After Agony...

|Thirty five|

"I am so sorry,I didn't know what came over me. It just that..." she was cut short by Imam who shushed her. He raised her chin up so he could see her face.

"It's okay. If there is anyone who needs to apologize,it should be me. You are right,it was not in your place to tell me." He said as he smiled down at her stroking her cheek with his thump lovingly.

The young couple stared at each other with different emotions running through their minds. The staring contest continued till it felt like eternity,when Huda suddenly remembered.

"The food!"she gasped.

"What food?" He asked.

"Erm... I know it's late,but why don't you go shower, then I will prepare something light for you. You know you can't go to bed on an empty stomach"

Imam simply stared at his wife with a permanent smile plastered on his face. He just did not know what he did to deserve such a beautiful and caring wife. Was he really worthy of her?

"Or are you not hungry?" She questioned with an invisible frown.

He had completely zoned out until she snapped her fingers.

"Mhmmm?"

"I said are you not hungry?"

"I don't want you to stress yourself,a cup of coffee would do"

She looked at him and reluctantly and walked to the kitchen to prepare the coffee. Meanwhile,Imam thought of going up to check up on Sophie,but decided against it so as not to inconvenience her or her mother.

At the odd hour of the night,Imam walked to their room while waiting for Huda to make the coffee. Whilst he was sitted,Imam couldn't help to but think,whether he was being fair on Huda. She is truly the woman of every man's dream for she possesses all quality that is needed in a woman morally,emotionally and physically. She was a vibrant and young woman. And thinking of it now,he felt like he rushed the whole thing. Not to get him wrong,he never for once regrets marrying her,but something in him kept asking the same question...

Was he worthy of her?

"Here you go" she said as she dropped a tray containing coffee,croissants and a bottle of water.

"Sorry I took long, I had to microwave the croissants" she said as she sat beside him on the bed.

Imam couldn't help but stare at her with adoration and unadulterated love. With a genuine smile he looked up at her.

"Thank you"he replied.

"Where is Maya?"he added as he noticed she was not in her usual spot on the bed.

"She's with erm... her mother" Huda still found it difficult to call Sophie's name,so she usually sticks with alternative pronouns.

"Her other mother you mean" he corrected her with emphasis.

"Uhm" she simply replied. Leaving room for for no further argument

After that the room fell into silence as he quietly sipped on his coffee.

"It was absolutely ridiculous"

"No,but did you see your face? You looked like you were about to faint" the couple laughed as they were recalling memories from before. It was the day Imam had told Huda to pack her things,but she didn't wait for him to finish when she concluded that he was firing her,not knowing he was just going to take her to his parent's house. Speaking of which that made her miss her mother in law.

"I need to see Ammiey,please permit me to go visit her" Huda stated as she turned to look at him.

"One of these days in shaa Allah" he simply replied as he stared down at her. Their faces inched closer until he captured her lips with his,both lost in each other's fantasy . It took her to be out of breath before he finally broke the kiss,leaving both of them breathless.

"I love you with every fiber of my being Huda"

"I love you too"

That night,they slept in each other's embrace,he had the best sleep in ages.

*****
Suraj was seated before his mother,he has finally mustered the courage to confront her about the recent happenings between her and his wife. She was perched atop her bed while he was on the mat next to it.

"You wanted to discuss something with me. Meye shi?(what is it?)" she asked gently.

"It's about my wife Hajiya. Is there anything that she has done to you that I don't know of? Hajiya idan akwai dan Allah ki fadan mun(if there is,please inform me) because I can't have my mom and my wife,the two most beloved women to me at loggerhead. She is my wife and also a daughter-"

"God forbid! That thing can never be my daughter! So you have grown wings Suraj? Your wife sent you to interrogate me. Isn't it clear already that she has bewitched you! My own son that I gave birth to has the guts to tell me whatever he likes! Shikenan!(that is it!) That witch has succeeded in coming between the both of us." Hajiya said as she shook her head dramatically.

"Hajiya,I am sorry i didn't mean it in that way. I just wanted to know whether she has offended you in any way"

"Don't you ever come with such nonsense again Suraj! Go back and tell your wife nafi karfin ta wallahi! Isn't it enough that I am tolerating her? Don't push me!" She warned.

"Allah ya huci zuciyan ki" he dejectedly walked out of her room.

Huda who couldn't help but hear her mother in law shouting got her scared and worried. What could it be again?

Suraj slowly walked into their flat when he met her by the window. She slowly turned and looked at him worriedly.

"What happened?" He was mute.

"Was it about me?" Still mute.

"Say something?"absolute silence.

"Suraj?"

The room fell into complete silence. After what seemed like eternity,he finally spoke.

"What do you want me to say? The fact that my own mother hates my wife?"

"If it's about that I told you not to worry"

"How can I not worry,hmm? Is it normal? Or is there something both of you are not telling me?" Frustration was evident in his voice.

"What? No,of course. I just don't want to be the reason of coming between you and Hajiya" she quietly said.

"Yeah,right" he scoffed as he furiously walked out leaving her in tears.

What has she gotten herself into?

Is this how life will continue to be?

All these thoughts ran through her mind as she picked up her phone to dial an ol' familiar number. He picked immediately after the first ring.

"Assalamualaikum" she immediately broke down into more tears.

"Subhanallah,Huda are you alright?"