From Aliya to Hafiz

Twenty-eight.

Hafiz.

My muscles screamed and burned with the strain as I tore almost maniacally through the water, swimming lap after lap around the pool. The water was freezing, made even colder by the chilly night breeze.

Your grandson has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

So you admit you're only with him for his money?

Why else would anyone be with him otherwise.

He's disrespectful.

Leads a messy life.

He's everything a Muslim man shouldn't be.

He's not even Muslim.

He's got nothing going for him except his money.

I knew, I had always known. No matter how innocent she looked, how pure her eyes were, I knew the real reason she was with me.

But hearing it directly from her mouth, in her voice and in such a matter of fact tone, pissed me off beyond belief. I wanted to break her, shatter her, so there was nothing left of her arrogance, faith, and self esteem.

I wanted to fill her up with as much pain as she filled me up with this fury. I swam to the edge of the pool where I set my towel on a chaise chair. My arms strained as I drew myself out of the water, threw the towel on my head and walked back into the house through the kitchen door, leaving a wet trail behind me.

Grandma and that crazy witch were still around, lounging on the couch and watching some show on Netflix. I continued towards the stairs, the only thought in my head was to bath and sleep.

"Hafiz," they both called.

I stopped by the landing, waiting for them to spit out whatever they had to say.

"I don't even know why you agreed to this marriage in the first place. You should have known anyone affiliated with that lowlife would also be scum," grandma sneered, tone derisive.

"If there's nothing else, I'll excuse myself. You can show yourselves out," I said in reply, not wanting to deal with what she said at all.

"Hafiz you—" she started but cut herself. "Okay. But Bailey told me you got into a fight? You're both so old, you should make up."

I turned and gazed at her before looking at the fidgeting Bailey. "Did she tell you what she did?"

Grandma cleared her throat. "Yes, I knew about it, it was my idea. She was just being filial so don't be so hard on her."

I stared at them back and forth before shaking my head in disbelief. The rising anger though disintegrated when her face flashed by mind.

Why the fuck should I even be angry? I should've just allowed their trashy plan to fuck her over.

Directing a stiff nod at my grandmother and ignoring the elated Bailey, I went back to my room. I barely managed to take a shower before plopping face down on my bed, groaning as the tension drained from muscles.

I stuck my hand under my pillow and pulled out the satiny paper beneath. Staring at the innocent faces stuck together, I felt my mood sink lower and lower.

The us from back then, did we get along?

I stared at me and her, cheeks glued together and eyes shining in mirth.

Did she like me at all?

Sneering at my ridiculous thoughts, I shoved the picture back beneath my pillow and closed my eyes. Tomorrow, I could plan how to throughly deal with that money loving asshole.