A gentle zephyr whispered across the vast expanse of enchanting nature, causing the foliage to sway in a delicate dance and the flowers to sway in synchrony.

From his vantage point, Nasseem couldn't tear his gaze away from the newcomer. Standing at a distance, he watched as she stepped out of the car, her bashful smile directed towards his family. His heart thundered in his chest as he observed the chocolate strands atop her head flicker in the wind.

Entranced by the chaotic sway of her hair, Nasseem was jolted from his reverie as he heard their voices approaching, causing a quiet curse to escape his lips.

He certainly didn't want to be caught gawking at his wife. Admittedly, he hadn't seen much of her beyond the back of her head and the side of her face. But why was he feeling so anxious? It wasn't as if he was committing a wrongdoing. Well, except for his earlier immaturity and grumpiness regarding the whole marriage situation. He certainly didn't want his family to start teasing him for openly staring at his newlywed bride.

He never expected to get whisked away into an arranged marriage—or was it more of a marriage of convenience? Nasseem found himself pondering as he absentmindedly cracked his knuckles. The lines were blurred with this one.

Amidst his sister's contagious giggles echoing through the air, Noah found himself less than amused by the unfolding chaos. Nevertheless, he remained committed to assisting his only sibling's closest friend. Warda dragged her friend with one hand, and her husband with the other. 

"Easy there, tiger," Noah grumbled under his breath, struggling with the luggage in his grasp. His wife slowed down slightly in response, but her attention remained fixed on their destination.

Nasseem shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his jeans, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he waited.

His gaze drifted toward her as she approached, her eyes cast downward. Dark lashes grazed her freckled, plump cheeks, accentuating her shy, innocent smile. She nodded along to Warda's animated chatter.

Noah rolled his eyes and offered a quick greeting in passing as he hurried into the house.

Nasseem's grin faltered when he glanced back to find his sister and wife standing before him. Her pastel green dress billowed gently in the breeze, its floral pattern blending seamlessly with the natural scenery behind her. At that moment, Nasseem couldn't shake the feeling that she belonged there, standing right in that spot.

The notion struck him like a bolt of lightning: she seemed to belong here more than he did, more than anything in the world.

It was an absurd thought, given the circumstances. He cursed silently, willing his mind to focus. He hadn't even given her a proper look until now, not even during their rushed, simple wedding ceremony, which had been attended only by the two of them, his sister and her husband, and a rather jovial but boisterous government official.

"Come on, Zahra," Warda whispered, though her attempt at being quiet was rather poor, as she nudged her friend with her sharp elbow. Nasseem could attest to just how lethal those elbows could be; she had smartly threatened to use them against him if he ever harmed her friend.

Taking a deep breath, he offered a smile. "Hey there."

He struggled to restrain himself from scowling at his sister, who rolled her eyes at him as if to say: Hey? Hey?! You can do better than this. You're hopeless.

He was, indeed, hopeless, stupid, and utterly lost for words.

Zahra nodded, greeting him quietly before Warda ushered her inside, leaving behind a flustered Nasseem.

"Shit," he muttered.

What had he gotten himself into?

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Nasseem found himself at the kitchen sink, washing dishes after a particularly awkward lunch. Despite his sister's valiant efforts to break the ice between him and Zahra, both remained resistant to her relentless attempts, leaving an uncomfortable tension lingering in the air.

It was a relief knowing that they had to pick up their child; otherwise, she might have lingered longer, prolonging the uncomfortable atmosphere. It wasn't long before Noah had to coax a pouting Warda to leave, reminding her, "Let them get to know each other on their own, babe." 

With a sigh, his wife relented, giving her friend a bone-crushing hug. Then, she turned to her brother, embracing him tightly. "Thank you, Nass," she whispered, pulling back with a watery smile. "Thank you."

As the door closed behind them, silence descended upon the house.

Zahra shifted on her feet behind him. "I'll... I'm gonna go unpack," she mumbled.

"Okay," Nasseem replied, clearing his throat. "I'll be around. Just call me if you need anything. Make yourself at home, I suppose."

She nodded, opening her mouth to say something, but he had already stepped out.

Her shoulders sagged. Zahra was more than glad for this opportunity, yet she found herself unable to convey her emotions and gratitude adequately. With heavy steps, she made her way to her new room, her gaze fixed on her luggage. A single bag and a backpack contained everything she had ever owned.

At least now, she was a little less confined. Yet, a lingering anxiety gnawed at her, questioning whether she was truly free this time. Zahra feared she might've shackled herself in a moment of desperation to false hopes of faraway freedom.

Alas, it was too late to change anything, and she couldn't see any other options available to her. All she could do was press forward and hope for the best.

With a heavy sigh, Zahra set about tidying and organizing her new room, finding solace in the simple task. Meanwhile, Nasseem wandered through the farm, his gaze sweeping over everything in his path.

He checked on the cows and the chicken, brushed the hair of his mare, and phoned a couple of his workers for stupid information he could've easily obtained from the reports they had prepared. 

He was wasting time and he knew it.

Nasseem glared at his reflection in the rippling water, where ducks flapped around in the nearby pond. "I didn't think you'd be a coward," he muttered and got a quack in return. Rising to his feet with a loud groan, he dusted off his pants. "You're right. I should head back."

As the sun spilled across the sky in a breathtaking display of light and color, Nasseem couldn't shake the image of Zahra's face from his mind and how pale she looked beneath her freckles and dark mop of curls.

When his gaze drifted downward, he was startled to find Zahra standing there, leaning against the railing of his front porch. It was as though his incessant thoughts had conjured her presence. The wind tousled her hair and orange her skin as she watched the sunset. At that moment, she seemed to glow with an ethereal beauty that took his breath away.

Their eyes locked, and a smile slowly bloomed across her face while she hugged herself. His heart stuttered.

"Hey," she breathed.

Nasseem nodded in response, returning her greeting before heading to the door. However, he paused when she spoke again.

"Oh, don't forget to remove your shoes," her voice faltered as he turned towards her. Sensing his attention on her, she continued with flushed cheeks, "There's mud all over them."

Nasseem blinked at his shoes, realizing he had tracked mud onto the porch. "Oh, yeah, I forgot. Thanks."

Shit. Crap. Big pile of dung. 

Nasseem squeezed his eyes shut in embarrassment while removing his boots and stumbled inside, leaving behind an even more embarrassed Zahra.

A wave of embarrassment washed over him, and he squeezed his eyes shut while removing his boots. He stumbled slightly as he hurried inside, leaving behind a flustered Zahra.