Thorns and Roses

22

Nurrain

Fear. Extreme guilt. Confusion.

I stood right in my office, adorned in my uniform as I read a text from Khadija, Sameera's best friend.

Your wife is here.

I read again. A huge knot in my stomach. She could be joking but a part of me feels she is not.

"Mr Nurrain, Are you with us?" A voice brought me back to my senses.

"I....I...need to go home, my wife is sick." I stuttered.

"Oh my God, I hope it's not serious. You should check up then, we can schedule another time for the meeting." Mr Brown said looking sympathetic.

I stood up and shook his hands, grabbed my car keys and walked out of the building.

The early days of December, snow falling faintly with a hard yet subtle weather. Cold jackets are a necessity.

Despite the cold weather and cool AC in my car, I find myself sweating. Oh I hate this feeling.

I parked in front of my house, the lot just less than ten steps. I stared at the door, confused and hoping it's not what I am thinking.

After two minutes of contemplating, I gathered my courage and entered.

There! I saw Sameera sitting with her legs curled up. I was relieved to see she is the only one so I rushed to where she is and squatted in front of her.

"My Nora, what's wrong?" I cupped her hands and dared to look into her daring eyes.

"Nora?" A familiar voice said. So familiar that it felt like it originated from my bones.

I slowly turned my head to see the person sitting on the other side of the parlor. My Leeka..just that she looked different, different in a beautiful way. Her skin is brighter, her lips are full, heck even the glow in her eyes is different...just that it carries a weight of confusion...and hurt...and...

My thoughts were cut off when I spotted the bump on her stomach... wait...is that a baby?

There was silence and in that silence nothing else matters but the bump on My Leeka and the throbbing of my heart.

I stood and walked to her, she stood up too, maintaining her position.

"My Leeka!" I exclaimed and hugged her. Oh how I missed her.

I felt a movement behind me, it was Sameera, finding it hard to stand up. I couldn't look at her, I could feel her burning stares in my back, the anger and need for explanation.

"Who is she?" Maleeka asked breaking the hug.

I didn't know what to say, my brain is foggy and hell I am not ready to say who she is. She is the light of my heart? How can I bring myself to say this to the woman I have built my life with? To the woman that controls my heart?

I managed to look at Sameera who is now standing in the place, her face devoid of emotions. I stood there, in between them, shattered and not sure whether to run and hug Sameera, tell her that this is what I have been wanting to tell her; this morning.

This morning...I closed my eyes at the thought and pushed it to the back of my head.

"Ermm...this is Nora, she is my work colleague ."I said through a croaked voice.

"She said her name is Sameera." She fired back. Her voice laced with subtle anger and a bit of emotion.

"Yeah yeah. Nora is her nickname. Her house got burnt yesterday and I offered the apartment to her."

I was shocked! With how fluent my lie sounds. No stutter. I avoided Sameera and the piercing look she was giving me. I didn't want to look at her disappointment.

"Nora, this is my wife, Maleeka. The one I have been wanting to tell you about." I said looking at My Leeka with a smile. She smiled back weakly.

"It's nice meeting you again Maleeka. I should leave now, My friend was just notifying me about the new apartment she got for me when you came." Sameera's low voice came.

"You are welcome Sameera, it's nice meeting you and on behalf of my generous husband, you are welcome."

With her legs barely moving, I watched her walk all the way up till her her back was not showing.

"My Leeka!" I hugged her again.

She smiled and led my hand to her swollen belly.

"Hello Daddy." She said with a large smile and teary eyes.

I gasped. Did she just call me Daddy?

"When????? OH MY GOD!" I rushed to the door and back and picked her up. Daddy...I am going to be a father!

I swirled her as the echoes of her laughter filling the house.

Daddy.

Daddy.

Daddy.

My head kept repeating.

"Thank you so much Maleeka, thank you so much." I chanted.

The excitement, the promise of eternity and whatever that's beyond.

Slowly, I dwell into love, love of the woman standing right in front of me.

************************************

MALEEKA

Love, is the highest form of fear, sorrow and pain. Love is everything beautiful, but wherever there's beauty, there's pain.

I hugged my husband. In his arms, my safety lies, my comfort and my peace.

I love Nurrain. He is everything I love and he is fluent in everything that gives me butterflies.

I know. I can't ignore the instincts, the woman, the other woman...with her striking beauty and her eyes filled with Soo much innocence. The thought of her in his arms, the way her hurried to her side....

"Thank you so much My Leeka." His voice echoes through.

I closed my eyes and smiled into his arms, its just a phase...just a phase. Men do this...Its natural,i kept repeating to myself.