Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Seconds turned to minutes, minutes turned to hours, hours turned to days; as nothing changed in Rukayya's tortuous life. The pains had intensified, so as Talhah's maltreatments towards her. She had been having this feeling; why wouldn't he marry Shafa'atu? Since she's her sister, she knew she wouldn't do anything to cause her harm. And it's better he marries someone she knows, than a complete stranger.

She finished praying her Magrib salah, and sat down; using the silence in emoting her pains and fears to Allah; the all hearer. She suddenly heard the smackings of Talhah's shoes on the floor. Slowly looking up, her misty eyes fell into his fiesty eyes; which were emoting nothing but hatred. Swiftly, she yanked off her gaze, as it fell on the ground; the tears rolling.

"Welcome back," she spoke softly; yet, one could tell the scourging pain she was in. Knowing he wouldn't answer her___she began folding her hijab and praying mat. She was about to enter their room, when he called her, causing her to halt; as she slowly turned around.

"Bring me my dinner," he sneered, not gracing her a glance, as he kept tapping his feet on the floor, he was probably contemplating on something very crucial to him.

An unexpected smile tucked Rukayya's lips, this was an improvement. She couldn't remember the last time he ate her food. Allah has answered her prayer. "Would you like tuwo or marori (Rice)?" She asked, her expression alone could tell how elated she was.

He looked at her with an annoyed expression. "How many times would I remember this to you? I don't take anything as dinner except tuwo or Fura," he barked, his eyes were clouded with hatred.

She stifled back in fear, her euphoric state made her forgot he doesn't take anything apart from tuwo and Fura as dinner. Stiffling back the tears, she smiled ruefully and walked towards the kitchen. She brought Tuwo with a cold water for him, and sat behind him, cravingly looking at him; as he ate his food.

Snubbing her intense gaze; Talhah ate his dinner, washed his hand and looked at her "What do you want? You've been looking at me like a hungry lion," he hissed, flashing her an inquisitive look.

She slowly took off her eyes from his dazzling face, and began fiddling with her fingers. She felt as if she was forced to tell him this. Beneath her soul, this wasn't what she wanted. She wanted peace, not bringing a third party into their once peaceful home. But she feels like she would be strangled if she didn't tell him. "Talhah, I want you to get married, please, I want you to marry Shafa'atu, so she could bring happiness to your life, and born kids for you," the voice was hers, as well as the lips that curved the words___but the words would forever remain asked. Whose words were they? They surely weren't hers. They brought nothing but an afflicting pain to her frail heart.

Talhah's face broke into a wide grin, it was as if a rock was lifted off his shoulders. He had this feeling for over a month, but couldn't get the courage to utter it out. But now___his so called wife saved him. "I'm glad you knew what's the best thing to do. She'll surely bring happiness to my life," with that, he began scavenging for his phone in his pocket; wanting to tell his Dad about it; he wants everything to happen so fast.

Rukayya wiped away her tears with her thumb, and plastered a rueful smile on her chapped lips. "I...want to...talk to Neema please, it's been a while since we talked," she stuttered, beseechingly looking at him. She hope he would call her for her, because she needed to utter the pain out, and no one was the right person but her Neema.

He abruptly looked her way, " Would you please leave my way? Why do you always behave like a senseless woman? Can't you see I'm about to use the phone?" He barked, a loathing look plastered on his wrathful face.

The tears were brim, and so they rolled in an agonizing way, making her frail body shudders. "I'm sorry please, I didn't mean to hurt. But Talhah, you weren't like this, have I done anything wrong please? Tell me, I'll apologize now," she whimpered between sobs, feeling vulnerable. So life can take a drastic turn in one's life huh? This wasn't how she imagined her life to be.

"Would you please leave my sight?! I hate seeing you around me! Your voice suffocates me! I hate you with every fibre of my being, Rukayya!" Talhah bellowed, his eyes turning to red, as he enigmatically stood up.

Rukayya stood up and took a trudging step backwards, she had never seen this side of him___and it's damn horrifying. "You don't have to tell me you hate me before I could fathom it, Talhah. Those enshrouded messages were enough for me to fathom. Thank you, for once being a loving and caring husband to me; it was really memory to behold.

And all these maltreatments were because I couldn't give birth huh? Worry not, Talhah. I'm sure, a hundred percent sure, I put my trust in Allah___that one day, I would joyfully hug my hundle of joy in these fragile hands of mine, be it you were there for me or not.

I wish and hope, I wouldn't let my child in pain, as he/she would love you endlessly___that's the kind of heart Rukayya possessed, and it shall surely pass onto her child. A brave, benevolent, serene, and a heart brimful of solace. We have got a golden and most rarelest heart on earth. Thank you once again, Talhah. My daughter/ son will surely forgive you, I trust our heart, they won't hold a grudge on you, even after knowing the pain their mother went through___worry not." She trudged off to their room, without glancing at him; feeling how her heart was perforated by his words; crucifying it bit by bit.

***

In the blink of an eye, five days came, as they were the days Shafa'atu and Talhah's wedding was fixed. Her parents ignored all the insults the village people were ranting on them, for marrying off their daughter to her cousin's husband. But their talks didn't even for a second lessen Shafa'atu's felicity, she was happy beyond words could express. She would be finally called; Mrs. Talhah Muhammad.

Many of their relatives didn't attended the wedding, so Shafa'atu was conveyed to Talhah's house by only five women, whom didn't add even five minutes as they left back to the village.

Shafa'atu was sitted in a room Talhah built for her opposite theirs; for theirs was a parlour adjoined with a room, whilst hers was only a single room. She peeped through her veil, upon hearing the shuffling sounds of his shoes. Smiling mischievously and triumphantly___she adjusted her veil.

"Assalamu Alaikum, My Beautiful wife," he salaamed, entering the room with a grin plastered on his lips.

A longing solace found it's way to Shafa'atu's heart. She had been longing for this day, the day he will call her his. "Wa'alaikumus Salam," she muttered, almost inaudible.

With majestical steps, he moved to the bed and sat opposite her, holding her hand in his; which made a flourishing smile crept out of her full lips. Slightly, he embraced her, muttering "Thank you for being my wife, I hope you would bring me the happiness I've been longing for."

Meanwhile; Rukayya was in her room since morning, she was feeling sick, every crevice and corner of her body and soul aches. She wanted to come out, when she heard the yodelings of the women that brought Shafa'atu, but couldn't. She wanted to ask them about her Inna, she really need to know how she is.

Stirring on her ironed bed, she felt like throwing up, sprinting outside her room; she spewed the water she had been drinking all day. Laboriously, she supported herself back to her room, she was sure Talhah heard her, but she knew that's the least he could care for.

That night, she didn't sleep, as her head was throbbing, body aching, and heart scourging. A loud knock on her door woke her up from her a-nap- to be called sleep, which she doozed off to; after Subh prayer. Muttering some incoherent words underneath her breath, she stood up and opened the door; her gaze falling on mischievous Shafa, and fiesty Talhah.

"Good morning, Talhah. Shafa, your welcome," she smiled factitiously at them; slightly making way for them to enter.

"Thank you, Ruru. But that's not what we're here for, I want this place, so you have to pack your things and go back to that room," Shafa muttered, pointing at her small bedroom; a mischievous smile plastered on her face.

Rukayya felt a spasm of pain in her heart. It wasn't related to her husband or co wife, she had been having this feeling since Subh; and everything is revolving her thoughts back to Inna. A wave infront of her eyes jolted her out of her reverie, which made her stood straight, with hands at akimbo "I didn't get you. Or let me rephrase it; wether I get you or not___Shafa, I'm not moving anywhere," she seldom talks like Neema, but sometimes, just sometimes, the dominant Neema in her couldn't be suppressed.

"You heard her right? I'll soon give birth, and how would my children and I, live in that small room? You seriously need to do something," Shafa whined, pouting her lips at Talhah, tears clouding her view.

Talking about children, Talhah's mind could be totally stirred. He took a hold of Shafa'atu's hand in a placating way, and sneeringly looked at presumptuous Rukayya "You don't have all day, go and start packing your things___because what she said was true; my children can't live in that room together with her; they'll be suffocated. Here is more spacious," there wasn't an iota of sympathy in his look nor words. He didn't think of how she would feel; all he could think of was; Shafa'atu's happiness.

Rukayya ducked her head down; she had never argued with him, but she guessed this would be the first time "I'm sorry, I'm not objecting your words. But I don't think I can go back there, I was the first here, and she should manage there; first to come, first to serve," with that; Rukayya didn't wait for their answer, as she tried closing the door on their faces___but was halted by the piercing pain she felt on her left cheek. What?! He slapped her! Yes, Talhah, her husband; slapped her!

She abruptly looked up, tears washing down her face "What? You slapped me?" She asked haltingly, hoping this was a really bad dream, and her Neema would wake her up now.

"Yes! And I can add thousands of that if you didn't pack your things, Rukayya," he retaliated wrathfully.

Unbelievably looking at him, she shook her head sideways, emanating she won't do as they wants. "There is nothing worse left from you, Talhah. I'm not packing my things to any where," she uttered, wiping the tears she knew so well that wouldn't stop even in the next two hours.

"You left me with not choice then," with that, he dragged her forcefully by her wrist, flinging her on the ground; causing her lower abdumen to hit the ground___as she suddenly felt an excruciating pain, with a fluid like water rolling down her legs. It was nothing but blood!

Talhah and Shafa'atu began flinging out her things, some would land on her face, some body, some on the ground___that was the least she could care for; as the pain in her lower abdumen kept intensifying, the flow of blood rushing down as well.

Talhah came out of the room, seething with rage "If you like, take the things back to her room, or else; spend the rest of your life here," he roared, not caring about the sweat that formed a bead on her forehead, how she was nibbling onto her lower lip in pain, the blood and everything.

With all the energy left in her, Rukayya slurred the words she thinks could be the topmost words in beseeching "Talhah, I'm in pain, blood, take me to the hospital please. I'm dying," her eyelids were no more strong, they kept trying to close; but the brave part of her couldn't let that happen.

"Die and go to hell; for all I care!" He bellowed, and took Shafa'atu's hand in his, as they entered Rukayya's ex-room (if that's even a word).

"Inna...Neema...one of you should come and save me; I'm dying," Rukayya kept monotoning, her eyelids empowering her.

She heard a familiar wail and shriek; it was no one but her Neema. Her joy knew no bound, finally; someone is here to save her from entering this dark world. Her happiness was halted at the words she heard her agitated sister uttered.

"We've lost Inna, and I'm now loosing you too? Ruru don't do this to me!" Neema wailed, shaking her vigorously. Rukayya let her eyelids close, taking her to a world, full of darkness. There isn't a reason for her to live.