy even the stupidest of things sometimes just because I liked them. Mama doesn't encourage that but because I'm papa's favourite and he gives me everything I want. I'm just trying hard to stop that behaviour you know. It might get unreasonable and I don't want to upset you," Mashal explained softly making him pull her cheeks. She winced slightly before passing him a confused glance.
"You're so cute." Murat chuckled as he turned to the chocolate aisle and picked one from all the flavours, excluding the nutty ones and placed them all in the cart.
"How did you know?" She gasped softly in disbelief. He gave her a wink and said, "I have my resources. And they told me you buy all the chocolates except for nuts every single time. So why stop now?"
"Murat. I just feel guilty. I'm still not used to making someone else buy me things other than my father. I know you're my husband and I have all rights on your money, It's just weird. I don't know. I don't want you to think I'm wasting your hard-earned money on such useless things." Mashal shrugged her shoulders, giving him a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Come here," leaving behind the cart, Murat pulled her along with him and she followed him behind confusedly. When they finally reached one deserted corner, he pulled her into a hug, taking her off guard.
"I know you don't like PDA but I want to hug you, please let me." He mumbled incoherently and continued to hug her tightly. Even in confusion, Mashal couldn't stop herself from smiling heartily as she hugged him back. She felt like she needed this hug so badly. Its funny how well they seem to understand each other these days. She loves his hugs. They're so comforting and their height difference makes it cute, she pulled back quickly knowing they were in public.
The other shoppers were all busy with their own personal shopping to care about them. Mashal made a mental note to stop bothering about what will others think about her. It was hard. But she has gotta try at least.
"You admit that I'm your husband and that you have all rights on my money. That's right. You do. Don't overthink, okay? I'll tell you if I ever have any problem with you buying things, but it's my duty as a husband to provide you things, Mashal. And I don't mind you spending my money, trust me, it won't upset me at all. What's the use of them, if I can't even spend it on my family? Don't spoil your mood for these silly things." He explained to her as calmly and gently as possible. She looked up at him with her adorable chocolate brown eyes, that twinkled in confusion.
"I want to see that beautiful smile back on your face. Cheer up now." He pulled her cheeks widely, attempting to make her smile. She pouted before going for another hug.
He had called her his family. Her heart swelled in happiness and it was suddenly very overwhelming.
Murat ran his hands through her hair, while she breathed against his chest. A clearing of the throat makes them both jump apart. A worker of the supermarket gives them a shy smile before signing behind them, "it's workers' room. And I need to get inside. Sorry for disturbing the moment,"
Murat looked sheepish as he held his wife's hands and strode away from there. While Mashal was red in mortification. She couldn't get herself to forget what just happened. She doesn't even need any blush at this point, her husband was enough for that.
"That was embarrassing." She bit her inner cheeks and smiled shyly. Murat threw his head back and laughed at her reaction, "your reactions are priceless. Anyways let's continue to shop. I'm getting bored now."
"How about this one?" She asked his opinion among two carpets, they were shopping home decor and stuff. Murat wasn't very involved so far.
"Choose whatever you like." Was his reply. He typed something in his phone whilst pushing the cart.
"Very helpful," Mashal grunted as she picked her favourite colour that also goes well with the living room's paint. She could already picture the sight. It's a perfect fit.
"My mama was an interior designer, I guess I inherited that gene from her. I love organizing the interiors of homes." She gushed excitedly whilst walking along with him, side by side.
"Was?" Murat questioned her as he took his eyes off his phone. He has been messaging someone constantly.
"Yes. She gave that up after Meher's birth and became a full-time homemaker. She loved doing her job but her love for us both was greater than her love for work. So yes. She wanted to concentrate more on us." A fond smile played on her lips as she checked out new bed sheets and pillow covers.
"She is awesome. I can see where you got your cooking skills from." Murat smiled but Mashal burst out laughing.
"Mama doesn't know how to cook until ten years of their marriage it seems. Papa used to cook for her all the time. He loved doing that. He's a great cook. I'm pretty sure it's his gene that was passed onto me. Although I'm not as great. I try."
"I truly admire the love your parents share. It's so cute." Murat was so good at multi tasking. On one hand he was pushing the cart while the other was used for texting. His ears were listening to whatever she was talking.
"Masha Allah, I freaking know right? They're literal goals. I've always wanted a love story like them. Twenty-five plus years and they still love each other madly and crazily," Mashal has always looked up to her parents when it came to romance.
"My parents were childhood sweethearts it seems. They're still so much in love even after all these years it's sickening sometimes. But we both are truly lucky to be grownup in such a beautiful environment." He added a little dreamily.
"I know right. They all are literal goals. I want us to be like them one day!" She muttered without thinking and bit her lips.
"Insha Allah, let's hope we can have that someday." Murat grinned at her while she blushed hard before muttering a small Insha Allah under her breath.
They walked ahead aimlessly, checking out different things. Murat was catching way too much female attention much to Mashal's frustration. She wanted to punch all of them for eyeing her husband like that but controlled herself.
"You look so good and everyone is watching you like eye candy." She blurted it in anger but regretted it almost immediately. Her cheeks turned bright as he passed her with a knowing smile.
"This eye candy is just yours, babe." He bent down and whispered in her ears huskily making her shiver. She didn't dare meet his eyes.
"Stop saying such things in public." Was her lame response. He laughed heartily as she huffed. His laugh was contagious and he's only getting more attention on him. She didn't like that. She didn't like that at all.
Mashal watched him stuff the phone back in his pockets and sighed in relief. She didn't want to comment but that phone has annoyed her a lot today. He has been constantly distracted with that thing. She glared at two girls standing beside her, who were giggling among themselves, probably talking about Murat. Their eyes were fixed on him the whole time and not to forget that dramy look. She was getting agitated at this point.
"Give that glasses to me," to distract herself, she removed his glasses once again and wore them this time as she grinned at him cheekily.
"How do I look?" She pulled the glass near her nose and winked at him before pushing it back.
Mashal was dressed in a white top and black jeans, paired along with a black scarf that day. She loved how Murat gives her all the freedom when it came to dressing.
"Pretty hot. Shall we go home already?" His reply left her baffled and blushing as she understood the hidden meaning behind those words. With a shy smile, she smacked his biceps and walked away but was about to trip on her high heels but he caught her on time.
"You're so clumsy." He teased her while she stood straight.
"I'm keeping these glasses. It looks good on me," she wanted to change the subject again as the passer-by customers gave them teasing glances. Few of those girls who were previously checking him out looked envious. Mashal wanted to smile smugly at them, but she was too mortified about her clumsiness to care about them. She could have easily broken a bone or two, thank god for her reflexive husband.
"I don't really care about the glasses, you know." He smirked mischievously whilst taking off her glasses and wearing them back.
"You're so shameless, Murat."
"Don't tell me you don't like it." He whispered smoothly as they walked side by side.
Of course, she does. But Mashal would never admit that. His ego is big enough already.
"Shall I push it for some time?" Another half an hour passed by and they were almost done. Mashal felt bad that Murat had to push all the weight, so she offered him help. He shook his head distractedly whilst looking into his phone and messaging someone again.
"Are you sure? I can push it you know. I look tiny but I'm very strong." Mashal flexed her little muscles proudly. He averted his gaze from the phone and pinched her arms mischievously, making her gasp.
"Ow. This is assault, Shortcake." he laughed as she smacked his shoulders with a pout, "you deserve it for making fun of me," She huffed, but her eyes widened a bit, realising the endearment he used for her.
"Did you just use Joshua Templeman's nickname for me?" Her cheeks turned bright. Mashal recollected how she ate his ears off by talking all about her favourite novel, 'The Hating Game' all night yesterday and how he was grumpy as she praisingly described the ever handsome and cute Josh. He was a fictional character for goodness sake.
"Yeah. You seemed to love that name. It just came with the flow. But anyways I think it suits you. You're short and you love strawberries. Shortcakes are delicious. And so are you." That last line came out as a whisper. His eyes shone mischievously as she gave him her classic shy smile.
Mashal truly loved that name. It was so sweet and every time when she reread that book. She'd be like- I wish I'll find someone like Josh, who'd call me Shortcake. She knew it wasn't very original and all. It was wishful thinking of course. But to think that her husband has unknowingly fulfilled that silly wish made her want to jump up and down in happiness. Why was he hell-bent on making her fall for him already?
"Murat. You can't say things like that in public. It makes me want to kiss you. Ugh. Stop laughing at me. Let's go home." She stomped on his shoes and walked ahead as he pushed the cart towards the billing section.
"I wouldn't mind that kiss," Murat whispered in her ears as she paused to buy something on the way.
Mashal smiled bashfully whilst not meeting his eyes. She knew him too well to know he'd not miss such comments from her. He just finds every other reason to tease her and make her blush. And it's so easy to get her all shy and giddy around him. That's the kind of effect he had on her and he loves that too much sometimes. Thankfully, a phone call came to break their moment.
"Mashal, it's an important one. You stay here and buy whatever you want. I'll be back in a few minutes," he patted her shoulders and excused himself.
She watched his retreating back with a longing gaze before looking around. They were in the clock's section. She eyed her time turner necklace fondly and waited for her husband to come back.
But her breath hitched as she came face to face with the last person she thought she'd meet today.
"Mashal." Asad Farhan Sheikh called her name guiltily. She held her shopping cart tightly in nervousness and turned back to search for her husband.
"Mashal, please relax. I just want to have a word with you." Asad added pleadingly. She didn't want to do anything with him. Her heart began to race fast.
"No, Asad. I don't want to." He looked pretty worn out than his usual self. She could see dark circles under his eyes. He was so sad and she didn't want to know why is he doing this to himself. This just complicates everything.
"Please, for old times sake. I know I was unreasonable and stupid that night. I don't know what came over me. I'm really sorry for that. Mama is furious at me. Papa is not even talking properly with me. I know I deserve it. I just love you so much, Mashal and I think I'm too late." He sounded frustrated and helpless.
"You are late, buddy." Came that familiar angry voice of Murat as he placed his hands on her waist possessively. Mashal looked up at him as he held ber close to him. She held back a breath, feeling too overwhelmed.
The atmosphere was suddenly very tense. She clutched her purse and eyed both the men, who looked at each other like they're going to get into a fight. She didn't want that.
"Asad, please leave us alone. I don't love you and I'm happily married. Just leave. Don't make this hard for me," Mashal explained to him as politely as she could.
Murat clenched his jaw as he observed how that guy was eyeing his wife. As if she was his to see. He tightened his hold on her angrily, whilst glaring at him. Asad immediately looked away.
"Stop bothering her again, Sheikh. You're not allowed to talk to her ever." He grunted furiously and dragged the cart towards the billing section, along with his wife. She walked too slow, so he decreased the pace.
The ride back home was awkward and silent.
"Murat, you're scaring me. What is it?" Mashal finally gathered some courage to question him. He looked pretty bothered about something. And for some reason, her gut told that it isn't just about Asad. There was something else. After a month of staying together, she knows this much at least.
"Office related stuff." He muttered distractedly whilst continuing to drive.
"You should slow down the car, I don't feel too comfortable right now." Mashal held the handrest tightly and whispered to him, who slowed down almost immediately. He didn't even realise that he was driving too fast.
"Shit. I'm sorry, Mashal. My mind was occupied with something else." He apologized immediately. She once told him how fast driving scares her and here he was, doing the same thing.
"I'm really sorry, Mashal. I was thinking something." He held her hand in his and apologized once again.
"What exactly happened?" She squeezed his hands comfortingly and demanded explanations, he was acting weird ever since that important phone call.
"It's regarding the new contract we received from a top brand. We should shoot a few commercials for them and for that, I need to go out of the country for five weeks."