The Halaal Way

CHAPTER SEVEN

"O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with a news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful to what you have done"

[Al-Hujurat 49:6]

Kamal stared at the lady who looked at Nihlah with contempt. Her eyes held anger, hatred and disdain for Nihlah.

“Having Salim and Haidar was not enough, you went for Kamal too. You're even covering up” She said, her voice dripping with venom.

Kamal stared at the lady, trying to understand the meaning of her statement. He moved his gaze from the lady to Nihlah who had not said anything since the lady appeared. She looked calm, but he could guess she was nervous because she held unto her hijab tight, like she was trying to refrain herself from breaking down. He didn't know what the lady was talking about, but he felt the need to trust his wife at the moment, especially because he had not listened to anything from her side regarding her past. And whatever it was that this lady was taking about, he was sure it had to do with what had happened before now.

He reached for Nihlah's hand and held it in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. For Nihlah, that was enough comfort for her at the moment.  

“What is the meaning of this Aneesah?” Kamal said, looking at the lady straight in the eye.

Aneesah let out a small laugh, or rather an annoying laugh because she didn't miss seeing their entwined fingers. The sight made her want to puke.

“Dear cousin, did she cast her spell on you too?”

“She is my wife” Kamal said making sure to stress the ‘my’ in his statement.

Aneesah laughed. She laughed so hard that the couple standing in front of her began to wonder whether she was high on something.

“Hhhmmmm, possessive I see” She laughed again.

She suddenly stopped laughing and turned her gaze to Nihlah. Rage was all Nihlah saw in those eyes.

“Why are you always a step ahead of me huh? Why? Now listen, you had all the love that was supposed to be mine in the past and I let you but this time around, you're not going to have it...”

“What are you talking about Aneesah?” Kamal interrupted her and she looked at him.

“So you rejected me for her right? You rejected me for this filthy...”

“Stop it Aneesah!” Kamal almost yelled.

Aneesah chuckled lightly and moved her gaze to Nihlah.

“The jazz must be very strong. Just two days and he has become a henpecked husband. That is amaz...”

“Stop this thrash talk now” Kamal said between gritted teeth and it was Nihlah's turn to give his hand a gentle squeeze. She felt he was loosing his temper and surprisingly, that gentle squeeze tamed him down. He relaxed a bit.

“Now listen to me Nihlah. I don't know how you made him fall for you and I don't give a hoot about that. But one thing should be clear to you. Kamal is my family, mark that... ‘family’...” she said air quoting ‘family’

“... And I love him. He is going to get married to me and not even him... can stop that. Mark my word bitch, it's a promise”

Kamal gaped at Aneesah in silence. Her guts left him dumbstruck. Not even him could stop that? Now he was completely sure that this cousin of his was out of her mind. How could a sane muslim talk like that?