Beneath Guarded Hearts - 79

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…