-ASAD-
The prayer alarm goes off at 5 am. I quickly looked over to Zuleika, who was still sound asleep. I kissed her on the lips to wake her. When I pulled back my kiss, Zuleika smiled at me. "Morning, Habibi," Zuleika replied. I returned her loving greeting, "Morning, Habiba!"
"Morning already!" Zuleika replied.
"After we pray, I'll make you breakfast. What do you want to eat," Zulaika asked.
"Don't worry. I can make some breakfast. You can get some extra sleep," I replied. I got out of bed and looked outside the window. The streets are completely covered in snow. "Um, I am going to take you up on that breakfast. I gotta shovel the driveway and sidewalk." I replied.
After praying, I went out to shovel the six inches of snow we got overnight and threw salt on the sidewalks. More flurries started to fall from the gray morning skies that quickly covered my wooled hat and jacket when I finished clearing the snow. I went back inside to warm up. I had a good hour to spare, but that did not mean I had the time to sit. The roads were probably messy, which would mean that there were possible accidents. Before I rushed out the door, Zuleika said she needed to talk to me.
"What is on your mind?"
"It's your ex-wife. Suffiya has been leaving a mean comment on my Youtube channel."
"What is she saying!"
"She has been leaving a comment about me stealing her husband. She has managed to get more people on her side to harass me," Zuleika canted. I took a deep breath of frustration.
"I am still good friends with her cousin. I'll talk to him to see if he can do anything. Send me all the stuff she has been saying to me to my email."
"Okay!"
"If you need anything, just give me a call," I assured Zuleika. I grabbed my lunch bag and kissed Zuleika before leaving the house. When I returned to my car, I left it running to heat up; more snow started to fall. I knew this would be a long day, but since I had Zuleika waiting at the house for me, the trouble was worth it.
On my way to work, at breakfast she made for me. She made me a shakshuka feta wrap. A Shakshuka was another Iraqi breakfast made of spiced tomatoes and eggs, keeping the blood warm. I will have to thank Zuleika for the superb choice of food.
-SUFFIYA-
I can't believe I am sitting in this cold apartment, looking at the pictures of this Zuleika woman who married my man. How did my life end up here? I am stuck here living in a one-bedroom apartment. The living room carpet needs a good shampoo, the bedroom has cracks in the wall, and the bathroom is small. And don't let me start talking about the kitchen, which seems smaller than the bathroom. The outdated appliance and holes in the wall that allow the mice to enter from the neighbor's apartment drive me insane. Oh, and I forgot to mention that the apartment is drafty. The window seals need a good coat of plaster and caulk to keep the heat from escaping throught he window cracks. How Cristoff can do me like this. I loved him so much that I even sacrificed my marriage with Khalil for him. I know you may think that I was wrong for destroying my marriage to Cristoff, but you have to hear me out! After I married Asad, I felt like I was missing something in my life. Don't get me wrong; Asad was a great husband and provided everything for me after finding a good-paying job. But I have not been happy since high school.
Everything had started to go wrong for me when I was 16. I and Asad's history goes back to when I was in high school. We both attended the same Masjid and went to the same high school. I was picked on a lot when I wore my Islamic garb. Asad was always around to protect me. However, Asad and I never dated as it was against Islamic beliefs. It was likely never to happen. We were allowed to date. I never saw any romantic interest in Asad.
I wanted more than what Asad had to offer. My wishes came when an athletic jock named Cristoff Moody interested me. We dated in secret for months. When my parents found out, they ended my relationship. A month later, I found out I was pregnant and contracted chlamydia. My parents were furious. After taking me to the clinic to get treated for an STI, I focused on my short experienced pregnancy. I had a miscarriage, and my parents sent me to live with relatives in Atlanta. When I graduated high school, I returned to Detroit to attend college. At the same time, I managed to reconnect with Asad in college. I went to school for business management, and Asad went to school for Communication in Commercial Advertising. Asad and I kindled an attraction to each other.
Asad and I married after graduating from high school. I managed to get a job with good pay, yet, Asad struggled to find his degree. He had a few job offers in California, New York, Miami, and Atlanta, which was a requirement. I was unwilling to move as she was comfortable making $18 an hour.
Asad manages to find contract work shooting a few commercials, music videos, and professional headshots; while working at Walmart stocking shelves for $11 an hour. After months of I started scolding him for making more money than him and how he needed to contribute more to bills, Asad managed to get a job working at an injection mold plant. Making $23 an hour, he was finally able to make me happy for a little while. After working 70 a week for a few years, I again found myself not delighted. Even though Asad could buy cars and houses, I felt neglected in a marriage, which led to more arguments. I was growing bored and lonely.
A year ago, I started to find happiness. Six months before my divorce, I ran into my ex-boyfriend from high school, "Cristoff Moody." Cristoff was hired as the new manager of her accounting department. After getting reacquainted for the first few weeks, we secretly dated. Asad found out about the affair when he came home one night after working a double shift. When Asad saw Ime and Cristoff in bed together, he severely beat Cristoff before throwing us out of the house.
11 Months Earlier
God, I regret making that decision to divorce Asad. I remember wearing a glamorous powder blue abaya and a sparkled sequence hijab. The abaya had white floral patterns on the torso, collar, and cuffs. That dress was meant to symbolize my new life with Cristoff. I can remember the look of frustration and disappointment when I handed him the divorce papers.
"So this is what you want," Asad stated.
"I am not happy with you," I replied.
"What are you talking about? I work to put a roof over your head. I buy you the best clothes you ask for; I even come home to cook and clean after sixteen-hour workdays. I gave up opportunities in California and New York because you did not want to leave," Asad replied.
"And I appreciate you for that, but as you said, you work. All you do is work. You don't pay enough attention to me."
"So you thought it was best to go behind my back and get attention from someone else. Well, I am sorry that I worked all day!"
"At least Cristoff pays attention to me. Look, don't make this harder than it has to be."
"Fine," Asad replied as he snatched the divorce papers and signed them. Asad pushes the paper back to me.
"So, you know, you are not getting anything else from me."
"That's fine! Once I get the house and half of the joint bank account, I won't ask anything else."
"You can't be serious? I bought this house and put the majority of funds in that account. You are not getting any of it."
"My lawyer will be in touch with what my demands are."
As I got up from the table like two lovers in a movie parting ways, I said.
"I hope you find happiness."
"Funny, now you worry about my happiness. GET OUT," Asad yelled. I leave the house.
Three months later, the divorce judge presides over my divorce. The judge grants my divorce and my settlement. I got the house we lived in, and half of the bank account funds over $100,000.
Shortly after divorcing Asad, I married Cristoff. However, that marriage did not last. Cristoff left me. Cristoff emptied my bank account and stole my appliances and furniture from the house while working. He only left me my clothes except for my underwear, as he had a weird fetish for smelling my underwear; instead, they were clean or dirty.
I went to the police to report Cristoff. It turned out that Cristoff had a criminal history of conning women out of their life savings. I was the 15th woman he had defrauded. Not only that, word got around at work about my infidelity with Cristoff. I was fired for inappropriate behavior. With no money left, I fell behind on bills. I had to sell the house to keep afloat.
Once I realized that Asad and I were perfect, I immediately contacted him, but Asad ignored me. After being reduced to financial ruin, I moved in with my parents. They were reluctant to help, but they allowed me to stay if I agreed to the conditions I pay rent and utilities once I found a job. I agreed. I managed to find a job at a restaurant at the mall.
After spending many nights crying and cuddling a body pillow for comfort, I realized I truly loved Asad. Realizing what I had given up, I attempted to rekindle my marriage. The problem was that Zuleika was in my way. Zuleika was pretty, humble, and soft-spoken. I was a beautiful woman, but I spoke my mind. I spent hours looking at Zuleika and Asad's pictures when I was not working. I had enough standing by the sideline, hoping to get another chance.
Around 10:30 am, I got up from the computer and left the house. I drove to a Muslim-owned Coney island and served Halal and Vegan food. I ordered a lamb Philly Cheese Steak sub and caramel cake, Asad's favorite foods.
I drove to Asad's workplace during lunchtime. Before getting out of the car, I applied makeup and blue Nile fragrance oil for extra enticement.
I got out of the car, went to office management, and requested to see Asad.
When Asad walked into the office, he saw me smiling at him, holding food. He gave me a grim look. He ordered me to follow him outside to the parking lot.
"What are you doing here," Asad asked in a cold, firm voice.
"I came here to bring my hubby lunch!" I replied.
"First of all, we are not married anymore, and second, my wife made me lunch."
"But I have brought you your favorite. Lamb Philly Cheesesteak and caramel cake."
"I don't want anything from you. Besides, Cristoff would be upset if he found his wife..."
"We are divorced, Asad."
"Oh! What happened?"
"I don't want to go into detail with that. I want to focus on us."
"There is no, us!"
"Hear me out! I know you are married, but you know you can have up to four wives in Islam. I am willing to be a second wife!"
"What. So you can have every chance to harass Zuleika as you do online? I know about the crazy messages you have sent her."
"I will stop. I will get along with Zuleika."
"I don't want you anymore. Go home, Suffiya," Asad replied. Asad walked away from me, leaving me with tears in my eyes. I can't believe the man who loved me so much could treat me this way. I turned him into a monster."