Chapter 37

"You don't know what I mean right?" She cuts him off with a question. "Her mother is around for Allah's sake why would you be treating someone's daughter like garbage when their parent is around." He was quiet for a while because he couldn't argue anymore. His mother was right but his problem was he could not pretend to be someone he isn't or pretend to do something he knows it's not true. He exhaled and looked at his mother. "Aunty you're right and I'm very sorry for the selfishness I have done. I will go and apologise to her right now." She freed her face and smiled. "That's better and I will send in your dinner now. You should eat together with your wife. I don't want to see you hanging around with the men tonight, stay with your wife and take care of her." He answered her commands before he rise to his feet and left the room. He knew drama and commotion was about to unfold when he go meets her. He sauntered out of the house to the mosque and prayed Isha before he went back home together with the guys. He conversed with them for some time before he bade them good night. He gently opened the door and entered before he closed it back. He turned on the lights in the room. He looked at her figure buried underneath the soft sheets. He walked over to the bed and pulled the blanket away. She turned her head to the other side to avoid meeting his gaze. "Amira, sit down let's talk, please." He pleaded but she acted like she was fast asleep. "I know you can hear me," he spoke again when she wasn't ready to move an inch. "I'm so sorry for the things I have done. I'm sorry I slapped you last night and for being ignorant for what happened today. Surely I will punish them for this foolish act of theirs." She still ignored him and pulled the blanket over her head. He pulled it away same time a knock came from the door. He looked up to the door before he gave whomever it was permission to come in. Salmah walked in with a tray of warmers while fauzah walked in with tray of refreshments. Amira glared at them as she sat upright. If salmah could get another chance to hit her, she wouldn't hesitate to. "Just drop the trays on the carpet and get out," he fumed when they greeted him. "But, hamma we want to apologise to her..." Fauzah tried to explain but when he bawled at them again, the ladies hurriedly left the room and closed the door for them. Amira wanted to smile at what he did but she pretend like she wasn't impressed. He looked at her swollen eyes and bruised lip. "Have you taken any drugs?" He asked now that he was actually concerned about her. "I have," she retorted not glancing his way. "C'mon Hauwa'u, I said I was sorry, please forgive this your ignorant husband. I can be on my knees if you want me to." She glared at him when he called her by her real name. "What? Hauwa is a beautiful name and it has a beautiful meaning." He defended himself knowing she was glaring at him because he called her actual name. "Have you prayed?" He asked but she took off her eyes away for him. He knew the answer. He rubbed his temple as he sighed. "C'mon get up, let's go. You need to pray before we eat." She tried to protest but he never budged. After she had prayed the prayers she intentionally missed, he served her the meal that was cooked and urged her to eat which she did because she spent the whole day fuming and tearing her eyes out without eating. They were done eating within thirty minutes before he moved her to the bed. "We need to talk," he said as he handed her the pain killer and bottled of water. She took it and sip some of the water before she threw the pill in her mouth and swallowed it. "About what?" She coldly asked. He cleared his throat as his facial expression changed to the muhsin he used to be, always. "I don't want to hear your voice throughout the time I will be speaking," he warned her. "What you did right from the day we arrived here was totally out of hand. These people are also like your second family. If you don't treat them right, who are you supposed to treat right?  You didn't perform in any activities of the wedding..." "How can I involve myself with the people that don't like me?" She interrupted him. "Haven't I told you not to speak till I'm done? And speaking of that, if you behaved like the righteous person you should be, none of this would be happening. Now look at your face please. Seventeen year old girls beating you up...." "Now what are you trying to portray?" She interrupted again. He groaned tired before he sighed. "Look, amira. Please just enough with this bad behaviour. If you want my family to start liking you then drop this attitude and start acting nice. And don't think I'm commanding you, I'm simply giving you an advice. You should be nice, not just to my family but to everyone because you don't know what life could surprise you with in the future." He finished speaking and stood up. "You should get some rest, I'll be back in two hours, if you need anything call me." He breezed out of the room afterwards and left her there with her thoughts.