The Price Of Revenge

Twenty-Nine

"You have got to be kidding me," Salma yelled.

"What is it?"

"Rilwan wants us to meet up."

"He still has feelings?"

"Guess so, but I know he's interested in something else."

"How are you sure?" Fatima asked.

"Obviously. Look, he's still dating that Nusaiba girl."

"Did he tell you that himself?"

"You don't have to lie to me. I know what's going on."

"What do you mean?" Salma asked, sitting up.

"That you're dating Zubair. I saw you two last night."

"And that proves that Rilwan isn't stalking me?"

"You said last night that you were going to meet Rilwan, but a few minutes after you left, he called me and told me he was home. That was why I went to check on you and saw you together with Zubair, making out in his car."

"So what? There's nothing wrong with it."

"If there was nothing wrong with it, you wouldn't have to hide it from me."

"That doesn't concern you."

"Of course, you making out with your sister's ex, who she dumped, is none of my business," Fatima said before walking out.

⸻

Fuad sat across from Walidain, who was busy typing something on his phone.

"What are you doing?"

"Just typing stuff."

"What stuff?"

"Fuad, why are you prying into my business?"

"The fact that you tell me everything except this is suspicious."

"Cool down. I'm not talking to Fatima. She's not my type of girl."

"Oh, really? Who did you meet?"

"Do I have to meet someone?"

"Okay, then. Let's leave it at that."

After a while, Walidain finally looked up.

"Her name is Raziqah. I met her last week when I went to the supermarket."

"And you like her?"

"I'm not really sure right now, but maybe."

"How are you not sure?"

"You know how excited I get when I meet new girls. Maybe it's that, or maybe I really do like her."

"Ugh! You're not serious."

"I am, but you asked for it."

"And I told you to leave it, but of course you didn't."

"Anyways, I'm meeting her later. Can you please drive me there?"

"Hell no."

"My car is still at the mechanic, and Ismail has been off lately."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, since his wife had the baby, he hardly spends time with me. He's always at home, and when we hang out, he has to call. He and I don't even go to the square anymore."

"Well, the answer is obvious, isn't it? He isn't a free man anymore. He has a wife and a child, and he wants to spend every moment with them."

"He told me himself that one of the things that really excites him now is holding his son and playing around with him. I know for sure that if my wife had a baby now, I wouldn't be here right now."