ORNAMENTS ✅

CHAPTER Fifty Nine

Dasuki State, Nigeria

2023

It was the same apartment in the same estate-the one Nabeel had brought me to see earlier. After everyone who had escorted the bride left, Maria, Zayyanah, Samha, and I settled on the bed.

"Your house is beautiful, Um. Ma Sha Allah Tabarakallah," Zayyanah said, admiring the bedroom.

"Why don't we go and see everywhere in the house?" Samha suggested excitedly, and the two of them bounced out to explore leaving Maria and I alone in the vast bedroom

"Umaimah," Maria called, her voice suddenly low and serious.

I looked at her, sensing the change in her tone. There was no need to answer-her eyes met mine, and I was already bracing for whatever serious thing she was about to say.

"Take this." She handed me a box containing something I instantly recognized. I burst into laughter.

I gave her a look, still chuckling. The way she had called my name, I thought she was about to say something deep or important, but here she was handing me a box of lingerie. It wasn't even real clothing-it was practically nothing!

I tossed the box back at her. "God forbid I wear this in front of Nabeel. Just the thought makes me cringe!"

"Take it back and wear it for Imran, not me," I said, rolling my eyes.

Then, she dropped the bombshell out of nowhere "I'm pregnant."

I froze. A wave of happiness crashed over me. I was genuinely thrilled for her.

"Awwww!" I squealed. "I'm so happy for you! We'll soon have a baby to play with!"

But my excitement faded as I noticed the lack of the same joy on her face.

"You're surprised, aren't you?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty. I nodded, of course, I was. Anyone would be.

"I just went for a check-up at the hospital because I wasn't feeling well. I had chest pains, ear aches, and my eyes would keep getting glossy. The crazy part is, I never even noticed I was pregnant because I had no symptoms. I didn't eat more than usual, nothing. No cravings, no nausea... nothing."

She paused, rubbing her belly, clearly lost in thought. "Remember the day the your bridal boxes were delivered? That day was when Imran called to break the news, and I didn't know what to do."

"I envy you," I said sincerely. "You have the perfect life: the perfect husband who loves you like his own life, and now you'll have a baby. I'm so happy for you."

For a moment, her face lost color, and she moved closer to me, her expression serious.

"No, Umaimah. You're the one I envy," she said quietly. "We both know you're the only woman in Nabeel's heart. You rule his heart like it's your kingdom, and it belongs only to you."

"But you're in Imran's heart too," I said, stating the obvious. We all knew how inseparable those two were.

"Imran has another wife, Umaimah," she blurted out.

I stared at her, waiting for the laughter that would follow, or for her to tell me it was a joke. But none came. I searched her face for a hint of mischief, but there was none. She was serious, and I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. My chest tightened as if I couldn't breathe.

"Umaimah, in this day and age, it's a blessing to have a man who will accept you with all your flaws," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Someone who will love and embrace your imperfections. But I don't think there are many men left who will devote themselves entirely to one woman. You're one of the lucky ones."