It's Just A Joke By Aishah Elusogbon

"If you continue to insist and argue with me like this, I might just take a second wife."

Kafeelah groaned rolled her eyes. This was not the first, nor second, nor tenth time that her husband was threatening her with a second marriage. And she was fed up with it. "Oh God, Rayhan! Please stop it!"

"Stop what?" Rayhan said with that very annoying one sided smile of his. "Islam permits me to do it. So don't tell me to stop it."

Kafeelah felt her face burn. She'd had enough. "You know what?" She threw her car keys on the table between them. "I am sick, and tired, of you singing the words "second wife" in my ear every time you want to get your way! If you want to get married again, go ahead! I don't care!"

*  *  *  

Kafeelah sat on the bed and faced the wall, her mind flying in different directions. Why was Rayhan doing this? Didn't he know it was very important she visited her mother today? Why was he deliberately frustrating and annoying her?!

"Kafeelah?"

Kafeelah shifted further away as she heard her husband walk in and sit beside her.

"Kafeelah, are you angry?"

She kept her head turned to the other side and didn't reply.

He laughed, and it fueled her annoyance.

"Kafeelah, that I mentioned "second wife" doesn't mean I intend to get one. I'm just reminding you that I can if I want to."

Kafeelah turned sharply to him. "Of course you can! I know you can! I reminded you of that before we got married, remember?! And you didn't sound very enthusiastic about it then. Now, you've turned it to a ringing tone you sing in my ear anytime you want to have your way with me! It's damn annoying!"

He gave her that annoying smile again. "But Kafeelah, I can do it if I want to. I have a right to get a second wife if I want."

Unable to hold herself, she bursted out, "Exactly. Just as much as I have a right to seek divorce if I want to."

Rayhan's smile froze, and disappeared. "What… what did you just say?"

"I said," Kafeelah began, her voice bolder and her words clearer. "I have a right to seek divorce if I want to."

Rayhan paled. "Kafeelah?! Do you know what you are saying?!" His voice, which was formerly loud and jeering, was now low and shocked. "Divorce?" He said the word as though it was a taboo. "We were just playing, Kafeelah. We were just joking right now. So where did divorce come from?"

Kafeelah arched her brow at the way he kept on whispering the word like saying it would break something.

In reply to his question, she gave a nonchalant shrug and said. "I don't know."

Rayhan blinked at her. "You don't know?! _You don't know_ ? So you just felt like saying it."

"Not exactly." Kafeelah replied as she lifted her legs from the floor and crossed them on the bed. Then she faced him and said, "That I mentioned _Divorce_ doesn't mean I intend to divorce you. I'm just reminding you that I can if I want to."

 At these words, Rayhan paled again.

The fact was, if she left, she was leaving with the kids. The thought of that was horrible, yeah. But the thought of her leaving actually terrified him out of his senses.

Kafeelah watched her husband carefully, inwardly enjoying the look on his face. He'd thought threatening her with a second marriage was a joke, until he'd heard divorce. Now he knew exactly she'd felt. And quite frankly, even if she didn't get what she wanted eventually, the fact that her message was sent and well received was rewarding enough to satisfy her.

Yes, the look on his face brought great satisfaction to her previously frustrated heart.

 Both of them were staring silently at each other for several seconds before they heard, "Mummy."

Kafeelah looked up; their sixteen and six year old daughters were standing by the doorstep. The younger of the girls was dressed for an outing, and the other wasn't.

"Yes dear." Kafeelah replied.

"Are we still going to Grandma's house? I'm already ready." Six year old Asma'u pouted.

"I don't want to dress up and then hear that we are going anymore." Sixteen year old Yusra added. "So let us know now. Are we still going?"

"Well," Kafeelah began as she dropped her legs to the ground and folded her hands carefully on her laps. Then she replied, looking into her husband's eyes. "That's up to your father, dears. He's the one to decide whether we're going or not. So why don't you ask him."

Rayhan's eyes widened.

At once, both girls poured on their father. "Daddy, are we still going?"

"Yes Habeebi." Kafeelah chipped in with a sweet smile. "Are we still going?"

Rayhan stared at his wife's face for a few seconds because he swallowed and finally replied. "Em, yes. Yes, you can go."

A beautiful smile spread across Kafeelah's face as their daughters squealed in joy in the background.

Rayhan didn't even glance at them. His eyes were on the beautiful face of the love of his life, who'd said the word "Divorce" a few minutes ago like she was saying "politics".

She got up and began to get dressed, and Rayhan watched her silently.

*  *  *

Kafeelah hadn't driven out of the street they lived in before her phone beeped a message alert from her husband.

Reducing her speed, she picked up the phone and saw the words: _I'm sorry._

With a smile, Kafeelah replied with: _Apology accepted_ and dropped the phone, her smile broadening a little as she continued driving.

 _Anyone who said God didn't give women power, does not know God._ 

Kafeelah shook her head and laughed. _No, he does not know God at all._ 

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The Living Artist