Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Unbelievably looking at him, her heart couldn't even know the feeling to welcome, tears were already cascading down her cheeks; as she kept looking at her fuming husband.

Taking a step forward, his roar made her body quivered. "Aisha, don't enter my house! I know he might be missing you now, I know he hadn't get enough of you_____so, go back to him!" He roared, enigmatically taking a step forward.

With tears cascading, heart squirming, her handbag and veil falling on the ground____Ummi felt her knees going weak, her lips couldn't even curve a word, is this her once loving husband? What happened to him? Couldn't he give her a listening ear?

"Al-amin," she slurred, slumping on the ground, more tears cascading down her cheeks.

"Didn't you heard what I said? Go back to him, Aysha! He's that benevolent coursemate huh? The heart healer that successfully became a colleague_____I know that would be your words. Don't stress yourself, just leave," he thundered! His eyes were clouded with jealousy, he couldn't even see her broken self.

Ummi stood up, she realized things might get worse if she shows him her broken and weak side. "You want me to leave, Al-amin? I'll leave your so called house. But have this in mind, when you're back into your senses____you'll surely regret this!" She retaliated in a high pitched tone, but got halted by the door, at the voice she heard.

"Drink water, Yaya, it will help soothe your mind," Laila said ostentatiously, as she thrusted him a cup brimful of chilled water.

He needs this. Without hesitation, Al-amin sat down, while Laila sat beside him, handing him the cup, with a warm smile on her lips_____not flashing Ummi a look. With a single gulp, he drank the whole water, sighing, as it passed through his lungs.

Swiftly, Ummi made up her mind. She knew, Hajia and Laila would go to any limit to destroy her marriage, and she wouldn't just make their work easy by leaving when the game just begun.

She wiped away her tears, plastered her fiesty expression and bumptiously made her way towards the staircases. His voice halted her, and so was Laila's intense gaze on her presumptuous figure.

"What do you want, Al-amin?" She inquired, pretending as if she didn't know what he was talking about.

He stood up, trying to take a step towards her, when Laila halted him by a grisp of his wrist. "Take it easy on her, Yaya," she spoke mischievously.

A factitious smile curved Ummi's lips, as she majestically walked towards them. Silently, she removed Laila's hand off his wrist and took a hold of it. "He's my husband, and I, his wife, I think you don't have to interfere in our affairs, it might be official. If you don't mind, you can excuse us please," The words rolled out sarcastically, and there was a smirk plastered on her lips_____as she walked towards the staircases, with Al-amin's wrist still in her grisp.

Laila stood there mouth agape, she thought Ummi would never say a word back to her, but from seeing what transpired now; she knew it wouldn't be easy, Ummi had passed all she could think of.

Silently, yet burning and seething with rage inside; Al-amin dragged her to her room, yanking off his hand, as he closed the door behind. "What was the meaning of that?! Didn't I tell you to go back to him? And who gave you the effrontery to hold my hand?!" He clamoured wrathfully, his gaze piercing directly through her soul, she felt her world drifting apart.

There weren't tears on her face, but her heart was bleeding with tears. Her facial expression was devoid of any emotion, but her heart was filled with sheer anguish. Not taking her gaze off him, she retaliated, the sturdy Ummi taking over her benevolent self.

"The meaning of that was; I couldn't leave my house because of a lame reason! And I don't have anyone to go back to; but you. The effrontery of holding? I have the over hundreds of rights to do that. What else? If you don't have anything to say, kindly leave my room please, I need a time of myself!" She retaliated, fixing her gaze on his, she was seething with rage; she tried obfuscating her wrathfulness, but Al-amin had pushed her to the wall.

He let out a humorless laugh, still starring at her in disbelief. "You think that was a lame excuse, Ummi? And of course, you have to go back to him, now! And lastly, you're close to loosing those rights, Mrs HB. You have to leave my house, not me leaving your room!" He declared with a tone of finality laced on his voice. His face was devoid of empathy, he held a fiesty and sturdy expression firm on his face.

She walked around her room, hanged her handbag, and began stripping off her clothes, leaving only her underwears, as she wrapped a small veil over her chest. Rolling her eyes sneeringly at him, she stood infront of him, her shoulders stooping at his elbows_____she had to lift up her face to have a better view of his face.

"It's a lame excuse, because you didn't give me a listening ear. But if you want me to leave your house; fine, I'll leave. But you know how your people went to my house and brought me here? My parents waving and chanting? That's how I would be taken back to them. Together with the respect I was brought with. About loosing those goddamn rights, do you seriously think I will give a damn? So funny of you, Al-amin. You can leave, as you can see; I'm so tired to be talking too much!" With that, she hissed so loud she thinks her lips would etch, and entered the bathroom; banging the door so loud it almost startled her.

The nerves of Ummi, Al-amin couldn't even think of what to do. He knew Ummi to be so stubborn and hard to deal with, he wasn't happy about unveiling this part of her she buried months ago. He knew he has to give her a listening ear, he has to know her reasons for entering that stupid's car. He was to take her back home in the first place, he knew she had waited for so long. But why was he overpowered by jealousy? He should have atleast listened to her own side of story, but no! He couldn't, not after what he had seen, not after that ENVELOPE.

With a heart breaking, mind still vividly seeing their image in his car, Al-amin trudge out of the room to his. He slumped on his bed, holding his head with his both hands, as his heart burns with pain. He knew; from today onwards_____Ummi would never be nice to him, now that Laila is staying with them. But it was all his fault. He messed up, really bad.

Meanwhile, Ummi was in her bathroom, the water from the shower dripping on her head down to her body, making her streaming tears oblivion. She cried to her satisfaction before bathing and coming out of the bathroom. She met an empty room, which made her heaved a sigh of relief, as she applied a lotion and spritzed perfume all over her body; before wearing a gown that hardly reached her mid thigh.

She prayed and sat there in silence, emoting her fears to the rabbul arshil azeem. She felt her stomach growled, that's when she remebered she hadn't eat anything since breakfast, and it was some minutes past six now.

She stood up, folded her hijab and praying mat, before sauntering out of her room; her long black and silky hair dangling on her shoulders, caressing her bosom. Rhyming a song hushedly, she entered the kitchen and ruminatively stood in the middle, thinking of what to cook for herself and dinner.

She began making a custard for herself, whilst thinking of what to do for dinner. She knew she couldn't do it, but to look like a good wife in this so girl's eyes, so she couldn't have anything to gossip about_____she has to try.

"Sorry to say, but you're to cook only for yourself. I and Yaya would be eating my food from now onwards," came Laila's egoistic voice, as she kept sneeringly looking at Ummi; whose one brow was raised, flashing her the 'Is it for real,' look.

Ummi sees no reason to reply her, she isn't even worth her reply. Al-amin is all she's after huh? Then so be it. Before the day ends, she'll surely hear their fight. Without even glancing at her, she made her custard and walked out of the kitchen, still rhyming her song.

They met on the aisle, even a single look; Ummi didn't flash him. To her; he isn't worth anything worthy. While he stared at her, his eyes roaming around her body, her wobbly fair thighs that were exposed, how the gown fitted her body, everything about her.

"Excuse me, you have loosed the right to stare like that," she said sarcastically and manoeuvred beside him, majestically walking to her room.

She drank her custard and began reading a book; she avowed not to cry over him again, but one thing she has in mind; she wouldn't let him go scotfree if he talk shit to her.

She prayed her Maghrib and Isha salah, and was still reading her book, when she heard a loud thud, followed by stomping footsteps, before she heard her door been banged and flinged open.

He stood infront of her reading area, wrathfulness written all over his face. "What do you mean, Aysha? Where is my dinner? How do you expect me to eat that piece of garbage," he yelled, looking at her intensely, he was clearly demanding for an answer.

She turned and fumbled on the sofa, before putting one leg on the other. Her lips pursed into a thin line, eyes emoting nothing but rage. She didn't utter a single word, just staring at him with disbelief; annoyed by his guts.

"I'm asking you, and you're just looking at me," he voice was now a little soft, his gaze was still unshaken on her face.

"If you want me to answer, then you have to lower your voice. I'm not your servant, so you doesn't have the right to be yelling at me, Al-amin," she spoke with full confidence, there wasn't an iota of fear in her tone, as she fixed her gaze on his face.

"Answer me," he spoke through gritted teeth, but his voice was more soft and calming now. He knew Ummi so well, they can spend the whole day there. Ummi and her guts.

"It's now you're talking, Laila's Yayah. Does it even make sense to you? Asking the woman that is supposed to be in her father's house dinner? Or have you forgotten so easily? If you have____I haven't, Al-amin. Since there is another lady to cater for your needs, just try and be ignoring my existence in this house, I'll make sure I make myself oblivion also," she enunciated, rolled her eyes perfectly at him, before shifting her gaze to her book; making herself comfortable on the sofa.

His jaws almost dropped, all this while; he had been underestimating Ummi, she was far beyond his thinking. "You're still my wife, for I don't remember telling you anything related to divorce. So, go and make me something to eat," he declared, looking at her, as if he would eat her any time soon.

"Aysha, I'm talking to you, kindly go and make something for me, else; you'll be on my bad side," he called again, but it was as if he was talking to the walls of the room.

"Ummi, You are really trying my patience, don't let me vent my anger on you," he warned again, but she seemed lost in her small world, completely snubbing him.

He opened his mouth to talk, when she cut him off with an annoyed tone. "Can you please close the door for me when leaving? Thank you," without sparing him a look, she darted her attention back to her book.

It took minutes before Al-amin silently trudged out of her room, he thought she wasn't close to this, but it was clear he had underestimated her.

Ummi looked at his retreating back, a triumphant smile curving her lips. "This is just the incipient, you haven't seen anything Al-amin. I'll make your life a living hell, you'll regret ever saying I should go home. And that sister of yours, she must leave my house tomorrow," she hushed and continued reading her book, not knowing Laila was staying there for all Hajia could say.

***

A big fat lie, is what to be called; if to say the couple had a peaceful night. They both kept tossing around their beds, they were used to each others warmth, those night pillow talks, the jokes and mummurings when sleep was trying to overpower them. But today, they would only hear the ticklings of the clock, and the eerily silence of the night, without the fanning breathe of each other.

They both wake up at the same time and began praying in the darkness, pouring their forlorn hearts to the all hearer. Ummi knew she had wronged her husband, that means being cursed by the angels_____which caused tears rolling down her cheeks. And it was all Al-amin's fault, if he hadn't pushed her to the wall, she wouldn't have done that to him.

Whilst Al-amin's heart was filled with guiltiness, he knew he shouldn't have acted that way, but he just couldn't control his burning heart. Seeing his beloved wife in a car with a stanger, was enough to get him admitted into a hospital for days.

They both sat on their prayer mats till it was time for Subh. Standing up when the adzan was proclaimed, they both took their phones and typed, as well as messages popping at the same time.

It's time for Salah, wake up and pray. I'm sorry

Ummi couldn't help but let a tear roll down her cheeks, from this text, she knew he hadn't sleep also, and how did he know the exact words she would use to text him? She couldn't help but smile at the coincidence.

Al-amin on the other hand smiled goofily, as if he had won a lottery. He reread the text for the hundredth time, appealed as to how she knew the words he would use. That's bond they share.

Ummi prayed and began getting ready for work, she wouldn't want to be late today, and she would take her car to avoid further misunderstandings. She bathe and wore a maroon Abaya with touches of white at the edges of the hands, rolling her head with the veil; making her look like an arab.

Her face looked pale, and so was her body. She has bags under her eyes; as her lips became dry. She applied a kohl and a white lipstick, spritz a perfume on her body and draped her black sidebag and came out of the room.

Closing their doors behind, they both turned, making their orbs colliding, as tbey didn't make an effort in averting them. They stood their for minutes, lost in the orbs of eachother. They could see their broken and worried hearts, the bags under their eyes emanating they didn't had enough sleep. They wanted to engulf eachother in their embrace, apologize and let the life move on, but no! Everyone was hell bent on making the other know his worth.

Ummi was the first to avert her gaze, as she slowly made her way towards the kitchen to make something light for her stomach. She toasted four slices of bed and took a drink from the fridge, before moving to the dinning table.

Al-amin walked to the kitchen and found it empty, he moved to the dining table and found her eating sluggishly. "Where's my breakfast?" He asked, not meeting her gaze; for they has a verve he couldn't defy.

She gulped down her drink and continued eating her food, before replying him almost inaudible. "I told you yesterday," was all she said and kept shut.

He was getting infuriated "Laila isn't my wife, you are my wife, and you're supposed to cook for me, not her," his voice wasn't high, but it still sent a chill down Ummi's spine.

She looked up abruptly, it's time for a talk back "How would I say she isn't your wife, when she personally told me not to be cooking with you or her. She and her Yaya are to be eating her food from yesterday onwards," she mimicked Laila's voice when it comes to saying Yaya, and averted her gaze to her plate, which she has lost the appetite of eating.

"Was I the one that told you so? She isn't the one marrying you, so go and make breakfast for me," he ordered, ignoring the voices telling him she couldn't cook.

She stood up, took the plate and the drink, before moving towards him. "Here, you can eat the rest, I'm satisfied. And mind you, you should stop calling me your wife, you're close to loosing that right, so better get used to it," she brushed off an invisible dirt on his shirt, before moving towards the kitchen to drink water.

She drank the water and came out, meeting him rooted on his spot, as he was unbelievably looking at her. He didn't had the strength to talk, until her right leg was an inch to the outside of the house.

"And where do you think you are going?" he questioned, as if he didn't know she started working yesterday. And from her dressing and the car keys in her hand, it was obvious she was going to work.

"To work ofcourse," she answered, with the leg hung in the air, as she didn't take a step forward.

"You aren't going anywhere," his voice was soft, yet it sounded enigmatic.

"And who do you think you are, to stop me?" She questioned, one could tell she was really annoyed, from the looks she had been sending his way.

"Your husband."

"Says the person that would soon lose that position. Good bye, Al-amin," she said, her right leg landing on the ground, as she was trying to lift up the left one.

"One more gesture, and our marriage would be cut off with one decree," it wasn't only Ummi that was shocked, or was it only her world she felt collapsing______he too was feeling his heart etched by an excruciating pain, a feeling of regret sprinkled upon the cuts, as if it was a salt been sprinkled upon a fresh and new wound.