Chapter 55: Chapter 55

“Why haven't you restocked the drugs that are not available? What if it’s needed urgently? Your name is Zainab, right?” He asked looking at the pharmacist. She bowed a bit and stuttered. “Calm down now and speak up,” he urged softly. “Yes sir... it is all going to be restocked today before evening.” She said. He chucked looking at the time. “It’s past 4pm if you don't know but anyways, don't let such thing happen again.” He spoke going through the book that they record every drug being sold. “Who bought this pregnancy test kit? Why didn't you write paid?” He asked, perplexed. “It was Doctor Maryam, she came here earlier today.”

He looked at the pharmacist with questioning look but nodded. He kept the book, then breezed out of the pharmacy. In few minutes, he was already on his way home.

Meanwhile, mommy stood by the door peering her eyes at maryam in displease. She still couldn't believe what her eyes was showing her and what her mind was telling her. If this was true, how were they going to face her father with this ghastly news? She didn’t even want to think of the punishment her daughter would go through if this was really true. “Maryam, I'm asking you, are you pregnant?” She spoke when she finally regained from the shock.

Her eyes were burning and her chest felt heavy as if it was filled with lead. She could no longer see clearly. All she knew was that her own has finished and she was in a hefty mess. Salty fluid dripped over her small, cracked lips. Her knees buckled as the soft carpet collided with her knees. “Will you speak up before I start beating you? Are you pregnant?” Mommy screeched furiously. Maryam shifted back in horror while her body trembled with fear. She couldn't even find the right words to say yes, she is pregnant. “I swear mommy, I didn't do this on purpose. I was...” She let her words trail off. As she cried, her bottom lip quivered, the same as a baby pushed past endurance. Her eyes became red and swollen. She had never heard her heart pound loudly like it did at that moment.

“You were what?” Mommy shirked already irked. Maryam didn't know when she stood up and knelt down again. She was so scared and confused. “I was raped and I couldn't tell you....” She couldn't finish her sentence when mommy landed two slaps on both her cheeks. “This is what you’ve been thinking of saying for the past few seconds you kept mute?” She asked, eyes brewing with anger. “You better start talking and tell me the truth. How did this happen? Hope did you get yourself pregnant? What do you want me to tell your....” She felt someone behind her, she knew that was nobody other than maryam’s father.

She slowly turned, hiding the kit behind her. He looked at her, arms crossed. “Let me have it,” he ordered. She hesitated before she handed it to him. He examined the pregnancy test kit thoroughly before summoning them to his living room down stairs. He settled down on the three seater and waited patiently for them to also join him in the living room. He stared at his daughter in awe, wondering how she got herself into that kind of mess despite how they've brought her up. He rubbed the space between his eyes and sighed. He felt the anger rising but he wasn't going to jump into conclusions till he hears what she had to say.

He rests his elbows on his thighs and looked at her, hugging her knees, face hidden. He averted his gaze to her mother before speaking. “What’s happening? Who took this pregnancy test?” He queried, tranquilly. “Doctor... I... you should ask your daughter, she refuses to tell me the truth,” she stuttered a bit. He looked at maryam and asked the same question. The enormous marble-floored, chandeliered living room went silent after daddy had spoken. She still didn't utter a word till her mother smacked her back and yelled at her. She briskly moved away from mommy and yelped in pain.

“Mommy, I've told you before. I was raped and I couldn't find the exact words to tell you. By Allah I'm not making this story up, that is how I got pregnant.” Tears involuntarily slid down her cheeks. The sound of her sobs filled the room. Her parents looked at each other and turned attention back to her. “If that is actually the truth, how did it happen? When did this happen that your mother didn't figure out?” He inquired, looking undisturbed. “It happened last two months.... Someone called me claiming he had a package for you and he was asked to give you hand to hand or any of your family member. I told him to give it to the gateman but he begged me that if his boss finds out he didn't do exactly as he was told to, he would be in trouble....” She let her words trailed off when the tears wouldn't stop falling. She felt a pain in her throat and chest. Crying didn't even calm her down like it used to before.

“Then what happened?” He asked looking at her carefully. “When I went out to get the package. I didn't know what happened again...I.... I just found myself in a dark place... and... that’s when it all happened....” The beads of tears falling down one after another, without a sign of stopping. Mommy sadly looked at her and looked at daddy, hoping he would believe her. She believed her daughter, she knew when maryam wasn't telling the truth and this wasn't one of them. She gave him a pleading look to believe their daughter but he chuckled and looked away.

“You do know that I will not believe all these lies you're feeding to me right? Well maybe your mother will believe you but this... this sounds like a made up story, maryam.... just tell me the truth, who is responsible for this pregnancy?” He asked raising his voice a bit. She shook her head, abruptly. “I don't know who daddy. They took turns on me....”

He looked at her with that same disappointed face he always gives her whenever she did something wrong. She felt a sting in her heart and her throat. She opened her mouth to speak but he stopped her. “I will not take such absurdity in my house, maryam! It’s either you tell me who did this or you start packing your things and leave my house now!”

She briskly got on her knees to beg him, she knew this was definitely going to happen. “Daddy, by Allah this is exactly what happened to me. It was so wrong of me to not speak up when it happened. I didn't know this would be the outcome after that. Mommy please say something, I'm not lying to you.” She pleaded. Mommy heaved a sigh and looked at him. “Doctor I think she's telling the truth, please think about it.” She also pleaded with him.

“Salamu alaikum,” he uttered coming into the living room. Their attention moved to him, making him feel uncomfortable especially when he looked at maryam’s tear stained face. “Wa’alaikumus Salam, Mahmud you're welcome,” daddy welcomed him with a smile as if he wasn't burning with anger inside. He squatted down and greeted her parents, head ducked. He just landed and all he wanted was to see her but maybe that wasn't a good time to have visited.

“I’m glad you're here. I can't hide this to you because I know definitely this will get exposed sooner or later. Please Kindly help me ask her who impregnated her.” She heard her father said. She hid her head in her knees feeling all sorts of new pain. His brain stutters for a moment and his heart leaped. He didn't hear daddy well right? Maryam? Pregnant? He gazed at her to her parents that had their eyes on him. What was he going to say? What were they expecting him to say? “She's pregnant?” He asked still not believing what he heard before. “Yes, she is and I want you to ask her who did it because she's not willing to tell us who is responsible for it. Or do you know.....”

Before daddy could finish his sentence, he uttered the words that he knew it was a solution for her but a huge mistake for him. “Daddy I did it. I'm responsible for the pregnancy.” He lowered his gaze after speaking. She abruptly looked at him in awe. How could he lie like that? “No daddy, he's not the one, he is not the one. I was raped, he's just lying to cover up for me.” She protested. Daddy took his eyes away from her and looked at him. “Mahmud, I know the kind of man that you are. I know you cannot do such. Please don’t get yourself involved in this huge tax.”

Mahmud shook his head stubbornly, “I'm not lying daddy. It happened few days before I traveled. I take all the responsibility for the pregnancy and I will accept whatever punishment you decide.”All the while his head was ducked. He didn't want anyone to see his already bloodshot eyes. He was beyond angry with her! But he wasn't going to judge her till he hears the story himself.

Daddy hissed a bit and brought out his phone. Within few seconds, he dialled on Mahmud's father’s number. “Salamu alaikum, alhaji Muhammad,” he said the moment the call was answered. He didn't waste time in telling him the situation there were in. His father was silent for a bit before talking. “We can't get them married since she's pregnant. In fact, doctor Mahdi I grant you the permission to choose the right punishment for them. And tell mahmud to never show his face in my house ever again!” He ended the call, furiously. He heaved a sigh and returned the phone into his pocket. He looked at the two and cleared his throat.

“Since you're responsible for the pregnancy, you should take her and get out of my house. I never want to see her anywhere near me or my family. And drop all your credentials and ID card in my study before leaving.” He declared and stood up, undisturbed, then breezed out of the living room. Mommy quickly stood up and followed him. She blocked his path, “what is the meaning this doctor? Did you hear what you just said? How can you send her away for something she didn't do on purpose? Don't forget, she's our only child. Fisabilillah, you should never speak when angry....”

“Kindly move away before I lose my temper on you! it is absolutely your fault because if you have actually kept an eye on her, this would never happen! And I warn you, I never want to see you anywhere near her anymore, else you will follow her too!” He Warned sternly and started walking away but she stooped him again. Tears already streaming down. “Please doctor, she's our only child. Just think about it. I know mahmud didn't do it, he just did it to cover up for her. I know what she said is the truth. Please you have to believe her, at least don’t send her away. She's our only child, don't forget.”

“I said get out of my way!” He seethed but she stubbornly stood still. “I will take her to my parents if you don't want anything that has to do with her.”

“When you take her there, you should also stay with her and don't come back,” he screeched and walked away. She quickly went back to the living room and met her still the way she was curled up in a ball. He stood there staring at her in disbelief. “Stand up, everything will be fine, okay?” Mommy soothed. She raised her face and looked at mommy’s face with her tear stained face. She could barely even see due to the way her eyes have swollen. “Am I really leaving mommy? Wallah I'm telling you the truth. Why can't he believe me?” She almost choked while speaking. “Shh, it’s okay. I believe what you said and we will find a way out of this,” she cooed, hugging her firmly.

“Mommy, I will take her with me and in sha Allah I will take care of her till she delivers.” He assured but mommy shook her head. “I will take her to my parents house....”

“What are they still doing in my house? Haven't I told you to pack your things and leave?” Daddy came in from nowhere. “I’ll be outside waiting for you,” mahmud spoke before walking out. Maryam stood up without speaking another word and left the living room to go pack her things.

“What you're doing is absolutely not right. You're being too harsh and strict, doctor. Aren't you afraid of what she can turn into in future after sending her away? Please have a second thought about this.” She tried to reason with him. He chuckled and shook his head. “I'm very sure he will take care of her since he has the courage to tell us he is responsible for the pregnancy. Look, I don’t want to see her again. He can go and get them married after she has given birth, I don't care. And I warn you again, I don't want to see you anywhere near that girl again.” He spoke mildly. “I know you love your daughter more than I even do. And I know you don't mean any of the words you've said. Just think about it before it’s too late.” And then she left.

She was tired of crying but the tears never seemed to stop. She wiped them away and continued packing her things in a suitcase. Mommy stared at her from the door. Just looking at her daughter breaks her down, left alone the thought of her leaving the house. She closed the suitcase after filling it with her clothes and dropped it down on the marble floor. She looked at her mother and burst into new sets of tears. She engulfed her in a hug. “I'm so scared. I'm really scared, mommy. I don't want to leave you.....” Mommy slowly patted her back and hugged her firmly. “Wherever you may be. Which ever situation you'll find yourself in, always fear Allah and have patience. Don't forget about everything I've told you before, okay? You are never alone. I believe mahmud will take god care of you and I will be here praying for you. Don't forget, with hardship comes ease and lastly don't play with your ibadah. May Allah protect you for me wherever you are. I will always call you and maybe visit whenever I get the chance.” She kissed her forehead softly and helped her wear her hijab.

She couldn't believe she was really leaving. why would her father do that to her? Why would he chose this tough punishment instead? Why can't he beat the living daylight out of her or just seize her ID card and credentials? “Go, he's waiting for you. Allah miki albarka, maryam.” She nodded her head and hugged her mother one last time before leaving.

She found herself in his car already driving out of the house. That was it.... She has been disowned and sent away by her own father. She will never forgive whoever did that to her and they will surely pay back for the damages they've caused for her.