Chapter 19 – Confrontation

Layha’s side:

The hardest part being in an abusive relationship is walking away. My brother and his family have been very supportive. I started attending therapy sessions and found solace in dua.

I asked Aslam to meet my brother and I so we could discuss our situation. He arrived looking like he had a hangover. Before he could speak, I asked him to listen.

I started becoming nervous and started making dua to myself asking Allah to guide me and help me. Sitting across Aslam put fear in my heart. I had to build up courage to say what needed to be said.

“Aslam, please do not interrupt me and let me say what I have to say. You are my husband, together we started the car sales business. With the grace of Allah we are doing very well. I am happy about your marriage to Fatima, all I ask is you take better care of her than you took of me. I married you fresh out of school. We were married for a very long time. I still love you but I have to say this to get it out of my heart. When you hit me you stole a piece of me. Each punch and kick stole who I am and who I want to be. Despite all the pain, suffering and torment you have put me through in the past, I forgive you”

Aslam with a blank look on his face just listened as I continued

“If you want our marriage to work you will have to go for rehab and we need to go for marriage counseling together. I also ask you to become punctual with your salaah and also help Fatima get out of the sorry state she is in. If you feel you can’t do any of this then all I am asking is you let me go peacefully. I will not take a dime and leave quietly. Yes, I have not worked a day in my life. Reading the Quran has liberated me and made me realize and has given me the courage that I can achieve whatever I set my mind to do.”

Aslam stood up and interrupted, “Who died and made you holy, I don’t have time for this nonsense, I’ll decide what I want to do with my life. You just stay put here.”

He left in a hurry and banged the door behind him.

That night I sat and read some self help books recommended by the therapist. I sent a message to Aslam asking him to meet me, but he didn’t reply. I called and he ignored the call. I tried my best so left it.

I woke up for Tahajud salaah. I started crying my heart out. It is hard to walkaway from a marriage that you have invested many years of your life. You compromise so much. Although each affair Aslam had was a dagger to my heart, it was extremely painful to leave. I sat on the musalla begging Allah to guide me to make the right choice.

Aneesa came knocking on the door franticly, “Fati called she said she is lost in some alley.”

“Call Faheem to pick us up to go and look for her,” I replied.

“Are you sure you up for this?” Aneesa asked concerned.

“I am sure and no one deserves to be treated like this” I answered.

Faheem picked us up and we drove around. I couldn’t imagine how it must feel to be left alone, lost in the big city. I started making dua asking Allah to keep Fati safe. I started becoming anxious and asked Aneesa to dial the number Fati phoned from.

Joburg’s gorgeous sun rise now seemed gloomy as I worried.

We found Fatima lying across the sidewalk like a homeless person. When I got to her she was submerged in her own vomit. Her clothes were tattered and torn. I hoped and prayed that she was not raped. Aneesa and I carried Fatima into the car. I sat in the backseat and put her head on my lap. Her eyes looked lost. She needed help. All she desperately asked for was cocaine. I knew she had a drug issue but never realized it was as bad as cocaine. What did Aslam do to this innocent soul? I begged her to go to the hospital to get some help but she insisted all she wanted was a quick fix. I didn’t have the guts to take her to her parents in this sorry state. She needed their support more than ever now. We left Fatima at her hotel room.

As I returned home, I felt some remorse for missing my Fajr. I had a shower and performed my missed salaah. After salaah I sat in dua, praying for Fatima who needed a kind friend more now than ever.