It almost sounded like a confession.
One that had been kept hidden for so long, only to slip out by mistake.
Since the very moment those words escaped his lips...he panicked.
"I-I just don't want to get on his bad side! It's best if we get along... you understand?"
Somehow, it felt as though he wanted my approval. As if he needed me to reassure him. To put his heart at ease.
So, I simply hummed in response.
The car fell silent once more. Neither of us uttered another word, each carrying a different turmoil within.
I had never realised the burden he carried.
The fear that lingered in his heart simply because my brother had opposed our marriage.
Did he really mean what he had said?
If that were truly the case...then it would almost seem as though he had been desperate to marry me.
And if that was true...
Then perhaps the affection within me was mutual.
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat as my heart pounded persistently against my chest.
My lips instinctively pursed once more, and I turned my face away from him.
Only ten days into our marriage did I realise that Haider hadn't been avoiding my gaze. Quite the contrary.
He had been watching me all along.
Quietly.
Patiently.
Perhaps waiting for the right opportunity to reach out.
He had beaten me to it.
All this time, I believed I was the only one growing flustered and excited. But no...
He had been sailing the very same sea beside me.
***
Waalaikumsalam."
She replied before gently closing the car door.
After dropping Ariya off at university, Haider took the familiar route he drove every morning towards the well-established, glass-framed office building.
He served as the company's Vice President and was steadily working his way towards a promotion to Chief Financial Officer.
The staff greeted him with their usual respect as he made his way through the corridors towards his office.
His bag rested in one hand, while his dark navy coat hung neatly over the other.
Upon entering, he draped the coat over the back of his chair before lowering himself into the seat.
And...
The moment the office door clicked shut behind him, the composed image he had maintained all morning quietly crumbled.
Haider slouched over his desk, his head bowed so low that the curtain of jet-black hair, kissed with faint brunette highlights, concealed his face entirely.
His right forearm rested across his forehead in a weary gesture, while his left hand lay motionless over the scattered documents covering his desk.
The dark circles beneath his eyes justified that he had not slept a wink.
He was exhausted and utterly fatigued.
He closed his eyes.
The image of Ariya smiling as she placed the piece of meat onto his plate replayed itself over and over again.
"...She smiled."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips before disappearing just as quickly.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
"Come in."
The door creaked open, and his assistant stepped inside carrying a bundle of documents.
"Sir... did you sleep at all?"
Haider immediately straightened himself, the weariness vanishing behind his usual professional composure.
He gave a small nod before gesturing for his assistant to hand him the files.
"There'll be a heavy workload coming in. February has already begun."
"Hm."
His reply was short.
His assistant had long grown accustomed to the chilling silence that lingered within Haider's office.
So, like always, he stood as still as a stone, patiently waiting in case another instruction followed. Haider quietly scanned through the documents.
I'll need to pull an all-nighter.
He reached for his laptop and opened his inbox.
His eyes fell upon a particular email.
The subject line alone was enough to make him frown. Almost instantly, his hand tightened into a fist.
"You may leave."
He spoke without sparing his assistant a glance.
"Yes, sir."
The office door clicked shut.
Haider pulled out his phone and dialled a familiar number.
"Hello?"
"I'll be forwarding you a few emails, Yusuf. Deal with them for me, would you?"
"Emails?"
"They're from them."
Silence settled over the line. After a brief pause, Yusuf finally answered.
"...Send them over."
"I'll take care of them."
"Thanks."
BEEP
Haider lowered the phone.
His eyes drifted to the contact listed beneath Yusuf's.
Ariya.
He needed to tell her that he would be staying late. Normally, a message would have been enough.
But today...
He wanted to hear her voice.
Perhaps it was because he was exhausted.
Or perhaps...
He simply missed her.
Before he could overthink it, his thumb had already pressed the call button.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then-
"...H-Hello."
Haider straightened abruptly, his fingers tightening around the armrest of his chair.
Her voice reached him with perfect clarity.
Gentle.
Comforting.
Without realizing it, the tension in his shoulders eased.
"Assalamualaikum..."
"Waalaikumussalam. Is something the matter?"
"Oh... yes. I just wanted to let you know that I'll be staying late today. I won't be able to pick you up."
A small sigh of relief escaped him.
He was glad he had managed to say everything he wanted without stumbling over his words.
"It's okay. I'll ask Naima to drop me home."
"Hm."
A brief silence followed.
"Then...take care of yourself."
"Ah... yes, you too."