I just realized that it's been about 2 YEARS since I updated. I am so sorry for this. I really have no excuse other than bad time management. *Sigh* Forgive me please. Here's a chapter that (again I realized now that I wrote some of it 2 years ago) but I hope you'll enjoy it anyway.
Your heart will be calm only by the remembrance of Allah.
---
Talha's aura reverberates fury. Pure unadulterated fury that he hasn't felt in a while. His pen is scribbling ferociously on white documents that need his signature and approval. His mind is elsewhere of course. His morning did not go according to plan, he bites his teeth at the very thought of it. Bela pretty much demolished his ego leaving him like an unhinged door; weak and in need of fixing.
'Might want to go easy on it buddy, you're about to draw a hole into it.' Sid chirps in the background. His lawyer walked in about five minutes ago and sat quietly. Yes quietly which is completely unusual for him. Clearly the chaotic media issue has gotten to him as well. Talha would've commented on it but after the stunt his wife pulled, he's completely put off. His sudden mood swing did not go unnoticed by his employees including Sid who consciously told himself not to say anything. Until now.
'I'm done.' Talha places the papers back in the file handed to him. 'Tell me you know who's behind this.' He says in reference to the blackmail.
'We don't know yet.'
'Sid, we need to get to the bottom of this. I want a name.'
'We don't have a name yet. Think about it, you have many competitors and enemies. People who are waiting for your downfall so the chances of coming up with a single name is slim to none.' Sid sighs, an anxious expression settling on his features.
'This is getting out of hand.' He mutters. 'I have my entire team looking into my list of employees and doing background checks once again. It could take weeks before we find the person.'
'Look, I'm not just saying this to make you feel better but at least you guys are together-'
'My wife doesn't see it that way Sid and truth be told it's not like I can blame her.' Her comment slides into his mind again. How could she possibly wish to be married to Karim? That spineless breathing hobo who knows nothing about her. At the back of his mind, Talha knows that Bela has eyes only for him but in that instant her words really did a number on him.
'She's a great catch though.' He smirks and leans into his seat comfortably. And Sid is back ladies and gentlemen.
'Stop it.'
'I bet she really puts you in your place. She looked like it from day one.' Oh you have no idea. The sting from her words earlier still hasn't died off and each time she's mentioned it only worsens.
'She does.' He mutters softly. Sid of course picks on it like a kid hears an ice cream truck.
'Dude you're whipped.'
'Sid-'
'She really has a hold on you. See this is why I could never settle down.'
'Will you stop and focus?' Talha feels his patience wear thin.
'Oh come on. Don't tell me you people frown upon compliments too.' By people he means Muslims of course.
'We don't. I just don't like other men looking at my woman let alone talk about her.' Sid whistles and winks.
'Are you kidding? So you don't flaunt her in front of your family and friends?'
'No. She isn't a grilled steak to tease people with. She's a woman that I've quiet literally signed a contract with to provide and protect her no matter what.' He clenched his fist and he spoke. I'm tired of these games, he thinks. 'Now can you get back on topic.' Sid felt the words sink into his skin. He didn't agree with his client but these were his beliefs so he didn't object.
'Alright. Lay it on me.' He sits upright.
'I've got Saif keeping an eye on the managers of our competition but right now I need you to get your publicist to find a way to stop more pictures from being leaked.' Sid nods slowly.
'I can arrange that but there are no promises. The picture of you and Bela that's on the newspaper can't be erased. It's there so,' he offers a sour look and takes a deep breath, 'you need to inform her of paparazzi and the protocol that follows.'
'I will.' He doesn't want to but he's a man of his word.
'Well then my job here is done.' He picks up his suitcase and swiftly makes his way to the door.
'Sid.' Talha calls out to him.
'Yeah?'
'Thank you.' He nods appreciatively.
'Anytime.' The all American grin. 'Adios baby.' Talha groans. Way to ruin a moment.
---
Bela blow dries her bouncy curls with a thick brush. She left the office almost three hours ago and came straight home. Well her new home anyways. Her heart had pounded heavily as she made her way upstairs managing to escape any interactions with her in-laws. She showered and put on a floor length floral dress. Now one might wonder what a woman- who pretty much stabbed her husband in the heart- is doing getting all dolled up? She's distracting herself of course.
She doesn't have a job nor does she have that many friends to hang out with. She decides to call her sister.
'Yo.'
'Assalamu Alaykum Sumayya.' Bela rolls her eyes at her sister.
'Haha, Wa Alaykum Salam sis. What's up?' Her excited time makes Bela grin.
'Not much really, just lying in bed.'
'Oh. How's marriage and things?'
'Uh, interesting to say the least.' Bela can't imagine telling her sister what she did. She'd hear an earful or worse, Sumayya could tell her mother who will literally give her a beating. Bela winces at the thought.
'Really? That's all you can say? Are you kidding me? See this is why marriage is just not for me. I keep telling mama the same thing and-'
'Sumayya no. Talha treats me well Alhamdhulillah.' She hears her sister sigh at the other end. 'How's school?' The two sisters drift off into a conversation about school and friends. Sumayya brags about her new Hijab collection and somewhere in between tosses the phone to Sara. Bela smiles as she listens to Sara explain an experiment they tried in her Chemistry class. I miss them, she thinks.
'Alright, mama is calling us downstairs.'
'Oh already?'
'Yeah. Something about tortillas and Aunty Sophie.' Bela laughs.
'Okay then, I'll talk to you guys soon. Assalamu Alaykum.'
'Sure thing. Wa Alaykum Salam. Oh and Bela?' Sara speaks softly.
'Hmm?'
'You always have us. No matter what.' Bela feels her heart squeeze at those words. Her family always had her back. Alhamdulillah.
'I know. Take care.' Bela hangs up and feels a little worse than before. Things were going so well and then she hurt her husband. 'Astaghfirullah.' (I seek forgiveness in Allah) She looks at her hands in dismay. This is not how she pictured her day to be like and just then the door to her bedroom opens. Bela's heart skips a beat and she flinches realizing how that could be. She slowly turns to find her husband staring at the ground as he walks in with a grim expression. The room is full of tension and awkwardness. Bela is about to speak when,
'Assalamu Alaykum.' Talha beats her to it. His clenches his phone tightly whilst looking at Bela head on.
'Wa Alaykum Salam.' Bela cross her legs on the bed and offers her husband a small smile. She decides to jump right into her apology even though she's prepared nothing to say. 'I'm sorry.' She blurts. 'I never should have said what I said. I was out of line and it was completely inappropriate of me. You didn't deserve that.' She swallows hard by the end of it. The room settles into silence once again. Talha scans the room as he formulates his words. It doesn't go unnoticed that she's dressed up so well.
'You really hurt me.' His voice is layered in hurt which makes Bela flinch.
'I know. I'm sorry.'
'Bela people don't usually say harsh things without a reason. What was your reason?' He leans against the wall so he can look directly at her.
'I guess I wanted to hurt you.'
'You guess?' He raises an eyebrow. 'If I had said a similar thing to you, how do you think you would've taken it?' Bela doesn't answer. There's no doubt that she would have been heart broken. No spouse wants to be compared to someone else let alone feel like they're second best. 'Answer me!' He raises his voice.
'I'm sorry okay!' She shoots back. 'I was wrong and I never should have said that but do you realize what you did to make me react that way?' Talha grits his teeth in an attempt to control his anger.
'I did it to protect you and your honor.' He growls.
'You hid the fact that we were being stalked and photographed in very compromising positions Talhah.' Bela waves her hands in frustration. 'We were not married at the time so clearly this is going to look like a scandal no matter what you do!'
'These photos haven't reached the press because we've done a good job at containing them.'
'What makes you think it's going to be that way for long?'
'This is exactly why I didn't tell you. I didn't want you to worry!' He points at her demeanor. She scoffs and presses a hand to her temple. 'I have a brilliant lawyer with good connections. We will get to the bottom of this.' Talha walks towards the bed and stops as he's right in front of her. He places a finger under her chin to make eye contact with Bela. His brown eyes look sullen as he stares at her.
'Do you remember the picture you showed me when you came to my house the night I was with Karim and his parents?' Bela asks softly. Talha nods slowly. 'That was photoshopped by the same person who took those other photos you have on your iPad?' Talha chuckles.
'How did you put it together?'
'So I'm right?' Talha sighs.
'Yes.' Bela hugs her husband tightly. His warmth envelopes her small frame and for just a minute she feels like everything will be okay.
'Do you think people will believe it?'
'That we kissed before marriage? No.'
-----
Dun Dun Dun. Now we know what the picture was!