Chapter 36- The Wife

Lale had always loved the three day bayrami holiday, it meant no work and also family gatherings. While she hated the first day of bayrami, she always loved the last day.

It was the day she and her family celebrated their bayrami, inviting only a few guests and today, they had two more additions to the list; her sister in law and Asil Kartal.

She hadn't wanted to invite him but learning that he was spending his bayrami alone, she had taken pity on him and decided to let him spend it with them and besides, there was no harm in doing so; no one should spend their eid alone.

{••}

"Why aren't you ready?" Lale's brows furrowed, scrutinizing Najmah's attire.

"Ready for what?" she queried, taking another spoonful of her Nutella.

"We have an occasion today," Lale facepalmed herself. "Do not pretend like you did not know about it."

"Fine," she huffed, capping the jar. She placed the spoon on top of the chocolate pot then crossed her legs on the bed, ready to go about her lecture over why she wasn't going down to join the festivity.

"Your relatives do not like me at all," she fiddled with her fingers. "Your grandmother detests me. She basically told me that Aslan and I were incompatible and that she would never accept me, so can I please be pardoned to sit this one out? I have my Nutella jars to keep me company."

"First off," Lale ticked off her finger. "Do not worry about my relatives, they don't like me too and they are not invited. That's all pretense, they don't like anyone of us but what can they do? We are Sadeks. Second, grandmother is racist. She'll never accept you, pardon my use of language. We love and accept you, and that's all that matters. Your skin tone or culture doesn't matter, what matters is the person that you are."

"Am I excused, then?" Najmah grinned, clasping her hands together.

"Not a chance," Lale shook her head, rising from the bed. "You are most definitely going, I need you there for moral support."

"Moral support?" Najmah cocked her eyebrow.

"You will see when you get there," Lale twisted the doorknob before turning to Najmah with a deadpanned expression. "Wear a dress!"

"Yes ma'am," Najmah chuckled dryly, placing her head on the pillow. She screamed loudly in it before sauntering over to the closet to get ready.

She pulled on a red double layered dress Lale had gifted to her as an Eid gift. Not wanting to appear all dolled up, she chose the diamond stud earrings her mother in law had gifted to her. And decided to apply nude makeup before slipping her feet into a pair of black heels. She draped a black veil loosely around her face, checking herself in the mirror one last time before hurrying out of the room.

{••}

Out in the garden where the event was taking place, Najmah found Lale pacing back and forth, barking out orders at the workers.

"My God!" Najmah remarked, walking closer to her. "What has got you so uptight?"

"Najmah," Lale sighed, taking a deep breath. "Remember when I told you about that moral support? I need it right now."

She dragged Najmah's hand towards the table where at least a dozen people were already seated at, happily chatting away.

"Nothing is going right," Lale explained as they took their seats besides Aslan. "My horrible cousins invited themselves over. This is so not how I was visualising this evening to go."

"Is it too late for me to bolt outta here?"

"You wish," Lale smacked her lips together, sending a glare towards the end of the table where two ladies were not-so-discretely pointing at Najmah.

"You look beautiful today," Aslan leaned in and whispered into her ear, pecking her cheeks.

"You don't look so bad yourself," she replied, a warm smile grazing her lips. "The kaftan suits you."

"Really?" his lips curved up into a smile as he held her hand under the table, his obsidian orbs staring right into hers.

"Yeah," she averted her gaze, her smile still intact.

"I'm glad you like it."

"I didn't say I did," she scrunched her face.

"Is that so?" he cocked his eyebrow.

"Okay that's enough," Lale interrupted, glaring at the two. "Do not act so lovey dovey while I'm here.Brother, I called Najmah down here for moral support. With those two on the table," she jerked her chin towards the uninvited guests. "I do not know what I will do."

"What's with you and them?" Najmah questioned curiously while Aslan chuckled, earning another glare from Lale.

"Let's just say we don't get along too well," Lale shrugged. "I will not be held accountable for my actions if they come a foot close to me."

"I will keep you in check," Najmah patted her hand soothingly.

The lunch went on well with Asil having to stop Lale from throwing a fork at one of her cousins who had blatantly called Najmah an outcast. Even Aslan had gritted his teeth and burled his fists, but Najmah calmed him down, drawing small circles around his back.

{••}

"Esra," one of the girls introduced, coming to stand beside Najmah after the luncheon.

Najmah nodded, not sparing her a glance. Her eyes were trained on Aslan who was buried in conversation with Asil.

"So Nejmah, how do you cope with my broody cousin?"

"Najmah," she replied through clenched teeth.

"I know he's not into all those love stuff. I'm a bit surprised you two are still together," Esra smirked. "Afet has been trying to get him to be with her, but he just wouldn't budge."

"It's called marriage Esra," Najmah replied coolly. "But that is something I'm sure you wouldn't know about, right?"

Esra's eyes widened as she stared at Najmah. She had no idea the lady had a fight in her. Afet was definitely going to get an earful from her. How dare she send her to the lion's den without warning?

"Now if you would excuse me,I'd like to join my broody husband." Najmah stormed passed her, heading towards Aslan who was now standing by the double doors leading into the house, smiling warmly at her.

His smile did a lot of things to her, filling up her heart with flutters and tranquility she never thought she'd ever witness.

{••}

"You look stunning," Hanifa's voice carried out into the room as Najmah settled her laptop on the vanity table.

"Yeah," Najmah smiled, pulling out the pin on her veil. "All thanks to my in-laws."

"You married into a good family," Hanifa bobbed her head. "May Allah bless your home."

"Ameen," Najmah chimed, wiping her face free of makeup.

"So tell me, how was your Eid?"

"Where do I start from? I finally met my husband's grandmother on the first day who flat out told me that I wasn't good enough for him and that he would definitely divorce. Yesterday, Aslan and I went to our half completed house, which is so cool by the way..." Najmah narrated, her lips stretching into a wide smile as she recounted the events of the other day.

"That is...wow...uhm...so...unexpected," Hanifa stuttered, blinking. "So that means no divorce, right?"

"Adda," Najmah shook her head, sitting down on the stool. "Things have changed."

"You mean your feelings for him have changed?" Hanifa smirked.

"Whatever," Najmah rolled her eyes, glancing up to fix her gaze on Aslan. Her smile lit up as she beckoned him over to where she sat.

"Adda Hanifa meet Aslan," she turned the screen towards him. "Aslan, meet my Adda."

"Merhaba," he greeted, his eyes briefly connecting with Najmah's before going back to the screen.

"Asslamu alaikum," Hanifa smiled at him. "So I finally meet the man who has gotten our little star smitten."

"Amin wa'alaikissalam," he replied the same time Najmah shouted "Adda", her eyes widening up a fraction.

Aslan chuckled, taking the laptop away from her.

"I am the one who is smitten by her," he shot Najmah a wink, settling down on the bed.

He and Hanifa chatted up for a moment while Najmah went into the bathroom to freshen up.

"Take care of her," she heard Hanifa say as she stepped out of the bathroom.

"I will," he responded, fixing his gaze on her. "I promise."

Hanifa disconnected the call and Aslan closed the laptop while rising from the bed.

"She is amazing," he spoke, padding towards her.

"She is," Najmah conceded. "She's saved me from getting into trouble a lot of times."

"She said something along the lines of that."

"Oh my," Najmah facepalmed herself, burying her face in his chest. "Adda's mouth has no filter at times."

"I'll tell her what you said."

"Snitch!" she gasped, lifting her head from his chest. "How will you tell her?"

"I'll call her," he shrugged.

"You don't even have her contact," she crossed her arms smirking. "And I won't give it to you."

"You don't have to," he kissed the corner of her lips, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "I already have."

"You trying to snatch my Adda?"

"Already did," he winked at her, heading towards the bathroom to perform ablution. "Remember, I'm charming."

Najmah shook her head, flopping down on the bed. She stared at the ceiling, feeling content with the emotions that swelled in her mind and heart. With Aslan, she knew that she was safe, and that was good enough for her.

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