Chapter 28
Khalil
I was leaving for work this morning when, when I arrived in the living room, I heard a noise coming from the kitchen, I often avoid going there in the mornings now, Adja visibly shows me that she is still angry with me for having kicked out the woman who cheated on me and dare to bring her lover to my roof, in the morning I prefer not to spend more than two minutes in the kitchen
When I approach I clearly distinguish there, the voice of Amina and Adja
Amina: I clearly told you that in the morning I only eat fruit and juice and bring my meal to my room, I don't want to have to bear your heads in the morning, is that clear?
Adja: I'm not here to cook you ma'am, if you're not satisfied with my services you can find someone to do it or do it yourself, is that understood?
Amina: Talk to me again in that tone and I'll have you kicked out of this house, since when do servants think they're all allowed too?
Me (cutting her off): let this be the last time you speak to her in that tone
Amina: but Khalil…
Me: you shut up and you listen to me, Adja is not a servant in this house, if she cooks it's a choice, you can see that there are plenty of servants in this house responsible for that's the last time she'll make you your breakfast in this house, if you're not happy the door is wide open
Amina: how dare you talk to me like that in front of her
Me: the day you allowed yourself to disrespect him, the day you start again you won't spend another day in this house
She looks me up and down before storming out of the kitchen, I don't even know what she's doing still here, I can't feel her anymore
Me: I'm really sorry that she disrespected you, there are girls who do all this, stop spending your time in this kitchen
Adja: I like to cook, and I like it even better when you honor my dishes
Me: eeuuhhh I'm late Adja, I have to go
She just puts a dish in front of me and sits next to it, I resign myself and take my place, the only solution I have is to quickly finish my dish and disappear
Adja: my son
I do…
Adja: I noticed that since your wife left this house you no longer pray
Me: Where was this God when my wife was cheating on me? i prayed to him every day, i did the 5 prayers of the day and i tried to walk on the right path but he did not spare me from an unfaithful wife
Adja: soubahanallayi, what is the way to speak like this?
Me: that's what I think
Adja: when you kicked this little girl out, I won't hide the fact that I was very disappointed in you, I was really angry and I still am, but that's not the point, this God that you accuse is the one who gave you life, the one who can decide to take it away from you, it is thanks to him you are where you are today, the least you can do is thank him, God he remains God whether you take it or not, it adds nothing to it or takes nothing away from it, but God is the one to whom you can turn when you are tormented, when in life you feel trapped you no longer know where to turn put your knees on the ground and pray he will help you, how can you live without believing in anything? without believing in God how do you want to get out of this abyss in which you are sinking? God he tests us sometimes to test our faith and you have the first difficulty you deny him?
Me : …
Adja: I lost my baby a few weeks after the birth when I could no longer give birth, my husband took a second wife who made me see all the colors until one day he no longer decide to kick me out of our house, someone I suffered with, I was selling donuts, I was cleaning people's homes, I was scrubbing their toilets, I was doing laundry in people's homes just to guarantee us the meal, but that didn't stop him from sending me home when he became someone, despite the fact that he took another wife who was already giving him children he wanted to have, I thought my life was going to fall apart until one day your mom hired me to take care of you i loved you from the first time i met you i love you as if you were my own child, and seeing you like that really breaks my heart
Me: but stop crying, I understood what you said I will resume the prayer promised
Adja: I don't want you to pray because I ask you to but because you really believe in what you are doing
Me: ok, that's understood
I get up and I take the direction of my work, it is in a way the image of my days currently
When I arrive at work I immerse myself in work, until my phone starts ringing, when I pick up my phone it was the Cheick, it's really weird
Me: assalamou alleyikum
Sheikh: walleyikum salam
Me: I'm surprised at your call
Cheick: what is going on between my daughter and you?
Me (surprised by the question): I don't understand, there's nothing between us
Cheick: this is not what Amina told me
Me: how so?
Cheick: she refuses to come home and claims it's because you're trying to build something together, I thought you were married
Me: I admit that my wife and I are no longer together but nothing is happening between her and me, I don't know why she doesn't leave and I can't kick her out either
Cheick: I know what happened between my daughter and you, of course I was really disappointed that you could do such things with my own daughter, I would have demanded that you marry her right away If I hadn't known that you weren't her first man
Me: I'm really sorry to have disappointed you and to have dishonored your daughter
Cheick: I want her home by the end of the week at the latest before you think about doing indecent things with her again, if not I will send the guards to tie her up and bring her back, I plan to straighten her out she will pay dearly for behaving like a nobody
Me: I promise you that since she arrived here I haven't touched her and I don't intend to touch her, I'll do my best to get her back
Cheick: why did you separate from your wife?
Me: in the end we understood that we no longer corresponded and we separated
Cheick: I understand that you don't want to go into details but I hope you will try to reconsider your decision and try to find a way to make it work, I saw love in the eyes of your wife when you were here, you I found you changed, more alive and happier, I saw two people who loved each other don't let the ego make you lose what you share
Me: Understood
Cheick: I hope you really understood me, send my commission to Amina
Me: ok, assalamou alleyikum
Sheikh: walleyikum salam
Nabila
It's already been a few days since we did Mayer's baptism, yes I decided to call him Mayer (he's a calm and thoughtful individual; in a few words, he's a conciliatory, calm person, he shows himself loving and gentle with others basically the opposite of his father) I really hope his name will follow him
As promised my aunt sent the baby trousseau, I was shocked to see the amount of goods she sent, this lady she does not know the half measure, I think I will wait several more months before making any shopping for my little Mayer
Mariam entering: how is the most beautiful baby in the world doing?
Me (rolling his eye): I count for nothing, right?
Mariam: you understood everything, give me my nephew
I hand her Mayer and watch her play with him, I end up taking up this subject she's been trying to avoid for a while
Me: are you finally going to tell me the real reasons for these marks that you have on your body??
Mariam: let it go, it's nothing serious
Me: how come it's nothing serious, tell me the truth he beats you right?
Mariam: don't talk nonsense
Me (in a calm tone): today you occupy the place of the sister that I have never had in my life, I have never been so close to someone, I love you as one can love his sister, it will break my heart if you are married to a violent man and you still decide to stay married to him, marriage is not an end in itself, if he is the one who does all this to you , leave before it's too late
Mariam: don't worry
Me: no, promise me
Mariam: I promise
We remain silent there until Mariam breaks the silence
Mariam: you still don't intend to tell his father about him
Me: no, it's out of the question
Mariam: do you think this is the best thing to do? is it for him or for you are you doing it?
Me: it's for both of us, we're better off without him
Mariam: the little you were able to tell me about your husband
Me (cutting her off): ex-husband
Mariam: despite everything you are still married, from the fact that you were able to tell me this man I can tell you that he loves you very much, let me tell you that a man in love can become the worst fool when he becomes jealous , of course he made a big mistake to have treated you like this but don't enter his game to be so at fault tomorrow, what will you say tomorrow to your son when he wants to know who his father is, what would you do the day he finds out for himself that you deliberately concealed the existence of his children from him, he will react a thousand times worse think carefully and make the right decision, never make decisions in anger, let your feelings aside, now the most important thing is Mayer, he comes first
Me: I understand what you're saying but for now I think it's the best choice available to me
Mariam: ok, may the lord guide you
Me: Ameen