MAKESHIFT HUSBAND (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

*
When Kamal returned home, Maryam was still locked up in the room. He sat in the parlor for a while but the silence became too heavy and the air stagnant.

"Maryam" He knocked. "Maryam please open the door. We need to talk"

"I don't want to talk to you"

Came the muffled response.

From the way her voice sounded, Kamal knew she had been crying for a while.

"Maryam I'm so sorry." He lowered his voice coaxingly. "Please open the door Dan Allah."

A few seconds passed and the lock clicked. He stepped back a bit and she walked out. Her eyes were red swollen.

"So" she crossed her arms across  her chest. "What do you want to say?"

Kamal stepped closer to her and reached out a hand to hold her.
When he saw that she didn't protest, he sighed in relief and together, they walked to the parlor.

He made her sit on the couch while he sat on the floor facing her.

"What?" Maryam looked away, unable to bear his gaze. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm just thinking of how beautiful you look even after you've cried so much"

"Sweet talker"

"I'm serious" Kamal laughed and stood up. "I got something for you. Just wait here"

He went to the dining table and returned with a cake that had some words on it.

I'M SORRY!

"Don't think I'll forgive you just because you bought me a delicious cake" Maryam said after taking a bite.

"You know, what you said really hurt me and..."

"Shh" Kamal placed a finger on her lips. The action shocked the two of them as they both stared at his finger. "Let me apologise first"

He hastily removed his finger as though he had been burnt. The pace at which he found himself relaxing and getting all too comfortable with Maryam scared him a bit too.

Though he and Zainab had married out of love, they took a month to get really settled and comfortable with each other.

Despite the fact that they were fast approaching the fourth year of being together, there were some things he still couldn't say or do in front of Zainab.

"Is this how you apologise?" Maryam snapped her fingers and he blinked.

"Sorry" Kamal smiled widely. "I got carried away by your beauty"

Maryam rolled her eyes and ignored him. If he wanted to try sweet mouthing her into forgetting what he had said earlier, then he's really mistaken.

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier" Kamal turned serious and she kept her gaze on studying her fingers.

"I know I shouldn't have said something like that but after what happened between us, I started to think of the many things that would change, consequences of our actions...."

"Nothing's changed." Maryam was starting to get angry again. "You're panicking because you regret what happened and I totally understand. I'm just a burden on you and I've been causing problems in your family too. You don't want this to happen again and you want us to put this....."

Maryam's eyes widened in shock.

Kamal kissed her for a while and rested his forehead on hers.

"You don't ever keep quiet when you're asked to, do you?"

Maryam felt lightheaded from his kiss. She touched her lips and looked at him with a puzzled look.

"Listen" Kamal sat beside her and embraced her from behind. "You're my best friend's younger sister, your mother practically raised me and she trusted me to help her and divorce you after 6 months. I don't know why, but the very first day you were brought here and I saw you, you've stuck to my head and I've been unable to get you out."

"So what you're saying is.."

"Just let me finish talking will you?" He thwacked her lightly on her head and when she pouted, he placed a quick kiss on her lips again.

Maryam was dazed. She was starting to wonder if something was wrong with Kamal.

What happened to the grouchy and temperamental man she married?

"What I'm saying is, maybe we should give this a chance. Maybe we don't have to get divorced after six months. So what do you think?"

Maryam was quiet until Kamal turned her face and saw that she was crying.

"What's the matter? Innalillahi"

Maryam pried his hands away and stood up.

"You want to stay married to me because you've slept with me? Because you want to keep my body? Because you pity me and my mother? Because I'm your best friend's younger sister?"

Kamal sat perplexed. He didn't know what was making her so upset.

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is I am a woman with feelings and emotions. Kamal I don't want to stay married to you for the reasons above. If you're feeling this way just because we had sex and you feel like you owe me something then please don't"

She stopped to catch her breath and looked at him for a fleeting moment. His face was devoid of emotions and he looked like he was back to being the Kamal she married.

The serious, aloof and cold Kamal. She didn't like him like that too but if she had to remain with him simply because he was feeling guilty or because she was a good fuck buddy, then she'd rather get divorced.

Every woman dreamed of marrying into a home where she was loved and treasured and respected. Although she lived a bad life in the past, she's still a woman who has repented and wants to be cherished.

"Do you have any semblance of love for me?"

"What?"

She nodded. "Don't try to play foolish Kamal. I'm sure you know what I mean. Do you feel anything for me? Do you think you could bring yourself to feel anything for me at all?"

Honestly? Kamal thought he was certain of the answer but now he wasn't so sure anymore.

"I thought so" Maryam took his silence for an answer. "So please Kamal, I'm asking you to leave me alone. Let us all leave our lives separately until the remaining three and a half months are up."

Kamal felt so furious and humiliated. What was he even thinking when he asked her to stay? Maybe she was right that he didn't love her now and he didn't know if he would come to love her but there was more to marriage wasn't there?

"Fine" he spat out and grabbed his keys. "Have it your way then"

He banged the door after him and Maryam remained standing until she heard the gates being closed.

She slowly sank to the floor and wept.

Karma.

She nodded. This must be the  retribution for the things she had done in the past.