"If you go ahead and get remarried, I will leave this house for the both of you. The decision is yours to make. I'd gladly leave you to her than to share you." Said Maryam. She didn't mean to give an ultimatum, but she had to do it as that was the only option that came to her. Now the decision was Sa'eed's. Will he go ahead with the marriage or let Maryam go?

~~~~~~

Sa'eed stared at his wife wide eyed. He hadn't expected those words to leave her mouth, but then again, she also wouldn't have ever imagined he would break the news of his remarriage to her in that manner. He took her by surprise - he knew. But the needful had to be done, for the betterment of everyone. He sighed. "I'm not going to choose. I don't know-"

"That's it! It's decided. I'm going to leave this house first thing tomorrow morning. Indecision is a decision. I refuse to share my home with someone else. I rather give it up to her." She spat.

Sa'eed couldn't avert his gaze from his wife. Not even for a while. He knew how much she must have be hurting, but he had to be firm with his decision. He wasn't going to give it all up because of Maryam's threat. He felt extremely sad - her facial expression conveyed the message she couldn't convey properly with her lips. He wished he could just let things go and take her into his arms. She looked so devastated and he was starting to get extremely worried for her and their unborn baby. "You're going nowhere. You don't have my permission to leave." He said, sternly. He had to constantly remind himself to sound stern otherwise she wouldn't take him seriously.

"Does this mean you won't get remarried anymore?" She asked hopefully.

"No. I'm still going through with it." He stated avoiding her gaze. He didn't trust himself enough not to give in to her when he looks at her again. She was capable of making him do even things he didn't want to do. Only for her happiness, but this time around, he needed to be firm on his decision.

Wordlessly, Maryam lay in bed and turned her back on him.

He was left gazing at her from behind like he had never seen her before. She was sad to the extent she had to resolve to crying and no one was to be blamed for it, but him. He failed as her husband once again. He broke his promise to her. He would forever be guilty for that, but he had no intentions of going back on the decision he had taken. It was for the best.

He sat on the edge of the bed and stooped to her level. "Habibty." He called, stroking her shoulder tenderly.

She shrugged his hand away gently. "Don't touch me."

Sa'eed swallowed - he knew the next few days wasn't going to be easy for him - for the both of them. He was going to have to bear his wife's wrath, sadness and most of all, her lost of affection. He kissed her on the forehead. "Please have some rest. You've overstressed yourself for today." He almost begged. If something bad were to happen to her, he would never be able to forgive himself as he was responsible for her present state of mind.

"Don't you dare pretend like you care for me." She muttered underneath her breath. "I never knew you are the type of man who remarries only to take revenge on his wife. I guess I didn't know you well. I still don't."

Speechlessly, Sa'eed sauntered out of the room with a heavy heart. He felt extremely angry for being the cause of her sadness and not being able to console her. He felt like breaking things due to exasperation, but managed to control himself. It was when his phone vibrated in his pocket that he lost it. He pulled it out of his pocket and without checking the caller ID, threw it against a wall, venting all of his frustration out on the innocent thing. He took a seat on the stairs and held his head in between his palms - if he was feeling this way, he wondered what Maryam must be going through.

"Abee." Manal suddenly appeared behind him.

Hearing her soft, innocent voice made him turn around. "Come here, baby." He stretched out his arms.

Manal giggled and ran into his waiting arms.

He sat her down on his laps and hugged her, snuggling closer to her. He kissed her on the temple. Whenever he looked at his little daughter, he always felt pity for her. He felt he had failed both as a husband and father. He felt they were negligent - this was the reason he wanted Maryam to quit working and take care of her instead. He was ready to provide her with all she wanted. He was even ready to pay her the amount of money she received monthly from the hospital and more, but she was headstrong and wouldn't give in that easily. He tried all he could to make her see reasons, but all his efforts proved abortive. He took the remarriage thing only as a last resort. Breaking the news alone to her was torture. He couldn't imagine what the future held for them.

If they had been in a different situation and her job wasn't very demanding of time, he wouldn't have even dared ask her to quit for he respected her a lot. He respected all of her decisions as well. He suddenly recalled when they got newly married and she would spend nights in the hospital - nightshift. He wasn't really comfortable with the arrangement, but kept mum. He could bear it then. He understood her passion to be nurse, but as time passed by and Allah blessed them with their little bundle of joy, things began to change. He began to see things in a new light. Ever since Manal was birthed, she was taken care of by their first maid, Sa'adatu and when it was finally time for her to leave due to some family issues, Maryam had to hire another maid. He was the kind of person who didn't like having strangers around in his home, but again, he kept quiet and respected her decision even though he didn't like her at first sight. He ignored the bad vibes, only because he didn't want to stir up trouble.

He didn't fail to notice how distant Manal was with Maryam and she didn't even seem to care at all. All he wanted for his daughter to have a loving family. A mother to share her worries with.

Many times, he had contemplated on resigning instead and taking care of Manal himself, but that wouldn't be right. He was the head of the family and so they were his responsibility and besides, Maryam's salary wouldn't be enough to sustain them. He really did everything possible to keep Maryam happy for her happiness was his as well.

"Abee?" Manal suddenly call.

"Yes, baby." He replied, stroking her hair.

"Are you bringing home another ummi?" She asked with glistening eyes.

Manifestly, she must have overhead him say; 'I want a mother for Manal.' He heaved a fatigued sigh, but managed to plaster on a smile. "Do you want that?"

"No." She shook her head vigorously. "Please don't do that, abee." She begged as tears began to fall down her smooth flawless cheek.

Sa'eed was perplexed - why was she suddenly reacting this way. He wiped her tears away with the palm of his hand and kissed her eyes. "Why, baby?"

"I don't want that." She wailed.

Sa'eed was taken aback immensely. He wondered if she was having a panic attack. He became extremely worried. It was unlike Manal to throw tantrums. "Baby, look at me." He placed a hand underneath her chin, raising her face. "What's wrong? Why don't you want that?"

"Because...because I -"

"Come on." He pressed. "Because?"

"She doesn't like me. She hates me."

"Why'd you say that, baby?"

"Because she... She-"

"If you're not going to speak up, how am I suppose to know you're telling the truth?" He asked anxiously.

"I'm not lying, abee." She defended. "She... Used to hit me while she was here." She blurted. "I don't want you to bring someone else here because she might be just like Nafisa. I don't want that!"

"What!" Sa'eed howled. His demeanour contorted in infuriation and he could feel the veins in his forehead tickling. He spoke through gnashed teeth. "She did what?"

~~~~
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatulah wa barakatuh! / hello 🙋

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So Sa'eed's doubt is finally confirmed. What do you think he's going to do next?

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