Flawed Hearts [Preview]

Chapter II: Qualms

The morning breeze blew the curtains to and fro, making Najmah shiver as she descended the stairs. She placed a hand on her bare arm, making a beeline to the kitchen. Her eyes were a little bit unfocused as she hadn't slept a wink the night before, her mind too occupied and restless to let her be.

If only Fahad hadn't gotten himself into trouble, she wouldn't have been in that situation, she thought solemnly. She spent the whole night trying to figure out what made him do what he did but couldn’t come up with any possible reason. His family was well off so why would he get himself caught up in such an illegal act?

Something wasn’t adding up she thought as she entered the kitchen, heading towards the coffee brewer. The Fahad she knew wouldn’t have done what he was accused of but perhaps, she could be wrong. After all, she didn’t know him that much but he never gave her any reason to suspect that he was partaking in illegal activities. She sat down on the kitchen island, twirling the spoon in her cup, unable to bring herself to take a sip. The clattering of plates startled her, and she let out an inaudible sigh when she saw Hanifa, her brother's wife.

"Good morning Addah Hanifa," she greeted taking a sip of the now warm coffee.

"Good morning Najmah," the lady replied with enthusiasm that was strange for a person who just woke up especially Hanifa who wasn't a morning person.

"Why are you so happy Addah Hanifa? Did you win the lottery?" her brows rose in question as she regarded said lady with scruitiny.

"This is far better than winning a lottery Najmah. I'm just so happy because...″ she trailed off, placing her hand on her belly a smile breaking off on her face, her eyes twinkling with happiness.

"You're pregnant!" Najmah blurted as realization dawned on her and for a moment, she was able to forget her predicament and race towards Hanifa, throwing her arms over her in congratulations.

"Thank you Star!" she responded, hugging Najmah back.

"Does Yaa Umar know?" Najmah queried, settling back on the island.

"No," she shook her head in response, heading towards the coffee brewer. "I found out yesterday."

"How are you holding up? I'm so sorry," she stared at her sister in law sympathetically.

"To be honest, I don't know. Yesterday if anyone told me I wasn’t gonna marry Fahad, I would've told that person that he was a liar and yet, here we are..." she trailed off, not knowing how to express her feelings. "What if he doesn't accept me Addah? You know how hard it is for me to form relations, what if he shuns me away?"

"Everything’s going to be alright in shaa Allah*, you'll see. Have faith in The Almighty, He joined you both in matrimony and by His Grace, He'll join your hearts as one."

"What if... "

"There's no what if Najmah, you're a star, our star and in shaa Allah, you'll be the star that'll shine in your husband's house and heart. You just need a little bit of work and a bit of adjustment before you both understand each other but in shaa Allah, you will get there. He will see what a unique and amazing person you are once he gets to know you and mark my words, he won't be able to help himself, he will fall hard for you."

Despite her insecurities and troubles, Najmah threw her head back and laughed heartily, grateful for having her brother's wife in her life. She always knew when to pick her up when she fell and when to tell her 'I told you so' when she was stubborn, a best friend and a sister-in-law wrapped in one package.

{••}

The sun had set and Najmah was sitting in her favorite place at the garden, reading a book. Too absorbed in her reading, she didn't realize when her mother sat beside her till she took the book out of her hand.