Veil of Truth

Chapter 13

Amina sat there, feeling her pulse race as she took in the vast room. It was three times the size of her room, every corner reflecting Zayd's taste—dark, imposing, yet undeniably elegant. She was awestruck by the space, yet she couldn't shake the discomfort gnawing at her. Layla's teasing words echoed in her mind: "Take off your niqab only if he gifts you something expensive..."

It hadn't crossed her mind before that moment—she would have to reveal her face to him, her new husband. A storm of self-doubt swirled within her. What if he didn't find her beautiful? What if her features weren't what he expected, and he felt disappointed? These thoughts terrified her, and she resolved that until she felt comfortable and sure of herself, she would keep her niqab on.

Amina sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers nervously tracing the delicate fabric of the duvet as her thoughts ran wild. Her parents had left after the niqah, and the silence around her only heightened her nerves. Tomorrow would be their reception. She was a married woman now, yet it felt surreal, almost as though she were watching someone else's life unfold. Now, in this room with her husband soon to join her, she felt afraid, unsure of what the night would bring.

A deep, growling voice shattered the silence, "How dare you sit on my bed?"

Amina flinched, her heart pounding as she looked up in the direction of the voice. There, in the doorway, stood Zayd, still in his wedding attire, his face set in a glare of cold anger. His gaze was piercing, filled with what seemed like resentment, and he looked at her as though she'd crossed an invisible line.

As he strode toward her, his steps purposeful and unyielding, Amina instinctively rose from the bed, her voice caught in her throat. She felt small, almost insignificant, beneath his imposing frame, her head barely reaching his shoulders. Her insecurities surged to the surface—her height, her appearance, the anxiety of meeting his expectations.

She took a shaky breath, gathering the courage to speak. "Sorry..." she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Actually, Layla... Layla brought me here," she added, her words trembling. She hoped he would understand, that maybe he would soften—but his gaze remained hard, unreadable, and Amina felt more out of place than ever.

"Don't you dare cross the limits. Stay away from my things and me," he growled, his tone sharp and unforgiving. With that, he turned and strode to the bathroom, leaving Amina frozen, still trying to process what had just happened. His anger, the harshness in his words—it was all so unexpected. She stood there, her mind racing, her chest tightening as she grappled with the cold distance he had set between them.

When he emerged from the bathroom in a pair of trousers and a loose T-shirt, Amina felt her breath catch. This was the first time she'd seen him in anything other than formal wear, and, despite everything, he looked effortlessly captivating. But before she could pull her eyes away, he caught her staring. "Done checking me out?" he asked with a smirk, snapping her out of her thoughts and making her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She quickly averted her gaze and hurried into the bathroom, feeling her own self-consciousness settle heavily around her.

The warm shower helped to calm her, washing away some of her lingering anxiety. She changed into something comfortable, carefully arranged her hijab and niqab, and stepped back into the room. Zayd was on the phone, his attention fully absorbed in the conversation. Amina unrolled the prayer mat and called him to join her for prayer, hoping he might join in this moment of peace. But he declined with a curt shake of his head, brushing her off without a second thought.

With a quiet sigh, she prayed alone, whispering du'a for her husband, asking Allah to guide him to the straight path and grant her patience. She prayed, too, for her parents' health and long lives, hoping that the love she felt for them could bridge the loneliness she felt now. Afterward, she read Surah Mulk, the familiar verses comforting her heart, grounding her.