Chapter 45: Chapter 45

She marched into the hospital and stopped at the reception. "Oh hey, good afternoon. You must Amanda, Doctor Mahdi's PA, right?" She asked smiling brightly at Amanda. She wondered how she knew about her. Amanda slowly nodded, returning a smile. "How may I help you?" She asked politely. "I'm here to see Doctor Mahdi, hope she's around," she spoke removing her sunglasses.

Amanda looked at her wristwatch before speaking, "uhh yes she is, but she's with...." Nadia walked away before Amanda could finish her sentence. She stormed into her office same time a patient was coming out.

Maryam looked up at her and heaved a sigh. She knew whatever it was, she wasn't there for anything positive. "How may I help you, Nadia!" She said, emphasizing on her name. She continued surfing through her phone when Nadia snatched it away and kept it on the table.

"I’m here to know what is between you and my husband?" She questioned staring right into Maryam's eyes. She threw her head back laughing, "why don't you go ask him what's between us." Nadia gave her a pointed look, waiting for an answer. "Stare or don't, you won't get anything." Maryam had a way of not mincing her words, arms folded tightly over her freshly ironed labcoat.

"By Allah, you would not find it funny with me if you don't tell me why you're following my husband....."

"Following your husband?" She cuts in. "Just hold your horses and know what to say to me because if you have forgotten you're in my office. And for your so called husband, he is the one following me!"

Nadia folded her arms laughing. "Follow you? What do you actually have to attract him? Just look at you, so gross....."

"I'm going to call the security now to take you out if you don't leave my office!" Maryam threatened, getting up from her office chair. "I have had enough of the both of you! Tell your stupid husband to also stop following me because I'm not interested in someone who enjoys playing around with girls like a freaking dog!"

Nadia gasped, jolting back in disbelief. "You slut! You're the dog! Stop following my husband, bitch. The next time I'm going to see you with him, consider yourself dead!" She threatened. Maryam shook her head smiling.

She sat back down on her office chair looking at Nadia. She wanted to cry as rage filled her chest but she hid it. She took deep breaths before speaking, "Arguing with you is actually so pointless, because your retort is based more in your own emotions than the quality or intention of my response... and so the best thing I can say is you go tell your husband to stay out of my life please, I have better things to do than follow your husband. You may leave my office now."

She glares at her with hatred in her cruel dull eyes. "You are an extremely stupid girl. Aren't you? I'll show you who Nadia is!" She stormed out of the office.

Maryam heaved a sigh of relief and rest her back on the chair. Could her life get any worse than it already was? What was happening? Can't she be happy or even left alone for once? What does Mujahid want from her that he was apologizing? He played with her heart and later smashed it, now what exactly does he want from her?

••

He held the pills in his hand wondering why his wife would take birth control pills. She didn't want to have kids? Why? Why didn't she tell him? If she knew she wasn't ready, why did she accept him? Why did she marry him?

The anger from his eyes showed how disappointed he was. He was angry beyond words. He wondered why she even went since morning when she clearly told him she wasn’t going anywhere that day. Where could she be? Why would she go out without his permission. What was happening to his marriage? He thought he'd be happy after they gets married but they keep facing new challenges day by day.

The door was opened and she appeared. She furrowed her brows as she moved further into the room. "Where are you coming from?" He questioned, gawking at her.

"When did you actually start caring about me?" She retorted, folding her arms on her chest. Her eyes widened when she noticed what he was holding. He chuckled at her face expression. "Nadia, sit, we need to talk," he said. She dragged the vanity stool and settled down.

"So what's this?" He queried, holding up the pills. She opened her mouth to speak and nothing came out. What she going to actually tell him? She can't deny it because he had already seen it. How did he even find the pills when she kept it in a safe place where he wouldn't see it. "Nadia, what is this?" He repeated, getting out of patience.

"It's birth control pills," she answered thoughtlessly. "What are you doing with it?" He asked raising a brow. "Nadia, what have I done to you to deserve this? Why would you take birth control pills for crying out loud? Do you know the effect of taking these pills when you’ve never given birth before?” He screeched, enraged.

She hissed and rolled her eyes. "I am not ready to give birth yet and I knew if I tell you, you would never agree with it," she spoke nonchalantly. His lips parted in disbelief. "You are not ready you say? Then why did you accept me when you know you aren't ready to build a family?"

She hissed again and stood up. "Look, I'm not ready to give birth now and you're accepting it wether you like it or not! You should get angry for all I care," she spat before leaving the room. Her comment was so out of character, so far from what he knew of her, he just stared at her back open mouthed. His brain formulated no thoughts other than to register that he was shocked. He closed his mouth, then looked at his toes before glancing back up to look at the pills. He was dumbfounded.

What has he gotten himself into? What did he marry? Even though she was so spoilt, he thought things would change when they get married but everything keeps getting more complicated for him. He took the pills and left her room.

••

The next day, he was arranging his suitcase when she sauntered into his room. Arms akimbo as she walked further into the room. "What are you doing?" She asked looking at the suitcase filled with his clothes. He walked to his closet and fetched more suits. "Going back to Canada, tonight," he responded, not gazing her way.

"What do you mean by that? Mujahid! What do you mean by going back to Canada?" She asked, panicking but acted cool. "Chill, you don't have to question. Definitely I'll come inform you," he spoke nonchalantly, as always. "It's been months since I went to the office. I do my work here in my laptop but I just received a letter from my boss saying I would get fired if I don't show up in two days."

She tilted her head looking at him packing. "I'm going to go pack my bags too," she concluded before turning to leave. "Pack your bags? And go where? With which flight ticket?” He questioned she turned and glared at him. He chuckled dryly and continued his work. "I'm not taking you anywhere with me, plus I'd be there for just 2 or 3 weeks so, You don't need to follow me."

"How can you travel for more than a week and leave me here alone? That's not going to be possible, I'm following you and that is final!" She declared before sauntering out of the room. He chuckled dryly and closed his suitcase. He moved to his side drawer and fetched out her room key.

He entered her room and met her already emptying one of her suitcases. He removed the key attached to her door and locked her from the outside. "Wha...." she gasped and rushed to the door.

She pounded on the door and demanded to be let out, but he wouldn't let that happen. He had done more than enough for the past 24 hours. He felt like she was a bad luck to him. He finished getting ready after two hours and left the house to his parents'.

He entered the house and entered his father's living room. Baba turned and looked at him. "Salamu Alaikum," he said, walking further into the living room. He settled down on the one seater before greeting baba. "Wa'alaikumus Salam. Mujahid, how's everything? And also your family?"

"Everything is fine Alhamdulillah baba. I'm set to leave tonight," he spoke. "About that, please don't joke with your work like you did before. You know if not because of me, you would've been fire months ago. So please take your work seriously now that you have a family and she depends on you."

Mujahid nodded, "in sha Allah baba. Is Ummah around? I want to go say goodbye before the driver takes me to airport."

"Yes, she was asking about you few moments ago. But you should hurry up before you miss your flight." Mujahid nodded before leaving. He headed upstairs to her room.

She was packing intisar's hair when he entered. "Salamu Alaikum. Good afternoon Ummah," he greeted sitting on one of her sofas. "Wa'alaikumus Salam. Good afternoon. How's your family? You're leaving already?" She questioned, sitting on her bed beside intisar.

"Yes Ummah, I just came to say goodbye," he spoke, his head ducked. He felt guilty for locking up Nadia but serves her right for betraying him and taking birth control pills. He had already planned what to do to her when he was back from Canada.

"I hope everything is fine between you and Nadia. Why aren't you taking her with you?" Ummah asked him. He raised his head but lowered his gaze when their eyes met. He felt like she could read his mind through his eyes. "Ummah, she goes to work and I'm not staying there for long that's why. But when I settle things there by next year, we would move there." He explained. Ummah sighed, "Toh, please Mujahid be very careful. May Allah bless you."

He rise up from the chair and said his goodbye to Ummah. He went straight to Aydah's room and knocked. Few seconds later, she opened up. He scratched the back of his head and smiled a bit. "Good afternoon yaya, how may I help you?" She asked, holding a straight face.

"I need your help please," he pleaded. She folded her arms, waiting to hear what he has to say. He shoved his hand in his pocket and brought out the key to Nadia's room. "Go to my house and unlock Nadia's room," he instructed. "What? Why?" She asked dumbfounded. He handed the key to her, "I locked her in."

"But why?" She dared to ask. He massaged the bridge of his nose, clearly annoyed. "Just do what I asked you to do. She has been locked up for almost two hours now," he whisper yelled. Her eyes widened but she nodded and went back into her room to get her veil and car keys.

She informed Ummah before leaving. He had already left with the driver when she came out. She entered her car and started it. She hissed a bit, remembering how they never get along with Nadia. Why didn't he ask Fadila to do it? She was Nadia's favourite. She knew Nadia hated her because of Maryam. She shrugged her shoulders and continued driving. Nadia is something she doesn't actually care about.

She arrived at the house and parked her car outside the house. She walked into the house thinking how she would she enter when he didn't give her the front door key. She turned the doorknob and luckily, it was open. The moment she entered, she heard a door from upstairs being pounded on like it was going to get broken down. She took slow steps to the staircase. She wondered why he locked her up in her room. Whatever the case it was, she didn't care.

She marched up the stairs to the door. The moment she unlocked it, she felt a sharp pain on her cheek. Nadia gasped when she realised he wasn't the one. Aydah looked up in disbelief, holding her cheek. "Oh, aydah..... I'm so sorry.... I thought....."

"You thought it was my brother?" She cuts her off. "You were actually going to slap my brother? Your husband? Does that sound right to you, Nadia?" Her face flushed red in anger as she spoke.

"Hey excuse me, miss! You don’t have the right to question me about what happens in my own house! Whatever happens between me and your brother who happens to be my husband is none of your business so better watch you stinky mouth, young lady!" Nadia spat and turned back to her room. Aydah held her wrist and dragged her back, "are you for real saying this to me? Young lady? Hah! Damn you I'm older than you with about three years. Don't think because you married my older brother that gives you the audacity to say whatever that comes out of your mouth!"

“Oh yes, you’re older than me. But the funny part is, you’re heading towards 30 but you still live with your parents while I’m in my husband house. Haha, mtsww!” Nadia hissed and snatched her hand away. Aydah wanted to lock her up again, leave and come back after two days but she restrained herself. She wasn't going to allow a spoiled child like Nadia to ruin her mood.

So that was how her brother lives with that witch? No wonder he locked her up in her room. She wouldn't blame him for whatever he'd do to Nadia. But deep down in her heart she was happy about their marriage because of what he did to maryam.

Karma is finally paying back!