Wrong Suffered At Hands (Chapter Seventeen)

 

17.

The twist to her stomach felt like being warped in the innards by a pipe wrench, and she whimpered as she finally spewed up. She puked for over five minutes in the bowl before the queasy feeling in her stomach subsided. She heard the bathroom door open behind her followed by a gentle tug to her hair. While she was feeling far more queasy due to the nauseating sensation, Affan collected her hair into a fist behind her and massaged circles on her back to comfort her.

"You shouldn't have come, it's all nasty and stinky here." she complained as she slapped the chilled water across her face.

"Aren't we both in this together?"

Afiyah looked confused at what he said.

"This pregnancy, we're both in it together, and you're my responsibility to look after."

She drew closer to him, pushing her head against the firm chest, and a grin spread across her face. The fact that Affan didn't actually offer her a hug in return was something she was aware of, but she was too delighted to care.

"You seem happy today; do you have anything to share?" Pinching her nose, he demanded.

"Nothing in particular. Simply a sense of relief as if a huge weight had been lifted off my chest. I'm happy and wish to stay so for the rest of my life."

Following their joint exit from the restroom, they sat on the bed. Affan opened his mouth to speak but was cut short by a phone call. He excused himself and walked out of the room. She reasoned that it may be coming from the workplace, but she couldn't escape the unpleasant sensation in her heart.

Afiyah began to believe that her bond with Affan was growing as they started to communicate more and show affection for one another, but she was still concerned for him due to his abrupt attitude shift after receiving a phone call. She wasn't bothered by the way he would slip out of bed in the middle of the night and return many hours later. She made an effort to convince herself that he was distracted by work, but she couldn't keep lying to herself all the damn time.

Until such time when she requested Affan to lend her his phone so she could call Hareem, since she didn't have enough credit to place a phone call. Due to the sheer loud TV in the room, she had to move out of the room to talk properly. The moment she heard the phone ring and saw the message on the screen, she immediately experienced remorse and felt guilty for herself for having ever asked for his cell phone.

The remorse caused her to come to a stand near the room door; she pressed her cheek against the door to detect whether Affan was following her.

When she entered the chats, her frail heart only enabled her to view a few messages before she had to switch off the phone. What she witnessed, which she would have labeled as a betrayal, shocked her. Some of the conversation truly crushed her heart, breaking it like a glass hurled across the wall; she could hear it loud and clear in her ears.

"What exactly do you expect?" She murmured to herself as she sensed her eyes warm up and start to feel moist, and before she knew it, tears had begun to well up in her eyes.

Affan's nighttime departures and even the open hints he gave her on the wedding night were signs she should have anticipated this. She was too dumb to even believe that her relationship with Affan was mending; instead, it was rapidly disintegrating.

She made an effort to keep her face neutral as she went into her room.

“Thanks.” She stated it blankly as she handed the phone back to Affan. She tried to flee but was stopped by the hold on her wrist.

“Wait. Are you crying?"

“No.”

"I can see it."

"I said I'm not." Her voice trembled, and a wail escaped passes her lips.

He approached her and said, "Look at me. What happened?" His concern could be heard in his tone, but it didn't bother Afiyah this time.

"You should loosen up a bit; your grip is tight." Her voice was thick and her vision distorted as she spoke while having tears streaming down her face. She jerked her hand away from his grip.

"Afiyah-"

"What?" She raised her voice, clearly agitated. "What, Affan? Please excuse me; as I stated, nothing has happened."

“No.” He yanked her in. "I'm not a moron. Do you miss your father or Hareem maybe? You should go see them."

"There is nothing I desire...” Her words fell flat as she sensed a sharp pain in her abdomen. The pain crept from her spine to her abdominal, the serrated ache urging her to grab her stomach, and a wail escaped her lips, her face twisting in agony.

"Are you alright? Afiyah?”

“It hurts.” She whimpered as the pressure in her lower area throbbed her thighs and she felt as though she were being stabbed in the abdomen by thorns and spikes.

"Do something, it hurts!" She screamed and wailed till she was rushed to the emergency.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She had lost faith in contentment and given up all hope. As she was being rushed to hospital, she was devastated. Unable to control her crying, she bit her knuckles to stifle it. The assumption of losing her baby too early tore at her soul, and she believed it to be over.

She was mentally prepared for the doctors to say whatever unless one of them asked her, "Did you perform any chores while sitting on the ground? Or did you spend an inordinate amount of time in the restroom?"

Afiyah considered it, pushing her thoughts further into her memory and attempting to recall any potential occurrence, "I don't know for sure, but I recall scrubbing the floor." When she stated it, she spoke with assurance and avoided her Soraya’s keen gaze.

"That is the issue. You shouldn't perform any tasks that require you to stoop down, such as sitting on the floor. Both you and your infant run the danger. Allah has given your child a second chance at life, and it is your duty to look after both of you."

She thanked the heavens and let forth a relieved sigh.

"Also, try not to be stressed; it might have a negative impact on your baby."

She didn't say anything even after being returned home. She made sure not to engage in any verbal conversation with Affan even when he tried to talk to her on plain matters. A bundle of medicinal products were kept beside her as she observed Sameer inject the analgesics in her veins.

“It’s getting late now, I should leave.” As he cracked the used syringe's needle and dumped it in the trash, Sameer stated.

"Be cautious, and please message me when you get home." She took a few moments to let go of Sameer after releasing the embrace. “Pay my salaam to Papa Jan and Hareem."

After Sameer departed, she shut her eyes, her brain nearly drifting into the land of Nods when she sensed the bedding shift beside her, “Can we talk?”

"Is there a topic worth discussing?"

"I'm not sure what you saw, but I know you're perfectly aware of everything now."

She drew in a breath and said, "It wasn't a love marriage and we didn't know each other before marriage, so it's understandable to witness all this. However, the issue that still remains is, Why did you marry me then?  What made you choose to marry me while you were in love with someone else?”

“It’s complicated.” Affan seemed assured to state that, "We had issues and causes, and love doesn't always win. Ami Jan was willing to push me to marry you when we were unable to approach my girlfriend because sometimes you just have to go with the flow of life."

The words Love doesn't always win pierced Afiyah like a blade, and she immediately turned to glance at the other side.

"We had problems with family concerns and she lives far away. You were then referred to me by one of my mother's family acquaintances."

In the pit of her stomach, she experienced a familiar sensation: fury.

"And just now, I believe everything is okay."

"We shouldn't." She said, laying a stone on her heart, "I asked to be friends with you for a reason, and I feel we are both fine that way."

"I share your opinion."

Her heart was ripped open once more.

“Besides, everyone wanted us to bear a child and we did just that. Therefore, we'll continue doing things the same way we always have."

"It would be preferable." She attempted to keep her composure as she gulped.

Even after Affan turned out the lights and slipped beneath the cover with a fair distance separating them, she didn't turn her head to look at him. And, even when his gentle snores filled the room, she didn't look at him. She had reached the point of total breakdown and thought she was the victim of bad luck. She observed her loved ones managed to slip out of her grasp right before her eyes and she couldn’t even protest.

 

 

 

 

 

Everything that she had anticipated had occurred. She was relieved when she and Affan gradually drifted apart. They would converse verbally much less frequently than normal, and she was now in contact with Talal, which significantly reduced her everyday stress. She laughed nonstop all day thanks to his crude jokes, which helped her sleep better and feel less alone because he was always at her side. She became closer to him as their chat progressed from casual small talk to in-depth discussions. She dwelt even more deeply with him as a result of the Hassan vibes he gave her.

Afiyah expressed her desire to resume her studies one day, and Affan complied, which really surprised her.

"Unless you provide a worthy conclusion, you may continue your studies. If you wish, you can study."

She was accepted into a private institution, where she took on the load of studies. Although Affan was inclined to allow it, her mother-in-law ignited the fire by making a big deal out of her studies, and she was given the go-ahead to study at home. She was filled with optimism and future motivation as she considered starting to study once more.

Days grew into weeks, and weeks grew into months right before her eyes and she was standing on the juncture of her daily existence where she would witness her baby kick thrice each day. She would halt her actions whenever she sensed a flowing sensation in her stomach and occasionally a straight kick or a poke from the inside. She was thrilled to experience motherhood thanks to the small thing in her belly.

When she experienced what a difficult chore it was to carry a child that was as weighty as bricks within your womb while moving around the home, she understood why mothers have the Jannah beneath their feet. She had difficulties waking up in the morning; her back ached from the minute she awoke till she went to bed with complaints about her backache. She was unable to see her feet or stoop down to pick up whatever she dropped since her stomach was swollen to such an extent.

Moreover, she had developed a nighttime routine of leg cramps and foot swelling, and before she knew it, she was having trouble walking because she was carrying around twice as much weight as she actually did.

 

She suffered internal conflict about whether or not to inform Sameer about her connection with Affan. She struggled to divide her wanting to relieve the weight from her shoulders with her desire to protect Affan's reputation in front of Sameer. After giving it more than a week of thought, she made the decision to remain silent because it is what she had been taught from the beginning.

She chose not to uncloak the information in front of Talal either since, to her, life with her husband and mother-in-law was idyllic. According to her, they were enjoying outdoor dining, leisure, and more fun at least, which was a blatant falsehood, and Talal had suspected it based on her manner of denying the truth.

 

 

She rushed to offer Sameer a bear hug the instant he greeted her at the entrance. She was thrilled whenever he made sure to bring her favorite snacks, and she was on that particular day as well.

"Although Hareem and Papa Jan were eager to see you, they were compelled to go to Hareem's relatives because of an emergency." He spoke in more detail as he took a seat next to Afiyah on the armchair in her room.

"They should have paid me a visit as well; I miss them."

“Well, they both paid you Salaam.”

Afiyah laughed along with him at his exclamation. 

“Afiyah?” He asked abruptly, sending butterflies across the room.

She looked him in the eyes, urging him to continue his conversation.

"How are you doing? You appear really frail and pale considering that it has been a long since I last visited."  He expressed his worries as he continued to look at Afiyah in an effort to detect any shifts in her demeanor.

“I'm perfectly all right, yet this condition may occasionally make you incredibly fatigued; consequences of bearing a child." To avoid his recognizing the melancholy in her eyes, which he did notice, she chuckled awkwardly, avoiding his stare.

"You are not allowed to lie. I'm your brother, and I nurtured you as a parent. You can't really conceal the truth, no matter how hard you try."

"Pray that my tolerance stays where it is and that I could even acquire more patience; it's the least you can do for me. These little disputes occur in every home. Don't worry; your Afiyah is brave enough to stand up for herself."  She grabbed his hand and squeezed it hard enough for him to believe her.

 "And about your studies, I'm really grateful. You have my assistance as well. Do us proud."

"I will." Her voice sank as she flinched, followed by a chuckle.

“What?”

"This nephew of yours won't let me sit still." As she relayed the information to Sameer, she giggled and her cheeks began to flush pink.

"Has he kicked? How do I feel it"? At times, he grew delighted and anxious; extending his hand to Afiyah's swollen stomach.

He could sense the framework of the little limbs that were concealed by the covering of skin. Prior to sensing the movement beneath his palm, which caused him to withdraw his hand; he chuckled and appeared pleased as he laid his palm there once more.

As the expectant infant stroked their hands, they both smiled and reveled in the experience.

"How long must I wait before I can hold him?"

"One month to go."