"When I recently asked you to come on a trip with me...

"When I recently asked you to come on a trip with me, did you give a good reason for declining to accompany me?" Fitnah paced back and forth, "So, you are trying to get back at me." "Does your behavior call for revenge? You know me quite well, I am free to have my own way. Keep in mind, this is my house!" Getting to the point, Fitnah said, "But Nadia is my own maid!" "Yet I pay her salary and I am her master." "Well, I can send her away whenever I like", she told him.

Hamid stated, "You won't do it!" "What do you mean?" Hamid, "I mean, we should not quarrel. Let us have a truce!" "Why are you bargaining?" Fitnah asked. "Call it whatever you like." Fitnah said, "Oh, you get on my nerves!" "What about mine? Am I made of stone? Have I no feelings?" "Your nerves are made of iron," Fitnah told him. "But you can crush iron" "Really, am I such a strong person? Then we are equal." Hamid disagreed, "Oh, no, you are ahead of me." "I am proud of that!" Fitnah smiled.

Hamid said, "Then enjoy your pride. Now what good fortune has sent you to my room? I don't believe love has brought you here. You have not entered my room for ages. Surely you are in need of money." "You don't want to see me!" Fitnah pouted. "Oh, no, I always long for a visit from you. Be sure of that. My love for you has taught me patience. To speak honestly, I am quite miserable with your love.

But there is no way out; I do love you." Fitnah tried to respond to his words although she despised him and felt no love for him. She wanted to dominate him for the sake of his wealth. She even felt no humiliation knowing that her maid was her husband's mistress. The false civilization she lived in had stripped her of all dignity and female pride. All she cared for was money, so she smiled and spoke passionately to her husband.

Fitnah moved close to her husband and whispered, "Oh, Hamid, you have no idea how much I love you. But believe me, it is life's concerns that keep me away from you." Her sweet words made Hamid forget her indecent conduct, his girl friends and his mistress, Nadia. “I am your slave. I can’t live without you”, Hamid assured her. Fitnah found it hard to exchange words of love with him, but for the sake of money she carried on the role of a loving wife. Previous…