KING OF THE NORTH

12: Pain 3

Oman woke up on Saturday morning feeling excited about the day ahead. She had planned to go out shopping with her friend Kauthar, and she couldn't wait to get started. As she got dressed, she thought about how happy she was that things were going well with Malik. They had been leaving fine for a few days now, and things seemed to be getting better and better between them.

When Kauthar arrived, Oman greeted her warmly and they set off on their shopping adventure. They started by browsing through the racks at a clothing store, trying on different outfits and laughing at each other's silly poses. Oman was delighted to find a beautiful dress that she knew would look amazing on her next date with Malik, yes, Malik had offered to take her on a date and she was very excited about it, knowing things were getting extremely better between them.

As they continued through the mall, they stopped at several different shops, picking up small trinkets and items that caught their eye. They chatted and laughed, enjoying each other's company and the thrill of finding unexpected treasures.

Eventually, they made their way to a shoe store, where Oman spotted a gorgeous pair of heels that she just had to have. Kauthar teased her about how high they were, but Oman didn't care - she knew they would be perfect for her next night out with Malik.

As they walked back to the car, laden with shopping bags, Oman felt happy and content. She couldn't wait to show Malik all the new things she had bought, and to tell him all about the fun day she had spent with Kauthar. She knew that their relationship was still new, but she felt confident that things were headed in the right direction.

Overall, it had been a wonderful day spent with a good friend, and Oman felt grateful for the happiness and contentment she was feeling. She couldn't wait to see what the future held for her and Malik, but for now, she was content to just enjoy the present moment.

*~*

Oman stepped into the palace, beaming from ear to ear. It had been a lovely day out shopping with Kauthar. She had found some beautiful dresses and jewelry that she couldn't wait to show her husband, Malik. As Kauthar made her way to her room, Oman made her way to Malik's.

As she approached the door, she heard soft moans emanating from within. Her heart sank. She knew exactly what was happening. Safeeya, Malik's other wife, was with him. Oman knew that it was halal in Islam for a man to have more than one wife, but it still hurt her to think about him being intimate with someone else.

She stood there frozen, unsure of what to do. The sounds of pleasure coming from the room were unmistakable. She knew that she couldn't just barge in on them, but she also couldn't bear to stand there and listen.

Finally, she mustered the courage to walk away. Tears streamed down her face as she made her way back to her own room. She couldn't help but wonder if Malik loved Safeeya more than he loved her and his other wives. Did he find her more beautiful, more desirable?

The questions tormented her, but she knew that she couldn't just sit there and cry. She had to talk to Malik about what she had heard. She had to tell him how it made her feel.

As she wiped away her tears, Oman took a deep breath and composed herself. She knew that it wouldn't be easy, but she had to be strong. She made her way back to Malik's room, her heart pounding in her chest.

When she got to the door, she took another deep breath and knocked softly. There was no answer. She knocked again, a little louder this time, but still no response. She realized that Malik and Safeeya must still be in there.

Feeling defeated, Oman turned and walked away. She knew that she would have to find another time to talk to Malik about her feelings. For now, all she could do was try to push the hurt and jealousy aside and focus on her own happiness. This was the exact reason why she didn't want to stay in the palace, she couldn't bare to see him with another woman.

Malik quietly made his way to Oman's room after having slept with his other wife, Safeeya. Though Safeeya was his halal and it was not a sin to be with her, Malik still felt a tinge of guilt. He knew he had not betrayed Oman, but the feeling of doing so lingered in his mind.

As he approached Oman's room, he could hear her moving around inside. He knocked on the door and waited for her to answer. When she finally did, she gave him a cold stare.

"I heard everything," she said sharply. "And this is exactly why I didn't want to stay in this palace in the first place."

Malik was taken aback by Oman's irritation towards him. He knew that she knew and accepted his other wives, so why was she acting this way? He felt disappointed and hurt by Oman's words and actions.

Without saying a word, Malik turned and walked out of Oman's room. He needed some time to himself to process what had just happened. He couldn't believe that Oman was acting this way, especially when she had always been so accepting of his other wives before.

As he walked down the hallway, Malik couldn't help but feel frustrated. He had done nothing wrong, yet he was being treated as if he had. He knew that he couldn't force Oman to accept his other wives, but he had hoped that she would at least try to understand.

Malik made his way to his own room and sat down on his bed, deep in thought. He knew his wife disliked each other. But he just hoped that they could work through this and come out stronger in the end.