Fou'ad waited for Yaseerah by the foot of the stairs, Amina's parting words echoing in his head.
Seconds seemed to stretch on like eternity as he shifted his weight from one foot to another, each passing moment only intensifying the knot of emotions coiling in his chest.
The second he saw her though, the last thing he wanted was to walk through those doors, and visit her father.
Every worry, every doubt, every lingering resentment melted away, as he beheld her, his gaze drinking in every detail hungrily like he was a prisoner on death row.
Dressed in a sage green halterneck jumpsuit, a black sheila and a beige princess swing coat, she looked so damn beautiful, it hurt.
She descended with a grace that rivaled the gentle sway of a willow in the breeze, the soft glow of the chandelier above bathing her in a warm radiance that accentuated the delicate curves of her figure and the subtle contours of her face.
Fou'ad's heartbeat seemed to synchronize with the ticking of the clock nearby, each second stretching into eternity as he waited for her to draw nearer.
His mind raced with uncertainty, his heart yearning to reach out to her, yet his fear of rejection held him back.
For a moment, time stood still as they locked gazes, a thousand apologies passing between them in that charged silence-unspoken yet palpable.
Yaseerah's thoughts churned with conflict, torn between the desire to open up to him and the fear of exposing her vulnerabilities, hating the barrier that separated them-even though it was of her own making.
The air crackled with tension, as they stood in silence-Yaseerah still on the stairs, him at the bottom-each waiting for the other to break the spell.
Not a word passed between them, but the weight of their unspoken conversation hung heavy in the air, filling the space with anticipation and longing, until she was moving again, taking the first step.
When she finally stood before him, their breaths mingled in the small space between them, the warmth of her presence enveloping him like a warm cocoon.
He could feel the magnetic pull between them, the mere inches that separated them from touching, seeming like a chasm they couldn't cross.
Rather than invade her personal space, he waited for her to pad over to him, pissed at the way she dithered, her gold-grey eyes heavy and hollow, her shoulders rounded like she was trying to make herself as small as possible despite her five-six frame.
At last, Yaseerah broke the spell, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm ready."
Fouad nodded, his throat tight with emotions. "You look... breathtaking," he managed to choke out-his voice thick with sincerity-watching as his words settled in her bones, rattling her to the core.
Her guarded expression softened, her eyes reflecting a mix of vulnerability and longing, as she hid a shy smile.
The relief that hit him was instant.
She cared.
Something flickered in her eyes, a subtle shift that left him confused and uneasy. His brows furrowed, because despite her lips curving up into a smile, her face remained impassive.
"Thank you," she murmured.
Though he reveled in the smile his words had wrangled from her, he saw unease start to drift back into her expression, and it left him feeling hollow.
He half-hoped she would share her concerns with him, but whatever progress he had made over the past few weeks with her had been stunted by his lies.
Her chin angled up and she inhaled briskly through her nose as if she were coming to a decision she wasn't letting him in on.
When her hand reached out tentatively, trying to bridge the gap between them, Fou'ad could only stare at it, his heart jumping to his throat, unsure of what she was doing, then her fingers curled in on themselves before she could make contact with him.
And damn, he wished she had touched him.
A long moment passed before their eyes tangled again, and just when he thought he could drown in them forever, her brisk tone cut through the spell once again. "Shall we?"
She didn't wait for his answer, just straightened her shoulders and started toward the door, her strides unhurried yet edgy.
Something about the set of her shoulders made him think of Jawad when his wife had died.
He didn't realize that it would destroy something in him to see his wife share the same mannerisms with his elder brother and it killed something in him, because she didn't trust him enough to share her problems with him.
But perhaps, he was reaching too far too soon.
Maybe Abbad was right, he had to take it slow.
He had offered her an out the night before. The fact that she hadn't left or requested for divorce meant that she was staying, right?
•-۵-•
The ride to her father's house was done in relative silence. While she desperately wanted to bring up the divorce, she had no idea how to address it.
Just the thought of being separated from him made her mouth taste like ash. But for the life of her, Yaseerah couldn't think of her future at the moment, not when she had no idea whether her mother had a future or not.
Perhaps it would have been easier if she didn't love him, if her feelings for him didn't cloud her mind.
Something had shifted inside her this morning. Perhaps it was the talk with Abbad or Amina that had finally done it. But now, all that she could feel and think of was the idea of forever with him, if he still wanted her.
The air between them hummed with a hundred unspoken words, tightening her lungs, and cutting off her flow of oxygen, until she started to feel lightheaded.
Even though the air conditioning was on, she cracked open the window, and stuck her head outside, sucking in a breath of fresh air.
Fou'ad didn't say a word about the open window, but she could feel the heat of his stare like a hot brand against her skin.
She left the window open, but stuck her head back inside for safety reasons, keeping her gaze between her legs, until they arrived at her father's house, where bigger worries drowned out the nerves and tension between them.
As Fouad's car pulled up to the grand entrance of the house, Yaseerah's grip tightened on the door handle, her knuckles turning white as she mentally prepared herself for the encounter ahead.
Blowing out a breath and forcing the memories of her last encounter with her father before he handed her over to Fou'ad in the deep recesses of her mind, she stepped out of the car, feeling the weight of the evening settling on her shoulders like a heavy shadow.
Beside her, Fouad emerged, his presence providing her a comforting anchor amidst the brewing storm, despite his ignorance.
A tension unlike any other crackled in the air between them as Yaseerah hovered by the car, the house suddenly being the last place she wanted to step her foot into.
Just as the tension threatened to reach its breaking point, a voice echoed through the air, cutting through the thick atmosphere like a knife.
"Yaseerah! Fouad! You're here!"
Yaseerah's heart sank at the sound of Lubna's voice, the false cheer-a vivid reminder of the superficiality that pervaded every interaction in her father's house-grating on her nerves.
Lubna appeared in the doorway, her smile stretched taut across her face as she ushered them into the foyer.
Fouad returned her greeting with a smile that had a flicker of discomfort dancing in Yaseerah's eyes. "Thank you for inviting us. It's lovely to finally meet you."
Yaseerah stifled a snort, her eyes rolling in silent mockery at the charade of civility they were all forced to play. "Yes, lovely to see you too, Lubna," she replied, her tone laced with thinly veiled sarcasm.
Lubna's smile faltered for a moment, her facade cracking ever so slightly before she recovered with practiced grace, as she wrapped a protective arm around her protruding belly. "Well, come in, come in. Your father is in the sitting room."
As they followed Lubna through the opulent halls of the house, Yaseerah couldn't help but notice the way Fouad's eyes were fixed firmly on her, and it made butterflies soar in the pit of her stomach, though knowing she would soon be breathing the same air as her father halted them mid-flight, souring her stomach, making nausea churn in her gut instead.
As they entered the sitting room, Abdul-Aziz Bako rose from his seat with a welcoming smile, aimed at his son-in-law. "Fouad, my boy, good to see you. And you too, Yaseerah."
When his smile was directed at her, Yaseerah couldn't help but flinch at the sight of it, goosebumps peppering all of her arms, as she averted her gaze.
His words rang hollow in her ears, knowing better than to trust his smooth words and empty gestures, not when she still had his handprints all over her body.
The tension in the room was palpable, the air heavy with unspoken words and unresolved conflicts.
Lubna's voice cut through the tension once again, breaking the silence with the grace of a sledgehammer.
"So, how is Maryam doing?" Lubna inquired, her gaze shifting to Yaseerah with a concerned expression, as she sat on a sofa.
Yaseerah's jaw clenched at the mention of her mother's deteriorating health. "Dying," she replied bluntly, her tone laced with bitterness, as she finally lifted her gaze to fix an accusing glare on her father.
Lubna's eyes widened in shock, a gasp escaping her lips as she turned to her husband for confirmation. "Abdul, did you hear that? Maryam is-"
"Yes," Abdul-Aziz Bako nodded, cutting into her words, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on his irate daughter. "What awful business."
"What awful business indeed," Yaseerah remarked dryly, her smile barely concealing the simmering resentment in her eyes.
Fouad glanced between Yaseerah and her father, sensing the tension between but unaware of its roots.
He shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to navigate the unspoken dynamics at play, even though every vein in his body screamed at him to protect his wife at all costs.
Abdul-Aziz Bako cleared his throat, breaking the uneasy silence. "Well, let's not dwell on unpleasant matters. Please, have a seat," he gestured toward the plush sofas arranged in the sitting room.
As they settled into their seats, the air remained thick with unspoken tension, each moment stretching on with an agonizing crawl that felt like an eternity. Yaseerah avoided meeting anyone's gaze, her mind racing with a tumult of emotions.
Lubna, ever the master of social graces, attempted to diffuse the tension with small talk. "So, Fouad, how is business? I trust things are going well for you?"
Fouad nodded, grateful for the opportunity to shift the focus away from the uncomfortable topic of Mamu's health. "Yes, business is good, alhamdulillah. We've been busy with some new projects lately."
Yaseerah suppressed a scoff, her gaze fixed on a particularly intricate pattern in the Persian rug beneath her feet. She had little patience for idle chatter when there were more pressing matters at hand.
"What exactly is it that you do?" Lubna queried, breaking into Yaseerah's thoughts.
Yaseerah's curiosity was piqued, as she waited for Fou'ad's answer, having also no idea what he did for a living.
"I'm a real estate developer, but I also dabble in interior designing, and urban consultancy," Fou'ad responded, his voice low like he didn't like discussing his job.
Huh, she thought inwardly, before she zoned out of the conversation all together, longing to escape the suffocating confines of her father's house.
Every corner of Abdul-Aziz Bako's lavish mansion seemed to close in on her, the opulent decor and ornate furnishings only serving to heighten the sense of suffocation that gripped her.
But for now, she was trapped, forced to play the role of the obedient daughter in her father's elaborate charade. And as the minutes ticked by, she couldn't help but wonder how much longer she could bear the weight of it all.
Do I still have to play the role? She thought, her gaze flickering towards Fou'ad who in that moment met her gaze, unaware of the silent torment going on within her, but having the fortitude to place a comforting hand on her thigh.
Only then did she realize her knee had been bouncing.
***
Hi guys, how've you been?
Life has been lifing me this week 😮💨 which has affected my writing schedule.
Hopefully, there'll be another update on Monday in shaa Allah.
Before then, please leave some comments and let me know what you think about the story as a whole, it'll absolutely help me during future updates 🥺, thank you in advance 😘.
See you next week,
Xoxo, Jidderh ❤️