XVII

Noor POV

" Here you can use my card" Jack said as he took out his credit card out from his wallet.

I looked at him confused and surprised, my lips apart from one another as I try to understand his words in case I was mistaken.

"What??"

"I said I wanted to buy you some things. So you can use my card to pay." He explained and I was speechless .

The crowd noise became like a buzzing bee as everything around me blurred and my mind was thinking blankly.

Why would he want to buy me things? I am no one but a stranger to him. How should I decline without being misunderstood?

" Jack- I can't. You shouldn't buy me things" I said politely declining his offer because I feel uncomfortable, him buying me things.

" Noor!! Let's go!! I have the perfect shop for you!" Michelle thankfully interrupted and dragged me away from there otherwise I wouldn't know what I should do if he keep insisting it.

I know he confessed to me but I did not accept it yet so it isn't right for me to just use his money just because he has feelings for me.

Michelle took me to one of the malls and MashaAllah it was soo beautiful and colourful filled with hijabs and different modest clothing!

Ya Allah! This is heaven!

Excitement starts to surface on my face as my eyes wander at the different beautiful colors displayed.

" Ok first we are going to buy you some home clothing and then out clothing and then the party outfit!" She blabbered as we entered the shop

" Oh- and.... you can buy anything else you want! Today is your day!" She added proudly like a big sister treating her sibling to something after they got their paycheck.

Truly she is someone I don't want to replace . Not long ago I was lonely with no one besides me and to take care of me as a family but then Michelle was sent and I can't be anymore grateful to my God.

Surely, He is the All Knowing.

Alhamdulillah.

Before I could say her to not be excessive she dragged me everywhere and took each clothes of every style and she managed to shut me up and do whatever she wants.

" Go on and try this for me please. I would like to see you wear it" she ordered pushing me to the fitting room and left me there.

Ya Allah- now I have no choice but to try it out for her.

I must say, she knows her ways around fashion. The dress she picked was a creme shirt with an olive fan pattern skirt and an extra white shirt.

I've never tried such style because I don't know much about fashion but I really like loose clothing.

Ok let's try it out!

I looked myself in the mirror with disbelief. Is that really me?? The style is really good as I twirled myself looking at the mirror.

It will go well with an olive scarf or a brown too.

I stepped out of the fitting room and looked for Michelle who was looking through the rows of Kurtas .

" Michelle" I called her out and she turned at me with a gasp. " God Noor! You could be a model!"

I smiled at her compliment as I looked down feeling the heat on my face to surface " Look Leon, Isn't she pretty??!" .

Leon???

I raised my face and saw him appeared standing beside Michelle as my smile dropped and I looked down don't want to see his reaction.

When was he here with us? I thought he will be with Suzy since she went somehwere God knows where.

" Say something !" Michelle urged but he just stayed silent, and looked at me with that familiar look of a predator.

It always gave me the feeling as if I am going to be caged.

Michelle rolled her eye as she figured her cousin won't answer her " Don't mind him Noor he is just soo speechless from your beauty that he has no words for it"

My body heat raised and I became self conscious hearing what she just said. Oh God!! What is she saying!

I want to bury myself from her! " M-michelle!" I whisper grumbled trying to stop her from spouting any more nonsense while she just laughs at my reaction.

God-! I hope my cheeks aren't red-!

I ran back into the fitting to hide only to see my cheeks red from blushing probably out of embarrassment out there by Michelle.

Beauty?? Yeah right he only thinks of me as a slu- hah- never mind.

I changed my outfit back and exited the room while checking the price tag of the creme shirt.

The fabric was really comfy and I liked it but the price was what really made me speechless " $950?!"

" Oh Noor! I can't help but take everything which I think will be pretty on you. And I also bought your type of dress they had here" she said while bringing forward a beautiful simple red anarkali with golden lace outline.

If one simple shirt costs $950 how much does this anarkali cost?? I looked at the price tag as a gasp formed from within me.

" What happen?? Don't you like it??"

" No- Michelle.... this... this is beautiful but... I can't accept this" I said and she frowned looking at me and at the dress " Why?"

" Michelle... this dress costs too much and I-"

" We already have an agreement that we will do whatever I want so you have no say in anything I pick for you. Period."

Well, True that I did but I wish I should've added the words "limited" if I knew the price was too much-.

One thing I hate is aimlessly spending the money without any care. I know she is doing it for good intentions but the price is really too much!

We could buy the same clothes and design for $20 at the local market!

" Michelle these are enough and we can put back everything else Ok?." I said showing the baby pink floral abaya she chose and a black long dress but she did not agree with me.

" I can't possibly wear this much clothing!" I argued but it was falling in deaf ears.

" Hmm... ok then let's put back the skirt outfit you just wore and buy everything else. I will compromise with this or else we buy them all"

What?? What difference will it make then? Other than a couple of hundreds of dollars will be saved.

I groaned knowing it will not go anywhere and passed the outfit which I was holding to her and left from there.

" Noor! Noor listen to me!" She called out but I did not stopped and continued my way.

She isn't the only one that can be stubborn- hmph!

I found myself walking around a small make up and accessories area when a sobbing sound caught my attention.

" Waa mama Waa" cried a tiny voice and I followed it to only find a small boy of 6 or maybe 7 years sitting on it's bump crying on the floor .

" Stop crying " My gaze moved from the boy to the man standing beside him, his hands in his pockets while looking down at the kid.

What is he doing here?! Did he bullied this kid?!

The little boy wouldn't stop crying tears falling from his eyes like water fall as he wipes his snouts

I can't simply leave the poor boy with him! I went and crouched beside him wiping his fallen tears.

" Hey baby. Why are you crying? Where are your parents?" I asked him softly trying to calm him down but it was doing the opposite.

" WAAAA MOMMY-!!" he shouts his face becoming red due to his crying as I panicked while everyone around whispering to one another watching the scene.

I picked him up whispering a bismillah as I realized his weight is too much for me to carry him but I eventually did.

" Look here isn't that Spider-man? Woaah" I showed him the Spider-man toy chain that was hanging and thankfully it slowed down his crying.

Always does the trick to stop kids from crying.

He took the rectangular chain from me and was observing it " Can you tell me what is your name baby?" .

" A-ahmed" he sobbed playing with the chain. His face was messy and wet but I don't carry any tissue with me.

What is he doing alone? Where are his parents? I should go to the reception and tell them.

A hankerchief appeared infront of me but I was hesitant to take it from him. I looked at him but he was indifferent "Thank you"

" The staffs will take care of him. Leave him be" he said unbothered by the fact that the boy was crying not too long ago because he bullied him!

I don't know what's happening but I can't seem to keep my mouth still when I heard him say that " How could you say that after you bullied him!"

He looked at me utterly confused squiting his eyes as if I said something stupid just now.

What?? Now he is acting as if he did not do anything to the boy?! Coward!

" Ahmed can you te-"

"Ahmed! Ya Allah !! Alhamdulillah I found you!" A woman in her mid twenties came running worriedly and took Ahmed from me into her arms.

" Mama!" Cheered Ahmed once he was in his mother's arms as his mother kissed all over his face and he giggled.

I am glad he was found.

" Ya Allah. Thank you very much. I searched everywhere for him but he was here " she said looking at his son who was smiling at her .

" It's ok. Your welcome"

" I am sorry if he troubled you and your husband."

My eyes widened hearing her words. Husband?!?! Whose? Where? I was speechless hearing the word husband. I am not even married yet!

I looked at Leon thinking he will clear the misunderstanding but he was silent and just looked at me.

WHY ISN'T HE SAYING ANYTHING?

" Um... Mrs. You are mistaken he is n-"

" Mama some kids took my chocolate and this uncle scolded them" the little boy sniffed while touching his mom's cheeks.

" Oh really? Thank you for taking care of him Mister. And I am sorry for the trouble" said Ahmed's mother before they said their goodbyes.

Ya Allah- I mistook him for bullying the boy!

Anyone seeing that scene will think he bullied the kid! It's not my fault-!

I slowly turned around guilty that I accused him for something he did not. He was looking at me and the silence was really uncomfortable.

I have to apologize.

" I-" before I say anything, he left while muttering something under his breath and walked away.

Now I feel bad.

I returned to where I left Michelle and she was thankfully still there with Leon and Jack too.

" Noor! There you are! I returned back some clothes ok? Dont get mad at me now!" She pouted as I looked at the cart which seemed to be reduced a bit.

I don't have the energy to talk or want to argue and simply just nodded at her.

" Great! Ring these all please!" She beamed smiling telling to the staff that is working who nodded at her request.

" Do you want anything else Noor?" Michelle asked conforming one last time before paying the clothes.

Honestly I just want three clothes, a tasbeh, a praying mat and The Holy Quran. I am not sure if they have these here.

" Do you by any chance have tasbeh, praying mats and The Holy Quran?" I asked to the employee who was standing professionally beside Michelle with a smile.

" Yes mam. We do have those please follow me" she replied and I was relieved to hear it .

I happily followed her and she showed me the different option but I simply pick the most simple and less cheaper one.

" Ok I guess that concludes it. Lets pay for all these now" announced Michelle as the previous employee nodded her head.

" Please come with me to the counter" she said and we all followed her to the counter.

After ten minutes of scanning all the items, shock would be an understatement when I heard the total cost.

I was in the state of utter disbelief and uneasiness feeling burdened that the items costed too much than I imagined.

" Cash or Credit mam" asked the woman at the counter and Michelle simply turned at Leon with an all knowing smile.

Why is she looking at him?? Isn't she gonna pay?

" Credit "

◇ ◇  ◇  ◇  ◇



Comment