Tears Of Farida

Seven

She stared at him intently. Waiting for an explanation, for him to just deny it all, to tell her that what the impostor said was a lie, a big lie! And she would believe him in a heartbeat.

But, he remained silent. He averted his gaze from hers. Too ashamed to look into those beautiful brown orbs that always had so much love and trust in them for him. Right now, as he watched her from the corner of his eyes he watched her blink rapidly to keep her tears in check. It broke him too see her that way, to see the trust in her eyes for him gradually fade away, to see the hurt in her eyes. It broke him even more knowing that he was the reason fo this, he felt like an idiot.

Farida watched every act of his. She watched in dread as he looked away from her questioning gaze, a sign that he was guilty. No, she would grant him the benefit of a doubt. Kamal would never do this to her, he would never even unintentionally hurt her not to talk more of doing something this grave and with intent.

She silently cursed herself for doubting his innocence even for a second. He was, has been and will always be HER Kamal, and no one else's.

'Deen', she called out as she took slow steps towards him, stopping just a few inches away from him.

She could feel the heated stares of umma and Karima, her 'yar albarka' in umma's words.

'This isn't true right?.' She spoke, her voice giving away her fake facade of being strong.
Slowly, she took his face in her hands and brought his gaze to hers. Now, speak to me deen. Please.' She paused for a response from him.

'I'm sorry', was all he said.

When it was evident he wasn't going to say more than he just did, she spoke up again.

'I'm sorry? ', is that all you have to say? Sorry?sorry for what exactly? For betraying the trust I've always had for you? For making me look like a fool? For hurting my feelings this way? For making me feel worthless?. Come on! Deen, by Allah you know I would never have stopped you from marrying a second wife.'

She poured out amidst tears, tears she had been holding back. She wiped at her face furiously with her palms and immediately sat down on a couch before her legs would play the betrayal game with her too.

He made a move to hold her but she stopped him with a raised hand. 'I always felt bad for having to be a hindrance to you not having children. I asked you not once or twice if you'd want to marry again but, you had declined. You stood by your decision of wanting to stay married to just one woman, and not just one woman but, to me!. You assured and reassured me that you didn't mind not having children forever as long as you had me by your side deen! And now this?!'.

Farida waved her hands out in exasperation at their situation. She heard the chuckles of umma and Karima, making her realise that she was crying in their presence and loosing her cool, what Sa'a had warned her not to do. Feeling annoyed at herself, she stomped off to her room almost loosing her balance and tripping on the stairs.

Kamal moved towards the stairs in a haste to go after her but stopped in his tracks by his mother's words.

'Where are you going to?'

'Umma I need to be with her now, I have to explain all of these to her. I've messed up wallahi, I've wronged her...'

'Kai rufe min baki!  with these nonsense you're spewing,' umma cut him off. 'You've wronged her, how? by getting a fertile young lady pregnant with your child hm? Not just any lady but, your wife?. Karima here has done what that manly woman of yours has been unable to do for over how many years? 10 good years Kamaludeen. She has deprived me of having grandchildren from you dan auta na. She bursts into tears, coughing and wailing, refusing to take the glass of water offered to her by Karima.