Life Of Imani

chapter 20

Iman gets  ready and heads to her grandma's house the next day.
Iman stood nervously in the grand, ornately decorated hallway of her grandmother’s house. The walls were lined with portraits of ancestors, their stern faces seeming to judge her as she waited. Her grandmother’s disapproving gaze had already made it clear that Iman was not welcome here, a sentiment that had only hardened over the past few weeks.

When her grandmother entered the room, her presence was commanding, her demeanor as unyielding as the elaborate furniture around her. Iman’s heart pounded as she took a deep breath and stepped forward.

“Grandma,” Iman began, her voice wavering slightly. “I need to speak with you about something important.”

Her grandmother raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed but permitting her to continue. “Very well. What is it now?”

Iman’s hands trembled as she clasped them together. “It’s about Nassim and me. We’re not getting along. It’s been really difficult, and I think it would be best if we got a divorce.”

Her grandmother’s face darkened immediately, her eyes narrowing with anger. “A divorce? You think you can just walk away from your responsibilities and our family’s expectations?”

“I know it’s not simple,” Iman said, her voice growing more desperate. “But Nassim and I are incompatible. We’re both unhappy, and continuing this marriage is causing more harm than good.”

Her grandmother’s eyes flashed with fury. “Incompatibility? Is that your excuse? You dare speak of divorce so lightly?”

Iman nodded, tears threatening to spill. “Please, Grandma. I’m begging you to understand. I can’t live in a constant state of misery, and I don’t want to drag Nassim down either.”

Without warning, her grandmother’s hand shot out, striking Iman’s face with a resounding slap. The shock of the blow left Iman momentarily stunned, her cheek stinging with the impact. She touched her face, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“Do you think you can escape your duties so easily?” her grandmother hissed, her voice laced with venom. “You are bringing shame upon this family with your selfishness.”

Iman’s tears spilled over as she stared at her grandmother, her voice breaking. “I’m not trying to bring shame. I’m trying to do what’s best for everyone.”

Her grandmother’s expression remained unyielding, her eyes cold and unforgiving. “You are to remain in this marriage and make it work. If you refuse to honor your commitments, you will regret it. I will not tolerate any more disrespect.”

Iman’s heart sank as she nodded weakly, the weight of her grandmother’s words and the sting of the slap settling heavily upon her. She knew that convincing her grandmother was now a futile endeavor, and the path ahead seemed more fraught with struggle than ever
.

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Iman returned home feeling emotionally drained. She sank into the swing by her window, seeking solace in the familiar creak of the seat and the view of the garden outside. Her thoughts were muddled, consumed by the confrontation with her grandmother and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in her path.

Her phone rang, jolting her from her reverie. She glanced at the screen and saw an unfamiliar number. With a mix of apprehension and hope, she answered.

“Hello?”

The voice on the other end was unmistakably Nassim’s, though his tone was as icy as ever. “Iman. Have you made any progress on the divorce?”

Iman took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. “I spoke with that woman now but . She is adamant that she doesn’t want the divorce and insists that it would bring shame on the family if it were to happen.”