Noor

38

A D N A A N

I salaamed and entered into Abbu's parlor greeting him as I sat down, I came here after I got his text this morning saying he needed to see me

"How are you Adnaan?" He asked "Alhamdullilah Abbu I'm very good" I replied and he nodded

"You said there was something important you wanted to discuss also?" He asked taking off his reading glasses

"Abbu it's about anty jamila, she is forcing Barira on me, she has been calling and telling me I have to marry Barira because she loves me..."

"Tsaya Malam I don't understand" he said adjusting hisself on the chair "so the thing is anty jamila has been calling me for a while now saying Barira is in love with me and I am the only man she wants to marry, I don't love her and I can never love anyone else and I have made that clear to her but she doesn't get it, she keeps calling me and telling me Barira isn't eating and she is depressed and all sorts of nonsense"

"Well that was the same thing I wanted to talk about, she called your mother yesterday and spoke to her about it, Halima spoke to me and told me she said that Barira is interested in you and she wants to speak to the elders to set the marriage and I said it has to be with your consent because you are a man and that too a married one"

I was in a state of shock on how far she took this "abbu I can't marry Barira, I already have a wife and I'm contented"

My hands trembling as I fumbled with my ring, I was so pissed at how far they are taking this even involving my parents

"I understand and if you don't want it then I can't force you" I let out a sigh of relief and he smiled, I could see the very prominent wrinkles as he smiled

"Already having just one woman is stress enough, imagine two" he joked and I laughed as we drifted into another conversation

N O O R

I sent Kareema a text as I waited outside dunes with Nafia and Imaan, they came to my house around 12 and the plan was to meet in dunes for Ramadan shopping and Kareema is late as always

"See her!" Imaan pointed to a grey Mini Cooper , we came out of my car and Khair ran to me hugging my legs "hey baby!" I crouched down and kissed her cheek

"Princess Noor! I love you" she cheered kissing me back "this one you're growing so much" Nafia said as she tried to pick her up "and she's just 2" Imaan pulled her legs and she let out a loud cry

"Ya Imaan I'm not 2, I'm four" she huffed showing four fingers "it's my baby brother that is two"

"Assalamu alaikum" Kareema greeted with a sleeping Ayman in her hand, i collected him as we exchanged greetings

——

I HATE SHOPPING

It drains the life out of me maybe because I hate it with a passion or because it's so much stress to just walk around looking for things from a stupid list

I rolled my eyes picking up the shrimp and sausage from the freezer, halfway into my list and I'm already so exhausted

Khairi said she wants to follow me, while Kareema does her own shopping and Imaan and Nafia do some of their moms shoppings which is very little cause Ummi and Nafias mum already went to the market

"Princess Noor someone is calling you" khairi said handing me my bag, she insisted on carrying it since she can't push the trolley

I put the stuff in the cart and fished for my phone answering Adnaans call

"hey hot stuff" he greeted making me roll my eyes and smile "hi Adnaan, how are you?"