The Price Of Revenge

Twenty-Seven

Fuad sat beside Khadijah, shaking his leg rapidly.

"You seem nervous. What's up with you?" she asked, looking as though she expected nothing but trouble from him.

"I'm sorry about Rumaisa's brother."

"We're done with that. All is forgiven," she said with a smile.

"Come on. We both know it's not, not after they forced you to drop the charges against Salam."

"I don't know the boy's name, but how did you know they forced us? Was Rumaisa part of it too?" she asked, her expression suddenly serious.

"No, she isn't. I heard it from him when I asked."

He lied.

"Oh, but she has nothing to do with it, so why are you apologizing for him?"

"He's my brother-in-law, and for him, it was a mistake."

"Killing someone is a mistake?"

"He doesn't know Bashir died. He was never told by anyone."

"How is that possible?"

"He was young. They knew it would scar him for life. He was just a child. He couldn't live with that burden at such a young age."

"It's true. His brother is the one to blame," she said.

"Well, I'll be going now. I have to get home for dinner."

"Your wife is waiting?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Okay. I'm sorry Fuad is still in school," she said apologetically.

"What name does he use in school?"

"Fuad Ibrahim M, just like you."

"And he doesn't ask questions about the difference between him and his siblings?"

"He did once, but I don't know what Mama told him to stop him from asking."

"Okay. Tell him I'm coming back next week, but right now I have to prepare for Hamida's wedding, which I hope you're attending."

"Of course. I'm one of the bridesmaids."

He laughed.

"I guess your friendship has really gone that far."

"Yeah, all because she fell in love with the wrong guy."

His smile disappeared.

"Ruin my joy as usual, evil woman," he muttered as he walked out.

⸻

Fuad kept looking at Hamida as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

There she was, standing beside Ismail, the same man who seemed to irritate her whenever she was around Fuad.

She was getting married a year after him, and that was when he realized just how unlucky his life had been.

To make matters worse, Rumaisa was now walking toward him, although he had been the one who called her.

"You called me," she said when she reached him.

"You're my wife. You should stand beside me as we go in, not beside another man," he told her.

She smiled.

"Please don't think about anything irrational. It doesn't mean anything has changed. I just don't want people noticing that we aren't together throughout the ceremony, especially when you had to stand with another man when you have a husband."