ONE

❝Tum ho he chaval❞

Ifrah huffed out a breath after putting her backpack on the ground and tucked some of her silky stray hair behind her ear which had escaped from her ponytail. She folded the sleeves of her red checkered boyfriend shirt to her elbows before looking around the port where other tourists like her were waiting for the tour guide to arrive so that they can start their journey to the island. Her wandering eyes caught a certain raven haired guy and they immediately turned into slits behind her black aviators.

He was running a hand through his hair while chewing on a gum which had been in his mouth for God knows how long. His plain black button up shirt was tucked out of his denim jeans and Ifrah's left eye twitched in annoyance when she caught some of the girls eyeing him like he was a gola ganda in this hot and dry weather.

She hated the fact that her husband (unfortunately) was an obvious looker and made heads turn in his direction wherever he went. And the most miserable part was that he was aware of it. Even now he seemed indifferent to the girl's looks while Ifrah knew it was anything but.

Aayan Abdullah breathed female attention.

As if sensing her withering gaze, Aayan turned his head in her direction. They were standing a good ten feet away from each other (deliberately), but Ifrah still caught the arrogant cock of his brow; taunting her for her stare. He even pulled his black ray bans down to look at her with his caramel brown eyes and she let out a scoff, before turning away from his insufferable (yet handsome) face.

She pulled out her phone from her black jeans' pocket and started scrolling through it to kill time. They didn't have to wait long, for the tour guide arrived in a few minutes and called out the people to board the travel company's liveaboard. The tourists started moving in a queue and Ifrah followed with her backpack. She was going to take the spot after a random man in the line when someone bumped into her, and made her stagger some steps back.

Ifrah looked up to see her stupid better half standing there while staring ahead and chewing on his gum.

“That's my spot.” she gritted out.

Aayan innocently tilted his head in her direction. “Are you talking to me?” he asked with a finger pointed at his chest.

“No, I was talking to the air.” she replied sarcastically. His full lips turned into an 'O'.

“Oh acha. Carry on, then.”

“You ull— ” she started with a glare but some lady interrupted her.

“Can you please get out of the way?”

Ifrah's ears turned red at the lady's annoyance and she hurriedly stood behind her husband. Aayan chuckled quietly to himself, and earned a kick at his shin from the back. Now it was her turn to smirk smugly to herself.

The line moved forward and when it was Ifrah's turn to step in the boat, the guide saw her struggle with her backpack and helped her to set it in. She passed a thankful smile to him and he in return, gave her a wink, which instantly made her frown.

What the actual biscuit?

She ignored it for the time being and took a seat near the edge so that she can enjoy the view during the ride and after setting her backpack near her, focused her gaze on the guide who was still standing near the entrance. Her light, hazel eyes got narrowed when she saw that he was not helping other ladies despite them carrying backpacks bigger than hers.

“If you think that he flirted with you, you're right.”

Her husband's deep voice made her jump out of her seat and she turned around to see that he was sitting beside her on the bench seat.

“First, why are you sitting here? Second, you saw that man flirting with me and yet you didn't do anything?” she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. Aayan removed his ray bans and tucked them in the groove of his black button up where the top three buttons were undone and faced her.

“First, I sat here before you. Second, anything that happens with you is your business, not mine.”

Ifrah scoffed at his reply and tucked her hair behind her ear once again; the wind was blowing pretty fast.

“I should've expected this kind of answer, tum ho he chaval.” (You are a fool.) she muttered under her breath but he heard it, and glared at her.

“Tum khud ho gi chaval, disrespectful woman.” (You are a fool,)

Ifrah's annoyance rate heightened and she pointed a finger to his face in warning. “Don't start here or else... ”

“Or else what? Huh? I'm not scared of your measly threats.” Aayan replied to her warning head-on.

She was going to throw insults at him but the guide clapped his hands to grab everybody's attention.

“Okay people, we're ready to go. As you know, it's a thirty-six hour long trip so cabins are assigned to everyone and you guys can check them out after I've told you some other basic information. Sounds good?”

Everyone nodded their heads while Aayan let out a scoff. “Why am I even here?” he mumbled and Ifrah's hands folded into fists.

They were here because of her. They've been in Costa Rica for two days and didn't do much beside eating each other's head off in the hotel room. When Ifrah realized that she was missing a great opportunity to visit one of the most famous islands of the world simply because she couldn't be in the same room as her husband, she decided to swallow her pride and asked him to take a tour to the island. Aayan had answered with a roll of his eyes, and she had shut her mouth, thinking that he had rejected the idea. But the next morning, he had woken her up by slapping two tickets on her face for the tour and now here they were.

“Why the fudge are you complaining?” she asked him with narrowed eyes. Aayan replied with the same expression.

“I can do whatever the fück I want.”

Ifrah cringed at the curse word and inhaled a deep breath through her nose; he had used it on purpose. “Can you please be a civilized human for once? It will not cost you anything.”

Aayan's lips turned upwards from the right side into a smirk. “Oh yeah? It will cost me my ego.”

The chestnut haired girl wanted to throw this stupid man out in the water right then and there, but thought better of it and whipped her head in the other direction, which resulted in her ponytail slapping Aayan in the face and he let out a curse.

“Mental aurat.” he stated while rubbing his cheek.

“Jahil admi.” she threw back without turning towards him.

“Choohiya.”

“Kala kawwa.”

Aayan's glare at the back of her head intensified.

“Chipkali ki dum.”

Ifrah gasped, and swiveled her head to give him a murderous look while he just wiggled his eyebrows arrogantly.

“Gadhay ka paun.”

She crossed her arms smugly as she caught Aayan's face turn red with anger. He leaned forward with his pointer finger raised but someone cleared their throat and they both looked at the girl, startled.

“Mr. and Mrs. Abdullah, right?” she asked in her thick Spanish accent, and both of them nodded. The girl smiled before passing them a key. “This is for your cabin, hope you enjoy your journey.”

They both gave her tight lipped smiles and she was going to move forward but stopped, as if remembering something, and said with an apologetic smile;

“And please, no PDA. Have a nice day.”

She left them there with their jaws hanging open in bewilderment.

PDA?!

Where did she even get that insane idea from?!

An involuntary cough escaped from Ifrah's mouth and she stood up from the bench with her face as red as a tomato. Aayan was glaring at the attendant's back with the key in hand when Ifrah snapped him out of it by saying;

“Let's put these bags in the cabin.”

She didn't wait for him and walked away from there, leaving a sour Aayan behind. He exhaled heavily and stood up too, before picking up his bag and following his wife. This trip was going to be the death of him.

▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂

N O T E

Oohh you're right about the last thought Aayan...

How was the first chapter?

Here are a few things I want to mention:

1. I won't be translating the words this time (it gets tiring 😐) so you have to google them, but the sentences will be translated

2. This story will have *uhum* some oo-la-la scenes (They're married okay? And I can see all of you guys getting excited 👀) BUT they won't be too extra or mature because duh! It's a Muslim love story, and I want to keep it halal while also giving you guys some spice 😂 and...

3. Unlike Pizza Calls, I will update only one chapter a day *dodges a flying slipper and eggs*

Hey! I just want to keep this story going for a while so that you guys have more time to get attached to the characters and cry when one of them— OKAY, SO MOVING ON

4. This one is basically a rant 😐

*ahem* So, I posted an announcement about this issue some time before but deleted it when I realized that I should write it somewhere permanently so that it comes across the people who ACTUALLY needs to hear this.

I just have one question;

Why do people unfollow?

Let me rephrase that; WHY do people follow even in the first place when they're going to come back at my profile and press on that unfollow button WITHOUT ANY REASON

P.s I know who unfollows me btw 👀

It has happened with me many times in a row throughout a WEEK, can you understand my frustration? 😤

I mean seriously bro, DO NOT follow me if you're going to do this badtameezi of unfollowing later!

I'm NOT a follow hungry person, but I AM a human, alright? I write on this app as a hobby and you guys get to read my stories for free, the least you could do is comment something nice if you're enjoying my work WITHOUT a follow. Trust me I won't mind, at all. A reader's words of appreciation are enough for writers like me, who've just started writing stories.

Is that too much to ask?

And IF you've followed me, then it's brilliant! Because honestly, we all want that, and it gives a feeling that this person enjoyed my work to the point that he/she wants to see more of it. But if you've not and only read it WHILE LEAVING comments and votes, then it's also totally cool, I'm not forcing you to follow.

Now, that's out of the way, I just wanna thank those lovely people who've been really supportive; I love you guys 🤧❤❤❤

And those who have come across this book by accident in hopes that they'd read only one chapter, vote and comment on it so that I notice them and return the favor, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT

I'm serious, ye walay kam nai hotay mujh se 😑 agay parh ke mazay leny ki koi zroorat nai ha if you can't show manners

You wanna read properly like a human? Then most welcome, but if you have ulterior motives like an alien, then buh-bye!

P.s There's a reason I've written 'No reading requests' on my profile, why don't people pay attention to bio? 😩

(Look how bad the end of my first chapter looks because of some karaily jesy log 🤧)

Anyways, have a nice day and

Chaand Raat Mubarak ✨