Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Amira slumped down on the sofa with a sigh as she turned her gaze to where adila was sleeping. The knot tied in her throat, could she continue that way? Muhsin rarely comes home early now ever sine dalia left, and amira barely knows anything about babies.

All she does everyday is go home and leave her mother to it. When she knows he will be home soon, she beats him to it before he knows she was out. She closed her eyes and opened them again before she averted her gaze to the working TV.

With a stretch and yawn, she rested her back more on the sofa before the doorbell interrupted her, just before she could take a nap. She opened her eyes furiously, looking at the door. She got to her feet and walked over to the corridor, where the entrance door was. Opening it, she furrowed her brows. That was the last person she wanted to see in her life now. And now that she has finally gotten what she wanted, Muhsin to herself alone, she wouldn't want anything or anyone interfering in their lives again. Even if that person was her parent, she doesn't care. That’s how much she was obsessed with him.

“Oh, it’s you.”

She eyed karima from head to toe before nonchalantly walking back to the living room and settled down beside her baby. She fixed her eyes on the TV pretending as if Karima wasn’t there. Karima observed that she wasn't welcomed. But still, she wasn't going to give up, not before she does what she intended to do. “It’s like this living room has gotten some new touches.” Karima looked around the living room as she grimaced with jealousy that she couldn't hide.

Amira didn't give her a glance as she spoke. “Yes, new curtains, new TV.” Karima turned her gaze to amira and scoffed silently. “Amira what happened between us? You stopped coming to my place ever since you told me that girl has finally left. Or I'm no longer useful?” That was when amira finally looked at her, but in an irritating way. “You know now I will be very busy with the baby since I don’t have anyone to help and I have house chores to do.”

Karima wanted to hold in her laughter so bad but she couldn't. When it escaped, amira glared at her and hissed. “Look, if you don’t have anything meaningful to say to me better get out of my house because you know my husband has warned me about you, not once, not twice.” Karima gapped at her, as the words stung her in her chest but she didn't budge. She was the one that brought herself, therefore she does not have any right to complain.

“Okay, I'm sorry. But it’s really shocking that the amira I know is talking about house chores, so astonishing you know. Anyways, I came here to ask for a favour. Like something in return for the things I've done for you also, right?”

Amira swiftly glared at her and hissed before turning her head away. Karima nodded her head smiling; she will teach this girl a lesson. “I need some money from you please, I want to pay my rent. And its high time you buy me a car, amira. For crying out loud looking at the cars you own. Look at your house, and it never clicked to you that as your best friend I deserve a car from you.”

Karima’s presence seemed to buzz around her like a fly that she could never swat away. Every word, movement and breath she performed seemed to infuriate amira to no end.

“Hey, hold it! When did you become my best friend? Who told you that I take you as that? Oh, so you’re keeping an eye on my husband’s wealth because you’re jealous of it, right? Or you’re after him. I always knew you were going to be that dumb to come ask me that, I knew it. You have always been after my wealth isn't it? Where’s the job you told me you have? Where are the men you have been sleeping around with? So you’re that cheap to be sleeping around with them without getting paid?” Amira laughed at the end. She has been waiting to say it, to end their unhealthy friendship because Karima has been nothing but a bad friend. She has to cut her off if she wanted to focus on her husband.

“Look, you should respect yourself and stop coming to my house. Stay away from me. if I don’t look for you myself, don’t come looking for me. Even though I know this friendship is over. Please Kindly get out before I ask the securities to humiliate you.”

Karima stared at her as she held a stoic expression but deep inside her she was hurt by Amira’s words. However, it was true. The only thing amira hadn't figured out yet was, she has vowed to ruin her marriage and amira has given her another reason to destroy it. Without a word or a back glance, karima stood to her feet and walked out of the house as amira followed her back with a glare.

**

Dalia walked into her mother’s room. She collapsed on the bed with a sigh before she closed her eyes tiredly. Amina looked at her, “what did the doctor said?” She asked her. Dalia opened her eyes and fixed it on her mother. “Mama, it was just fever. They have prescribed some drugs for me. I've already bought it.”

Amina nodded her head. “May Allah grant you quick recovery. Now go to your room and get some rest, okay? I'll send Amrah with your lunch.” Dalia rise up and sauntered out of the room to hers’.

Slumping on her bed, she fetched her phone from her bag and called back Hamida. Dalia chuckled even before hamida could start ranting for not picking her calls. “Where have you been, dalia? I was at your house early but that your so called co wife chased us away. Is this how you live with her? She's something else.”

Her heart throbbed, pounding hard. “Did she tell you anything?” Dalia asked. “No, she only chased us away saying you don’t live here. So weird.” Her heart beat did a tango when hamida finished talking. She chuckled softly, “don’t mind her please. She can be really annoying. I went to see mama since we’re through with the semester and I haven't seen her in a while but trust me, there’s nothing wrong.”

Hamida shrugged it off before they changed the topic to something more interesting.

**

“Are you just going to lie there all day? You've seriously been lying in the exact same spot for over twenty four hours, and believe me; you look like a freak. And just so you know, you’re getting pale and sick, which is weird. You do remember that I told you I can't continue taking care of Adila all by myself. It’s either you stay home and help or I get a maid.” Amira spoke while he laid there staring at her.

He heaved a sigh, getting of the bed. “I have things to do at the office.” He said as he walked towards his bathroom. “Babe before that, we need to talk.” He halted and turned his attention to her. She beamed, hugging his torso. “What happened between you and dalia isn't my business but I'm so unhappy about this. You have punished her enough because it’s been more than a month now, it’s high time you bring her back.” He gently freed himself, giving her a dead look. “Look, I don’t want to talk about this now. You have said this not once, not twice. And I will say it again, I will never live with someone that doesn't love my daughter and she has played with her chance.” He walked past her and entered the bathroom.

Amira squealed happily and walked out of the room.

He stepped out of the bathroom after he had showered same time his phone started ringing. Muhsin scooped it up, spoke into it, listened for a moment, and hanged the phone.

He gussied up in one of his enticing suits before stepping out of his room to amiras’. He met the room empty. He dropped his briefcase on the bed before moving to the chest of drawers to look for the documents he carelessly kept in her room. He moved to the side drawers but nothing was there.

He heaved a sigh of relief when he opened the dresser and caught sight of the documents he was looking for. He scooped it up as he wondered why he could carelessly drop one of the most important documents in amira’s room. He packed everything up and closed it back but then opened it again.

He took the bottle, observing it. ‘Mifepristone RU-486’ he mused to himself trying to remember where he knows the familiar name. He almost lost his balance after he had read the instruction written on it. Abortion pill?

Chanting supplications in his mind, he left the room together with the bottle as he fetched his phone from his blazer to call Yusuf.

Muhsin found himself sitting before Yusuf in his office. He placed his head on the table, feeling remorseful and haunted. He raised his head again on rested his red eyes on Yusuf. “How am I supposed to confront amira that she was the one responsible for Dalia’s miscarriage without any strong evidence.”

Yusuf held the bottle in front of muhsin’s face. “This! This is your evidence muhsin! Isn't it obvious? This was the same abortion pill dalia had taken and now you found it in amira’s room. What does that mean? She did it!”

Muhsin sighed, his sigh was of a softly deflating; it was as if a tension had lifted yet left him with a melancholy instead of relief.

He was about to speak when a knock on the door interrupted him. He gave the intruder permission and the person walked in. He furrowed his brows as he sent daggers her way. She swallowed hard and halted. “I didn't come here to waste your time, I promise. What I am going to tell you now might help solve the worry that’s written all over your face.” Karima said, as she gave him a pleading look.

“Go on,” he spoke, his furious facial expression never glitched. She looked at him to Yusuf acting as if she was innocent. “Firstly I would like to apologise for what you have to hear. Your wife, amira, she....” She paused and sighed. Muhsin glared at her as he raised his voice making her to startle. “She was the one that aborted your wife’s baby, I swear she did it. She told me herself that she drugged her food which caused the miscarriage after she heard you two arguing about the pregnancy. And amira isn't who you think she is. Remember when you saw us at that house? I am sure you know whose house that was. The owner of the house keeps prostitutes in her house, men go there and choose whoever they want to sleep with and pay her. Your wife.... She... complained that you don’t give her enough money so she joined, but trust me I tried warned her but she didn't listen to me.”

The whole while karima spoke, he got angrier. So it was true, Yusuf was right, his heart was right. Amira did it, she did all of that. She ruined his relationship with the only girl he loved. The one who genuinely loves him. She made him hurt an innocent girl that has nothing to do with any of that.

Burning rage hissed through his body like a deathly poison, screeching a demanded release in the form of unwanted violence. It was like a volcano erupting; fury sweeping him off like ferocious waves. The wrath consumed like, engulfing his moralities and destroying the boundaries of loyalty.

“That, that’s the pill she used to abort the baby. Amira showed me herself.” Karima pointed at the bottle resting on the table. Yusuf glared at her before hissing.

“I will take my leave now.” She hurriedly walked out and left the men speechless.

Yusuf turned his head to muhsin. “Now you see what I was afraid of? Let’s not even talk about your wife, amira. That is between you two, I can't tell you what to do because the decision is up to you. But for dalia.... I told you so! I told you not to provoke that girl now you have lost her. You let her slip away, the only woman that loved you wholeheartedly....”

The whole time his cousin spoke, he held his head firmly to steady the throbbing headache and aching heartbeat. He knew he had done something pretty awful ever since dalia snapped at him and left. The guilt sat on his chest but aside his brain. What he had done, he could not undo. Only in his silent prayers could he speak his heart to Allah and beg for His mercy for the damages he has done. He didn't feel like he deserved Dalia to be part of his life. He has hurt her, betrayed her. He was the traitor, an ungrateful jerk.

Hitting his desk hard, he scrambled up as he grabbed his car keys and stormed out of the office.