In the initial days of their marriage, Aisha often felt a heavy weight of sadness settle upon her heart as she faced Omar's indifference. While he would never raise a hand to her or betray her trust, his words could cut deep. To him, she was more of a nuisance than a partner, and he never seemed to care whether his actions hurt her feelings or so she thought.
As the weeks turned into months, Aisha slowly began to adjust to Omar's behavior, though it was a painful process. She found herself growing accustomed to the solitude of their spacious apartment—a place Omar had purchased for himself after his business began to flourish. The apartment, adorned with sleek furniture and modern decor, often felt too big for just the two of them, especially when Omar was preoccupied with work.
With little to occupy her time outside of household chores, Aisha embraced her daily routines of cleaning, cooking, laundry and then for the remaining time she used to read Quran and Pray, she used to pray 5 times a day without fail. Unlike many of her peers, she found joy in these tasks; they gave her a sense of purpose in a life that otherwise felt unfulfilled. Each meal she prepared was an expression of her love, each chore a testament to her commitment to their marriage.
It was late evening, around 8 p.m., when the doorbell rang, breaking the silence of the apartment. Aisha hurried to answer it, her heart fluttering with the hope that perhaps tonight would be different. She opened the door to reveal Omar, who walked in without a word. She closed the door behind him, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.
“How was your day at the office?” she asked, her voice soft and hopeful, as she had done nearly every day since their marriage.
“Fine,” was his typical, curt reply, and Aisha felt a familiar pang of disappointment wash over her.
“Okay. You freshen up, and I’ll reheat and set the dinner on the table for you,” she offered, attempting to keep the conversation alive, though she sensed his mind was already elsewhere. He nodded, barely acknowledging her, and headed towards the stairs that led to their bedroom.
With a sigh, Aisha turned toward the kitchen, her heart heavy but determined to maintain the warmth of her home. She moved through the familiar motions, opening the fridge to retrieve the fragrant Biryani she had prepared earlier that day. Omar loved Biryani, often relishing every bite and licking his fingers clean afterwards. Seeing him satisfied after a meal was one of the few joys she clung to in their marriage. It was an excuse for him to smile at her, even if just for a fleeting moment.
Meanwhile, Omar stepped into his bedroom, shedding the weight of the day with a sigh of relief. The exhaustion of his long hours at the office washed over him, pulling at his eyelids. All he wanted was to escape into sleep, but the rumble of his empty stomach reminded him that he needed to eat.
After a quick shower to ease his tensed muscles, he changed into casual clothes, feeling slightly more human as the hot water had done its work. The steam lingered in the air as he made his way downstairs, drawn by the enticing aroma wafting through the apartment.
As he entered the dining area, Aisha had already set the table, her eyes brightening at the sight of him. “Dinner is ready,” she announced, a hopeful smile gracing her lips.
Omar sat down, his expression neutral. He began to serve himself, the silence between them heavy yet familiar. Aisha watched him, silently wishing for a moment of connection, some small sign that her efforts were not in vain. She wanted to engage him, to know what he thought about their life together, about her.
“Omar,” she ventured, “do you think we could go out this weekend? Maybe visit a new restaurant? I heard there’s a great one downtown.”
He paused, looking at her with a hint of irritation before responding. “I’m busy this weekend,” he replied flatly, not bothering to elaborate.
The words stung, and Aisha’s heart sank. Yet, she reminded herself that she had promised to be patient. After all, it was only a year into their marriage. Perhaps he just needed more time to adjust, to see her as more than just an obligation.
As they ate in silence, Aisha couldn’t shake the feeling that their relationship was a delicate thread, fraying at the edges yet still holding on. She had faith that one day, Omar would notice her efforts and the love she poured into their life together. For now, she would continue to hold onto hope, nurturing the belief that love could flourish even in the most unyielding of circumstances.
Write a comment ...