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Behind A Smile 113
Bilal pulled over in front of the house and alighted the car to get the door for Adnan, but before he could, Zynah had already done that. His gaze lingered on her for a little too long. He didn't fail to notice her foul mood. The urge to ask her about it was a huge one, but caution held him back. He didn't want her to feel like he was crossing a boundary. His lips parted, then closed, the unspoken question dying on his tongue. "When you're done, please give me a call, I'll come get you both," he began, his voice gentle. "Or...I could wait for you to get done and..." He trailed off as he sought the right words. Zynah could only hum in response. Her eyes filled with an emotion that couldn't quite be deciphered. Her eyes held his captive for a fleeting moment before she turned away, taking Adnan's hand. "Let's go Adnan." Instantly, Adnan wriggled out of Zynah's grasp and sprinted towards his father, his small hands wrapping around Bilal's legs. "Please don't go, Daddy," he ple
Behind A Smile 114
"Ya Zynah!!!" Ramlah emerged from the kitchen, an apron tied around her waist, and threw her arms around Zynah. "Why didn't you inform me you were coming?" She disentangled her arms from around her and crouched down to Adnan's level. "I missed you so much, Adnan," She embraced him tightly. "How have you been? You've been taking care of mummy, like promised, rig-" abruptly, she cut herself off, as her gaze darted to Bilal who was standing behind Zynah. "I missed you too, Aunty Ramlah." Adnan replied, drawing back her attention. "Daddy brought a lot of toys for me at the mall. Where is granny?" "Aww! Adnan has really grown," Ramlah pointed out, her voice laced with amusement. "He talks very well now." "Of course." Zynah replied with a small smile, playing on her lips. "He's a big boy now. He's going to be four in less than a month." Ramlah's gaze darted to Bilal again, her eyes narrowed. "What's that man doing in our house?" she spat, her voice dripping with disapproval. "
Behind A Smile 115
"Zy...Zynah." Rashida's voice broke as she approached Zynah. Her eyes always filled with arrogance and disdain, were now replaced with remorse. Omar appeared from behind Rashida, extending his hand to Bilal for a handshake. "Assalamu'alaykum." "Wa' alaykum salam," Bilal answered, taking his outstretched hand. "We were just about to go to your house," Omar said, his gaze shifting between Zynah and Bilal. "I'll just go straight to the point," he cleared his throat before continuing. "In life, we make mistakes, sometimes big ones that cannot be overlooked, while most of the times, small ones that are not even noticeable by humans. Rashida made a terrible mistake - a mistake she regrets deeply. She wishes to seek your forgiveness. Please find it in your hearts to forgive her." Bilal lowered his head, his eyes cast downward. "Frankly speaking," he began, his voice low. "I don't believe I deserve an apology. The mistake wasn't hers alone. In fact, it's more of my mistake than h
Behind A Smile 116
"Bilal!" Zynah shrilled, darting towards him. "Are you Alright? Is your stoma-" Bilal quickly replied, cutting her off. "I'm alright, Zynah." "Are you sure? I mean, you just..." She trailed off, searching for the right words to express her concern. "Are you sure you're fine?" He forced a smile. "I am. Don't worry." "If you're sick, you should go to a hospital," Hafsa chimed in. "I'm not," he denied, standing up from his seat and moving towards Hafsa. He cleared his throat before speaking. "I know I haven't asked for your forgiveness yet, for what I did to your daughter." He lowered his head in submission, his voice filled with genuine remorse. "I'm sorry, please find it in your heart to forgive me. I truly regret my actions." Hafsa's gaze lingered on Bilal, before darting to Zynah, her expression unreadable. Finally, she spoke, her voice stern. "I can't say I'm disappointed in you, because I never trusted you from the beginning." Her words were like daggers in Bilal
Behind A Smile 117
Zynah's lips spread into a broad smile. "For real? Oh my God! This is great news. It's the best I've gotten all day! Who is he? Tell me who the lucky man is!" Ramlah blushed, burying her face in her folded palms. "You know him already." "I do?" Zynah asked, tilting her head to the side as she tried to piece together the puzzle. "I don't think so. Who's he?" "It's Doctor Muslim," Ramlah replied, freeing her from her thoughts. Zynah's eyes widened in disbelief. "Doctor Muslim? Adnan's doctor?" Ramlah nodded, a shy smile gracing her lips. "Yes, Adnan's doctor." Zynah's expression shifted, a thoughtful frown replaced her initial surprise and excitement. "He seems like a good man, but..." She hesitated, her voice filled with concern. "How well do you know this man to have agreed to get married already, Ramlah?" "He's a good man, sis," Ramlah's voice held confidence. "I know it in my heart. He's never given me any reason to doubt his intentions towards. me. What do yo
Behind A Smile 118
Immediately Bilal's gaze met Zynah's, he shoved Zaahida away, almost reflexively, and wiped his mouth with the back of his palm. Before he could find his voice and say something, Zaahida beat him to it. "Oops..." She drawled, her voice dripping with feigned embarrassment. "I'm sorry you had to see that. We couldn't wait to—" Zynah cut her off, her voice as cold as ice. "It doesn't concern me," She deadpanned, then turned to leave. Bilal, taken aback by her reaction lunged forward, his hand grasping her arm in a desperate attempt to stop her from leaving. But Zynah wasn't having it. She peeled his hand off her, and headed straight to the kitchen. "Bil—" "Hey!" He barked, pointing an accusative finger at her. "Don't you ever pull a stunt like that ever again." He warned. "The next time you do it, there's going to be a price to pay." Undeterred, she met his gaze. "And why not?" She asked, raising a brow. "In case you've forgotten, I'm your wife and Allah will hold you
Behind A Smile 119
In as much as Zynah wanted to keep being in denial of his genuine feelings towards her, she knew she would only be lying and deceiving herself. She had been doing it for far too long now, she couldn't keep up with it anymore. But did she still love him? She strongly doubted it. Not after everything he put her through. Tears prickled her eyes as she recalled the good old times when they used to be so in love with each other. She had been so willing to do anything and everything just to make him happy. She had given him everything — her heart, her soul, her life. She didn't even realize she was lost in a trance, until she felt Bilal's warm palms on her cheeks, caressing her soft, flawless skin. She had already began to forget the feel of his touch. It was a reminder of what they had lost. "I will love you forever, even in the hereafter. I promise never to hurt you ever again, Zynah." He vowed, his eyes holding nothing but sincerity. "You have my words. I just want you to give me a
Behind A Smile 120
Throughout the night, Zynah couldn't sleep. She kept tossing and turning. Her mind had been constantly railing over Bilal's words. What did he mean by making the statement: let's make unforgettable memories? She swallowed as a wave of paranoia washed over her. The ethereal call to dawn prayer broke her out of her trance. Her gaze softened as it landed on Adnan, who was peacefully sleeping beside her on the bed. She planted a tender kiss on the forehead, before getting out of bed and sauntering to the bathroom to perform her ablution. Emerging from the bathroom, she put on her hijab, spread the prayer mat and began to offer her prayers. With the prayer completed, she took the holy Qur'an and began to recite suratul yasin. As the final verse echoed in the room, she lifted her hands in supplication. Her heart poured out in earnest prayers for the prophet, peace and blessings upon him, for her family, including Bilal, then finally, for the ummah at large. • Bilal returned fro
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