Afrah
Sitting in the backseat of the cab, Afrah reclined her head against the window; her thoughts revolving around Jameel. He was so happy when she reversed her decision. She wished she could be as happy as he was because it was also what she wanted, but the fact that Jameel already had a wife was a hindrance. Although Jameel had told her that he was literally living like siblings with his wife, Afrah still wasn't comfortable with having people refer to her husband as someone else's. Knowing just how possessive she was, she knew she would never be able to get used to it. She wasn't certain if being with Jameel was worth it all.
But albeit the uncertainty, she was delighted that she still had Jameel. Not even Najah could get in-between them. For a moment, Najah had made her doubt Jameel's love for her, but not anymore. He had proven to her that he wasn't capable of loving anyone else. Najah seemed so confident about her relationship with Jameel, Afrah wished she could see the look of defeat on Najah's face when the information gets to her. The urge to taunt her was gargantuan. It almost dominated her consideration.
The cab screeched to a halt, jolting Afrah from her trance.
She paid the cab driver his fare before alighting from the car and ambling towards her friend's apartment.
Just as she took out the keys from her bag and was about to unlock the door, she realized it was already open.
Panicked, she pushed open the door and dashed in. "Amal?"
"Yes?" Amal looked up from the screen of her laptop. "Am I safe?"
In relief, Afrah released she breath she didn't realize she had been holding. "I thought someone broke and entered the house."
Amal's eyes floated heavenward before focusing on Afrah. "If truly that was the case, did you intend to fight the burglar or what?" She asked with a shake of her head.
Afrah chuckled as she wondered how she intended to do that. "I panicked," she explained. "I didn't have time to think. I thought we got robbed. Why are you back so early?"
"I had a splitting headache. I was given a day off to visit a doctor."
"You've been working too hard," Afrah mused. "Sorry. Have you taken any pain reliever?"
"Yeah. I took paracetamol."
"You should be resting instead of-" Afrah peeped at her laptop screen. "Typing. How are you going to get better if you don't give your body the rest it deserves?"
"I feel much better now," Amal assured. "This gig was given to me a week ago. The deadline is tomorrow. I have to meet up. Besides, I'm almost done. Just about three thousand words remaining."
Afrah looked at her friend in admiration at how driven she was. Aside from being a teacher, she was also a freelancer. She was bent on proving to her mother that she could survive on her own. "Have you had anything to eat?"
"Yeah," she replied, typing away on her laptop; not looking up. "I cooked spaghetti. You can help you-"
"No, thanks," Afrah cut her off and politely declined. "I have had breakfast."
That seemed to prickle Amal's interest. She looked up from her screen and eyed Afrah. "Outside?"
Afrah gave her shoulders a dainty little shrug. "Yes?"
"With whom?"
Afrah flashed a nervous smile at her friend and muttered, "Jameel."
Amal's eyes broadened. "Come again! Jameel?"
Afrah nodded. For some inexplicable reason, she felt she had done something grotesque.
Amal jumped up and threw her arms around Afrah for a few seconds. "So are you two going to get back together? When were you going to tell me? I should be mad at you."
"I wanted to tell you earlier but you have been so busy, I didn't want to disturb you."
"Wow! So there's something to tell."
"He asked me to marry him."
"Oh, my God! He did?"
Afrah hummed.
"And what was your response?"
"Of course I refused."
"What?"
"Hear me out."
"Okay, I'm all ears."
"You know what we've been through. I have told you everything. He's married. Even though I still love him, I turned him down because I felt bad for his wife. I imagined myself in her shoes. I wouldn't want the same thing to be done to me. I really pitied her until she came to confront me."
"Wait...what?" Amal blinked. "His wife came to his house to confront you?"
Afrah exhaled slowly, the long whoosh of air just barely steadying her pulse. Her blood boiled as she recalled the words Najah had hurled at her. "She did. She said really horrible things to me."
Humorlessly, Amal chuckled and entrapped her finger between her teeth. "Why didn't you call me? I would have put her in her place. I trust you did just that, did you?"
"Of course," Afrah replied. "That woman is an unequivocal definition of an idiot. Here I was, ready to sacrifice my love for Jameel for her sake but the stupid woman thinks I'm the one throwing myself at her husband. Someone that I can easily tell to divorce her and he would? It's just like a cakewalk for me.
Amal inclined her head in surprise at her friend's words. "What exactly did the woman say to you?"
"A truckload of rubbish," Afrah hissed. "She told me how she and Jameel have created an unbreakable bond, bla bla bla. She also called me a homewrecker," she laughed. "That woman finished me with insults sha, but trust me to give it back to her in ten folds. I threw it to her face that for Jameel to have been able to keep his distance from her only means he didn't find her attractive at all and never will. I also called her a woman of easy virtue. Thinking of it now, I said some mean shit to her. I kind of feel bad for making that particular statement. It might be true but-"
"But she also called you a homewrecker, so it's balanced. You're even. She called you a homewrecker and you called her a wench."
"I feel I went overboard," Afrah lowered her head. "But she pushed my button. She told me she was going to seduce Jameel to spite me. She even implied she was better looking than me-that in terms of looks, I don't stand a chance against her. She provoked me into saying all of those things to her. I really didn't mean to stoop as low as she did."
Amal hummed. "You two really went at each other hard."
"Which I regret. I shouldn't have lost my cool. I should have allowed her to make a fool of herself, but it's fine, after Jameel and I get married, I'm going to show her that I'm not one to be messed with. She's going to regret crossing me. I was on my own o when this woman decided to look for my trouble. I didn't start this, she did and she will have to face the music. Like I said earlier, just two words from me to Jameel and he is going to send her packing, but she's lucky I'm not a vile person. I'm just going to make Jameel see her for who she truly is and divorce her of his free will. I won't even pressurize him."
Amal held Afrah's face, turning her head and making their gazes meet. "Is that the reason you agreed to marry him? To prove a point to his wife? You're not getting married because you love him?"
Afrah looked away, subtly avoiding her friend's gaze because she knew there was an atom of truth in all that she said.
Sure thing, she loved Jameel but she wasn't ready to fight for that love until Najah intervened. All of a sudden, Afrah didn't mind going up against her parents one more time.
"Am I right?" Amal eyed her. "You don't love him anymore?"
"I do," Afrah was quick to respond. "Of course I still love him. I would never get married to someone I don't desire"
"But your desire to prove a point to his wife is greater," Amal stated. "Right? Because your beleaguered ego was punctured."
"A little bit of that," Afrah affirmed. "But I love Jameel. I really do. Let's just say she made me realize he's worth fighting for."
"I don't know how I feel about this," Amal voiced. "At first, I was really happy because you know how much I love the two of you together, but now, I don't even know anymore... Jameel is going to go through it."
"That should serve as his punishment for breaking our covenant."
"Are you really sure you want to do this, Afrah?"
"I have never been this sure about deciding for myself."
"Well," Amal smiled. "I will support you then."
Afrah returned the smile and wrapped her arms around her friend. "Thanks, Amal."
Amal pulled back and asked; "For what?"
"Everything. I really don't know what I would have done without you. Like for real. You're a lifesaver. You're the one person I know I can always count on to be there for me."
"Always," Amal reassured, taking Afrah's hand in hers. "You will always have me in your corner."
"And you will always have me around too," Afrah caressed their intertwined hands.
"It's not going to be easy, I hope you know that. From everything you told me, his wife seems to be a despicable person. You will have to be careful around her."
"She is. I will be the one to put her in her place. She doesn't know what I'm capable of. Oh!" Afrah suddenly exclaimed. "I almost forgot."
"What?"
"I got her number from Jameel. She was so sure about her relationship with Jameel, talking nonstop. Now, I want to hear what she has to say."
"Uh-uh," Amal shook her head. "You mustn't do that! Come on, Afrah, that's not who you are-taunting a woman because her husband is getting married to you? In as much as I don't like this woman, I don't think it's right for you to mock her like that. Please don't do that, Afrah."
"Fine," Afrah rolled her eyes. "I won't call her anymore."
Amal gave a closed-lip smile and nodded.
"I will be leaving tomorrow... I want to meet my parents and try my luck one more time. I hope they allow me to marry Jameel this time."
"They will."
"You sound so sure."
"But of course," Amal laughed. "You're not getting any younger. They will have to accept Jameel unless they want to see you a spinster for the rest of their lives."
"I agree," Afrah laughed along. "They have no choice but to agree."
"Finger crossed."
•
The following morning found Afrah standing in front of her parents' house. Her nerves were all over the place. She had a feeling the meeting with her parents wouldn't go well, but that didn't stop her from lifting a hand and hitting it on the gate.
"Who's there?" The booming voice of the gateman almost startled Afrah. Perhaps, she would have flinched had she not been used to the muscular voice since childhood. A few days away from home wasn't enough for her to forget the voice she grew up listening to.
"It's me," she responded. "Afrah."
The gate immediately opened and the middle-aged man came into view. "Is it really you, Afrah?"
Afrah suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. She hadn't even been gone for a week and he was acting like the last time he saw her was decades ago.
"I'm so happy you're back," he expressed; the huge smile glued to his face. "Come on in."
Afrah smiled and stepped in; her gaze traveling about. Her heart skipped a little at the sight of her father's car.
Although it was to her advantage because she wanted to speak to him too, she couldn't help but feel apprehensive.
Her bravado wanted to fail her at the time she needed it the most.
Having noticed her dilemma, the gateman intruded. "Alhaji will be happy to see you. Since the day you left, not a day has passed without him asking me about you."
"Really? He has?" Afrah wasn't really surprised by the discovery because she was very much aware of how important she was to her father. He may have acted imperturbable-detached from her but she could see through him. He would have to do a lot more than throwing her out of his house for her to believe he was unconcerned about her.
He nodded and motioned for her to go in.
Afrah sauntered to the front door and pushed it open.
"Ya Afrah!" Jinan squealed. "Mum! Dad! Ya Afrah has returned."
Afrah shook her head. "Did you have to shout on the top of your vo-" Afrah couldn't finish her sentence as her younger sister almost knocked her off her feet.
"Ya Afrah, I have missed you a lot," Jinan cried. "I really didn't think I'd miss you this much. Thanks for coming back home."
Afrah gave Jinan a few pats of the back before pulling away from her. "I just came to-"
"Afrah?" Mrs. Amina called, surprised to see her daughter after a week or so.
"Mum..."
No word said, Mrs. Amina approached Afrah and engulfed her in a hug that lasted for a minute.
Afrah tightened her arms around her mother. It was home for her.
"I thought something bad had happened to you. Alhamdulillah, you're alright. Where have you been staying?"
"At a friend's," Afrah replied.
"Who is she?"
"Amal," Afrah replied. "Mum, there's something I came to...something I want to ask from you and dad."
"So you've decided to return?" Dr. Abdulmalik's voice rang in the living room.
"Dad!" Tears glistened in Afrah's eyes as she got closer to her father. She hadn't realized how much she missed him until that moment. "I'm sorry," tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry for being a bad daughter. I'm sorry for not living up to your expectations. I'm sorry for constantly disappointing you. I'm so sorry, dad, for not being the daughter you wanted and for-"
"Never," Dr. Abdulmalik cut her off, jabbing a finger in her direction. "Say you're not the daughter I wanted. Yes, you've disappointed me a lot more than I can count, but you've also made me proud."
Afrah couldn't believe her ears. Hearing her father say that made her feel so terrible about ever disappointing him. At that moment, she had forgotten all about Jameel and everything that had to do with him. She just wanted her father's validation.
"No matter how mad I get at you, I will never regret having you as a daughter. Never! You're a reminder of my beloved mother. When you were birthed, I was so happy, I felt she had returned to us. In as much as I want to blame you for your adamance, I can't because you took after your grandmother. I have never seen anyone as stubborn." He placed a hand on her cheek, wiping the tears there. "I don't regret what I did because I had your best interest at heart, so I won't be apologizing."
Afrah nodded; more tears leaking from her eyes. She didn't want his apology. All she wanted from him was his blessing-to marry Jameel.
"But," he fixated his gaze in hers. "I won't get in the way of what you want anymore.
Puzzled, Afrah's brows furrowed.
"I have thought long and hard about it and have decided to let you have your way. If being with that boy is what would make you happy if you're still willing to be with him even after everything, I will give you my blessing."
Afrah took in a sudden breath; her eyes as wide as saucers. She couldn't bring herself to utter a single word. She wondered if she misheard her father. For some sort of explanation, she looked at her mother and Mrs. Amina flashed her a smile. Jinan also smiled at her.
Afrah's hand flew over her agape mouth.
"But," Dr. Abdulmalik continued, making Afrah's face drop. "there's a condition."
"Whatever it is, dad."
Dr. Abdulmalik smiled. "Come back home."
•
Assalamualaikum/hello!
Sorry for the late update 🥺🙏
So Afrah feels telling Jameel to divorce Najah is a cakewalk 😩😂
I smell rivalry. Lol. On whose side are you? 😌
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deey_jah
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