“Abbas, so this is the reward I get as your wife… the one who has just given birth to your daughter? So I don’t have enough value for you to buy me good food… even if it’s just for one day? I gave birth… I lost blood… yet you are the one eating the good food… even the milk you were supposed to give me you divided it into two… My king, what have I done to hurt you so much in this life? Why have you become someone who forgets kindness? Why have you forgotten all the good I have done for you? Why?”

Abbas looked at her with contempt as she spoke. Before he could reply, she struggled to stand up despite feeling dizzy. She went to the big cup of tea Barirah had prepared for her, picked it up, then opened her palm and showed it to him. Crying, she continued:

“Look… see it yourself. They brought me food but I couldn’t eat it because I was thinking you hadn’t eaten anything… I saved it for you because I know you love offal pepper soup. It’s something you should have given to me… but instead you brought me this bread that isn’t even half enough…”

In extreme anger, Abbas rushed toward her. Quickly she placed the bowl and the cup down and curled herself up, waiting for the beating she was used to receiving. But when nothing happened, she slowly opened the eyes she had tightly shut and looked at him.

His eyes had turned red with rage. She quickly looked away.

He pointed at her angrily, unable to even speak because of his fury. Deep down, Abbas knew that Fauziyyah was telling the truth. But just then, the greeting of his mother entering the house interrupted him and stopped him from carrying out whatever cruel act he intended.

He snorted and went to the living room. Quickly he adjusted his face and went to meet his mother with a fake cheerful smile.

Happily, his mother said:

“My Abbas, so you have become a father now! Oh Allah, thank You for letting me witness this blessed day. Where is the new mother?”

Abbas scratched his head and carried her bag while following her toward the room. Just then Barirah came out holding the baby girl dressed in beautiful clothes. Hajiya stopped and stared at the baby whose skin was very fair like her parents.

When Barirah handed the baby to Hajiya, she knelt down respectfully to greet her.

“Everything is fine, Barirah. So we have gained a new member of the family? May Allah bless her and let her grow well. She’s so fair like cotton! Congratulations. Where is the mother of the baby?”

Barirah respectfully replied and pointed toward the room.

“She’s inside. Please go in. Let me finish treating the baby’s umbilical cord, then I’ll bring my friend to keep you company.”

With fake politeness Abbas said:

“Thank you for your effort. May Allah reward you.”

Barirah shot him a deadly glare. Abbas winked at her mischievously and followed his mother.

Barirah clicked her tongue and muttered:

“Useless hypocrite. One day you will regret all this nonsense you are doing.”

Abbas laughed and said mockingly:

“Where exactly? Go and finish preparing my daughter.”

Barirah stared at him in disbelief and thought to herself:

Is this man mentally okay? Or is he on drugs? He’s starting to treat me like his playmate.

Just then Shehu came out of the bathroom and saw Barirah standing alone in the courtyard deep in thought. When he spoke to her she looked at him slightly startled.

“You’re out? Go and get ready for the market. You’re late today. I hope Khalil and the others have opened the shop.”

“Amen. Those boys are stubborn. We argue with them every day about not focusing on the shop.”

“May Allah guide them.”

“Amen.”

They both went into their room. While Barirah was tending to the baby’s umbilical cord, she kept remembering the cruelty Abbas had shown. She sighed and ignored it.

When she finished, she carried the baby to Fauziyyah’s room.

When she entered, she was shocked.

Abbas was sitting in front of Fauziyyah with a plate of fried noodles, fried eggs, and strong tea, urging her sweetly to eat everything before it got cold.

Fauziyyah looked at him with worry and fear. She was very hungry and wanted to eat, but she was afraid of what Abbas might do later if she accepted the food.

Hajiya, who was playing with the baby, said:

“Well, it’s good you are feeding her. After childbirth it’s not just about giving a woman hot water. She must eat good food and drink well.”

Barirah quickly understood that if Fauziyyah ate Abbas’s food it might later cause trouble. So she hurried to bring the offal soup she had warmed earlier along with tea.

“Hajiya, I don’t think she should start eating heavy foods yet. Let her drink soup and hot tea first.”

Hajiya nodded and shared stories of how her own mother-in-law fed her well after childbirth.

Everyone laughed.

Abbas then pulled the food back toward himself and said jokingly:

“Well, since the new mother doesn’t want these foods, we’ll eat them instead.”

---

Later

After eating, Abbas went to dress for work. He glanced at Fauziyyah breastfeeding their baby. Her fuller breasts caught his attention and he swallowed hard before turning away, reminding himself his mother was nearby.

Meanwhile outside, Barirah and Shehu were saying goodbye lovingly. Abbas passed them and clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

Shehu later told Barirah quietly:

“Don’t worry. After the naming ceremony in one or two weeks, everything will come to an end. I have prepared everything already.”

Barirah smiled but her mind was full of thoughts. She wondered whether she should tell Abbas’s mother about how badly Fauziyyah was being treated—or wait until the truth revealed itself.