Aisha scoffs at that, and I pass her a confused look. “If you really meant that, you would have agreed to my wish.”
“What wish?” I ask.
She throws her hands in the air in frustration, and I know whatever is going to come out of her mouth is going to hurt. Too bad. I would let her hurt me as many times as she wants. If she cares enough to hurt me, it means she does care about me despite all that she says.
“Of you giving me a divorce. We wouldn’t be stuck in this arrangement if you truly meant what you said. All of this is happening because of you, Reyansh.”
Her words stab me right in my heart, and I have to look away so she doesn’t see the pain in my eyes.
“I can give you anything you want but that,” I say, my voice firm. “Call me selfish or whatever you want to, but I will not be giving you a divorce.”
“You can’t force me,” she shakes her head. “And no one can make me stay in this marriage if I don’t want to.”
“Aisha,”Maayells, and Aisha flinches. “You are being stubborn again.”
“Are you my mother or his?” she asks, accusation and pain lacing her voice. “Because all I see is you taking his side as if he is your son and I am a nobody. Not once have I seen you tell him that what he did was wrong.”
She has tears in her eyes, and all I want to do is take her in my arms and apologize because it is all my fault. No matter what I say or do, it won’t change the fact that she is in undeniable pain because of me.
“Aisha—”
“I am done.”
She doesn’t let me hold her, nor does she listen to her mother as she walks towards our room, slamming the door shut.
“Meher, that was wrong of you,” Mom says, and I agree. It was very wrong of her, and every cell in my body urges me to go after her, but I need to draw a line here.
“Maa, I know your intention was right, but I do not appreciate anyone lashing out at my wife.”
I take a breath, trying to keep a check on my emotions.
“I appreciate you looking out for us and our relationship, but if you keep pushing her past her limits, you will not only push her away from me but also from yourself. Please never do that again.”
I make sure she understands what I mean because I cannot allow anyone to talk to her like that, nor can I let anyone hurt her.
* * *
I knock on the door once, wondering whether she opens up.
“Aisha?” I call her name, “Can I come in?”
She doesn’t answer, and I take that as my cue to go in. When I open the door, I find her to be aggressively typing on hercomputer, her vision glasses on, and her face is as blank as a sheet of paper.
I gulp, sensing the tension in the room, before stepping closer towards her.
“Can we talk?” I ask.
No answer.
I bite the inside of my cheek, contemplating what to do. I choose to sit down in front of her so that I am in line with her view.
“Aisha, please.”
She doesn’t speak a word, and I do something that I probably shouldn’t do because it means she will throw anything that she has in her hands on me, but have I ever taken a sane decision? No
I snatch her laptop from her lap, and she gasps as I throw it on the other side of the bed.
“Are you out of your mind, Reyansh?” she yells, her eyes ablaze, and I see the eye bags under her eyes.
