It was the weekend, and as Omar had mentioned earlier, he was busy with something. From the way he had dressed before leaving, Aisha assumed he was headed to a party. She sat on the couch in their living room, the soft hum of the city outside contrasting with the quiet peace she found in her reading of the Qur'an. After finishing one part, she carefully closed the holy book and placed it back on the shelf, her heart momentarily at ease.
But her thoughts drifted back to Omar. It wasn't the first time he had gone to a party without her. He often went on business trips without inviting her, so a party alone wasn’t surprising. Still, Aisha knew why he hadn’t brought her along. The memory of the first and only party they attended together replayed in her mind.
It had been two months after their wedding. That day, Omar had come home earlier than usual, surprising her.
"Is everything okay, Omar? You’re home early today," she had asked, watching him remove his wristwatch.
"Yes, all good. Get ready. We’re going to a party in an hour," he replied, disappearing into the washroom for a quick shower.
When he came out, he noticed a perfectly ironed party suit laid out on the bed, complete with his watch, tie, and shoes. He knew Aisha had prepared it for him. Though it irritated him that she took such initiatives, he kept quiet, not wanting to spoil the evening.
While Omar dressed, Aisha quickly showered and dressed as well. She was unsure what to wear, and fearing Omar’s disapproval, she settled on a white maxi dress, layering it with a grey-colored abaya and matching hijab,dangling silver earrings and a silver hand purse.
When she descended the stairs, Omar was talking on the phone. As her heels clicked on the floor, he turned and scanned her from head to toe. His expression shifted from blank to a grimace.
"We're going to a party, Aisha. Is this what you're supposed to wear?" he snapped.
Aisha flinched. "I… I'm sorry. You didn’t tell me what to wear."
Omar rubbed his forehead in frustration but, without responding, motioned for her to follow him to the car. If it wasn't for his friend's insistence on seeing his wife, he wouldn't have invited her at all he thought. Aisha’s heart sank. Tears welled in her eyes, but she followed him silently, feeling the weight of his disapproval.
The car ride to the venue was tense, filled with silence. Omar’s abrupt "seatbelt" command was the only interaction they had.
When they arrived at the party, Omar barely acknowledged her, leading her inside with his hand briefly placed on the small of her back. Aisha felt a fleeting joy at his touch, but it quickly faded when they stepped into the hall. The opulence of the venue overwhelmed her, and the stares from strangers left her feeling out of place.
"Act normal, and don’t embarrass me in front of my guests," Omar whispered harshly, his breath hot against her ear.
The night dragged on as Aisha stood by Omar’s side while he socialized effortlessly. She felt invisible. The only reprieve came when Faraaz, Omar’s close friend, approached with his wife, Azra.
"Hello, brother!" Faraaz greeted Omar warmly, then turned to Aisha. "And this must be the famous Aisha Bhabhi! You look beautiful. No wonder Omar’s been keeping you hidden away.I'm Faraaz,His Best Friend and Business Partner"
Aisha blushed at the compliment, a shy smile forming on her lips. "Hello.Thank you."
Azra, with her radiant smile, introduced herself, and soon Aisha felt more at ease, finding in Azra a friend. They talked while their husbands discussed business, and for the first time that night, Aisha felt seen.
"You look stunning in your abaya and hijab. It makes you stand out in a beautiful way," Azra said sincerely.
"Jazakillahukhair," Aisha replied, grateful for the compliment. But despite Azra's kind words, she couldn’t shake the unease from Omar’s earlier reaction.
(Thank you)
Throughout the night, Aisha observed Faraaz’s loving gestures towards Azra. The way he asked her to dance, the adoration in his eyes,Aisha longed for that from Omar. She glanced at her husband, who stood beside her, emotionless, downing another drink.
"Congratulations," Aisha said softly, hoping to spark some connection.
"Huh?" Omar’s attention was elsewhere.
"Azra told me this party is to celebrate the new deal you and Faraaz Bhai cracked" she explained.
"Oh, thanks," Omar replied flatly, uninterested.
Aisha’s heart sank. She looked away, watching as Faraaz and Azra danced together, their happiness palpable. She turned to Omar, a quiet plea in her eyes.
"Would you ask me to dance?" she asked, though she didn’t expect to be on the dance floor. She just wanted to feel wanted, even if for a moment.
Omar didn’t even look at her. "I'm not interested," he muttered and walked away, leaving her standing alone.
As the night wore on, Aisha's discomfort only grew. She tried to focus on the conversation with Azra who had come back to talk to her after her dance with Faraaz, but the loud music and the increasingly uninhibited behavior of the guests around her were hard to ignore. She noticed several people drinking from glasses that clearly contained alcohol. Aisha’s heart sank. She had always known that parties in Omar’s circle might involve such things, but seeing it firsthand was overwhelming.
At one point, a man who had clearly had too much to drink stumbled towards Aisha, almost knocking over her glass of juice. “Hey beautiful, right?” he slurred, his eyes roaming disrespectfully over her. “Why don’t you loosen up a little? Take off that... thing.” He gestured dismissively at her hijab and abaya. Aisha froze in shock and embarrassment, clutching her abaya tighter around her.
Before she could respond, Omar appeared out of nowhere, his face dark with anger. He grabbed the man by the shoulder, pulling him away from Aisha. "Watch yourself," Omar growled, his voice low and dangerous. The man, realizing his mistake, mumbled an apology and staggered off.
But the damage had been done. Omar’s expression remained stony as he turned back to Aisha, but instead of offering her comfort, he looked almost ashamed,embarrassed by her presence in this world he had brought her into. Without a word, he took her arm and led her out of the hall, his grip firm and unyielding.
On the drive back home, the silence between them was heavy and suffocating. Aisha’s heart ached, not just from the humiliation she had felt, but from the cold distance she sensed growing between her and Omar. He didn’t say a word about the incident, but from that night on, he never invited her to any parties or social events again.Thinking, she would bring embarrassment to him.
Aisha never voiced her heartache. She reassured herself, time and again, that this path was for the best. Maybe Allah, in His wisdom, was giving her a chance to guard her heart from all that was not meant for her.
Yet, she couldn't ignore the quiet longing that tugged at her every time she thought of him. Being part of his circle had felt like her only tether to him, the only way she could feel close. All she could do now was hope—hope that, somehow, their paths would converge, and that whatever was meant for them would find its way.
Lost in these thoughts, she didn’t even notice when sleep crept up, gently lulling her to rest as she sat on the couch in the stillness of the living room.
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