Jameel sat on his swivel chair in his office; his head in his hands. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in his chest after his argument with Afrah last night. He had tried so hard to prevent it from escalating and that was the reason he didn't ask her to apologize to his mother. But his effort was futile as it ended up escalating into a heated exchange of words. 

Timelessly, he had explained to her how important Hajiya was to him, and how much any disrespect towards her hurt him, but she always brushed it off as him being overly sensitive. The more he tried to reason with her, the more defensive she became. It was not the first time she had been disrespectful towards his mother. He just couldn't take it anymore.

Now sitting alone in his office in the aftermath of their heated exchange, he felt a deep sense of sadness. He loved Afrah with every fiber of his being, but he couldn't ignore the fact that she had shown disrespect to his mother. It was a sore spot for him. No one could disrespect or look down on his mother and go scot-free. Not even Afrah.

"What if I do?"

"You will see what happens next."

Replaying the argument in his head, he wondered if they were too different to make the marriage work. For his mother, he was willing to make even sacrifices he couldn't bear the thought of. Afrah daring him was like sharp daggers piercing through his heart and leaving him wounded. It was as if she was misbehaving because she knew just how much she meant to him and how he couldn't afford to lose her. In that moment, he was determined to prove to her that he would be just fine with or without her.

The disrespect she had shown Hajiya, the woman who had raised him with love and care, struck a nerve deep within him. The more he remembered what she did, the angrier he got. How could she not see the importance of his mother in his life? Hajiya had always been a pillar of strength in his life, and witnessing her being disrespected in his presence had struck a deep chord within him. The love he held for both women in his life seemed to collide, leaving him torn and emotionally battered.

Jameel felt a heavy weight settle upon his shoulders. The realization that his marriage was in jeopardy, hanging by a fragile thread, gnawed at his soul. The once unbreakable bond he shared with Afrah now seemed fragile, shattered by the shards of their hurtful words to each other. Despite not regretting fighting with her, Jameel felt a tad remorseful for how he had spoken to her. He didn't want to say hurtful things to her, but he knew he had to for her to realize her mistakes. Knowing the kind of person Afrah was, he knew he would only waste his time if he attempted to reason amicably with her. He wanted to give her a dose of her own medicine. And he did.

Jameel had always believed that the love he had for Afrah was unshakable, but now, doubts crept into his mind, casting shadows over the future he had envisioned.

For him, one thing was certain; he wouldn't be able to live with someone who had no respect for his mother. That was one sacrifice he couldn't make.

He hoped it wouldn't get to the point where he would have to choose between the two most important women in his life.

He hoped Afrah would learn to understand his perspective better.

He hoped they would find a way back to each other because he was already longing for the warmth of Afrah's embrace. Fighting with Afrah had to be the most difficult task for Jameel. He hated it passionately. It made him begin to question his own role in the situation, wondering if the case would have been better if he handled it differently.

"Jameel," Asim called, walking into the office. "I thought you've left the office.  I'm surprised you're still here. Not eager to go home today?"

Jameel heaved a sigh. "I don't know what to expect when I reach home."

"What does this mean? Don't tell me your wives are fighting again."

He shook his head. "They don't do that anymore."

"Let me guess again, it's related to Hajiya and Amarya?"

Jameel nodded his head.

Asim hummed. "I find it strange that they are still not getting along. After all this time?"

"It's exhausting, man. Afrah is beginning to do too much. She acts disrespectfully towards Hajiya, and I'm not finding it funny at all. She's going to push me to do what I might end up regretting."

"Woah!" Asim exclaimed. "Take a deep breath. It's Afrah we're talking about, fah. The love of your life."

Jameel shook his head. "Do you know the problem with Afrah? Her ego is way too big. She'd rather stab herself than admit that she's wrong...that's a terrible thing. Najah is never like that. She never gives me a tough time. Sometimes, even when she's not wrong, she apologizes to me and we move on. Afrah would never. why can't she just be like Najah? I just hope she comes down from her high horse soon because my patience is running out."

"They are two different people. You can't expect them to have the same character. Don't compare them. I'm sure Afrah also has a positive side that Najah lacks."

Jameel huffed.

"So stop being too hard on her. You've gone through a lot to be where you currently are with her. Don't make the mistake of throwing it all away."

"I'm trying, Asim," Jameel facepalmed. "I really am, but it seems I'm the only one that wants the relationship to work. Afrah simply doesn't care. She makes absolutely no effort to be close to Hajiya. I also know it's the same with Hajiya, but two wrongs can't and won't make a right. If not for anything, at least for our family, try to set things right, and not just sit, doing nothing and assuming she doesn't like you. To be honest, Asim, I'm not even sure she loves me anymore. I have been feeling this way for a while now. It seems she's just staying for the sake of our child. I don't know..."

"Nah," Asim shook his head. "I don't think so. Is it that easy to fall out of love? Have you forgotten how she went against her family for you? I think you're just overthinking. Don't do that, you will create a problem that wasn't even there in the first place."

"I know what I'm saying, Asim. Afrah seems so distant. She's close yet so far. She doesn't even get jealous of Najah anymore... What irritates and annoys me to the core is when she pushes me to Najah. We will be spending time together and the next thing, she ruins the mood by reminding me that I needed to go to Najah's room. Tell me, Asim, does that seem normal? It's pretty glaring that she's tired of the marriage and wants to get away. She's using Hajiya as leverage."

"So what do you intend to do now?"

"I don't know, Asim, I don't know. What do you advise I do?"

"Just try and find a middle ground. I still believe you're the one creating these scenarios in your head. Don't just jump to a conclusion. It may not be the case."

"I hope so."

•

Alighting from his car, Jameel let out a loud sigh. The weight of the unresolved argument he had with Afrah lay heavily on his shoulders, overshadowing his already fatigued demeanor. Returning from his long day at the office, he hoped for solace within the familiar walls of his abode, despite being fully aware that a tempestuous atmosphere awaited him. He knew that the respite he desperately sought was impossible given that Afrah was involved.

Opening the front door, Jameel did not meet anyone in the living room. He headed directly to Hajiya's room to greet her.

Jameel met her seated on a mat by the foot of the bed, making a phone call.

He sat beside her and waited patiently for her to finish talking to whoever it was that she was speaking to over the phone.

After two minutes or so, Hajiya ended the call.

"Assalamualaikum, Hajiya," he greeted.

"Wa alaikum salaam warahmatullah," she answered. "how was work today?"

"Alhamdulillah." He responded. "How was your day? I hope you weren't too bored."

"Bored?" She chuckled. "When I have Najah here with me? Impossible. She's been keeping me company since morning. I had to even assure her that it was okay for her to go and take her bath. Najah is an incredible woman. I hope you know how blessed you are to have her."

Jameel nodded in agreement. "I do, Hajiya. I'm indeed a blessed man...thanks to you."

"I'm glad you know."

"You must have spent a lot of time with your grandson today," Jameel said, with the sole aim of finding out if Afrah had made any attempt to make it up to Hajiya for the way she disrespected her. A huge part of him wanted it badly.

Hajiya shook her head. "I haven't seen him today. Your wife hasn't stepped foot in this room since yesterday. I don't even know if she's still in this house. I went to her room to see my grandson, but she refused to open the door for me despite how hard I knocked."

Jameel's brows knitted together; his jaw clenched tightly.

"That woman is fighting invisible demons, I tell you. She doesn't have an atom of good in her. How can a single person possess so much bitterness? Is she a witch? I know she's angry that I am here, but unfortunately for her, she will have to bear seeing this face for as long as I desire. It's obvious she lacks proper home training. I pity your son in advance. I wonder what type of training she's going to give that boy."

As Jameel listened to Hajiya debase Afrah, he felt a sudden urge to defend her. The weight of Hajiya's words bore down on his chest, squeezing the air from his lungs, and stealing the ability to utter even a single word. He knew Afrah had done wrong, and his mother's anger was justified, but listening to his mother say those mean and untrue things about his wife didn't sit well with him.

"Najah is a thousand times—"

"Hajiya," Jameel's voice was gentle. "Maybe she was sleeping when you knocked. She gets easily tired and—"

"Don't defend blindly! I clearly heard the baby crying. She wasn't sleeping. She ignored me."

Jameel swallowed. He had become a prisoner of two worlds. His mother, a pivotal figure who had molded his existence, made unthinkable sacrifices for him, and protected him with every strength she had, now collided with his wife, the love of his life—the person whom he almost lost his mind over when he thought he had lost her forever.

"No one has ever disrespected me the way your wife has in just a day. She does it without even thinking twice because she knows no action will be taken." Hajiya shook her head in disappointment. "I really hope that witch hasn't mixed something in your food to make you dance to her tune."

As Jameel sat there with folded legs, forced to endure the painful narrative, his anger waged war against his desire for peace. Had Afrah done what she had to do, things wouldn't have gotten to that point. She was to blame for everything. Her ego was doing more harm than good. "I'm sorry you feel disrespected, Hajiya," Jameel apologized; his head hung low. "I'm sure it wasn't her intention, but I will ensure she apologizes to you if that will make you feel better. And I'm afraid you're wrong about her, she really does want you around. Before your arrival, she kept on asking me when you'd come."

Hajiya scoffed.

"So please," Jameel beseeched. "Treat her the way you treat Najah."

"Does she treat me the way Najah treats me? Please, Jameel, don't just annoy me right now. If you're just going to sit here and take your wife's side, then I'd appreciate it if you—"

"I'm not taking her side, Hajiya," Jameel shook his head. "I was only trying to— okay," he heaved a sigh. "I'm sorry. You're right. She has no absolutely no right to keep my son away from his grandmother." With that said, Jameel rose to his feet. "I'm coming, Hajiya." He said and walked out of the room.

•

The room shook as Jameel barged inside and slammed the door. His eyes, once warm with adoration for the woman standing before him, now burned with a fierce resentment. "Afrah!" He yelled.

Afrah stood before him almost daringly. The intensity of her glare was like none Jameel had ever seen before.

"I warned you," he started; balling his hands into fists. Strained veins throbbed in his temples, pulsating with an uncontrollable rage that drowned all attempts of reasoning. "I warned you not to disrespect Hajiya again but what did you do?"

"What did I do?" Afrah asked him. "what did she say I did to her this time?"

"You know better! My mother isn't someone you can disrespect. You must respect her."

"Respect isn't demanded, it's earned, and it's reciprocal."

"AFRAH!" Jameel's voice reverberated through the walls, making shrill cries fill the room. "Despite your mistakes, I have tried my best to live with you in peace, but it seems you don't like it. It seems you derive pleasure in seeing me stressed and frustrated. I can see you're taking my calmness for stupidity. What am I asking for? Am I asking for too much? I just want peace. Why are you hellbent on making my life miserable? Is this what I get for loving you wholeheartedly? Maybe people are right about what they say about you."

"I am making your life miserable?" Afrah asked in disbelief. "Me? I see. If that's the case, what are we still doing together? It seems you enjoy the misery because you're not making any move to leave it. You have a choice to free yourself, AND TO FREE ME TOO."

"AFRAH!"

"WHAT?! Are your hands tied? Do it! If you're man enough, do it, Jameel."

Jameel's clenched fists trembled, craving an outlet to release the excessive anger in him. He stood there, breath ragged and chest heaving.

"I double dare you, Jameel!"

In one violent, instinctual motion, Jameel swung his left fist towards the solid barrier behind, just above Afrah's head.

Afrah gasped.

"Be thankful to that baby." With that, he walked out of the room and slammed the door harder than before.

•

Woah! 😪 What an intense chapter this was! 🤒🤌

So what do you think about what's happening? Is Hajiya being unfair?

Is Afrah at fault?

And Jameel?

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Chapter 62 immediately we reach 100 votes/comments! Let's go!!