Short 2-minute video in the media section.
- A'ISHAH'S POV -
After getting all the ingredients I needed to buy from the supermarket, I walked to the elevator and went up to the third floor of the centre where the lingerie store was apparently located.
I saw it right across me as soon as I stepped out of the elevator as if it was calling my name. Jheeze, it was bright as day in there!
Walking into a store as a niqabi had never been so awkward. Alhamdulillah there weren't any men in there, so that was an advantage, but I didn't miss the slight glances the coworkers and customers gave me as soon as I passed the threshold.
Also, why did the store have to be filled with so much bright lighting!? Yes, it made the outfits, if you could even call them that, look much better, but I also felt like everyone on the entire third floor could see me entering the spotlight.
Ugh, this was going to be a disaster.
"Hi, can I assist you today?" One of the workers approached me with a smile, her hands joined in front of her. Their outfits weren't revealing, although tight. They were wearing black button ups which clung to them and black pencil skirts that reached their knees with identical red lanyards around their neck.
I wished to feign confidence so as to not double my embarrassment by stuttering, but unfortunately I had no idea what to even ask her so I had to expose myself. "Yeah, hi." I spoke timidly. "I am not sure exactly what model I am looking for." I spoke, taking a pause to breathe, but she cut me off before I could continue.
"No worries, love! I can help you out." She grinned, gesturing for me to walk further into the store.
It wasn't very crowded. Two workers and three customers, one of whom was very confidently strutting around looking at all the racks and models whilst the other was speaking to the cashier and making a purchase.
"Okay, so would you like something very revealing, or something a bit more covered?" She asked and I chose the latter - covered in a lingerie store was still revealing in my books.
"Any colours in mind?" She asked as she nodded at my first statement, leading the way to the back of the store. Thank God.
"Um, yeah." I trailed off in shame as I lowered my head. I couldn't help but release a laugh at my misfortune right now.
Oh, the things I do for you, King.
"Girl, you don't have to be embarrassed." She chuckled, giving me the sweetest smile. "I have a Muslim friend, she doesn't cover her face, but she wears a scarf and she gets discounts from me every week." She laughed out loudly, making me relax quite a bit.
At least I knew she wasn't judging me.
"That makes me feel a lot better." I chuckled. "Red." I spoke after she grinned at me. "My husband requested red."
"Well, your husband has good taste then." She chuckled before going up to one of the circular hangers and spinning it before finding a bright red one piece made of lace.
"I feel like this is perfect. It isn't transparent, so it'll give you that extra confidence and boost to wear it comfortably, it has straps right here," she pointed at the thin straps. "So they will cover some of your mid-riff. Your legs will be bear." She chuckled. "Unfortunately we don't sell anything that covers the legs. The best part, it comes with a matching silk robe which reaches just below the backside to cover the exposed areas." She explained, and the whole time, I felt myself get more and more red beneath my niqab.
"That's perfect, I'll take it." I spoke, wanting to get out of here as soon as I could. She chuckled before asking for my sizing and picking out the appropriate one. Understanding my plight, she took the hanger off and folded it in her hands at the back of the store where we were standing before carrying it to the register in a very lowkey way.
Wow, I liked this girl.
"That's $160, lovely." She smiled and I inserted my savings card, keying in my PIN before waiting for the approved sign to show. Once it did, she smiled and placed the receipt in the bag, handing it over to me with a grin. I thanked her and she thanked me back, using the generic 'come again soon' which I was in no rush to do so right now.
As soon as I stepped out of the store, I felt like I could breathe again and after shoving the lingerie bag into one of the shopping bags, I used the escalators to go back down to the ground floor, walking through the exit doors and waiting for my bus at the stop that was right in front of the centre.
As the bus stopped in front of me not long after, I stepped on along with one other woman, careful not to get my jilbab stuck in the automatic door. I swiped my travel card into the reader and the elderly driver gave me a small nod with a smile before shutting the doors and putting the bus into gear.
I walked toward the back of the bus and took a seat on the window side, fixing my niqab and placing the two shopping bags between my feet, my handbag into my lap. After sliding my PT card back into my purse, I took my ear phones out and put on some Qur'an to listen to until I got home.
About half way there I remembered that I hadn't even called my parents or Ayman to tell them about tonight. I paused the Qur'an on my phone and went onto Ayman's contact name as the bus stationed itself at yet another bus stop.
I called him and waited a few seconds, holding my phone in my palm and hearing the ringing through the earphones. "Ayman?" I spoke once the ringing cut off.
"Hey, sis. Assalamu alaykum." He answered, sounding bored. Alhamdulillah although we had hashed out our prior argument, Ayman was still in a bit of a foul mood, but I was sure he would fix up tonight after I told him that Aleena was willing to meet him.
Even their names sounded cute together.
"Wa alaykum assalaam. What are you upto?" I asked him, grinning from ear to ear. Wallah if I didn't have patience I would have blurted the good news right now.
"Nothing much, alhamdulillah. I'm just at work." He spoke and I quickly apologised, but he calmed me down, saying that he was at the reception desk today and wasn't training any clients or leading classes.
I wasn't sure if Aleena had a job, but perhaps if they got married, Ayman could organise for her to get a job at the gym that he worked at. MashaaAllah it was a Muslim-owned gym - completely segregated hours, no free-mixing, no photos on walls with male or female awrah showing and definitely no music.
Wow, I was getting ahead of myself.
"If you're free tonight, come over for dinner with mum and dad." I told him. "I'm going to make biryani." I smirked over the phone, hearing him release a chuckle.
"Mum and dad are meeting up with uncle and aunty today, but I can come. Is your husband home too?"
"Okay, see you then inshaaAllah. He will be. He started working day shift now, so he's home at night time."
"Awesome. Do you need me to bring anything?" He asked kindly.
"No, thank you. I'm actually just on my way home from the shops." I told him, asking him if he wanted me to make anything specific instead, waiting for his response for a quick few seconds.
"Who needs anything specific when there's biryani, sis. Come on." He responded, making me laugh.
"See you later, Ayman. Fi Amanillah."
"Thank you, sis." He replied before hanging up the phone.
Right as I was going to press play on suratul 'Isra, I felt someone grab onto my shoulder, fingers clawing into my skin as I yelped in pain, feeling my heart rate heighten, my eyes widen and I felt my breathing completely cease in fear, every single hair on my body rose in alert.
Right as I made a move to stand up, I was pushed back down into my seat and a large figure sat down beside me. "Scream and I'll rip your arm out of it's socket, A'ishah." The man seethed right into my ear.
At the mention of my name, my head turned to face him so quickly I could have given myself whiplash. I narrowed my eyes for no more than two seconds before realisation dawned on me. Oh, god.
"S-S-Sulayman..." I exhaled, barely recognising the figure in front of me. His clean shaven face was covered in unruly beard hair and dark bags beneath his eyes.
I winced as his fingers pressed deeper into my skin once I spoke his name. "I never thought I'd run into you again." He spoke, his breath smelt horrible. Was that alcohol?
Sulayman used to be my brothers good friend about three years ago. He was someone I was going to marry.
I recalled the night I told King about him and he had gotten so mad. I had assured him that it was all in the past, but it had come back to haunt me.
He had strung me along for three entire months, constantly messaging me, elongating the process, trying to call me and speak to me alone, yet the whole time he had told his parents that we didn't work out.
I distinctly remember the anger and fury in his eyes when he had come to my house the day I told his mum what was happening.
Ayman has saved me that day right as Sulayman was about to touch me. Ayman wasn't here now. Neither was King.
"Please, you are hurting me." I mumbled, feeling tears escape my eyes as I held his wrist and tried to pull his hand away from my shoulder.
I pushed myself as far as I could into the window, but it was to no avail. He shrugged off my hold on him and brought his other hand lower to tightly hold my wrist, squeezing hard and cutting off any circulation to my fingers.
"You destroyed my life, A'ishah. My parents disowned me." He said through his clenched teeth. "I lived on the streets before finding a run down place at the bad side of town. You took away my family and you have the audacity to go off, get married and start a life with someone?!" He shook in his seat, his eyes ablaze as I breathed in and out deeply, trying to control the pounding of my heart.
"Please," I cried softly, not wanting to anger him more by screaming. "Please, stop." I couldn't form a sentence. I was barely remembering to breathe.
"I am going to show you where I live. Do you understand?" He got closer and closer until I could only see his furious eyes. "You will come with me and see the hell-hole that I have lived in the past years."
I shook my head no slowly, silent sobs escaping me as I tried to tell him no.
"Yes." He nodded. "You don't even know half of what I...."
"Hey!" Someone yelled. Both Sulayman and my own heads turned around at the voice. It was a man dressed in a suit standing beside a woman who was also dressed formally.
At this point my head was spinning and I could barely keep my eyes open.
"Let her go, right now, before I call the police and get you arrested." The man threatened, his voice strong as he took multiple strides closer. The lady behind him had her device in her hand and I was sure she was recording what was happening for evidence. "I mean it!" He shouted and at that Sulayman released a menacing, deep chuckle, coming closer to my ear. "I'll find you again, A'ishah, and your pathetic little husband too."
"Get away from the girl!" The man shouted once again and Sulayman finally let go of my shoulder and my wrist, pushing himself off the seat and pushing past the man. He got off the bus and immediately the woman came to sit down next to me, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and asking if they should call someone for me.
I shook my head no and she handed me a bottle of water which I declined. The only thing I needed right now was to get my breathing intact. There was no way I could tell King or Ayman about this. They would absolutely lose their minds.
I faintly heard the man who had saved me speaking to police and giving the street address of where Sulayman had gotten off as well as a description of him.
The lady kept her arm around me and kept telling me to breathe in and out. "It's all over, darling. You're okay." She said slowly.
After my tears had died down and my heart rate was back to normal, I accepted her bottled water and drank some slowly to quench the dryness in my throat. The man asked for my address and I voiced it to him.
Alhamdulillah he told the driver my address, which wasn't far from bus stop I usually got off at, and the bus stopped right in front of my house a few minutes later.
"Are you sure you don't want us to call someone?" The lady asked once again worriedly as I stood up and stumbled slightly.
I shook my head. "No, no. I will be okay. I am so sorry for burdening you both. Thank you so much." I said as sincerely as I can through the pounding in my head. I reached forward and hugged the woman tightly as she told me it was no problem and anyone would have done the same. I picked up the bags and thanked the man once again as I walked past him. He smiled at me and placed a hand on his chest. After thanking the bus driver also for dropping me at my home, I exited the bus and walked to the front door, taking my keys out and unlocking it before walking in.
I felt on edge and I made sure all three locks on the door were locked. After double checking the windows around the house I emptied the groceries onto the bench slowly.
Although I wanted to get the cooking out of the way, I knew that it wasn't possible right now. Instead, I took two painkillers with some water and decided to have a shower, making sure to take the lingerie bag into King and I's bedroom.
I had wudhu in the shower which took me a good 15 minutes compared to the normal 5-minute showers I take.
I just needed the hot water to relax my joints and ease my muscles. Once I felt content and as refreshed as I could be, I stepped out in a towel and wiped the steamed mirror with my palm, cringing as I saw the purple marks beginning to form around my shoulder. I glanced down at my wrist and saw the same ones there.
How was I supposed to hide these from King?
After drying off and blow drying my hair, I wore my prayer garment and laid out my prayer mat to pray 'Asr.
It was the longest salah that I had prayed in the last few months. In sujood I let out all my feelings and emotions to Allah, confiding in Him alone as I asked for Him to protect me and my loved ones from harm.
Once I finished praying I sat on the bed and opened my Mushaf, turning to suratul 'Isra and reciting the entire surah.
I felt like now, a burden had been lifted off my chest.
I was still shaken up, clearly, but I just had to make sure that I didn't make this obvious to neither King or Ayman tonight.
As I was waiting for the biryani to cook I set out to make some butter chicken and roti, hearing keys slide into the front door. I let out a breath, knowing King was finally home.
He tried to get the door open but since I had locked all three, including the chain lock, he couldn't push it. "I'm coming!" I called, rushing to the door and unlocking the chain to let him in, smiling as I saw him.
"What's up with that?" He questioned, pointing to the chain before taking his shoes off and shutting the door behind him. I shrugged and looked up at him before pressing myself against him and wrapping my arms around his waist.
"Well assalamu alaykum to you too." He spoke with a chuckle, bringing his arms around my back.
"Wa alaykum assalaam." I responded into his chest as he pushed me backward with a grin. Just seeing this mans face was enough to make me feel safe again.
"You okay?" He smiled, running his hand over my face and down the back of my hair.
I hummed and nodded with a smile in his direction. Unfortunately, I lied and said that I just missed him - I guess it wasn't a complete lie, I did miss him - but it wasn't why I was acting odd.
He didn't need to know that though. I just had to pray that I didn't slip up and that he didn't catch on.
- KING'S POV -
"Aw," I cooed, pinching her cheeks. "I missed you, too, princess." I pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before inhaling the scent floating around the house. "It smells divine in here." I complimented, making her smile and thank me. "Are your parents and Ayman on their way?" I asked her.
"Ayman should be here soon, but apparently my parents had plans so they aren't coming." She told me and I nodded, telling her they could come next time.
"I'm going to go have a shower and then I'll be out to help, okay?" I told her and she nodded her head with a thankful smile as I picked up my duffel bag off the floor and walked down the hall.
"Oh, King, before I forget," She called, making me stop and turn to look at her with raised brows. "I called the hospital today, your mum is getting discharged back to the facility tomorrow." She notified and I smiled at her.
"I called as well, love. Maybe we can visit her tomorrow after I finish work?" I suggested.
"That'll be good. We should visit her." She nodded her head, making me nod also as I continued back to the bedroom. I opened the cupboard door and placed my duffel bag on the floor, pulling out a T-Shirt and some grey sweatpants. When I pulled open our intimates drawer, I saw a big with pink cursive writing on it and immediately I was reminded of the conversation A'ishah and I had earlier over text.
It was on my mind the entire drive home. I kept telling myself there was no way A'ishah would actually go and get such things, but she had proved me wrong.
After arguing with myself on whether I should open it or not, I realised that I didn't have that much patience and so I put the shirt and sweatpants onto the shelf, pulling the bag out of the drawer and holding up the piece.
Holy.
Wow.
I almost choked on my spit as I inspected the entire outfit.
I took a breath and exhaled as I shoved it back in to avoid any more temptation. The temptation to call Ayman and tell him we had to reschedule due to an emergency.
My awareness heightened as I shook my head at the thoughts and pictures running through my mind. "Calm yourself, King." I muttered, rubbing my hands over my face and pulling out my own boxers and singlet.
I had my shower, not taking too long, and dried off, rubbing the towel over my hair a few times to get rid of the excess moisture. Once I was clothed, I walked back out into the living area, hearing Ayman's voice along with A'ishah's.
"Hey, hey, assalamu alaykum, brother." I announced my arrival, making him turn in the stool and rise out of his spot to share a hug. He pat my back as I did his and we parted with him returning my salaam.
"How was it being back at work?" He asked me and I rolled my eyes and told him about my day as A'ishah finished setting up the table for us to eat while Ayman and I took our seats.
"You sure you don't need help, babe?" I asked her as she placed the water jug on the table.
"No, no, it's all done anyway." She smiled, sending a thankful glance my way before taking her seat on the table as well.
"It's been so so long since I've had biryani, bro." I moaned through my mouthful of the delicious dish, making Ayman laugh and A'ishah roll her eyes. "You told me I'd get lifetime supply of this stuff. Wallah it's a delicacy - I've only had it twice since we married." I laughed as A'ishah huffed in annoyance.
She usually would have reached over to slap my arm, but perhaps she didn't want to because Ayman was here.
"See, Ayman, I cook almost everyday for him and he still doesn't appreciate your sister." A'ishah spoke up, looking at her brother with her head held high. He finished chewing whatever was in his mouth and swallowed before raising his hands.
"You chose to marry the man. Not my problem." He stated calmly, making A'ishah and I both chuckle. He laughed with us before the table fell silent again. "No, jokes aside though, appreciate my sister, bro. You're lucky you even have someone who cooks for you."
I scoffed loudly. "Every day? I cook and clean on weekends." I joked, making A'ishah roll her eyes at me. I was glad I could joke about these things with A'ishah. She wasn't sensitive to jokes and I loved that about her.
She knew that I never expected her to cook for me, or clean for me. These were things that she naturally loved doing for me and for herself. Plus, she didn't work full time, so I suppose doing these house tasks were what made her day go by easier.
If she were to have a full time job, I doubt she would cook as much as she currently does, and truth be told, it wouldn't bother me one bit.
"I'm serious." Ayman chuckled and this time A'ishah was the one who scoffed.
"Don't act like mama doesn't cook for you and baba every day, including weekends." She retorted, making him smile.
"Of course she does, allahumma barik laha, but when you're 24, you sort of want a wife to do that instead of your mum, you know? Not to cook, to be honest. Just want a wife in general, I guess" He shrugged, his mood all of a sudden deflating.
This was the perfect opportunity to break the good news to him alhamdulillah. I glanced at A'ishah and clearly she thought so too because as soon as we made eye contact, she reached over and held my hand before saying 'guess what' to Ayman.
Ayman looked at her and shook his head in question as he took another spoon of biryani to his mouth.
"Sporty bint?" A'ishah stated slowly, and in the silence of the room, Ayman's fork was heard clanging down onto his plate as his lips parted.
"No..." He trailed off, his eyes wide as he looked between A'ishah and I, seeing our smiles.
A'ishah nodded with the most adorable smile on her face. "Yes," She began. "She agreed to meet you to know what you're like." A'ishah told him.
His head whipped over to me and he tilted his head to the side. "Tell me she ain't playing. Wallah I'll never speak to you both again if you're messing with me." He warned, standing up off his chair and pointing an accusing finger at the both of us.
"She's not playing, bro." I laughed, slapping his hand away from my face.
"Wallah, ayman." A'ishah grinned at him.
"Ya Allah!!!!" He screamed covering his face as he threw his head back, making A'ishah cover her ears as we both laughed at his happiness. Alhamdulillah we went two for two this week.
King and A'ishah, marriage services, coming soon.
I stood up and hugged Ayman, tapping his back as he squeezed the life out of me before letting me go and rounding the table to A'ishah.
He lifted her up off her seat and hugged her spinning her around before thanking her over and over. "I'm sorry I got so mad at you the other time, sis. Wallah I love you so much." He said, kissing her head before bringing her body to his chest. As they made contact I saw A'ishah wince, her features contorted in pain, making me raise my brow. What the hell?
He pulled away and she smiled again, looking up at him and telling him that she loved him too. "Please, though, Ayman. Please don't get too excited, just in case." She coaxed with a frown and he nodded, although I felt like he didn't quite take the advice on board.
Much like Ahmad, he was already over the moon and there was no way to bring his hopes down at this point. Whatever will be, will be.
"What's her name?" He asked A'ishah and she smiled.
"Aleena." She spoke smoothly, making a grin break out onto Ayman's face.
"Aleena." He repeated the name. "Aleena and Ayman. Ayman and Aleena. It has a ring to it, doesn't it?" He smirked, making us all laugh again as he wrapped an arm around A'ishah.
Alhamdulillah their bond was back to how it was before this whole issue had first began.
————
"Is there any more?" I asked A'ishah as I placed the final bowl into the dishwasher. We were only three people, but after dinner we had cake, junk, popcorn while we watched a movie and fruit. An entire dishwasher's worth of dishes had accumulated and I had just finished loading them.
"That's all." A'ishah replied.
I put the tablet in and started the machine to a one and a half hour cycle before rinsing my hands in the kitchen sink, turning off the light as I walked to A'ishah and sat on the corner of the couch that she was laying down on.
"How was your halaqah today?" I asked her, looking down at her solemn face expression. She didn't look tired. She just looked out of it. Like her mind was elsewhere.
"Good. One of the girls in the class has a sick mother and she was going through some things so I did it on sickness and having patience in times of difficulty." She explained.
"May Allah grant her mother shifaa'." I spoke and she mumbled ameen.
"At least this way you'll have the life of Ali bin Abi Talib ready to explain next time." I chuckled.
She forced a smiled onto her face and nodded.
I furrowed my eyebrows at her mood.
"Are you on your period?" I asked her, thinking maybe that's why she was in an off-mood.
"No. Just tired, that's all."
I ran a hand over her hair, weaving my fingers through and massaging her scalp slowly. "Are you sure you're okay, baby? You know you can talk to me about anything, right?" I looked at her and she smiled, placing her hand over mine and nodding.
"I know, King. I love you. I'm just in need of rest, I think." She whispered, making me nod.
"Does that mean we can't put that piece of fabric in your drawer to good use tonight?" I wiggled my eyebrows at her and she covered her face with her hands.
"I was so embarrassed purchasing it. Please don't make me do anything like that again." She chuckled softly.
I burst into laughter at her reaction to something so so natural. "Practice makes perfect, sweetheart." I winked, making her shake her head.
"Come on, let's go to bed. There's always tomorrow." I said cheekily, making her roll her eyes.
Sure I was excited and looking forward to tonight especially, but there was no way I could engage in anything of that sort with A'ishah when clearly she wasn't feeling like herself.
Just like it is the womans duty to please her husband, it is also the husbands duty to please his wife.
Part of respecting one's spouse was to compromise and sacrifice your own wants and needs at times in order to fulfil your significant other's wants and needs.
We had already prayed 'isha before Ayman had left and so after we both did our own nightly routines we got into bed.
I raised my head off my pillow and looked at A'ishah weirdly as she settled under the duvet.
"Are you good?" I asked her, now knowing that something was definitely wrong with her.
"Mhm." She hummed simply, not turning around.
In the past year, I had never once seen A'ishah sleep in anything but a sleeveless singlet top. Not even in winter.
She was currently wearing a long sleeved shirt.
She was not okay. "Hey," I spoke up, a more serious tinge to my voice. "Look at me.
Was it something that I did that made her feel so down and reserved?
"I am okay, King!" She said frustrated.
Another dead giveaway. I am instead of I'm?
"A'ishah," I spoke, holding her shoulder to turn her to me, but I retracted my fingers immediately once she flinched and winced in pain.
What the hell?
A sudden flash of her face when Ayman had hugged her popped up in my mind and instantaneously I felt my insides churn, my hairs raising as I switched my lamp on and sat up. "What the hell happened to you?" I asked, not even knowing why my voice was so shaky.
All this time I had figured it was some sort of emotional problem. Perhaps something that happened in her Halaqah, or something her friend had told her, but now, I was dreading something worse.
Physical pain.
I leaned over and pulled at the collar of her shirt, holding her wrist down as she shouted my name and told me to stop.
"King, please." She pleaded, but I held both her hands down in one and slid the collar down to her shoulder, feeling my jaw tick and my shoulders tense instantly as I saw a bruise covering it.
I shut my eyes, taking in a deep breath as my fingers clenched around the material.
My heart raced in my chest and I felt my entire body stiffen. Who the hell had done this to her? When? Why?
So many questions were running through my head as I felt my body clench, my muscles stiff.
"A'ishah." I forced through my teeth. "I am only going to ask you this once." I opened my eyes and saw her tear filled eyes, but it did nothing to soften the rage I currently felt. "Who. Did. This."
I had to force the words out slowly, my voice resembling death. My jaw was clenched so hard that I could feel my teeth grinding against each other. She winced in pain again and tried freeing her wrists, making me put two and two together.
I immediately let go of her wrist and pulled up the sleeve of her top, seeing another bruise around her wrist.
I cursed loudly. I cursed for the first time since I had become a Muslim.
I couldn't control it. I felt like my entire body was filled with rage. I needed to hit something. Someone.
I had to punch something.
I stormed off the bed and switched the light on before pacing to A'ishah again and making her sit up in the bed. I pulled her top up, bending down to inspect her body, checking if there were any more of those hideous marks anywhere. I pulled her top back down to cover her as silent tears escaped her eyes.
"A'ishah. Please." I was trying so hard to keep my anger in check. "Who did this to you?!"
The more she stayed quiet, the angrier I got.
"When? When did it happen, A'ishah?" I asked instead, and just like before, I got a flashback of the chain being locked on the front door.
"Here!? A'ishah was someone in our house!?" I shouted, my entire body feeling rock solid. I was so tense I felt like I couldn't move my limbs properly from the rage that was brewing inside me.
She sobbed quietly and shook her head no.
"Where, A'ishah!? Tell me where? For God's sake!" I shouted, slamming my palm on her bedside table and making the lamp fall to the ground as she screwed her eyes shut.
She sniffled, still not looking at me as she wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "The bus." She mumbled so quietly that I almost missed it.
"I knew it!" I screamed, shooting up from my position as I paced in front of her. "I freaking told you, didn't I!? I said don't use the bus!" I raged as I pulled at the roots of my hair.
Ya Allah. Ya Allah. Please, please give me patience.
Right now, in this moment, I knew I could kill a man. If the person who did this to A'ishah were to be standing in front of me right now, I would literally kill him. I would beat him to death.
Astaghfirullah. Audhubillahi min ash-shaytaan ar-rajeem. Ya Rabb al Alameen give me patience.
I released a scream into my hands to relieve the pent up frustration as A'ishah hiccuped, her hands on her lap.
"A'ishah, baby," I mumbled, trying to keep my anger at bay as best I could. I sat beside her and pulled her to my chest, kissing her head over and over. "A'ishah, please. I need to know everything, A'ishah. Talk to me." I whispered, holding her into my chest as she sobbed quietly.
I leant my head on top of hers and used her sobs to calm myself down. I held her as she emptied her emotions.
She slowed down and I pulled her back, using my hands to wipe the excess moisture off her cheeks. "Talk to me, babe. Please. I need to know what happened."
I held her hands in mine, my other hand on her knee.
"After the shops," She sniffled. I was on the bus and I called Ayman to tell him to come." She took in a few quick breaths and wiped a tear away. "When I hung up, someone grabbed my shoulder. He sat next to me and told me not to scream."
"Who, A'ishah!? What did he look like?" I questioned her, barely containing my fury.
"I know him." She whispered, a fresh set of tears escaping her eyes as she released a sob once again. "Sulayman." She whispered, barely heard.
"Sulayman?" I furrowed my eyebrows. "Who the hell is he!?"
"My..." She paused, looking up at me, her facial expression absolutely broken. "The one I told you about." She muttered. "The potential."
My face dropped as realisation dawned on me. The brief memory of her telling me about him came back and replayed in my mind.
I had asked her how many of her potential situations had gotten serious and he was one of the two she had mentioned.
"He was my brothers old friend. He seemed very good throughout the whole thing. He was always attending classes and seeking 'ilm. He told me what you did about the whole exclusive potentials thing and I agreed, but whenever I mentioned nikkah, he would delay it." She spoke, making me narrow my eyes.
I had actually thought I might have been the only one she had been 'exclusive potentials' with, but clearly there was someone else. I felt jealousy swirl inside me, but I controlled it, knowing that guy, whoever the hell he was, was long gone by now and I was married to her.
"Ayman and my dad began to get annoyed, but I always gave excuses for him, I do not know why. I guess I was just naive. He got my number and kept messaging and calling me. It lasted nearly three months." She mumbled, looking down as if she was ashamed. I clenched my jaw. He knew her almost double the time that I did. I squeezed her hand and she sighed in content, continuing.
"I called his mum one day, but she was shocked when I called and said he told her we ended it months ago. A few hours later he was on our doorstep. I was home alone and he started yelling really loudly and shouting at me for calling his mum. I started crying. He was about to push me I think, I do not remember clearly, but alhamdulillah, Ayman came right before he could touch me and I never heard from him since then." She whispered. My breaths were deep and I pursed my lips, wanting nothing more than to find this guy and beat him, but I knew I couldn't. Her eyes had glossed over and it killed me to know that the memory still effected her.
If I wanted to beat him then, I wanted to do much worse than that right now.
"Why didn't you call me, A'ishah?" I stressed, holding her elbows gently.
"I knew you would get angry." She mumbled, making me scoff loudly and stand up.
"The man gave you bruises, A'ishah! He touched you. He hurt you physically! Of course I would get angry!" I shouted, before something else came to mind. "Did you call the police?" I asked quickly.
"Someone else did. After he spoke to me the..."
I cut her off, sitting back down again and holding her thigh. "What did he say to you?"
I needed to know.
"His family disowned him after what happened. I think he drinks alcohol. He said he lives in a run-down place in the bad side of some town. He blamed me for it all." She spoke, making me breathe in and out deeply.
"Did he say anything else?" I asked her, feeling like she was holding back.
She looked at me for a second or two before averting her gaze and looking down. "No." She mumbled.
Disbelief clouded my eyes. I didn't believe her, but she had already gone through enough so I decided not to push her.
"Then what happened?"
"This man and woman came and they told him to leave me alone so he got up and left the bus. Then the driver dropped me off home." She spoke calmly compared to the nerves evident in her voice when explaining the rest of the story
"Tomorrow, we go to the police, okay?" I told her, making her look up with wide eyes.
"No, no, let's just forget it happened, please." She spoke. "Please."
I swallowed, looking over her tear stricken face.
"Okay, baby. Whatever you want." I pulled her into my body and held her tightly, rubbing her back as she sought comfort in my embrace.
She was out of her mind if she thought I was going to forget about this or let it go. But for tonight, I'd let her think I was.
After some time, she got up and went to the cupboard, changing into her normal sleepwear top and although her bruises were now visible to me and making my anger resurface, I found it within me to let her wear it. I hated seeing those marks on her body, but she wouldn't be able to sleep otherwise, and Lord knows she needed sleep now more than ever.
I moved the duvet away and pushed myself back against the headboard sitting up with my legs extended in front of me. "Come here." I said, patting my lap. She turned off the light, walking to the bed and laying down, her arm around my waist and her head resting against my chest. She sighed in comfort as I stroked my fingers through her hair.
"Are you going to be able to sleep in that position?" She mumbled, her voice already fading out.
"There's no way I can sleep tonight." I muttered quietly. "You sleep. You're safe with me." I said, leaning down to place a kiss onto the top of her head.
After a few seconds of listening to her breathing slow down and return to a steady rhythm, I mumbled her name quietly.
"Hm?" She hummed, her voice clouded with sleep.
"Which bus route was it?" I asked her, hoping she didn't fall completely asleep.
She released a yawn and sighed. "Three-zero-five." She mumbled
Three. Zero. Five.
I would find this guy if it was the last thing I did.
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I feel like the fact that I have been putting out regular updates the past 2 weeks gives me the right to post shorter chapters from now on - IF you can even call 7000 words short 😂
Last time I asked for your guys' ages and the variety was so amazing!
This time I want to know - what is your ethnicity and which country do you live in? 👀🌏
Assalamu alaykum! ❤️