Chapter 19

She slowly blinked awake in the not so warm light of the rainy morning, slanting through her bedroom window. She took a minute to process whatever was around her surrounding before sitting up right on the bed. She heaved a sigh as she rubbed her temple. How risible it was for her to almost forget last night's event. She hissed, getting off her bed and sauntering into the bathroom. She freshened up and sashayed out. Today was another work day, but she wasn't sure if she was going to turn in. It was raining cats and dogs outside and there was no possible way she'd get herself wet just to show up at work and do some paper work for hours. What if she catches a cold? She slipped into a simple floral gown and stepped out of her room to make breakfast for herself only. She hackneyed of Ahmad's cold and stern attitudes. It was self-centered and ruthless of him to treat her that way. All because of a simple mistake that no one was above making? Why can't he understand that she did it out of inscrutable manner? If she could turn the clock back, she would've rewind it back to when Adam showed up in her house and kicked him out instead of showing him he was still welcome in her life. Now look at what he has done; almost destroyed her matrimonial home. Oh please, you where the one that almost destroyed your home; a voice interrupted her. Hidayah breathed out sharply through gritting teeth. Well, she wasn't sorry for that. The only thing she was remorseful about was losing her baby. Yes, she also wanted the baby, despite the fact that she had it with a man she despised. Ahmad was comfortably lying down on the three seater when she descended down the stairs. A frown fell upon her lips. He pretended as though he didn't hear her footsteps or her sweet lavender scent mixed with humra perfume. She looked at him from his head to toe, wondering why he wasn't at work on a week day. She ambled towards the kitchen, planing on giving him the silent treatment till he was back to his sense. A grief swept through her system, enveloping her body when she noticed how nonchalant he looked by the way she walked away without greeting him. She always did, even after everything that has been happening between them, but today, she wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine but it seemed like he didn't give a damn about her existence this gloomy morning. A painful knot tied in her throat but she swallowed it. She knew he was just trying her patience by giving her that painful, cruel attitude. He wanted to get a reaction out of her but he wouldn't get any. There was nothing he could do to provoke her anymore. Not even when she knew he was engaged to some insignificant cheap girl. The thought of Layla made her to grimace. She despised her, with all her being. She opened the fridge to fetch out milk. She smack the door as she grunted. She wasn't just thinking of him, nor was she just thinking of Layla. She was thinking of the best way to handle the both of them. Layla especially! She made pancakes with maple syrup and some whipped cream and berries as toppings. Orange juice to gulp everything down. When she went back to the living room, he wasn't there. She decided to sit there instead of the dining area. She turned on the tv and changed the channel to her favourite, TLC. Hidayah was heartily enjoying her breakfast as she watched the show that was on when Ahmad abruptly sauntered in. He settled down on the one seater, receiving a call that was obviously from Layla. Firstly, it was video call. Secondly, he wasn't using any headphones. And thirdly, she could audibly hear each and every lovey dovey words there were exchanging. She swallowed the painful lump and kept the plate beside her. She has suddenly lost her appetite. The taste of the pancakes has became bitter to her tongue. She gave him a side-eyed look. A part of her wanted to be as far away from here as possible. '2 months really sounds like 2 decades, babe!" It was Layla with her whiny voice. Hidayah let out an unnoticed sigh as she focused her eyes on the tv but her entire attention and being was on their conversation. He was really getting married to her? Why her? Why would he even add another wife? And why did her own mother and siblings approved this? 'I know, I'm sorry. I can't wait also. I know how eager you are to make it official. It's really amazing to know someone in my life is actually looking forward to spend the rest of their life with me and I couldn't be more happier." And that was her cue. She dragged herself out of the scene with a broken heart and a battered soul. She couldn't just sit there and watch as the both of them disrespect her. She had sat on her bed, where her thoughts roamed. How dare he treated her that ill in front of his so called skinny girlfriend? A great tenor overtook her. Hidayah collapsed on the bed as she poured out her heart, cursing Layla for taking away her man. Anger curled hot and unstoppable in her guts, like a blazing inferno that wanted to burn her from the inside. Hidayah was hurt, so hurt that she couldn't just sit there and let them take advantage of her like that. She could feel her temperature rising by the was she was infuriated. Her pulse sped up and she was breathing very shallow. With great anger, she picked up her phone to call Ummah. After few rings, she answered the call. 'Ummah?" A great sob escaped her, as she covered her face with her shaking hand. 'Subahanallah, hidayah? What's wrong? Why are you crying? Something happened to Ahmad?" Ummah bombarded her with questions. 'It would've been better if something bad happened to him than what's about to happen. Ummah, how could you let him add another wife? How could you let this worthless piece of nothing degrade me the way he wants. What have I done to deserve this kind of torture..." 'The next time you will refer my son to something worthless or piece of nothing will be the day you end up in the E.R. Have you lost your mind? Who am I kidding, yes you have. And you think calling me to throw fits of tantrum would change anything? It's his choice and he has the right to do whatsoever he desires since you chose to be selfish and stupid. Hidayah ki fita Ido na wallahi." Ummah ended the call. 'Ummah?!" She breathed out. Her body didn't know how to react, it just shut down. She froze to a point where she was hardly breathing. Her own biological mother just disdained her? All because of him? Ahmad? She searched through her phone, notwithstanding that her hands were trembling. Her screen was blurry but she managed to dial her older sister's number. Maybe she'd listen to her. 'Ya Safiyah..." Her lips trembled as she cried. 'Hidayah? I hope everything is okay?" Safiyah asked worriedly. She actually picked up the call with the intention to tongue-lash at hidayah but her heart sunk when she heard hidayah crying. 'How can you guys really let this happen to me? C'mon, do you guys hate me this much to let me grief and suffer in this hell hole?" Hidayah almost choked on her words. Flood of tears gushed down her reddened cheeks. 'Hidayah what are you talking about? Stop talking in riddles and tell me what happened." Safiyah was already frustrated before hidayah even told her exactly what was going on. 'Ahmad is adding another wife! That's what I'm talking about!" She shrieked. It made her furious whenever she mentioned that her husband was getting married again! Safiyah hissed. 'This is the reason why you're calling me? Seriously hidayah? Have you ever for once called to check up on me or you nieces? Oh so now that you're facing the music and you can't handle it, that's when you need my help? You better stop it with those tears else he'd look down on you and you're the one giving him a path to treat you the way he's treating you now. Better wake up and show that other girl who's the woman of the house you still have control of your husband. I have to go now." Hidayah had already tossed the phone away before Safiyah could end the call. Hidayah spent the rest of her day, buried under her sheets as she grieved alone in her room. The next night, she was ready in her nightwear but decided to keep herself company by watching tv despite that her mind was full of his thoughts. It was past 9 in the night and he wasn't back yet. Maybe he's with Layla. Or he might be stuck at work. Or he went to visit Ummah. Or he was with Layla; it had to be that. Where else could he be by this time? Ahmad didn't show up in the house till it was past 10 and he was amused to see her in the living room. They stared at each other and she broke the staring contest and looked at his phone in his hand. He was on a call... with her... again. It was same as the previous day. Just that today, she wasn't settling for any less. He slumped down on the three seater while she gawked at him. He heaved a sigh, running his hand through his hair. 'Oh baby! How I wish I could be there with you right now to massage your body. You look like you really need that right now." Layla cooed and it irked hidayah. She turned her head away. Fighting the anger surging inside her. 'I know, babe, I know you'd do anything for my happiness and well being. It's sad that I don't have any one to do that for me right now..." Hidayah swiftly glared at him. What sort of disrespect is that. 'Just sit tight and wait till I..." Hidayah had already snatched the phone away from him. 'You shouldn't be calling someone's husband by this time when you fully know that this time is meant for his wife." A look of great bitterness swept across her face as she glared at Layla through the phone. Layla let out a heartily laugh. 'Oh please if Ahmad really had a wife that actually satisfies him, he wouldn't be here with me. But cmon, who wouldn't want to be with me." She smirked at hidayah. She was angry, Layla could tell by the way she was fuming. This was the first time Layla was actually seeing Hidayah. She knew Hidayah was beautiful by the way Ahmad kept emphasizing about it but she never knew hidayah was that beautiful. No wonder Ahmad has been head over heels about her. 'It's such a shame that you're so beautiful but your husband don't find you that attractive or find comfort and peace from you that he has to call another lady to satisfy him," Layla stated, a mocking smile crossing her face. A slow smile crept onto Ahmad's face as soon as he heard Layla's comeback. He never knew she could be that fierce. Hidayah looked at him then to Layla, her mouth agape. 'You... huh?! Listen to me, just because he's going to marry you or he's giving you so much attention doesn't mean I don't have power over my husband. In fact, I will show you I still have control over my husband. And if you're strong enough and you can handle it, stay put and watch who's in control here." Hidayah set the phone on the centre table, the flower vase supporting the phone. Ahmad smiled, knowing full well that hidayah was about to seduce him. Even before she approached him, he felt the shock and his lungs expanded with briny air. She hovered over him. With the kiss came electric tingles, the desire to play. He placed his hands on her waist and lowered his hands to her butt. Layla gaped her eyes and shook her head. This was her cue to go and she ended the call immediately. Hidayah ran her fingers in his hair and deepened the kiss into a fervent embrace. He showers kisses on her neck and chest and she shudder with pleasure, forgetting about what actually brought that tensed romance in the first place. His kisses dot up her neck, until he reaches her lips. He enraptures her in a heavy kiss until finally pulling back. She looked into his eyes. There was something solemn swimming in his eyes. Their stunning deep brown held a truth that his face could not hide. He smirked at her and her breath catches. He tilts his head back up to meet her lips once more. Sooner than she expected, hidayah found herself in his room, under him as he took control of everything. Every kiss has a raw intensity breathing fast, heart rates faster. Then before she knew how it happened, they were undressed and their skin was moving softly together like the finest of silk. She felt his hand enter from below moving fast, their tongues entwined in a kiss, and then he was inside, changing her breathing with every thrust, hearing her moans timed to his body. Past midnight, the two of them slip into bed together. Ahmad's arms slide around her as they drifted into a comfortable sleep. What a memorable night it was.