Chapter 4

She accompanied her to the car and went back inside. Layla had her head on the steering wheel when her mom came in.

“Layla, what was the meaning of what you just did? Why did you just rudely stand up and leave without saying goodbye? She welcomed us warmly and was super polite. I’m starting to doubt if what you said is actually true.”

“By Allah, Mommy, this woman started glaring at me the moment she sauntered into the living room. She hates my guts.” Layla started the car and drove out of the house. Mommy glared at her and hissed. Layla sighed helplessly and continued driving. Now what has she done wrong? She felt like good luck had never been on her side ever since he came into her life. Now her own mother is mad at her because of him. Adil is mad at her because of him. She’s mad at herself because of him.

***

Kamilah barged into the room and caught him scrolling through Layla’s pictures. White knuckles from clenching her fist too hard and gritted teeth from the effort to remain silent, her hunched form exuded an animosity that was like acid—burning, slicing, potent. Her face was red with suppressed rage, and when he looked up to find out he was caught, she swung around and mentally snapped.

“What. The. Fuck. Do. You. Think. You. Are. Doing?” she spoke, gritting her teeth.

“Babe I...”

“Just shut up, Adam!” She yelled at the top of her lungs. “Didn’t I warn you about this girl? What did you tell me, huh? That there was nothing between you two. Why were you staring at her? And now you’re looking at her Goddamn pictures! Fuck it, Adam, you’re in love with her,” she cursed. Her temper was on a hair-trigger. The smallest thing would have her flying into a rage, yelling, saliva spitting out with each jagged word. She laughed hysterically and punched him hard in the shoulder.

“You are a cheating bastard. I knew it!” She bawled.

“Okay, Kamilah, that’s enough! You can’t just do whatever you wish to and expect me to keep shut and watch you. What the fuck is wrong with you? Why would you hit me? I’m your husband, if you have forgotten. You cannot spill any shit that comes out of your mouth!”

Every word stung, only fueling the fire that burned inside of her. Every violated phrase was like gasoline to it. Her fists began to clench, and her jaw rooted. When the final mento had been added to the coke inside of her, she exploded with anger, with no control, objects levitated and broke.

“I will repeat myself. You are a cheating bastard, you stupid hus...” She swallowed her words when his palm landed on her cheek. She yelped in pain and held her cheek. Burning rage hissed through his body like deathly poison, screeching a demanded release in the form of unwanted violence. It was like a volcano erupting, fury sweeping off him like ferocious waves. The wrath consumed like engulfing his moralities and destroying the boundaries of loyalty.

She squatted down, holding her cheek as tears blurred her vision.

“I knew it, I knew it...my mother was right...you don’t love me,” she spoke with her voice shaking. He knelt down and grabbed her shoulders as he spoke softly, “No, no, baby, I’m so so sorry for hitting you. You were accusing me of something that’s not true, and you were rude to me. By Allah, I love you.”

“If you loved me, you’d sacrifice yourself; you’d walk right into the flames and never blink or look back. If you loved me, you would never lay your hand on me. If you loved me, you’d give me the things I need at the expense of yourself. If you knew this is how you are going to treat me, you shouldn’t have told me you loved me ’cause you don’t!”

“I swear I do. I love you more than anything. That girl means nothing to me,” he cooed, holding her as she sobbed. He engulfed her in a loving hug.

“I really don’t like her being around you,” she sobbed. He stroked back and whispered sweet words into her ear till she stopped crying.

She raised her head up and landed her puffy, red eyes on his.

“Promise, promise you will only love me, and you will not marry again,” she spoke, tears still rolling down. He wiped her tears away and kissed her softly on the lips. ]

“You’re the only woman I love and the only woman I want. I promise you, Adam is all yours. You won’t share him with any other woman,” he cooed and showered her face with lingering kisses. She giggled and hugged him tightly.

He heaved a sigh, not of relief but of a new beginning of shambles. Love has no reason, nor has it any season. When you love someone, you do it from your heart. When you love someone, you do it from your soul. Such was his love for Kamilah. He truly loved her yesterday. He loves her more today. And he shall love her tomorrow and till the end of time. She was the only reason why he felt so blessed in life. She was his strength and his determination. He was really proud of her and lucky to have her. But he had a glimpse of a problem. How was he going to tell his wife that he was truly in love with Layla and he wanted to marry her?