Fatal Attraction.

31

Ruqayyah's POV.

Two weeks ago Zoya and Nasir welcomed their baby girl, Aisha. Nasir insisted on Zoya naming her and she loved that, we all thought it was cute.

She's been in her aunt's house since the pregnancy, since she can't take care of herself immediately after giving birth. I think I still preferred the fact that I stayed home instead of going to my parent's house.

Isn't it ironic, the house your grew up in isn't really home anymore. It's still your safe space but it's not home.

Anyway, surprisingly Nasir invited Rashad and I to dinner. At first we were confused because that would mean it will only be us three but he says Zoya was coming by to see him anyway she'd join.

Rashad says he finds it odd but maybe he just wants to fix things, he's now a father and he probably just wants to start on a clean slate.

"I don't like this" Rashad says as he presses the door bell.
"Please, we're here already"

He groans "But just an hour. We can't leave Fai'za and Fareed alone so late"
I chuckle "It's just 7pm. I promise we'll leave here 9pm sharp"

He nods hesitantly.
The door opens revealing my fresh looking sister-in-law "Oh hello" she says hugging me abruptly, cutting me completely off guard.

I smile and hug her back.
I thought they squashed the beef with Rashad but I guess he's still giving her the cold shoulder. He told me that Ma was pissed about something she did, he didn't tell me what so I didn't ask.

We walked in.
We dined, talked and moved to the living room. Rashad and I sat across them as we sipped our drink.

"So—I know I asked you all here and before things get too far I want to say something" Nasir starts "This year marks 6years since Zoya and I got married and that means a lot to me" he says admiring her as he held her hands.

"But I'm getting married"
We all froze.
No beating around the bush, just straight up.

"What?" Rashad asks in disbelief.
He nods "Yes, my parents have already made it official with hers"

Zoya still couldn't say a thing and I didn't know what to say either. We can't get angry because islamically a man is allowed to marry up to four wives.

"Why? Why are you doing this?" Zoya asks as her voice shook.
He shrugs "Because I want to be happy, you don't make me happy Zoya"

I just looked from one person to another and I think my husband might have lost his voice so I thought to ask "You decided to marry a second wife without telling anyone?"

He chuckles "A second? I never said that"
"You just did" Rashad says angrily finally finding his voice.

"Oh" he chuckles "I'm not bringing in another wife. I'm divorcing my wife so I can marry another"

Now that was a bigger shocker.
Zoya immediately bursts into tears, crying heavily.
I could feel Rashad's body shaking next to me. He clenched his fist and jaw, trying to control himself. I gently place my hand on his thigh trying to calm him down. He glares at me at first but eventually his expression softens.

"Why?" Zoya asks still crying "I've done nothing but love you, be loyal to you and take care of you. I've done all I can to make this marriage work and now you're getting married. Not only that you want a divorce, why are you doing this?"

He huffs looking annoyed "Because I can't stand you. And I know if I marry someone else I wouldn't have to see you anymore and I don't want to be called unfair and neither do I want the angels cursing me for neglecting my wife so I made this choice"

She wipes away her tears looking at him angrily "No, I won't take this. We're settling this with your family and mine"

He shakes his head "There's a reason I asked your older brother here, I don't want them hearing the reasons why I had to do this"
She smirks "And you think I'd give you the satisfaction of getting what you want? You're surely mistaking, I'm not going to let you step all over me"

Rashad stands "You want to end this? Fine but we're doing this the right way. So like she said the families are meeting but not to fix it but to actually dissolve it"
"Ya Rashad" Zoya calls his name out "I want to fix it"

"Why? A marriage that was broken a long time ago? I won't let him hurt you anymore"
Nasir says nothing as he stared at us blankly.

"You're a shameless man. And I'll make sure the woman you're about to marry knows exactly the kind of man you are" Zoya threatens and it definitely got his attention.

He stands to his feet "I wouldn't do that if I were you"
"But what about Aisha? Have you thought about her?"

He scoffs.
"I didn't call you here to judge me or whatever I called you here because I know you both care about her and I know you'll do the right thing"
"Excuse me? The world will know!" She shouts at the top of her lungs.

"Fine I'll tell you so you as her brother will understand what it is you have to do. Have you noticed how really dissimilar Aisha is to Zoya and I?" He shrugs "Well—she's still so young so that doesn't really count".
We just stare at him.

"She's not mine"
I gasp.
Rashad looked even more shocked.
Zoya looked frightened "What do you mean she's not yours. I took the pills Ruqayyah gave me and that's how I got pregnant"

"Pills?" Rashad asks looking disappointed.
Did she just throw me under the bus? I didn't give them to her.
"Right? It's the pills you gave me, the same ones you took"

I won't deny that it pissed me off but maybe this is a sign telling me to come clean but not here and now.
"I didn't give you the pills, Aunt Hadiza did and you were pregnant even before you got the pills"

She turns to Nasir "I swear she's yours"
"Did I also mention she was cheating on me with a bartender? One of the plenty that were fired from that restaurant and he's the father"
"You don't know that"

"I had a vasectomy a few months after we got married"
Another shock.
It just never ends.

"What?" She asks in disbelief.
"You can call my doctor and confirm. That's why you never got pregnant and that's why I know that child isn't mine. And the worst part if that you know she's not mine"

At this point Rashad looked hopeless.
This bitch just got me in a mess.
"I didn't call you here to disgrace you or anything. I called you here because it would bring nothing but shame to you if anyone was to find out about it. I don't know what excuse you'll make but I don't want people saying that child is mine when it isn't. I did my best and stood by her when she was pregnant but not anymore. You don't need my family present because they're aware of everything so figure it out within yours" he walks in.

Without a word Rashad walks out of the house while my sister in-law fell to the floor and broke down into tears.
I immediately follow him out.

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