Previously…
Sul6an
Me: “Mama! Asma 7amil!”
I blurted out in joy. I wanted to tell the
whole world that I was going to be an uncle. And of course, being the
overdramatic mother that she was, mama mutely squealed in shocked exhilaration
at the joyful news and attacked Asma with questions, advice and complimentary
comments all at once. I, for one, winked at Asma in mockery as our mother
preached personal subjects and Asma glared at me. I gestured 3bdulla after a
few moments to leave, saving her only after a little damage has already been
made. After all, what was marriage without a little mischievous teasing?
I imitated a very serious expression as I sat
in front of 3bdulla when we entered the living room.
Me: “I know that this is probably the worst
timing ever, but there are some things that we need to discuss.”
_______________
Asma
I hushed my mother away after
lecturing her about the topics that she was forbidden to discuss in front of
3bdulla. At least, for now. However, I felt the embarrassment drain out of me
as I heard murmurs from the living room. I naturally headed there, expecting to
find my brother and husband. But nothing could have prepared me for what I was
about to hear. I listened, having detected the tension in their conversation
almost straightaway.
Sul6an: “…but I finally broke it off.”
3bdulla:
“5aibh, she’s mental. Hidden cameras?
What for?”
My ears burned with curiosity, but I
held my tongue and forced my breathing to steady down.
Sul6an: “Ma3rf w wala aba a3rf. I’m done. 5ala9, no
more drama, no more 3alya.”
Sul6an relaxed back into the sofa as
he stretched his arms beneath his head, right at the tip where his neck met his
skull. He smiled lazily.
3alya?
Hidden cameras?
Finally
broke it off?
I felt my anger build as the strip
of white lies registered in my head, every single one of them. I hated liars,
and he knew that very well from past
experience. Maybe I was being emotional, but there was still no excuse for what
he did. I stomped into the room.
Sul6an bolted onto his feet. 3bdulla
refused to meet my gaze.
Me: “The least you could do is act like you’re
not hiding something. I mean seriously? How much more obvious could you get?”
Sul6an: “How much did you hear?”
Me: “Enough to know you lied to me! My first day
home and I, even though I’m carrying a child and worried sick about your
health, find out that you’ve been keeping things from me. And to make matters
worse, you decided to tell HIM first!”
I pointed accusingly at 3bdulla and
he frowned in return.
3bdulla:
“I’m right here in the room you know.
Don’t exclude me from your conversation.”
Me: “Oh, I’m sorry, were you feeling excluded?
We’ll just see about that.”
I glared at both of them as I
stalked out, not even remotely curious anymore about whatever it was they were
talking about. At least I knew it was ‘finally’
over, so what did I have to worry about?
I gave in to the urge and texted
Noufyy.
To: Noufy (Mobile)
I need
you to dig up all the dirt you can on 3alya over the past few weeks. It was
never over.
3bdulla
I stared after my pregnant, stomping
wife and ran a hand through my hair.
Me: “It’s probably just her hormones.”
I mumbled to no one in particular. Sul6an
wasn’t helping.
Sul6an: “Nope. Hate to break it to you, but she’s
pretty serious about lies. Good luck with this one.”
Me: “ME? YOU’RE the one who lied!”
He stretched a wide smirk.
Sul6an: “And I managed to turn all the blame on
you.”
He laughed mockingly, but I only
glared at him, my eyes a deep, fiery blue.
Me: “7aywan.”
I lunged at him and punched his
ribs. He scoffed as he held his arms to his stomach, but the triumph still
glowed in his eyes. He made a sudden movement and the next thing I knew, I was
on my back, panting for breath. He loosened his grip on my neck, but still held
me in place. He smiled.
Sul6an: “Ana 6ali3 mn el mstashfa w ba3adk ma tgdar
3alaya.”
He laughed in a charming manner and
got off of me. I stood up, massaging the thin muscles around my windpipe. I
gave him a light punch and winked.
Me: “You may know how to lie, but I know how to
seduce. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to tell her to be a little sympathetic
towards you, given you just came out of the hospital.”
He scowled furiously and was about
to reach for me, but I spun around and ran for my life. I didn’t get to have
any time alone with Asma on our journey back home, and it was time she
remembered who she married. I knocked on her bedroom door and she reluctantly
opened it. She glowered.
Asma: “What do you want?”
I smiled.
Me: “You.”
I shoved past the door and closed it
behind me, taking her face into the palms of my hands and kissing her
intensely. She resisted at first, which wasn’t her first attempt in trying to
show that she could refuse me when she was angry. But as expected, she
eventually melted into my arms and I was holding her in support, smiling in
victory beneath her full lips.
Me: “I missed you, my little smurf.”
***
Asma
I woke up in the middle of night for
yet another bathroom break. I slipped out of 3bdulla’s warm arms and tip toed
quietly to the bathroom. Four months had passed. Being pregnant, even with all
its pains, was absolutely wonderful. The feeling of carrying another life
inside of you, like a mini me, was heartwarming. I didn’t think that such joy
could exceed my happiness with 3bdulla.
I loved wrapping my arms around my belly,
trying to feel a heartbeat. The kicks that I just started getting as I reached
almost halfway into my pregnancy. I read fairytales to my child each night,
smiling as I thanked God every day for how lucky we both were. I recited verses
from the Holy Quran in a melodic voice, refusing to play someone else’s
reading, wanting my baby to be familiar to the sound of its mother. I did a lot
of yoga as well and caught up on my knitting, a hobby I had started as a child
long ago but had eventually forgotten about, being so stressed with my studies.
I thought about reconnecting with my forgotten talents and went and bought a
whole range of colorful yarns, and now I was halfway done with my second
blanket.
And 3bdulla was as loving as ever.
I would have never thought that a man, as brawn
as he was, could be so gentle, even more so than he already was with my
delicate frame. He arranged for me to have my breakfast in bed every morning,
even fed me with his own hands before he strode off to work. I loved the
attention, but I also couldn’t just sit around all day and do nothing. The same
kinds of arguments were repeated over the course of the weeks that passed by.
How I should be more careful, walk slower, not make any sudden movements,
refrain from certain foods… All these habits were not alien to me, but were
unlike my character. Let’s just say it took a while to get used to being
pregnant. But I found myself content with any changes I had to make with my
lifestyle, wanting nothing but the best for my baby. I now not only had a
loving husband, but a beautiful child to care for. The mere thought of it put a
smile on my face.
I rubbed my eyes against the blinding
light, leaning against the bathroom door momentarily for support. My vision
slowly started to adapt to the light, but it wasn’t soon enough. I had heard
the faint drip-drops from the shower, but I dismissed them, having caught
3bdulla not turning the water knob all the way one too many times. I felt the
wet puddles tickle my toes. At first I felt confusion, being still half asleep
and not completely alert of my surroundings. There was a light flow of water
that swished through my feet as my body made hard contact with the smooth, marble
floor. My eyes jolted open in sudden awareness right before being knocked out
by an unfamiliar darkness. I vaguely heard a scream.
To be continued…
