Chapter 60

"You," she pointed at dalia. "You did this, didn't you? You idiot, who gave you the right to touch my things? Is this what brought you to this house? Who do you think you are to change my furnitures arrangement?" She clamoured at her, unable to storm towards her knowing muhsin would stop her. "Hey, better mind your words I said. And I was the one that gave her the permission to do that because if you have forgotten, this is my living room, my house not yours," he thundered back at her. Amira shifted her gaze to behind him. "Get out of my house," she spat at her. "Where do you think you're going? Stay right there," he stopped her when she started walking towards the door. She moved slowly back and hid behind him before amira could think of hitting her. Her whole body trembled with fear of what amira would do to her if she comes next time. "Muhsin? What are you doing? So you're supporting her to continue disrespecting me?" She asked in disbelief of how he was shouting at her over some village girl. "There is nothing disrespecting here like how you're talking back at me after wandering around the city without my permission." His face looked as calm as it has ever been but in his heart, he was fed up with her. "But... I... how can you allow this local girl to touch our things... you shouldn't have..." "Why won't you stay at home and do everything if you don't want another woman touching your things, like you claimed." "So you're trying to blame everything on me now, huh? Because of this cheap rag...." "Don't you ever called her that again, wallah amira, I am just restraining myself from yelling at you. If you don't want anyone to touch your things, then stay. at. home. and do everything yourself! Why won't you sit your ass home and take care of your house yourself, like you keep claiming it's yours, you have to someone to do it for you, aren't you ashamed of yourself?" His temper was like TNT, once the sparks started sizzling, there was very little time to duck and cover. She knew she should just stay quiet or walk away and wait for the storm to abate, but she couldn't help it, not in front of that cheap little rag he was choosing side over her. "Alright that's it! I am sick and tired of your bull crap! If you like add another wife, I do not care anymore, I am done. Done! I am not your maid, and I way too big to do such thing, if you can't live this way then go add another wife to do the cleaning for you, I don't give two shits if you do that!" He let out a soft chuckle out of anger. Just what he needed to hear. "Is that so? Then I will show I am the man of the house. Dalia, let's go." He walked calmly out of the house with dalia tailing behind him. The next day, he dressed up in a set of kaftaan and headed out to daddy's office, knowing he would be at his office even though it was a Saturday. He waited in the reception before he was ushered into the office. "Salamu alaikum," he mouthed as he closed the door behind him. "Wa'alaikumus Salam, muhsin. How many times will I tell you to just come straight to my office whenever you come? You don't have to stress yourself going through all that process before you see me." Muhsin ducked his head as he smiled. "In sha Allah I won't repeat this again. Good morning daddy. How's work going?" He greeted him. "Work is going great Alhamdulillah. How is the company going now? Hope there isn't any problems concerning the company." Muhsin shook his head, "no daddy, everything is going great now...." "How's amira and everything? I hope there's no problem." He shook his head again. He felt the nervousness rising as he thought of a way to start approaching his wife's father with what was in his mind. "No, daddy, we're all fine. But...." He allowed the words to hang while he breathed out. He was terrified. Was it hot in there? He felt like he was going to suffocate. He glimpse at daddy, was checking something from his computer. Then he looked at Muhsin and removed his glasses. Daddy offered him a pleasing smile before he spoke, "please speak up, my son. What do you need?" He asked muhsin. He scratch the back of his head, maybe that was not a great idea. He wasn't even ashamed to come meet his father's wife to ask for something like that? All the reasons not to do that came clashing and he had no way out. He was already in the office and the man was clearly waiting for him to speak up. He gathered the courage and started talking, hoping daddy would understand. "I wanted to speak with you about... Dalia..." then he paused. "What about her?" Daddy ask him. His heart pounded hard that he thought daddy could hear it. His hands trembled in fear, what would daddy think of him? A selfish person? "I have observed the girl for quite some time now and by Allah I really admire the girl and the right thing to do is to ask for her hand in marriage, that's why I came to ask permission from you." Daddy had a straight face as he listened to his son in law before he switched it with a bright smile. "Masha Allah, Masha Allah. I am so happy about this, muhsin. And I am very proud of you for approaching me with this talk. But I have to contact her uncle first and talk to him about it. But have you spoken with her about it?" That's when the real fear started. How was he even going to start telling her that when she was dead afraid of his wife? Why didn't he approach her first before coming to daddy? Airhead, he cursed himself. "Well, we don't have any problem in sha Allah. I just came here to ask for permission first."