Blooming

14.

𝑯𝑬𝑳𝑳𝑶 𝑭𝑹𝑶𝑴 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑷𝑨𝑺𝑻

It took her a lot of courage to lift one foot after the other. The short walk to her room had turned out to be a journey.
As she sat on the bed, her eyes scanned the room she had now come to call hers. Aafiya was sprawled on the bed the blanket half covering her body while her feet was thrown aside. The bag she had gone to the office with was still on the chaise. The room looked neat. Her eyes continued to travel around the room in search of something to tidy. She needed a distraction badly but everywhere was in order which was a contrast to the turmoil of emotions running through her mind.

When she had came back, it had been a war between the two families. Ismail's trying to bring her back while hers were doing all they could to make her accept. In all of these, there was no single text or visit from the Man of the hour himself (Ismail).

Her Mother, that Woman had tried all possible means to take her back. It was a nightmare for every Mother to see her daughter whom she had sent off to matrimony coming back home. She could understand that but pushing her back without considering how she will feel or hearing her own side of the story, that was not something she wanted to reason with.

When every effort to take her back failed, both parties had threatened to take Kamil away from her. The Apple of her eyes, that was the stroke that broke the camel's back. He was her source of warmth in this trying times.Taking a child away from a mOther was unthinkable and cruel.

They even added that if she did not give in, she would never see KAmil again. It was only then that she decided to give going back to Ismail's house a chance. the reason why agreed to honor Isma'il Mother's invitation that had been due for weeks.

She remembered how Ummah had caught her fidgeting with her hands nervously as they parked the car in the driveway of Ismail parents house

"You are doing the right thing."
"I promise you bazaki ji kunya ba."
"I am proud of you Halima. "
She dished one encouraging word after the other

They did nothing but made her feel worse. Each word was like a thorn being pricked on her skin. They were there to honor Ismail's Mother's invitation. The one she had sent four months ago. When she realized that Halima would not give in to threats, she had invited her for lunch.

The air was thick with nervousness at first but as they eased into discussing the latest voile and Super wax, the air became a lot less suffocating. The discussion was a necessary tool to bond the two Women. They were Mothers after all each with a mission to save their children

As they chatted on, she sank deeper into her seat. The tray of refreshments they were served when they came in lay untouched as each Woman tried frantically to impress the other. They were trying to put the problems behind them. When you want to Face a challenge, you first have to pretend as if it was not as grave as it looks.

When they managed to take a break and delve into the matter that had brought them, she was on the verge of screaming. They were now at the upstairs living room. because it was a Family matter which needed privacy like her mother in law had said.

Ismail's Mother was not her problem
if not for anything, she felt all the more sorry for her after realizing that she knew nothing about the life her son was living.

To her, he was a Saint whose selfish wife was trying to leave him. He had told his Mother that she Halima had said she was marrying him out Favor. It was true, but they had been his words not hers.

She could not bring herself to tell this Woman who saw her son to be a perfect Gentleman that her son was a bloody lair. That he had a life entirely different from what they know. One laced with danger and deceit.