TRAPPED IN A JUNGLE

TWO

NABEEL

I know it sounds stupid, but I seriously do hate Husnah. She irritates me. I slipped my phone from my ears after the brief talk we had, deep inside I kept thinking of how I am going to live with her under the same roof.

God, Impossible!

Thence, I turned to leave the sitting room immediately my eyes caught up with that of Fareedah.

My God! She was crying.

"My reedah, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her tiny waist and pulling her more closer to me. But to my utmost surprise, she unhesitatingly pulled away!

"Reedah, talk to me please" I uttered, sounding hurt.

"So you're going to see her? Are you falling for her already? Habiby is that it?" She threw me those questions like an interrogating cop... still crying.

"Yaa Allah!" I said, heaving a sigh. "Reedah, I have to go see her. It's an order from dad. You wouldn't want me to disobey him right?" I asked, carefully choosing my words. I took her hands in mine and kissed them lightly. She was still in tears, so I affectionately embraced her. I could feel her anger, and I could feel how hurt she was.

"It's okey... I love you Reedah, I love you very much, and I love you more than anything, you obviously know that Reedah, so don't worry about husnah".

"I just hate her" she blurted, extricating from the embrace. "And I hate the idea of you getting married to her. How can I share you with someone, Habiby? Just tell me how?"

I looked straight into her eyes and then her lips... deep inside, I knew if I didn't kiss those lips of hers that very instant, I'd definitely go crazy. Hence, I didn't wait for a second thought... I held her jaw and moved my mouth to her lips, I was so hungry for them, I could feel their warmness, how sweet they taste. Yaa rabbi! I love Fareedah... so much.

She moaned, in response to my touches. And I went wild... I spent the next three hours with her, showing her how much I love and treasure her. She was just amazing. I looked at how beautiful she looked when sleeping, so cute. With long eye lashes, a chiseled nose and carved beautiful lips. I kissed her lips lightly.

Yaa rabbi! It just flew into my mind that I should be in with Husnah right now. O Allah! I forgot about her completely.

I took a quick shower and dressed into a black trouser and a milk colored T-shirt. Pecked Fareedah on her cheeks before finally leaving. I had a very broad smile on my face, remembering every single moment we just shared together.

I parked the car before dailing Husnah's number. There I go again, I'm gonna listen to the most craziest and child-like voice ever.

"Salaamu alaikoom" she chirped in.

"Wa alaikumus salaam. Come out this instant, I don't want to wait too long" I said and quickly ended the call.

Hence, I was looking straight at the entrance of the house when I saw her coming. Her face tangled up with anger. I could see it. I chuckled, how silly. Her being angry or not means nothing to me. To hell with her.

She stood in front of my door with her arms wrapped around her chest, and her face unemotional. I gave her a confused look before finally stepping out of the car.

"Ina wuni (Good Morning)" she uttered in what seemed like a whisper.

"Hold your greetings, miss. I didn't come here for it" I harshly replied, giving her a dirty look. "I guess you already know right well I don't love you. This is an arranged marriage, if only there is something I can do to stop it Husnah" I added, hoping that I've hurt her in anyway possible.

She giggled, maybe amused at what I just said. "Well, that makes the two of us Yaa Nabeel. Why don't you do me a favor and tell our parents the exact thing you just told me. I can tell that'll be better, and we'll both go our separate ways".

"I wouldn't want to be the one to disobey my parents. Why don't you do me a favor and tell them that. At least you're a daddy's pet" I said, with a mischievous smile on my face.

"Ahhh! I see, so you want me to be the one to disobey her parents right? You're annoying Yaa Nabeel!" Husnah said, a little bit pissed off.

"Enough of the games, Husnah. Just go ahead and tell me you love me. You're claiming to hate me when I can see how much you love me deep inside your eyes".

"That's a lie!" She shouted, and then the next minute, she was crying. "If only... if only I could do something to stop this marriage, I would've done that. But there is nothing I can do about it. It's definitely happening" she added.

I don't know why or how it happened, but I pitied her situation. At least, I'm married to a woman I love so much. But she's marrying me despite the hatred... just to please our parents. Arggh! Parents are sometimes unbearable.

Without uttering another word, I stormed back into the car and drove out of the compound. I have alot on my mind as I was driving. My parents forced me into this marriage, thinking that Fareedah is a barren. Its been five years since we got married, and not once has she been pregnant.

I was worried, but I trust my Creator for the best. My parents never seem to understand that, guess that's why they arranged this marriage.

I made a u-turn in an attempt to visit my best friend Fahad, but then my phone rang. Alas! It was Fareedah.

"Sweetest" I said as soon as I picked the call.

"Baby where are you? Come back home please" she said slowly. Yaa Rabbi! Am so much in love with her voice.

"Reedah, I wanted visiting Fahad and say Hi to samy, You know she's sick".

"Well, why don't we go together? Or are you still with that girl?" She asked, I can sense her anger now.

"Calm down reedah, get dressed I'm coming right away". I sighed! Ladies are typically hard to understand. Just as I reached Yan Shanu, my phone rang again.

Yaa Allah! Abbah ne. I put the car to a halt at the roadside before finally answering the call

"Abbah Nyallijam"

"Jam nabeel. Come home right away. We need to talk".

That's it, I just hope Husnah told them to call off the wedding. OMG! I'll be the happiest man on earth... I didn't even try calling reedah back, I gave my full attention to dad's call.

"Hammah nabeel" Yusrah said happily as soon as I stepped my foot into the living room.

"Angelito. How you lil sis?" I said, as I gave her a brotherly hug.

"Fine Hamma. Ina aunty Husnah amarya (where is aunty husnah the bride)?".

"Shurrup silly girl" I said, pinching her cheeks. She swatted my hands away.

"You guys are always fighting. Can't you at least live under the same roof for a day without fighting?" Mom chirped in. She was sitting on one of the couches in the living room.

"Come on Ammi, You know she talks too much. She's a parrot" I said, giving Yusrah a mischievous smile.

"I'm not a parrot!" Yusrah uttered in a crying-like voice.

"Don't mind him Yusytah. Come over here and sit on my lap" Dad said, putting down the news paper he was reading.

We chit chatted for a while before dad cleared his throat. There we go. I know he's going to say something important.

"Arrm Hamma, we've fixed your wedding date... two months from now. We just felt it would be better if we finalize everything and face things straight ahead".

Hence, I was like "what! How???". I felt a bile go up in my throat. I felt like crying that very moment. What is Abbah saying for goodness sake? He can't be serious about this. O Allah! See me through this predicament.

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