Salah's POV

I couldn't believe what I had heard. I was trying to wipe all of my tears away, but it was difficult. My heart was leaping with joy. I couldn't be happier. Badr and I sat down on the couches in his living room, not explaining anything to Estrella.

"So, we really only need a two bedroom apartment now." Badr commented, no doubt smirking.

I blushed deep red and covered my face. "Sh-shut up!"

Estrella looked over at me in confusion, "Did I miss something? Cause I swear you two were just arguing. Like, screaming at each other."

"Uhm..." I giggled. "Yeah, that changed."

"We may or may not be getting married." Badr told her sheepishly.

"Wait," She glanced at the both of us. "Oh... my... god!" She started squealing. "Give me a second as I fangirl!" She basically screamed as she started dying on the floor.

I laughed softly. "You okay, El?"

"Not-" She breathed, "At-" She got up. "All!"

"Well, we should leave Badr to his studies, come on." I got up and grabbed Estrella's wrist, dragging her out of the dorm.

After the girl left, still fangirling, I sat down on my bed and pulled out my phone. I found a message on it.

"I guess I should change your name on my phone. 🤔" Badr had sent.

"You can do that after we get married." I texted back.

"But I was gonna name you 'Future Wife' 🙁"

"...okay fine." I bit my lip. "But no flirting or romancing or whatever! We have to wait till we're married or it's haram!"

"I know 😂" He texted back. "I don't think any of this has quite settled in my mind yet."

"I feel like I half understand it." I responded.

"Well... If I'm going to go through with this court case, I'm going to need your full support. And... I'm so so so sorry, but I don't think I'll have enough money to afford a ring. I'll have to cover lawyer costs. Plus now we have to get an apartment, so rent."

"I'm by your side 100%." I texted back. "And, you have my funds as well now. Especially for that apartment."

"Ugh, I just realized." He texted. "I have to tell my parents this at some point. And I'm going to have to pay for everything on my own."

I then began to realize that Badr wouldn't be able to afford to give me all the gifts that the groom's side usually gave. Most of the desi traditions were gifts and things, which Badr wouldn't have the money to get. Maybe his parents would, but they wouldn't help him. Especially not once he started the court case.

"Hey, you don't have to get me anything. At any point." I sent. "Forget traditions. I don't need all that."

"But I want to! ☹️☹️☹️" He texted back.

"-.- You can't afford it, Bob." I typed. "We're broke college students, if you forgot."

"...true." He seemed disappointed. "But that's nor fair. You deserve all the gifts and everything. I should be able to give it to you."

"It's okaaaaay!" I texted. "I promise."

"I don't want promises. I want to be able to get you things, like I should." Badr was hell bent on doing this, even though he knew he dismissed have enough money to.

"Badr, come on. It's okay." I smiled softly. "I have other things to look forward to, anyway."

"🙁" He sent.

"Brb, mom is calling." I picked up the call and put the phone up to my ear.

"Asalam Walaikum, mommy." I greeted.

"Walaikum asalam." I could tell she was smiling bright. "I told you so."

I laughed. "Yep, you did. And when are you wrong, mama?"

"Never." She laughed. "We should talk about the wedding."

"Oh. So, mama, some stuff has happened in Badr's household and... well, he is going to run a case against his parents for domestic abuse. I kind of pressured him until he agreed to." I explained.

"Oh... the poor boy. So then he is going to pay for everything on his own?" She asked in shock. "No, no. We'll have a simple wedding then. Just a nikkah and maybe a small celebration afterwards, which we'll host." She concluded. "Is that okay with you, baby?"

"Yep." I agreed immediately. "Though, Badr is insistent on getting me gifts and all that traditional stuff. But I know he can't afford it."

"Don't let him. He'll only drive himself into debt." My mother advised me. "Now tell me more about this case."

"So, we're going to press charges for domestic abuse. His parents abused him and his sisters growing up, mostly him. But they harass his sisters as well." I explained. "We want the girls out of there. Since Badr is their closest relative in terms of heredity, he would become their guardian."

"Then he can't stay in a dorm?" She questioned.

"He was against this, but we're going to bring our savings together and get a two bedroom apartment." I told her.

"We'll help." She said immediately.

"Oh, no, mama, that's okay!"

"Nope, we're going to help." She said definitively. "No argument."

"Okay." I sighed. "Other than that, from my understanding, we have to get the apartment before we file the case."

"Okay, so we have to get it soon." My mom hummed.

"Yup. And then his sisters will move in with us and we will get them settled." I explained.

"We'll be here if you need any help, okay?"

"Okay, mama." I smiled. "I should go now though. I will talk to you later."

"Give Badr my salams!" She said before ending the call.

Words:
-Nikkah: A muslim marriage