aab e hayat ( English version)

chapter no 19

Her meeting with Jalal had been a coincidence, a kind of coincidence she didn't want to experience again. She hadn't anticipated that this coincidental meeting would have dangerous repercussions—not in months or years, but within days. 

Two days later, she was at a dinner party. At that moment, while standing with Salar and greeting a few people, she heard a familiar voice saying "Hello." Imama turned her head and couldn't move after that. It was Farooq, who was enthusiastically meeting Salar.

"My wife..." Salar was introducing her.

"No need for introductions, I've already met her," Farooq said warmly. Salar looked at Farooq with some surprise.

"You've met Imama before?"

"Just the day before yesterday. She was having lunch with Dr. Jalal Ansar. Jalal is our family doctor, and he mentioned that she was an old classmate of his. When he gave me your visiting card, I realized she was your wife," Farooq said with a cheerful demeanor. "My wife and I had invited her to dinner, but she mentioned that you were busy these days."

Farooq hadn't noticed Imama's pale complexion or Salar's surprised face. What he was saying was hard for Salar to believe, but there was no reason not to believe him. His ears seemed to be ringing. He didn't even make the effort to look at Imama, who was standing to his left. He didn't want to see her at that moment. When had she been meeting with Jalal Ansar? And for how long?

Listening to Farooq, Imama glanced at Salar's face with her parched throat. He was listening to Farooq with an impassive face. She had misjudged his impassive expression, thinking it was a form of disinterest.

"I'll tell him everything; he will understand," she thought, her misplaced optimism making her anxious. "I should have told Salar the day before yesterday," she thought, feeling embarrassed. She regretted it a little. Standing there, listening to Farooq and looking at Salar's face, she completely misunderstood his reaction to the situation.

 And why wouldn't she misunderstand? For months, the person she had been with had been nothing more than accommodating her whims and had never given her the impression that he might be upset with her or unwilling to forgive her for any mistake.

"Have you met Mr. Zahir?" She saw Salar abruptly cutting off Farooq's conversation. "Has he arrived?"

"Yes, we were just talking about you. Come, I'll introduce you."

Salar took Farooq aside. Imama couldn't tell whether Salar had changed the subject or if he wanted to introduce Farooq to Mr. Zahir. He didn't come back to her. During dinner, he remained with a group of men, while she stood with some other female acquaintances. It was the first time at a party that he didn't come near her. She began to feel uneasy, but she still believed that Salar wouldn't make a big issue out of it.

At the end of the party, after bidding farewell to the hosts, they stood at the hotel lobby door, waiting for their car. Imama tried again to read his expression. His face was just as impassive as before, but his silence and seriousness were profoundly meaningful. Imama decided to initiate a conversation, just then a hotel staff member brought their car to the driveway. Salar got out without addressing her. She no longer doubted the reason behind his sudden silence and aloofness. Even in the car, his silence persisted.

After a few minutes on the main road, Imama tried to break the long silence. "Are you upset with me?"

"Will you please shut up?"

She froze. "I want to drive the car right now; I don't want to listen to your nonsense."

He hadn't yelled, but the coldness in his tone and eyes was enough to make Imama feel like she was being crushed. For the first time, she realized that the situation was more serious than she had understood. She couldn't summon the courage to address him again. For the first time in months, she saw him drive the car with such intensity.