THE FARHAN'S

~~~22

Chapter 22: Breaking the Silence

The tension in Fathiya's mind had grown so thick, she felt paralyzed. Days had passed since her last conversation with Rayyan, and Farhan hadn't reached out since their fight. She was stuck, floating somewhere between her crumbling marriage and the strange connection she had with Rayyan. The tears that used to come easily were now dried up, leaving her in a daze of confusion and emotional exhaustion.

She sat by the window, watching the trees sway in the wind, feeling as though her life was drifting aimlessly in the same way. Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Farhan's mother. "Fathiya, I need to speak with you. Please come over when you can."

Fathiya's heart sank. She knew this conversation was coming. She felt trapped, like a small bird in a cage, unable to break free or make decisions for herself. It felt as if everything was spiraling out of control. She wasn't sure she could face anyone, least of all Farhan's mother, who had been nothing but kind to her.

For a long time, Fathiya sat frozen, staring at the message. Then, with a sigh, she typed back, "I will come soon, Insha'Allah."

When Fathiya arrived at Farhan's family home, Ummah greeted her with warmth, pulling her into a tight embrace. She had always been kind, always gentle, but today, there was a seriousness in her eyes.

"Fathiya, my dear," she said softly, leading her to the living room. "I've been thinking about you, and I felt we needed to talk."

Fathiya sat, her heart racing, unsure of where this conversation would go.

"I know things haven't been easy between you and Farhan," Ummah started, her voice filled with sympathy. "But I want you to know that I'm here for you, and I've always considered you like a daughter to me. I understand how complicated marriages can be. I've seen it in my own life and the lives of many others."

Fathiya nodded, her throat tightening with emotion. "Ummah, I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like everything is falling apart."

Ummah reached out and took Fathiya's hand in hers. "I can see that, my dear. And I want to help you find your way through this. But I have to ask, do you still love Farhan?"

Fathiya's eyes filled with tears. Did she still love him? It was a question she had been avoiding for weeks. "I don't know," she whispered. "Things have changed so much. He's changed, and I... I feel lost."

Ummah squeezed her hand. "Marriage is never easy, Fathiya. There will always be challenges, misunderstandings, and times when you feel like walking away. But love is something you can't let slip through your fingers so easily. If there's even a small part of you that still loves him, you need to fight for your marriage. You two belong together."

Fathiya looked down, her heart aching. "But what if it's too late?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

"It's never too late, Fathiya. As long as both of you are willing to work through it, there's hope. But you have to make a choice. If you want to save this marriage, you need to act now before things get worse."

Fathiya felt a deep pull in her chest. She didn't want to admit it, but Ummah's words were sinking in. There was still a part of her that loved Farhan, even if things had become so difficult.

Later that day, Farhan finally reached out to Fathiya. The phone rang, and for a moment, she considered not answering. But then, something inside her urged her to pick up. She hesitated for a second, then swiped to answer.

"Fathiya," Farhan's voice was softer than she expected. "Can we talk?"

Fathiya felt her heart tighten. His voice was not angry, not frustrated like before. It was pleading. She took a deep breath. "What do you want to talk about, Farhan?"

"I know things are bad between us, but I can't just watch you slip away. Ummah has been telling me to be patient, to give you time, but I'm struggling, Fathiya. I love you."

The words hit her like a weight she wasn't prepared to carry. She didn't know how to respond. She had wanted this call, this conversation, but now that it was happening, it felt too heavy.

"Farhan, I don't know what to say." Her voice was shaky.

"Just tell me you're still there, Fathiya. That we're still in this together." His desperation was palpable.

Fathiya closed her eyes, fighting the emotions bubbling up inside her. "I'm trying, Farhan. I really am. But I don't even know if I can make decisions anymore. Everything is so messed up."

There was silence on the line for a long moment, before Farhan finally spoke again, his voice thick with emotion. "We don't have to figure it all out now, Fathiya. Just... don't give up on me yet. Please."

The call ended with those words lingering in her mind. She sat in her room, still unsure of where she stood, but for the first time in weeks, she felt a flicker of hope. Maybe there was still a chance to save this. Maybe.

Later that evening, as Fathiya was lost in thought, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Kaka Mama, Hajiya Laraba. Her voice came through strong and steady, with the same commanding tone that Fathiya had always known.

"Fathiya," Kaka Mama began without preamble, "I need you to listen to me carefully. I have something important to tell you."

"Yes, Kaka Mama," Fathiya said quietly, her heart racing.

"Wanchan Amal din fah," Kaka Mama's voice lowered, as if she was about to share something of great importance, "tana aiki da malamai. She has been working with people to make sure Farhan stays with her. I heard this from a reliable source. Fathiya, you need to stand up. If you want to go back to Farhan, now is not the time to sit back and do nothing."

Fathiya's mouth went dry. "Kaka Mama... are you sure?"

"Sure?" Kaka Mama's voice sharpened. "I'm telling you this because I know it's true. If you don't fight for your marriage, Fathiya, she will take him from you. Now is the time to make decisions, not to cry and feel sorry for yourself. Stand up and fight for your home, for your marriage."

Fathiya sat, stunned, as Kaka Mama's words echoed in her mind. Could it really be true? Could Amal be using mallamai to keep Farhan away from her? The idea seemed absurd at first, but deep down, a part of her wondered if it explained why everything had felt so off between them lately.

The phone slipped from her hand as she sat in shock, thinking about everything that had happened in the past few months. Her marriage falling apart, her feelings for Rayyan, Farhan's sudden distance, and now this? Was she supposed to fight? Was there even anything left to fight for?

Hours passed, and Fathiya found herself pacing in her room, her mind battling with itself. One moment, she was determined to fight for her marriage, to confront Farhan and take back what was hers. But the next, doubt would creep in, and she'd wonder if it was even worth it. Was there anything left to save?

She sank onto her bed, burying her face in her hands. "Should I even try?" she whispered to herself. "Is he even worth that trial"? ,Or would it all be in vain?"

Another voice in her mind pushed back. "What if he still loves you? What if you can still make things right?"

The internal conflict raged on, leaving her in a whirlwind of uncertainty. Could she trust herself to make the right decision? Could she even face Farhan after everything that had happened?

Finally, she grabbed her phone and began typing a message to Farhan.

"We need to talk. I need to figure things out."

The response came almost immediately. "I'm coming over."

Her heart raced as she waited, knowing that this conversation could be the turning point for her marriage, one way or the other.

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