THE NARCISSIST'S WIFE

Chapter Thirteen: A Crushing News

Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullah my dearest readers. I hope this chapter meets you well. Let me begin by thanking you all for your prayers and well wishes. 💕💕💕 Yeah, I'm now an ESQUIRE ! 🙈

"I want to tell you something," he said after Zahra handed him a mug of his favorite tea.

He looked distant, innocent and completely harmless. He had been like that for the past few days. Finally, Zahra was relieved, hopeful that he was changing for the better.

She sat on the next couch burying her chin in her hands.

He looked at her with red weak eyes, "Hmmm."

She was too stunned to move. She began feeling worried; it was so unlike Sharif to be unsure about anything.

"I'm listening," she slowly said.

"Okay. It's my personal problem but being my wife, I feel duty bound to put you in the know. Yes."

"Okay. What is it?"

"I have a child," he gasped.

"Wha..t?!" she screamed, "You are kidding, right?"

"No." He acted so natural now, like he hadn't just dropped a bombshell.

"I know you are trying to put me through some test, right?"

"What test is left between us? I think I am done testing you."

There was some silence.

"So, you had or have a family somewhere that I don't know of?"

"No. You are my first family, Zahra." It was then that it began clicking in her head: no it mustn't be what she was thinking.

She nodded and swallowed the rock that formed in her throat. She believed him but in a few years time, Zahra would receive a shocking revelation of her not being Sharif's first family.

"I..." he couldn't continue. He just shrugged and stopped looking at her. "Look, as I said, it is my personal problem. So, don't get worked up over it."

"How old is he?"

"She's 10 years old."

"What? Ten?" She was burning with fever already.

"Her name is Firdaus."

She stood up, trembling. "I was cleaning the room... let me get back to it."

"Sure," he simply said.

Sure, as if everything was just fine. She wanted to cry but to her surprise, she couldn't. Instead, she laid on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

By the time she woke up it was already 5pm. She prayed both Zuhr and 'Asr. Sharif left her a text that he was going to take his car to the garage. She wondered where Naz was because this was one of his numerous jobs.

When he returned by 6pm, he met her lying down with a Qur'an in her hand. The Qur'an has a way of soothing anger and easing suffering.

"I really wished I had informed you before the wedding. I wanted to but my mother would have killed me if the wedding was called off, especially with you involved. I don't think any woman will willingly sign up for this. I wish I could apologize to you."

You could as well apologize. She thought underneath her breath.

Those humbling words gave her some comfort. "It is alright," she faked a smile. At least he sounded remorseful. But then could this child be the reason why he didn't care about having any child? She really should ask him instead of bottling up these feelings.