They both—him and the doctor—stared at the doorway. But it wasn’t what he expected. He was hoping to see Alimah. Instead, it was his father and his older brother. The doctor looked at him with a small smile, then shifted his attention back to Abba and the elder brother who were standing beside JJ, telling him “sorry” and asking how he felt. JJ could only nod, feeling something heavy and strange deep in his chest.
The doctor explained everything briefly and assured them that JJ could be discharged at any time. He also told them not to worry about what had happened between JJ and his wife, that such misunderstandings were normal for newlyweds, and what they needed was advice—especially the young girl. Abba was satisfied with the explanation. JJ, however, felt even more closed off inside, unable to say a single word. He remained quiet until the doctor finished and left.
Abba and JJ’s elder brother sat beside him again, repeating their words of concern. The brother prepared tea for him as the doctor had instructed. After rinsing his mouth, JJ began drinking the tea, his heart turbulent with different thoughts. Abba interrupted his thinking.
“Jazool!”
Slowly, JJ raised his eyes and looked at his father. After a struggle, he responded softly, “Yes, Abba.”
Abba sighed deeply and said:
“Jazool, I’m very disappointed with what you did. That was reckless and immature. This girl is your wife. She’s here to stay with you for life—not just for one night. Imagine if her parents were the troublesome type. Do you think this issue would have been easy to settle, even though they have already given her to you in marriage? You married her out of love, not hatred, so why would you force yourself on her? Thank God she had the sense to call your sister and not someone else who might have created bigger trouble. I’m advising you: be a responsible man. A true man is known by composure and patience. If you treat her gently and guide her with kindness, she will eventually give you her heart willingly. Don’t ever let this happen again, or you will regret it. You young people let desire control you too much…”
Abba continued giving long advice and warnings. He didn’t allow JJ to say anything because, from Abba’s perspective, he already knew what happened. JJ himself couldn’t speak either; his mouth felt heavy as if sewn shut. The only thing he felt strongly was a desire to see Alimah.
Later, after the afternoon prayer, he was discharged and taken home, as the doctor suggested. They found three people already there with Alimah—Abba’s two younger siblings and their stepmother. Alimah sat beside the stepmother, receiving advice, while Rabi’ah and Sadiya cleaned the house even though it wasn’t dirty.
When JJ and Alimah’s eyes met, she quickly lowered her head in shyness and fear. JJ couldn’t even move until his brother pushed him to sit. After greeting Abba and the older brother, JJ greeted Alimah softly, repeating “sorry” as their mother had told her to do. He answered her with a nod, the same way he responded to his stepmother.
Abba again gave both of them heartfelt advice, followed by the stepmother. Afterwards, Alimah went into the bedroom with Sadiya. They continued advising JJ as the older man of the house. He only listened quietly, unable to process anything. His mind felt blocked, and he couldn’t think clearly—he just watched and listened without reacting.
Later, the stepmother called Rabi’ah and told her to ask Alimah to prepare warm bath water for JJ so he could feel better. After some minutes, she returned to say it was ready. With his brother’s help, JJ stood up and was escorted to the bathroom. Afterwards, everyone prepared to leave. Alimah began crying softly because she didn’t want them to go. They understood her fear, so the stepmother reassured her that Rabi’ah and Sadiya would return the next day to stay with her. Alimah nodded gratefully. She followed them to the courtyard to see them off.
When they left, she returned inside feeling the house strangely empty. She did not look at JJ; she went straight to her room crying.
They both—him and the doctor—stared at the doorway. But it wasn’t what he expected. He was hoping to see Alimah. Instead, it was his father and his older brother. The doctor looked at him with a small smile, then shifted his attention back to Abba and the elder brother who were standing beside JJ, telling him “sorry” and asking how he felt. JJ could only nod, feeling something heavy and strange deep in his chest.
The doctor explained everything briefly and assured them that JJ could be discharged at any time. He also told them not to worry about what had happened between JJ and his wife, that such misunderstandings were normal for newlyweds, and what they needed was advice—especially the young girl. Abba was satisfied with the explanation. JJ, however, felt even more closed off inside, unable to say a single word. He remained quiet until the doctor finished and left.
Abba and JJ’s elder brother sat beside him again, repeating their words of concern. The brother prepared tea for him as the doctor had instructed. After rinsing his mouth, JJ began drinking the tea, his heart turbulent with different thoughts. Abba interrupted his thinking.
“Jazool!”
Slowly, JJ raised his eyes and looked at his father. After a struggle, he responded softly, “Yes, Abba.”
Abba sighed deeply and said:
“Jazool, I’m very disappointed with what you did. That was reckless and immature. This girl is your wife. She’s here to stay with you for life—not just for one night. Imagine if her parents were the troublesome type. Do you think this issue would have been easy to settle, even though they have already given her to you in marriage? You married her out of love, not hatred, so why would you force yourself on her? Thank God she had the sense to call your sister and not someone else who might have created bigger trouble. I’m advising you: be a responsible man. A true man is known by composure and patience. If you treat her gently and guide her with kindness, she will eventually give you her heart willingly. Don’t ever let this happen again, or you will regret it. You young people let desire control you too much…”
Abba continued giving long advice and warnings. He didn’t allow JJ to say anything because, from Abba’s perspective, he already knew what happened. JJ himself couldn’t speak either; his mouth felt heavy as if sewn shut. The only thing he felt strongly was a desire to see Alimah.
Later, after the afternoon prayer, he was discharged and taken home, as the doctor suggested. They found three people already there with Alimah—Abba’s two younger siblings and their stepmother. Alimah sat beside the stepmother, receiving advice, while Rabi’ah and Sadiya cleaned the house even though it wasn’t dirty.
When JJ and Alimah’s eyes met, she quickly lowered her head in shyness and fear. JJ couldn’t even move until his brother pushed him to sit. After greeting Abba and the older brother, JJ greeted Alimah softly, repeating “sorry” as their mother had told her to do. He answered her with a nod, the same way he responded to his stepmother.
Abba again gave both of them heartfelt advice, followed by the stepmother. Afterwards, Alimah went into the bedroom with Sadiya. They continued advising JJ as the older man of the house. He only listened quietly, unable to process anything. His mind felt blocked, and he couldn’t think clearly—he just watched and listened without reacting.
Later, the stepmother called Rabi’ah and told her to ask Alimah to prepare warm bath water for JJ so he could feel better. After some minutes, she returned to say it was ready. With his brother’s help, JJ stood up and was escorted to the bathroom. Afterwards, everyone prepared to leave. Alimah began crying softly because she didn’t want them to go. They understood her fear, so the stepmother reassured her that Rabi’ah and Sadiya would return the next day to stay with her. Alimah nodded gratefully. She followed them to the courtyard to see them off.
When they left, she returned inside feeling the house strangely empty. She did not look at JJ; she went straight to her room crying.