Chapter 9 – The Jealous Wives

 Chapter 9 – The Jealous Wives

One quiet afternoon, while Ameera was seated in the house supervising the younger children as they revised their lessons, her phone rang. She looked at the screen and froze. The name staring back at her was one she had not expected to see again so soon—Sakina.

Her heart began to beat faster. For a moment, she considered ignoring the call. Memories rushed back to her: the insults, the accusations, the court, the tears, the humiliation. Her hands trembled slightly as the phone continued to ring.

At last, she answered.

“Assalamu alaikum,” Ameera said softly.

There was a pause on the other end before Sakina replied, her voice sounding uncertain. “Wa alaikum salam… Ameera.”

“Yes?” Ameera asked carefully.

“I want us to meet,” Sakina said. “There is something important we need to discuss.”

Ameera swallowed hard. “Meet? Where?”

“At Shoprite,” Sakina replied. “Please. Just come. Maryam will also be there.”

The mention of Maryam made Ameera’s chest tighten. Fear mixed with caution. “Why do you want to see me?” she asked.

“You will understand when you come,” Sakina said quietly. “Please… I am begging you.”

The call ended.

For a long time, Ameera sat still, staring at the phone in her hand. Her mind was filled with questions. Why now? What do they want? Is this another trap? Another accusation?

Yet, deep inside her heart, she remembered the words of her parents and the patience she had carried for years. She made duʿā’ silently, asking Allah to protect her and guide her steps.

That evening, she informed Maikudi about the call. He listened quietly.

“If your heart tells you to go, then go,” he said. “But be careful.”

The next day, Ameera dressed modestly, covered herself well, and headed to the meeting place. As she entered Shoprite, her eyes searched the crowd nervously. She soon spotted them—Sakina and Maryam seated together at a corner, their faces tense.

As Ameera approached, Maryam’s eyes narrowed, her lips tightening into a faint frown. Sakina, on the other hand, looked different—older, tired, and weighed down by something unseen.

Ameera greeted them politely. “Assalamu alaikum.”

Sakina stood up slightly. “Wa alaikum salam. Thank you for coming.”

Maryam did not respond. She folded her arms and looked away.

Ameera sat down slowly, keeping a calm expression. “You asked to see me. I am here. Please tell me—why did you call me?”

Before Sakina could speak, Maryam scoffed. “As if you don’t already know.”

Ameera turned to her. “Maryam, I did not come here to fight. If you have something to say, say it with respect.”

Maryam laughed bitterly. “Respect? After everything you did to us?”

Sakina raised her hand slightly. “Maryam, please. Not like this.”

Ameera looked at Sakina. “You said this meeting was important. Speak.”

Sakina took a deep breath. “Ameera… we have both suffered since we left that house.”

Maryam interrupted sharply. “Speak for yourself.”

Sakina continued, her voice shaking. “Life has not been easy. I lost my home, my peace… my dignity. Every night, I think about everything that happened.”

Ameera listened silently.

Sakina looked up at her eyes. “I wronged you.”

Maryam turned her head sharply. “What are you saying?”

Sakina ignored her. “I accused you falsely. I stayed silent when you were insulted. I allowed hatred to blind me.”

Ameera’s heart pounded, but she remained quiet.

Maryam slammed her hand on the table. “Have you forgotten what she did? She took everything from us!”

Ameera finally spoke, her voice firm but calm. “Maryam, I did not take anything from you. I did not ask for divorce. I did not ask to remain. Everything that happened was beyond my control.”

Maryam sneered. “That’s what you always say.”

Sakina turned to Maryam. “Enough. This is why we are here.”

Maryam looked at her in disbelief. “You sound like you’ve chosen her side.”

“I am choosing the truth,” Sakina replied.

She then faced Ameera again. “We called you because… we want forgiveness.”

The word hung heavily in the air.

Ameera blinked slowly. “Forgiveness?”

“Yes,” Sakina said. “From you… and from our husband.”

Maryam shook her head angrily. “Speak for yourself, Sakina.”

Sakina looked at Maryam firmly. “You asked me to come here too.”

Maryam fell silent.

Sakina continued, “We want you to talk to him. Tell him to forgive us. Tell him to allow us come back.”

Ameera’s heart sank. She felt a deep ache inside her chest. “Why me?” she asked quietly.

“Because,” Sakina replied, “he listens to you.”

Maryam added reluctantly, “You have influence over him.”

Ameera shook her head gently. “You misunderstand. I never controlled him. I never turned him against you.”

Sakina leaned forward. “Ameera, I have suffered. I see now what you endured. I see how you raised the children—even mine. I was blind.”

Maryam looked away, her jaw clenched.

Ameera took a deep breath. “Let me ask you something,” she said softly. “When you accused me of killing your child… when you sent me to court… when you called me a witch—where was this regret?”

Sakina’s eyes filled with tears. “I was lost.”

Maryam muttered, “You survived anyway.”

Ameera turned to her. “Maryam, even now, you still carry hatred.”

Maryam snapped, “Because you won.”

“There is no victory in pain,” Ameera replied.

Sakina wiped her tears. “Please… help us.”

Ameera looked between them, her heart heavy. “Forgiveness is from Allah. I forgave you long ago for my own peace.”

Sakina looked up hopefully. “Then you will speak to him?”

Ameera hesitated. “I can forgive. But I cannot force his heart.”

Maryam scoffed. “So that’s it?”

Ameera looked at her calmly. “You have not asked for forgiveness, Maryam.”

Maryam stood up angrily. “I don’t need it.”

Sakina stood too. “Maryam, sit down!”

Maryam grabbed her bag. “You can beg if you want. I won’t.”

She walked away.

Sakina sank back into her seat, broken. “She hasn’t changed.”

Ameera stood up gently. “Change comes from Allah.”

Sakina looked up. “Will you at least tell him we are sorry?”

Ameera nodded slowly. “I will tell him the truth. Nothing more.”

Sakina whispered, “Thank you.”

Ameera turned to leave, her heart heavy but peaceful. She had faced her past without fear, without hatred.

As she walked away, she knew one thing for certain—patience had protected her dignity, and forgiveness had freed her heart.

And the jealous wives had finally begun to taste the consequences of their own jealousy.

To Be Continue Inshallah...... . 

© AHMAD ZAHIR ENAGI ABU KHALIF