THAT SAME NIGHT (8:30pm)
Anas: (enters the room, dropping his phone on the table as he stretches and yawns deeply) Ahhh yaa Allah… what a day. (loosens his clothes, exhales heavily, then heads into the restroom)
(Minutes pass. The sound of running water fades.)
Anas: (comes out of the restroom, towel around his neck, wiping his face slowly) Ahh… very refreshing. (sits on the edge of the bed, shoulders finally relaxing)
Haneefah: (closes the wardrobe gently and places his nightwear on the bed) You can wear this.
Anas: (startled, hand flying to his chest as his heart skips) Subhanallah! (turns sharply) I did not know you were there.
Haneefah: (removes her khimar quietly, turns away, changes into her nightwear while he watches in silence)
Anas: (stands, steps closer, wraps his arm around her waist) Baby…
Haneefah: (pushes his hand away instantly, voice sharp) What was that for?
Anas: (confused, hands suspended in the air) I do not understand… I cannot touch my wife again?
Haneefah: I cannot believe you, Anas. So you are literally just going to act like all that happened under this roof was nothing abi?
Anas: And so? Woh! That is their problem please. It has been a long and stressful day for me. I need you to help me release my stress, so come here.
Haneefah: (hisses softly and climbs onto the bed, turning her back to him) And do not even think of touching me.
Anas: (shocked, voice rising) What was that for? Answer me. (moves closer to the bed) Haneefah…
Haneefah: (ignores him, pulls the blanket over herself)
Anas: (taps her shoulder lightly) Are you not the one I am talking to? Haneefah!!
Haneefah: (sits up angrily, eyes blazing) What is it? What?
Anas: (stares at her in disbelief, breathing unevenly) Where is this coming from, Haneefah? (pants heavily, eyes filled with disappointment)
Haneefah: How could you just walk in like everything is fine? Your brother is hurting his wife. Your brother is dividing this home and all you could think of is sex. You could not even do anything about it as his brother. To speak some sense into him. What is the assurance you will not do the same as time goes on, uh? That woman is in pain, and the only solution to their marital problems is being selfish and getting a second wife. And you come in and act like it is none of your business. The house is bringing out smoke and if we do not do something about it, it will catch fire. Do something. But until then, do not touch me. Who knows what you will do next? (folds her arms tightly) Do something!
Anas: (lowers his voice, jaw clenched) So you think I am happy with his decision?
Haneefah: If you are not okay with it then do something about it. That woman is in pain. Why must we women sacrifice everything and still get rejected and treated like an option at the end of the day? Why? It is unfair now.
Anas: I cannot believe you could utter all these nonsense.
Haneefah: Oh so I am saying nonsense abi? Anas… it is alright. I should have seen this coming.
Anas: (looks down sadly, shakes his head slowly) I thought you were wiser than this. I thought I married a wise woman. (shakes his head again) Subhanallah. You made me speechless and shocked. (watches her silently for a few seconds before speaking) It should not have been you, Haneefah.
Haneefah: (lowers her gaze, regret washing over her face, fingers trembling)
Anas: You think I am happy? Did you notice what made us so different from them? It is just one thing, but it is the most powerful difference and we can never think alike. I became a revert ten years ago. Not like I was not born a Muslim, but it was Muslim by mouth. I embraced Islam when Allah was pleased with me, alhamdulillah. So despite them being my blood, we are not the same and we never think alike. Most importantly, I am the youngest in the family. You think I can just get into his personal life and decide for him just like that and he would listen? What I see in what happened today is lack of Islamic knowledge and understanding. Because if a man understands his religion, all these would not have happened. I cannot decide for him. Do you know why I am telling you all these? It is because I am the only different person in my family and I have been married for less than four months, and you expect them to listen to my advice? Even if I know the solution, it is not going to be that easy. They need to learn from us and from there there will be changes. I need to get him closer in a good way, then speak sense into him in a good way, but never by chaos. Do you think I am happy to see Ummu Twins sad? And whatever happened today, of course it will not affect me because these are consequences of lack of Islamic understanding about marriage. Despite all that happened today, I did not want it to affect us. It gave me more reason to show you affection, that I will always cherish you till my last breath. And look at what I get in return. I do not even know why I am telling you this because you do not deserve my explanation anymore. And you dare sit there and tell me all I care about is sex. You have no idea how disappointed I am in you right now.
Haneefah: (stands, walks toward him slowly, guilt written all over her face) Baby… I… am… I…
Anas: No! Haneefah, no. I cannot even believe you let our first disagreement be about them. (shakes his head)
Haneefah: I am sorry, please. (tries to touch him)
Anas: No! Haneefah, no. (opens the door abruptly and walks out)
Haneefah: Baby, please… I am sorry.
HANEefah’s POV
It was at this moment I knew I messed up pretty bad. I could feel the pain in his eyes. How could I? I let my emotions take over me. Hearing him say he was disappointed in me shattered my heart into pieces. How could I let shaytan deceive me again? Why, Haneefah? I did not even know when tears streamed down my face. I sat on the bed and sobbed bitterly for making my husband disappointed in me. I do not even know if he will ever look at me the same again. I felt like the ground should open and swallow me while he was speaking. Haneefah, how could you do this? He placed me in a high position in his life and I dragged myself down. How could I? I cried endlessly for being a bad wife.
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THAT SAME NIGHT (9:20pm)
Chief: (struggles toward the door, leaning slightly on the wall) Who is it?
Anas: Anas, dad.
Chief: (smiles warmly and opens the door) Hey, Alfa boy.
Anas: As salam alaykum, dad.
Chief: Walaykum salam, my son. Come in. (steps aside)
Anas: (enters and gently shuts the door)
Chief: Why are you here by this time of the day? Is it about your brother’s issue? (sits on the soft couch) Abi you want us to have father and son time?
Anas: (immediately sees him seated, walks over, sits at his feet and rests his head on his knees) Let me just stay like this for a while.
Chief: (heart melts, hands trembling slightly as he touches his head) My son…
Anas: Can I sleep here tonight, dad?
Chief: Why? What happened?
Anas: It is nothing. I just noticed I have not spent quality time with you for a while now.
Chief: (chuckles sadly, pats his back) That is very kind of you. You know, there is something special about you, my son. Everything about you is different and unique. You are mature, responsible, and religious as well. None of your brothers has ever visited me alone, but you just did. Or is it because something happened between you and your wife as well?
Anas: I just want to spend some time with you tonight. Mum is gone and you are all I have left. And death is a guest that comes without notice.
Chief: Are you preparing for my death already?
Anas: I would say the other way round, because I might even be gone before you. (sniffs)
Chief: (forces him to raise his head, sees tears rolling down his cheeks) Anas… (embraces him tightly) My son, you will never die before me. I will gladly sacrifice my life to keep yours. Do not ever say that to my ears again.
Anas: But it is the truth, dad. This life is nothing. I just want to be with you, nothing else. (holds him tightly, veins visible on his forehead as he kisses his shoulder)