WrongSufferedAtHands

27.

"Simply pack the rest of them." The maid paused folding the clothes for a brief moment when Afiyah gave her a directive, then she resumed.

"Are you sure?" Bushra queried, glancing at Afiyah and then the maid.

"Don't deter me, Bushra." Afiyah stayed rigid as she observed every action the maid took, "Make things simpler for me".

"You're complicating things for all of us. Did you consider telling Hassan?"

"Regarding what, the illness or the departure? Afiyah snickered, rolling her eyes and biting the inside of her cheek.

"Both."

"None" She retorted, casting a sidelong glance at Bushra. "I'm a subdued woman in his presence; I wish I had the confidence to tell this to him."

"And Affan, what about him?" Bushra urged while crossing her arms over her chest.

"He should suffer as retribution for what he did to me."

"But what you're intended to do is extremely terrible. Be calm; he is your husband."

"He abandoned me, Bushra." Afiyah shifted to face her, a look of despair on her face. "He left me all alone, and I had to bear the consequences on my own. I no longer carry mercy for him."

Bushra sighed and patted Afiyah's shoulder before saying, "Good luck with everything. I'll keep you close to my heart."

"Remember me in your prayers," Afiyah said, grinning.

Afiyah was once more positioned in front of the entrance shortly after that, but she had never been to this door before; she was a stranger there.

She awaited the door to open. When she looked up, she noticed a dazed Affan wearing only an undershirt, his hair untidy, and obvious heavy bags under his eyes.

Without uttering a single word, Afiyah walked pass him into the house. The furniture seemed to be old and unclean, the home was badly constructed, and the rain had chipped the paint on the walls.

"Ah, need some water, or perhaps tea?" Affan inquired as he made an effort to approach her.

She was set to open her mouth when a woman squinted through the door, "Who is it, Affan?"

As if seen a grim reaper, Affan disoriented and gestured the lady to go back in, "It's nothing, and you stay inside."

Afiyah's lips curled up into a sneer when the lady peered upon her prior to actually heading back in. Many sentiments erupted inside of her, causing her to heave.

She shifted her focus to the terrified man in front of her, "Yes, you are correct, I do need something, but you'll need a pen for it." Afiyah replied while gazing fearsomely into his core with her eyes.

Affan was standing there bewildered, murmuring words within his mouth but not uttering any.

The thud of the document on the wooden table directed Affan's attention to the envelope she had just tossed on the tabletop.

As Affan grabbed the envelope and examined it, they both just stood there in silence. She noticed how his mouth fell open as he scanned the letters printed on the paper.

"Divorce?" Confused, he asked, "But, I... why? I apologize for what I did to you that day and for believing what I was told, but please refrain from treating me this way. And that woman, she's... she's no one to me. I swear."

"I need these papers signed by tomorrow or else I'll haul you into court." Afiyah's diction was assertive, and her tone was firm.

"Please." He implored, seeking to move closer to her, but she moved back.