Chapter 36: Chapter 36

The aroma of grilled meat covered in spice sauce appetizes anyone who smells it to eat it immediately. Rakia and Dashtan ate the dishes served at their table solemnly for a few minutes.

“Ash...,” Rakia called out which made Dashtan turn to her.

“How did you get through all your pain when Dalilah left you?” asked Rakia, she looked at the man curiously. Dashtan sighed loudly.

“I don’t know, all I know is... My other self told me that I had to move on with my life. I went to a psychiatrist because for a few months I had trouble sleeping and tended to shut myself away, no desire to work and meet people. I was ashamed of myself.”

Rakia looked at Dashtan attentively. She wanted to know a little about the man.

“Back then, when I was in middle school, I didn’t have any friends because they didn’t want to be friends with me who was said to be weird and too smart who only liked to study. Dalilah was the only person who wanted to be friends with me back then, and I was happy to have a friend even if it was just one person at least I didn’t think of myself as weird. We went to the same school until high school and got separated when I went to university first.”

Dashtan stopped to drink, Rakia was surprised by the man’s last words.

“You entered university first? Why?”

Dashtan smiled calmly.

“I’ll show you why at home,” Dashtan said, which only made Rakia more curious.

“At least... You have something to be proud of so far,” said a humble Rakia. She looked down and stared at her half-empty dinner plate that had been empty since earlier.

“Hey, everyone is special and has their own strengths and weaknesses. Maybe you don’t realize that.” Dashtan looked at Rakia trying to motivate the woman not to be inferior. Lifting her gaze, Rakia looked at Dashtan with a smile.

“After we go to Dubai I will be leaving for Turkey for the excavation.”

Rakia nodded, which meant she would be alone on the way home, including in the house.

“How long will you be there?” Rakia wanted to know, she finished her mineral water.

“About a week if the excavation goes smoothly without any problems, but it could be more than that, do you want to come?” offered Dashtan who honestly hoped the woman would come with him. Rakia smiled and shook her head.

“You’re trying to keep me from working, aren’t you?” asked Rakia with a feigned expression of anger, but that only made Dashtan chuckle.

“You want to stop working? No problem, I can get you started, you’re my wife.”

Rakia smiled wryly, if only their relationship was real, Rakia was willing to do it.

“You say that like our relationship is real in this marriage.” There was a heavy sigh from Rakia as her gaze shifted from Dashtan to the other direction.

“Rakia... This marriage is real, you are my wife, legal.” Dashtan experienced a slight surge of emotion when he said that. Rakia nodded as she looked down.

“I know that, but....” Rakia raised her gaze to look at Dashtan.

“Why does that deal make me feel like I’m not your wife? Just someone you married and lived with,” she continued, which momentarily surprised Dashtan and hit the man. Rakia then realized that it would only make the relationship between them murkier. She then smiled at Dashtan.

“I apologize, I didn’t mean to blame you. We’re just two strangers who agreed to marry out of interest. I shouldn’t have expected anything from it.”

“What did you expect?” Dashtan asked without pausing. Now, it was Rakia’s turn to be surprised, she looked at Dashtan for a moment then smiled. She couldn’t say it, it would only embarrass her. She realized, how could Dashtan accept her as a woman to love when the man didn’t seem to want to open his heart to any woman.

“Should I be honest with you when you’re definitely not going to fulfill it?! Never mind... Don’t ask that like I would never ask you to realize the kind of marriage relationship I expect from you. “Rakia said in a tired tone, she blew air using her mouth then looked at her watch to find out what time it was.

“Before we go home, can we stop by my mother’s house? I want to get some of my things that are still there, not much,” Rakia said to change the topic. Dashtan nodded with a smile that didn’t touch his eyes. They left the place and headed to Mrs. Adeline’s house. Rakia hugged her mother tightly as she met the woman. Then Dashtan did the same to the middle-aged woman and the two of them were welcomed into the living room.

“I’m going to my room to get my remaining things,” Rakia said to her mother and Dashtan. Pedro had just come from inside the house, he joined Adeline and Dashtan in the living room.

Rakia put all the things she needed into her backpack and left the room. She let out a long sigh, remembering her conversation with Dashtan a few moments ago during dinner. She couldn’t cry anymore, she didn’t know if her tears had dried up. Her heart was so broken that she felt there was nothing she could give Dashtan anymore. She descended the stairs with slow steps and a raging mind that caused her to experience misfortune. She sprained her foot due to not paying attention to her steps. She thought she had descended all the steps but there was still one last step left.

“Aaaawwww...,” she complained. Everyone in the living room immediately turned to her and approached her. Rakia winced as she felt her leg twisting. Dashtan immediately squatted down and looked at Rakia who looked in pain. She touched the spot that Rakia was currently touching. She heard Rakia moan loudly once again.

“Oh, Sweetie, you have to be careful,” Adeline said worriedly.

“Come on, take her to my room, her leg needs to be treated,” Pedro said which Dashtan immediately obeyed. He carried Rakia in front of his body and took her to Pedro’s doctor’s office. Dashtan set Rakia down on the patient’s bed. Pedro immediately checked Rakia’s sprained leg.

“Hold on because I’m going to fix the part that’s slightly displaced,” Pedro said. Rakia could only nod while closing her eyes. Dashtan swiftly stood on one side of Rakia and grabbed the woman’s hand as they unconsciously and situationally grasped each other. And Rakia screamed as Pedro fixed the part she was referring to.

After finishing, Pedro gave Rakia a prescription for medicine to buy at the pharmacy.

“It will heal in two days if you don’t move much and take the medicine regularly, it’s not severe but enough to make you have to rest for a whole day,” Pedro said and Rakia nodded. That meant she wouldn’t have to take an extra day off if her leg got better on the second day. Dashtan again carried Rakia in front of his body as they left the house. Adeline helped Dashtan open the car door so he could put Rakia in the front seat.

Until arriving home, Dashtan still did the same thing. He carried Rakia up to the woman’s room with her backpack slung over one shoulder. He set Rakia down on the bed carefully.

“I’ll get you some water and take your medicine.”

Rakia just nodded resignedly and Dashtan immediately did what he promised. Dashtan helped Rakia take the medicine he looked at the woman with a worried gaze as she drank.

“I’ll be fine,” Rakia said as she smiled at Dashtan. The man smiled and reflexively stroked the top of Rakia’s head and gave it a brief peck.

“Get some rest, I’ll buy you an assistive device tomorrow so you can walk comfortably,” Dashtan said before he walked away. Rakia stared at the man’s departure with a warm glow in her heart. Dashtan’s gentle treatment a moment ago had affected her to some extent. However, she did not want to be amazed for too long, if she did not want to feel disappointed for the second time she had to be able to hold her heart not to get carried away by what the man did to her.