Her harsh tone made her unable to finish her sentence.

“If you continue to upset Zeenatu, I will not stop upsetting you either. A girl in her father’s house and everyone turns their back on her with no one to care for her!”

“You shouldn’t take Zeenatu’s words so seriously — she’s still a child. Nothing has been done to her; she has troubled herself.”

Before she finished he interrupted her, “Please, leave me some space. I don’t like being constrained.” She nodded; his words angered her.

Already upset deep inside by him, these days he’s not giving her the respect she deserves. When he goes out he returns late at night like a ghost; she waits for him faithfully until sleep takes her. When she wakes and seeks his attention he scolds her, saying he’s tired and she is impatient; she sees no sign that he has grown weary of her, so she lets him sleep—she endures patiently.

“What about your food?”

“I won’t eat.” She said bitterly. “God forbid you eat, Musa. Keep doing whatever you please. If anyone hurts someone, God will repay them — just wait and you’ll see. Because I endure you, you keep doing whatever you want to me…”

He stared at her confused, surprised she had the nerve to speak to him eye to eye without fear.

“It is fate that made me marry you, but by God I am stronger than you. Though it’s not your fault, I put up with it myself, and that is why you have had the chance to belittle me for your pleasure…”

She turned angrily toward the room door; before she could move she felt his hand grip her neck. Startled, she opened her mouth as if to cry out, but he quickly put his palm over her mouth to stop her.

He brought his face close and, in a voice heavy with reproach, whispered, “Shameless one…” She sighed and began to cough.

“Tell me where you got such courage?” he asked, watching her face.

“You make me angry. I just don’t like the way you treat me. I don’t have to tell you plainly — you already know.”

“I’m sorry, my queen, mother of my princess. I admit my fault; I won’t do it again. I don’t enjoy treating you like this either. Work weighs on me, but I will fix things, God willing.” She was surprised at how gently he spoke to her.

“Come help me bathe — we haven’t bathed together for two nights.” Without waiting for her reply, with a coaxing manner he lifted her like a child and took her toward the bathroom with him.

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