Against The Tide (Formerly Two Tribes)

81: Bruised But Not Broken

The trip to Afrah's parents' house had offered her clarity. Now back in their matrimonial home, the silence screamed louder than any argument. She realized how wrong she had been to disrespect Hajiya in the way she did, despite her deserving it. It also made her realize that her actions had pushed Jameel away from her. In his eyes, she had seen how done he was with her. He went with her to meet her mother, not because he wanted to bridge the gap in that marriage, but because he sought for closure.

Listening to him as he spoke to her mother earlier, Afrah realized that Jameel had changed. He, who was so afraid to lose her before, was the same person who suggested divorce.

Afrah looked down at baby Fawaaz in her laps and hugged him close to her chest, his warmth a fragile ember against the icy fear that snaked through her. She knew Jameel wouldn't be sharing her bed tonight. Just another in a seemingly endless string of lonely nights.

The sound of the door opening and the soft pad of bare feet announced Jameel's arrival. He was clad in a white sleepwear, his face etched with an exhaustion similar to Afrah's.

Afrah was not surprised by his presence. He probably just came to see his son before retiring to bed.

"How's he?" Jameel asked in a tired voice, confirming her hunch.

Afrah felt a pang in her heart. A simple 'how are you?' from Jameel would heal her. Had he indeed stopped caring for her?

"He's..." Her voice broke. "He's fine."

Jameel nodded in response.

Silence, thick and suffocating settled in the room, only broken by Fawaaz's baby noise.

Jameel, with a tenderness that both soothed and stung, took Fawaaz from her. He held him close and began to rock gently. "hey, champ. Why aren't you sleeping yet?"

"He will in a bit. His eyes are already dropping. Give him to me, I'll put him to sleep."

"It's fine, I can do this," Jameel said as he continued to rock Fawaaz slowly, while walking about in the room.

A sudden surge of admiration warred within Afrah. Jameel was such a good father to Fawaaz. His love for his son was so pure, so effortless, that she couldn't help but feel a tad jealous.

Jameel would had vowed to love her through thick and thin now seemed a distant memory. In his place, stood a stranger who only felt connected to her through their son.

The facade of indifference she wore felt heavy, a suffocating mask she longed to tear away. She missed him. She missed her husband terribly.

"He has fallen asleep," Jameel mouthed, his voice as hushed as the night itself. He moved towards the crib to settle the baby in.

Afrah swallowed, bracing herself for his next action. His absence. A nightly ritual. After all, he had done what he came to do.

But tonight, something shifted. Jameel didn't leave immediately. Instead, he stood in front of her. He remained silent for a while before clearing his throat to speak. "We have an appointment with his doctor tomorrow." His voice was barely above a whisper.

A forced smile tugged the corners of Afrah's lips.  "Okay."

Then, a miracle happened. Jameel, instead of leaving the room as he usually did, walked towards the other side of the bed.

Afrah's breath hitched. Was he...?

He sat down on the edge, a hesitant movement that spoke volumes. Slowly, he lowered himself on the bed.