The Sister Wives' Dilemma

Chapter One

"Loving you has become a habit of mine, and as you already know, old habits die hard," Ali said to Aisha, his voice filled with tenderness as he tucked her loose hair behind her ears. His intense gaze locked onto Aisha's blushing face, as if he was trying to commit every detail to memory.

Aisha, pressed against the wall by Ali's strong hand, was unsure how to respond to the overwhelmingly romantic situation. She shyly averted her eyes, focusing on Ali's shoulder, which caused him to burst into laughter, breaking the tension between them.

Their laughter filled the air, and as Aisha slowly and sweetly opened her eyes, with a huge grin on her face. The laughter continued and slowly but surely she soon realized it was all a dream, a dream she wished could last forever. All along, the laughter she had been hearing was coming from the room next to hers. The happy laughter from her beloved husband and his new bride.

She dragged herself out of bed, her tiredness evident, and wiped away the lingering tears from her face. She appeared dejected, with her messy hair adding to the disarray.

Meanwhile, the laughter continued from the neighboring room, accompanied by the soft giggles of a woman. It was the woman whose presence had turned Aisha's entire life upside down.

Their room was situated right beside Aisha's bedroom, allowing her to hear their every whisper. She could hear everything that went on in that room, even the sound of a book dropping, let alone their romantic moments, which were far from discreet.

Aisha turned to gaze at little Nusaybah, who was still peacefully sleeping in her cradle. Looking at her daughter brought a sense of happiness, making Aisha feel like she had something to live for. But at the same time, the child still felt like her biggest mistake.

If only life's twists hadn't brought Nusaybah into existence, Aisha pondered, her thoughts spiraling into a web of regret and longing, if only life's twists hadn't brought Nusaybah into existence. The weight of circumstances burdened her, leading her to shoot herself in the leg repeatedly for things she had no control over. Aisha paused, inhaling deeply as her psychologist's words resurfaced in her mind like a gentle admonition, "Stop this self-inflicted wound. You cannot alter what has already transpired."

Lost in her inner turmoil, Aisha drifted towards the kitchen, her disheveled appearance reflecting the disarray within her soul. The walls of their home had confined her for days, isolating her from the outside world, where reality seemed both too raw and elusive to grasp.

As Aisha made her way towards the kitchen, a path requiring passage through the sitting room, obliviousness veiled her senses. Unnoticed by Aisha, Fatima, her presence fleeting, also entered the room to retrieve something from the sofa. A silent encounter between two souls lost in their own battles played out, yet remained unrecognized.

"Assalamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, how are you doing, Ummu Nusaybah?" Fatima greeted Aisha, but there was no response forthcoming. After waiting a few seconds and still receiving no reply, Fatima left, feeling perplexed. Aisha continued walking towards the kitchen as if she were in a trance.

Aisha, known by her kunya as Ummu Nusaybah, was lost in deep thoughts as she made her way to the kitchen. Her psychologist's words echoed in her mind, urging her to stop blaming herself for things she couldn't change, to cease shooting herself in the leg.

Unaware of her surroundings, Aisha didn't hear Fatima's greeting as she passed through the sitting room. Fatima, puzzled by the lack of response, shrugged it off and continued on her way, leaving Aisha to her contemplation.

Fatima, frustrated by Aisha's distant behavior, hurriedly retreated to her bedroom, pondering the situation. She couldn't fathom why Aisha couldn't accept what Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala had decreed. Although Ali had mentioned Aisha's firm faith and devotion, her current demeanor contradicted those qualities. Fatima scrunched her nose in annoyance, dismissing any idea of altering her own circumstances because of Aisha's struggle.