Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Days has passed now, everything has been delight for Dalia. She gets everything she wanted from her husband. It has been two months now, even though she has been facing a lot of challenges from amira, she never let that get in her way of happiness and living peacefully with her husband.

It was a Saturday, dalia was at home while muhsin was at the office doing some paper work and attending meetings. Only thing that could possibly bother her now was she hasn't gone to see her mother yet and he was always busy with work. She only talk with her mother on phone and keep throwing tantrums about her coming home.

She was laying down on the sofa watching tv when amira walked into the living room and changed the channel. Dalia gave her a daring look. She was starting to get fed up about how amira sticks her nose into her business whenever their husband wasn't around. “You should know that this is my living room not yours, you better stick that statement to your head and behave,” amira clamoured at her. Dalia calmly sat up on the chair and fixed her gaze on amira. “If I could remember your living room is upstairs and this is his living room which means I have the right to sit here and do whatever I want. Look, I do not want any trouble please, I would appreciate it if you change it back to the channel I was watching.”

With full confidence, dalia rise to her feet and attempted to take the remote away from her but amira wouldn't budge. Dalia shrugged her shoulders t amira, “your problem.” And then, she walked away, leaving amira in awe. No matter how she tried to annoy dalia, it never worked. She never shows any sign of anger, not one bit.

Amira hissed and threw the remote on the sofa before she stormed into the kitchen, looking for what to damage. She moved further in and opened the pot. She smirked, looking at the mouth watering stew inside. She looked around the kitchen and spotted the salt jar. She let out a menacing laugh as she walked over to the salt and claimed it. She poured half the jar inside the stew before stirring it and closed it back the way she saw it.

Later in the evening dalia came down the stairs and walked into the kitchen to check on the white rice she was cooking. After she was done arranging everything on the table, she went back to her room and freshened up before he returned home.

She hurried left the room when she heard his car drive in. She waited for him by the door step. He alight from the car and walked to where she was standing. She opened her arms for him before he approached her. Now she was used to all of his touches and cheesy words.

Muhsin wrapped her in a warm swaddle of his chest and arms. His warm embrace made all her troubles wash away- mental and physical, mostly the anger part. If only she could stay in his arms forever, safe from the world’s harmful people. One could only hope.

“Welcome back,” she muttered, wrapping her arms around his neck while he loops his arms around her waist. He lands a gentle kiss on her lips, smiling. “I've missed you, a lot.” She returned a smile and kissed his lips in respond. “Come, I cooked for you.” He lets go of her and held her hand as she led the way.

“How was work today?” She asked on their way to his room. She opened the captivating, spotless room, nicely fragranced with burning incense. He inhaled and beamed. “It was great Alhamdulillah. But I might travel next week. I said might... stop giving me that look.” He said when her facial expression changed. She slumped her shoulders and tilted her head, pouting.

“But...” Then she paused and sighed. “I'll take a quick shower and meet you in your room.” He walked away to his closet. She exhaled as she walked out of his room to hers. She sauntered into her room same time her phone started ringing. She hurriedly picked it up from her dressing table. “Dalia!! Where have you been? I've been calling your line but you weren't picking.” Hamida spoke from the other line. “I'm so sorry, I wasn't close to the phone. Hope everything is okay, even though you sound sooo... excited.”

Hamida squealed that she had to move the phone away from her ear to avoid getting deaf by hamida’s excited screams. “My sister just gave birth and guess what? It’s twins! They decided to surprise us. Omg... you have to come see them...”

“Hamida, calm down now and breathe.” Dalia chuckled softly even though her heart was pacing fast for an unknown reason but she knew it was about giving birth. “Although, their mother is still unconscious. But she’ll be fine in sha Allah. Anyways... can’t wait for yours.... Hold on, I’ll call you back.” Hamida ended the call.

Dalia sluggishly dropped the phone and let out a shaky breath. She could feel her heart beat... every single pound in her chest. Hamida just had to remind her of what she always feared; giving birth or even getting pregnant. And by the way muhsin has been talking about it, there was no way she could attempt saying no to that. What would he think of her? Her mother never raised her that way. She slumped on her bed and closed her eyes. Everything became worse when she remembered her friend binta.

Even after hey attempted to help her, binta ended up saying she doesn't want to leave her husband anymore and dalia knew binta didn't mean that. She was force to say that when the matter was taken to court. Dalia chuckled sadly, after how much muhsin wanted to help binta but she ended up shaming them.

Dalia looked at her phone as it kept rattling but she refused to pick up the call. She needn’t want hamida ranting about babies or giving birth. She has heard times without numbers how women suffered when giving birth, some hardly survived while some couldn't escape death. What if she couldn’t escape it too? She briskly sat up right shaking her head. She held her stomach as it swirled with fear. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She stayed in that position for as long as she could remember.

“Is everything alright?” She raised her head to meet him standing in front of her. Through a swirl of sickening fear, Dalia smiled and shook her head no. “I'm fine, I promise.”

He plop beside her and pulled her to his laps. “Tell me, your face says otherwise.” He gently stroked her back as he waited for her answer. She tilted her head and pouted. “When am I going to see mama?” She finally asked. He leans in close her, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he whispered in her ear. “After you get pregnant.”

She slowly turned her head to look at him, keeping her cool. “Please I'm serious here. It already has been two months and you haven't said anything about going home,” she lamented slightly swinging her feet. “I'm not joking here. You’ll go see her after I know I have a special treasure in you.” He gently puts his hand under her blouse and rubbed her tummy. She attempted to get off his laps but he held her back. She let out a long sigh praying he wouldn't hear how her heart was beating loudly and rapidly.

“Okay... fine... wait. I'll think about it, is that okay?” He raised his brows. She shook her head no smiling. “It’s not fair you get to go see aunty and disturb her while I can’t go disturb mine.” Muhsin chuckled and leans his forehead on hers. “One of the reasons why I don’t want to go now.”

She traced his lips lightly with the tip of her thumb. It pouts slightly, and she have such an urge to bite it, to kiss it.... He leaned in for a kiss but she pulls back. “You haven't eaten and it’s getting late,” she uttered and smirked. “Well I was about to eat....” She gasped and attempted to stand up but he beat her to it. “Okay, scaredy cat, let’s go eat.” She stood up and held his hand. They walked out of the room to the dining area as they conversed.

She served him his dinner and settled down looking at him. He took the first bite and chewed. He paused and glanced at his wife for confirmation. Was it a joke to play around with his meal? He swallowed it wincing. He swiftly rose up and rinsed his mouth by the wash hand basin. She rose to her feet panicky. “What’s wrong?” She asked as she attempted to approach him but he stopped her.

“Have you eaten this food before serving me?” He asked and she shook her head, perplexed. He pointed at the food and she looked at it. “But I have tasted the stew when making it, I made it just the way you always want it and I made sure it wasn't spicy.” She took a half spoon and spat it out. Now who did this dirty game to her?

“By Allah I know I did not....” He threw his hand in the air to stop her from speaking. She stare at him, “please believe me, I didn’t do this on purpose. I don’t know how this much salt ended up in the stew.”

He shook his head and rubbed his temple. “It’s fine, it’s okay. I'll go get something outside and be back real quick. If you need anything, you should tell me.” He made his way out of the dining room. “You don't have to do that when you have me. I can cook something real quick for you, just give me few minutes.” She followed him to his room as she watched him take his car keys from the dresser.

“I'm very hungry, I can’t wait for you to cook something else.” He walked passed her to the stairs. She rested her back on the wall and sighed. Whatever she’d do, she knew muhsin would never change his mind when he said he was going out to eat and she knew no doubt her co wife has something to do with the damaged stew because she was sure she had tasted it after she was done cooking.

There was no way she could blame his wife without any evidence that she was the one that did it. He could look down on her, she thought. Why would amira do that to her? What was her offence? After much effort on ignoring her insults and curses? Now she had to come between her and muhsin. What was next on amira’s plans? The fear and thoughts looped around in her mind until there was no room for anything else.

She thought of calling her mother and tell her about it or at least Amrah. Some part of shrugged the thought away. She heaved a sigh and walked out of the room. She encountered with amira outside her room waiting for her. Amira looked at dalia’s face as she laughed heartily. “You thought you can compete with me, right? We shall see, you haven't seen anything. Just wait for my next move and your husband would no nothing about it because he now believes that I have officially stopped bothering him about you. And he knows what I am capable of doing and what I can’t. Buckle up Mrs Muhsin, the ride is about to get more rough.”

Anger boiled deep in her system, as hot as lava. It churned within, hungry for destruction, and she knows it was too much for her to handle. The pressure of that ranging sea of anger would force her to say things she didn't intend to, to express thoughts she had managed to suppressed for weeks.

Dalia hissed softly and bolted out of the place before she entered her room and shut the door close. She slumped on the bed and rested her head on her soft pillow. Dalia never noticed she was angry till she met amira’s pesky face. She got more pissed when she felt the tears cascading down her cheeks. She was crying because of her co wife, not going to happen. She quickly wiped the tears and hissed. She took deep breaths to calm herself down. She wasn't going to change her mind when she said she wasn't going to let amira’s problems get in her way.