Didi quickly cut Omar off by stopping him from speaking and said, “Omar!”

The way she spoke made him pause and look at her. She then looked at Hajja and said, “Hajja, please allow me to speak with him in private. I want to explain to him clearly who Nayla is, because it’s obvious he hasn’t understood. Please, Daddy,” she added, turning to Daddy.

Daddy said, “You’re allowed, Aisha, but don’t take long. You can see we are all waiting.” He looked at his wristwatch and added, “It’s already night.”

Didi said, “In sha Allah.”

She walked closer to Omar, held his hand, and said, “Come, let’s talk.”

“Talk about what? If it’s something important, we should talk about it here in front of everyone.”

“I know… just come,” she said, pulling his hand. He stood up and followed her reluctantly.

When they had gone far enough from the living room—because she knew his loud voice could echo so much that everyone would hear—he pulled his hand away and said, “Didi, let everything end. Let everything be settled today.”

Didi looked at him, her heart dropping at the anger written all over his face. The veins on his head were raised because of how upset he was. She knew that when he was angry, he wouldn’t listen, and it would take a huge effort before he calmed down enough to hear what she wanted to say.

“Omar!” she called again.

He didn’t look at her, so she continued, “Don’t utter the word divorce against Nayla. Even in your heart, I don’t want you to say you’re divorcing her—not to mention letting the word reach your tongue. Please accept her as your wife according to the Sunnah, for God’s sake.”

Omar just stared at Didi, not even sure what to say. He kept looking at her, wondering if it was really her. And if it was truly her—because his eyes confirmed it—then Didi must be under the influence of drugs.

“Please, don’t reject this marriage. Don’t divorce her now or later. What I want from you— even if her father himself calls you and tells you to divorce her—don’t divorce her. Accept the marriage. If necessary, everything can settle later.”

“Oho, Didi… are you sure you know what you’re—” (sentence cuts off)