Not having anything to do was not always fun. Especially after you got used to a busy routine and suddenly not following it was not a good feeling even after three months. Mashal felt bored as she watched Ginny play by herself. It was one of those days where she is bored out of her mind.
"Ginny, what should we do?" Looking at her clock, she noticed that the time was just eleven in the morning. It's been a few hours since Murat left for his work. Leaving her alone with his cat. The loneliness was making her go crazy if anything. With a sigh, she walked towards the guest room. Which no longer is just a bedroom but her writing corner.
She has always wanted a space for writing peacefully but was shy in asking about it with her parents. Because that would mean they'd pry about what was she writing. She didn't want them to read her works obviously. So never dared to ask them for any room like this. But Murat was a different story.
No one apart from him knows about her love for writing. She didn't share anything with anyone after being teased about it by her friends. Not even her family. Even Murat was not allowed to read her works and he respects her boundaries. She smiled thinking about him.
It's been a few days since that night where they confessed to each other. Mashal was still in the euphoric feeling. To know Murat was falling in love with her was making her heart flutter in happiness for it still felt like a dream. The glow on her face and glitter in her eyes said exactly how happy she was. It was truly a memorable moment of her life. Thinking about it again made her cheeks flush.
Her fingers moved rhythmically as she typed her heart out in her latest story. If there was anything good about being a stay at home wife then it would be this. To be able to write whenever she wanted without much disturbance. Meher used to distract her a lot when she wrote her previous novel which took nearly two years to complete. It was a series of three books and they come out good. But this book hardly took six months and she was nearing its end already.
Her phone beeped with a notification and her eyes lit up brightly noticing a message from Murat. She opened it as soon as she saw that.
What should I buy for you? Silver or gold?

Mashal blinked a few times, gazing at her phone in awe. Was he being serious right now? She gushed excitedly whilst zooming into the bangles.
Both.
Where are you though?
She loved bangles. She had a huge collection of them racked on her shelves. Especially like this one which is made out of metals. Her heart skipped a beat realising Murat has noticed even the tiniest details about her.
This man! She laughed to herself feeling absolutely blessed to be his wife. What did she do to get him?
Came here to shoot a commercial in the local bangles store and they reminded me of you. So I thought to buy you one.
Mashal's cheeks turned bright red as she read and reread his message. He knows just the right words to say. Such a charmer.
I think I'm falling in love with you too...
She typed it in the spur of the moment and hit the send button. The confessions that night only included her massive crush on him and he took her by shock by replying he's falling for her. So she just kissed him in return. It was a long and deep kiss. There were no words involved.
But today she wanted him to know about her feelings as well. Not that he already didn't know. But words are always better.
I know❤️
His reply was as usual quick and her poor heart skipped several beats at those two words. And did he just send heart? She scrolled through all their previous chats. They never send each other hearts. A wide beam appeared on her face making her cheeks heat up in happiness, shyness.
Okay, the crew is back from their break. Gotta go. Take care of yourself. Xoxo.
I'm missing you a little extra today. Come back soon.
She replied to him immediately and added kisses and hearts at the end. A cheeky yet shy smile played on her lips.
Sorry, babe. Not possible today. I have to stay back extra hours and wrap something. Lock the gates properly. I'll use my keys to get in.
Mashal's heart sank in sadness. The thought of not being able to see him for another few hours made her feel miserable and stupid. Gosh! Why was she so clingy?
:(
Murat didn't read this last message. She knew he did that purposely. Had he seen the sad emoticon, then he'd have thrown everything away and come back home right at this instant. But this work must have been very important for him to ignore her. She could understand him but the irrational part of her wanted him back home soon.
"Ugh. Stop being stupid, Mashal. He's earning for the two of us," She chided herself and went back to continue writing her story but words seems to be stuck in the middle. She knew what to write but couldn't get herself to type them. The feeling of being at home, not doing any contribution to the financial expenses was eating her mind.
She hated being this way.
Earlier when she worked at Kaif's agency, her salary will be used for the monthly groceries as discussed by them both, but now everything is handed by Murat only. She should feel happy that he is wealthy enough for affording everything but the little corner of her heart couldn't help but feel useless and inefficient.
Not feeling in the mood to write anything further, she switched off her laptop and walked out of the writing room, lost deep in her thoughts.
Ginny was still playing by herself.
Mashal decided to visit her mother and ask for advice in this situation. She was still a twenty-two years old clueless soul, having no idea about how the real-life works and maybe her mother could help her clear her mind at this moment.
"Wow! I didn't know you felt this way," Malaika raised her brows at her daughter, who was munching on her handmade food.
She explained all her worries to her mother, who has listened to her patiently.
"Mama you make the best biriyani." Mashal moaned in delight as she ate her lunch at the Baig House, who luckily are her neighbours. So she can visit them whenever and wherever she wants. Yes, she's a lucky woman indeed.
"Your papa made lunch today," Malaika blushed slightly before walking back into the kitchen and took brinjal chutney to the dining table.
"Oh, that's why it's extra yummy. Men always have this extra magic in their hands anyway," Mashal blabbered while eating and that earned her a smack on the shoulders.
"So I take it that Murat cooks for you?" She turned red at her mother's teasing question but bobbed her head.
"My ammi freaked out when she learnt that I let Arsalaan cook food for me. I personally find it romantic though. So what did you give your husband for lunch?" Malaika smiled to herself as she served her daughter's plate with some more biriyani from the opposite end of the dining table.
"He told me not to cook anything for him. He's shooting out today."
"So, why don't you start searching for another job if you're feeling like this?" Malaika sat across her in all seriousness and questioned her.
Mashal groaned inwardly before pausing her lunch.
"After what happened at my first work experience, I'm not sure this is exactly what I want to do. I mean, graphic designing is not that fun. And I'm terrified of going out of my comfort zone and facing Aryan Hossain situation again," Mashal explained meekly, unable to meet her mother's eyes. It was rather very embarrassing to admit it aloud.
"Mashal," her mother walked towards her and sat beside her chair and held her hands gently, "it's okay. Not being able to contribute financially doesn't make you less efficient or useless as you call it. Do you think being a housewife is easy?"
She blinked in no and looked so lost. Her mother sighed while holding her chin and made her face her, "I've worked on my dreams once upon a time, jaani. Owned a successful interior designing company. It was the best thing to have ever happened to me after your father."
"Then why did you stop working, mama? Didn't you feel like what I'm feeling right now?" Even though Mashal already knew this answer, she couldn't help but ask again.
"And then you happened to me, jaani. I wanted to balance my work life and personal life side by side. I've managed it like that for six years. When I got pregnant with your sister, I knew this was not what I wanted. I've worked for nine beautiful years. I thought that's enough chasing dreams. I wanted a break from everything and concentrate on only my family. It was hard but I chose it willingly." Malaika smiled at the end.
"So what I'm saying is, to work or not to work doesn't really matter when your heart doesn't want it. Do what your heart wants you to do. I've been happy as a working woman but happier as a stay at home wife, taking care of my family all by myself."
Mashal glanced at her mother with a proud smile.
"If you love graphic designing. Then you shouldn't stop it just because there are men like Aryan Hossain out there. But if you love something else, you should definitely chase that too. You have such an amazing and supportive husband Masha Allah. I'm sure he'll be telling the same," Malaika squeezed her hands.
"I think I know what I want to do, thanks, mama." Mashal grinned widely as she threw her arms around her mother and hugged her tightly.
"Right. And being a housewife isn't really easy too. People just assume we get to stay at home all the time, so we will be free and whatnot. But that's not true. It's the toughest job according to me and I love being a housewife. To manage an entire household is not everyone's cup of tea," Malaika explained gently as they broke the hug.
"I understand, mama. Every work is difficult in its own way. I don't know why people look down on housewives." Mashal mumbled distractedly as she got a glimpse of her phone. There was another message from Murat.
She opened it with her left hand and her smile widened seeing the image he has sent.

Which one? I think they all will look good on you.
"Ahem!" Malaika cleared her throat, grabbing Mashal's attention.
"Mama, I'm taking this with me. I'll see you in the evening, Allah Hafiz." Feeling bashful, she picked her plate, phone and ran out of her parents' home.
"Okay but bring back all those cups which you still haven't returned," Malaika yelled at her disappearing figure and began to serve herself lunch with a wide smile on her face.
"I don't know where they are, mama," Mashal replied distractedly while closing the main door of the Baig family house and walking across the street, towards her home. With the plate full of biriyani in her hands. That's another advantage of marrying your neighbour. And all her cousins are envying this right now.
???
Her ever so impatient husband messaged her, not finding any reply from her. She grinned at the screen.
I like them all too.
Then I'm buying them all.
Her eyes went wide. Mashal didn't know if she should be flattered or surprised. These little gestures was making her poor heart feel so overwhelmed.
Murat... You can't be serious.
Tell me you're joking.
Her hands hit the send button and she could see the three dots forming immediately as she did that. He's typing his reply.
You know I am. As I said, they all will look good on you.
She shook her head with a chuckle, "this man! What do I do with him, Ginny?"
The cat gave her a weird look and walked away with a meow.
No, Murat. Just pick any random five. They all look good but I don't want everything.
Sorry to disappoint you, babe. I'm buying everything.
You're really testing my patience now.
Some might actually find this romantic.
I know. But isn't it too much?
She typed out uncertainly.
It's not. I love pampering my wife. So let me buy you everything.
You're such a charmer do you know that?
Mashal blushed as she reread the above text again and again.
Only for you, babe.
And cheesy too.
Again, only with you.
She grinned ear to ear. Long forgotten was her biriyani.
Good. I like that.
Okay, gotta go. Took too much break I think. Eat properly and don't wait up for me in the night. I'll be back a Lil late. Take care of yourself and Ginny xoxo.
Her face fell as she read his message but a dreamy smile continued to remain on her face as she zoomed into all the earrings. Gosh! They were all so pretty. She couldn't wait to get her hands on them.