AFFAIRS OF THE HEART

16| Crushed.

Abuja,Nigeria.

Monday, 6:50 AM.

The early morning rays peeked through the curtains, illuminating her beautiful, tear-stained face. The soft breeze that drifted in tossed her cascading moonlit hair across her face, obscuring it halfway.

Hajiya Khadijah gently knocked before stepping into the room. She paused, observing Jalilah's sleeping form, and sighed before heading to the bathroom to prepare her bathing water. Shortly afterward, she returned to Jalilah's bedside and tapped her.

"Wake up, Jalilah. You'll be late for school."

Jalilah let out a soft groan before her hazy eyes settled on her aunt. "Subhanallah!" Hajiya Khadijah exclaimed.

"Did you spend the night crying, Jalilah?"

"No, why would I, Mummy? Getting married to Ya Jalal doesn't mean my life is over. It's not worth it," she replied, then walked off to the bathroom, leaving Hajiya Khadijah lost in thought.

They had a peaceful breakfast at the table before the children prepared to leave for school. It turned out that the driver was sick and unable to take them, so Alhaji Abdurrahman instructed Jalal to drive instead.

Jalilah took the passenger seat while the others sat in the back. Since learning of their arranged marriage, she had not exchanged a single word with him, not even her usual morning greetings.

The drive was silent, with neither a word spoken nor the radio playing. When they arrived at the school, everyone said goodbye to him—everyone except Jalilah. He watched her as she walked away, wondering how sad and broken she must feel. He shook his head and drove off, leaving the school grounds.

If only their parents had let them be.

---

"Mummy, please, why must I be the one to take his lunch? Ask Banina or the maid to do it," Jalilah protested, tapping her foot on the kitchen floor.

"Believe me, you're the one taking this food to him. He's your husband."

"Ugh, I know, Mummy! Stop reminding me. I feel like throwing up whenever I remember," she retorted, earning a gentle smack from Hajiya Khadijah.

"Take the food. Yallah! Go serve your husband and earn rewards from Allah, sweetie," Hajiya Khadijah laughed, pecking her cheek before leaving the kitchen.

Jalilah groaned, grabbed the tray, and headed to Jalal's quarters. She knocked twice before he opened the door, his surprise at seeing her evident. He stepped aside, allowing her to enter the parlor, then closed the door behind her.

"Mummy said I should bring you lunch," she said, glancing at him quickly.

"You can set it on the table," he replied, nodding toward the coffee table.

She nodded, placed the tray down, and quickly left. Jalal chuckled at her attitude once she was gone. A child would always act the part. Now he was the one to blame?

For days, it continued. Jalilah was tasked with bringing Jalal's meals, always with a sullen expression. On the seventh day of her "wifely duties," she entered with the usual scowl, set the tray with food and fruit on the table, and turned to leave when he grabbed her hand. She stopped abruptly, looking from their entwined hands to his face until he released her.

"You didn't serve me," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"But... I usually don't serve you?" she replied, more a question than a statement.

"Yes, but today I want you to serve me." His eyebrow arched, and he gave her a mischievous smile before settling back on the couch, crossing his legs and picking up an apple from the tray to take a bite.

Jalilah wanted to scream but restrained herself, moving to the table. She dished out the food, handed it to him, and glared. Jalal fought the urge to laugh at her angry expression, keeping his composure.

She turned to leave, but he stopped her. "Where are you going?"

Jalilah clenched her fists, grinding her teeth in frustration, and took a deep breath before responding. "I'm leaving, of course," she muttered without looking back.

"Haven't you heard of Nana Aisha? She ate with the Prophet, and even when she wasn't hungry, she'd sit with him and share jokes. Don't you want to be like her and earn rewards from Allah?"

Jalilah huffed, annoyed, but took a seat on the couch opposite him, prompting a satisfied smile to spread across his lips. "Good girl," he murmured.

After what seemed like forever, Jalal finally finished his meal, giving Jalilah the excuse to leave.

"What took you so long, huh?" Banina teased, winking.

"Mts... Get that thought out of your head! This marriage will never work for me! I'm sick and tired of everything! Ugh!" she shouted, storming into her room and slamming the door, leaving Banina wide-eyed and speechless.

The next day at school, Aslam avoided Jalilah at all costs. Ever since she had told him about the marriage, he'd gone out of his way to stay away from her.

During the last period, she tried to pass him a note, but he completely ignored her, acting as if he hadn't noticed her raised hand.

A classmate noticed and nudged him. "Bro, your girlfriend is trying to pass you something. Why are you acting so strange?"

"That's none of your business," Aslam replied curtly before asking the teacher for permission to leave.

With tears blurring her vision, Jalilah stood up and followed him. "Aslam!" she called, running after him.

"Please leave me alone! You're a married woman now. Every step you take toward me brings the angels' curse upon you."

"No, Aslam! I'm not leaving! At least hear me out," she yelled, grabbing his arm.

He avoided her gaze as their eyes met. "Why don't you understand? I still love you! It's you I love, not him! I hate Ya Jalal; I really do. You're the only one my heart belongs to and always will!" She sobbed, wrapping him in a hug.

Aslam, overcome with emotion, held her as they both cried, forgetting for a moment that she was now someone else's wife.

"Jalilah!" a voice called sharply from behind them, jolting her from Aslam's embrace as she turned, fear etched across her face.

***
Written on 14.1.21.
Edited on 10.2.23. 🖤