Now that I’m done in

‘Assalamu alaikum’ I called out once again, just like the first one I did when I arrived, there was no answer for my salam. I was about to turn back and raise some sort of alarm when suddenly her bathroom door opened and Habiba came out.   ‘Oh there you are’ I said walking towards […]

‘Assalamu alaikum’ I called out once again, just like the first one I did when I arrived, there was no answer for my salam. I was about to turn back and raise some sort of alarm when suddenly her bathroom door opened and Habiba came out.

 

‘Oh there you are’ I said walking towards her ’I was just thinking of raising an alarm over your absence while your house is wide open.’ I observed, reaching over to hake her hand.

‘You are welcome Anti Bint. I was in there washing the baby’s clothes because I have sent her out with the nanny for some fresh air. She’s been crying so hard I had to find a way to calm her.’ Habiba replied walking me over to a lone bedroom chair.

‘She’s not the only one who has been crying from the look of things. What is the emergency? Maryam was almost out of breath when she called to say we had to come here before you do something regrettable. And just look at you with your bloodshot eyes.’ I explained.

‘It’s like this, Anti Bint, my whole life has fallen apart. Everything I’ve lived for in the last several years was crushed yesterday. All I want is to just pack and leave. I want to go as far away as I can from everyone and learn to live with my shattered life.’ She replied, the tears beginning to flow again.

‘I’m very sorry to hear this but please start from the beginning. What happened to you?’ I demanded.

‘Three days ago Khalid told me he has gone on a business trip out of town. I wished him a safe trip and saw him right to his car. And you know since I have no car I always stay at home, especially since Khadija’s birth. Yesterday my friend Rabi called to say we should go to the new shopping mall in town. I was doing nothing so I agreed for her come and pick me. While driving there I saw Khalid’s car right in front of us. I expressed surprise that he had returned to town without telling me. When I told Rabi she said let’s quickly overtake and stop him before he gets to the house and sees me gone. I joked to her that I wouldn’t make a good criminal since the very first time I left the house without his knowledge he had to catch me in the act. Rabi drove fast and we caught up with the car, but there was no sign of Khalid inside. Instead a strange woman was driving the car with confidence. She looked at us once and just continued on her way. She had no idea who I was….’ Habiba’s voice trailed off at this point and she continued to sob.

‘A strange woman, who could she be? What did she look like?’ I asked.

‘I’m sure that I’ never seen her before. But she looked extremely fashionable. With hair uncovered, possibly painted nails, because I’m not too sure in the split seconds that we overtook her, but it could have been henna. Anyway from what I thought I knew of him I’d say she’s not at all his type. But there she was in his car, with him nowhere nearby. I quickly asked Rabi to turn back and take me home. Suddenly I was in no mood to enter a crowded shopping mall. All I wanted was to be home and alone. She tried to console me and actually told me not to jump to any conclusions because there were all sorts of possible explanations, but I could hardly hear what she was saying. When   she dropped me, I told her not to come in and assured her that I will be fine. I quickly reached for my phone and called Khalid. He picked the phone and said he had a few minutes to spare because he was in a meeting. I asked when he will return and he said in two days time. Then I said ‘If you won’t return till after two days, what is your car still doing in this town?’ then all was quiet. I even thought the line was cut off. When he finally found his voice it was to ask me ‘How do you know that was my car?’ he asked, but without his usual confidence. ‘Because I know its make, colour and number, and because I have ridden in it for the last three years since there is no other car in this house.’ Again he fell silent. ‘Who is she Khalid, who was the lady behind the wheel in your car? Does this mean you are in this town all the while I thought you had travelled? How could you do this to me?’ By now I was virtually screaming in his ear.

‘Calm down Beeba calm down. There is a perfectly logical explanation to this. I am really not in town. I don’t know who you saw in my car but I mean to find out. Just let me call you back.’ And he hasn’t called since. I tried so hard to sleep last night but I couldn’t. Throughout the night I kept expecting his call with the necessary explanation but none came. This morning, I said to myself all my worst fears were confirmed. So I decided to pack my things and just leave this city. It was while I was crying and packing that Yaya Maryam called. She heard my explanation and said she’ll take permission from work and come over.’ Habiba concluded, wiping away her tears.

‘But if you have to walk out on him, why leave this city? This is where your parents and many siblings live. You have a small child; you have no job, where will you go unless you want to court destitution?’ I asked.

‘I have to leave this town because thanks to him, I no longer have friends. He is so possessive that he controls my time with a passion. Even my relatives kept in touch on their own not because I was worth it. Any time I asked to visit any one, he will say to me no he needed me at home. Even when he’s not there he’ll find something for me to do. The only time he allows me to attend an event is when it is from his side of the family. He claims they will say I’m snobbish if I did not mingle with them. He led me to believe my obligation is only to him alone. When I couldn’t have a baby for two years, he kept telling me I had no reason to worry, that children are only a bonus in a marriage, that what was important was the two of us together, our companionship. And now this. How can I face my friends and relations with the story that the man who meant the world to me was a fraud? How do I start saying ‘Sorry I abandoned you for three years but now I know that that man wasn’t worth it’. Where do I start? So the best solution Anti Bint is for me to leave this town?’ she insisted.

‘It can’t possibly be the best solution, we will have to work on getting one. And here comes Maryam, and you know all they say about three heads being better than two?’ I replied, rising up to hug Maryam.

To be contd.