Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Faisal drowned himself with work. He worked like he has never before. Each time he remembers Kalthum, something in him keeps shouting and yelling at him. You don't deserve her, that voice kept saying.

He banged his desk with his hand " Enough!" he shouted at no one in particular as he held his head. Why can't people see that he is right and she is wrong? Why can't they just understand that she is only playing with their minds. Faisal's breathing becomes rage. He need to stop having all this thought about her if not he is going to go crazy in his office, he thought.

Umm Rasheed doesn't even meet his eyes again. She treats him like a trash. Those loving eyes he usually see everyday has now turned to disappointment. He tried explaining himself to her but she was also like his brother, she took Kalthum's side. Everyone always take her side what about him? he thought, as he fling a file across the room.

Right now the only people that seems satisfied with what he did to kalthum was his mother, Raihana and hassana . But deep down he felt this urge to go see Kalthum at her house or wherever she might be. She didn't take the money he gave her. This got him thinking that maybe she has another plan under her sleeve which is why she decided not to take the money.

Who in there right mind won't take such amount of money especially when they needed it the most ? She must be planning something else and he isn't going to allow her.

He rubbed his forehead for the tenth time today. His head has been throbbing since he woke up due to the lack of sleep. He sighed then stood up and call it a day instead. He walked out of his office brooding. He has been doing that since in the morning and the workers also noticed it so they decided not to cross his part in this fine day.

He walked to his Mercedes Benz which was parked at the lot. He entered the car and drove off immediately. A thought came to him to branch a particular place. It's been ages since he last went there. Hindatu's place.

A smile plastered on his lips as he remembers little Sameer . Atlease seeing sameer will take his mind off things, so he thought.

The familiar street came into view. He Parked his car at his usual parking spot whenever he comes. Faisal got out holding a bag filled with chocolate. He bought it at a shop on his way.

He closed his door then walks to the gate. Since the gate has no lock, he entered into the compound and went straight to the door step. He knocked on the door but didn't get a reply. He knock again and finally he heard a faint ' I'm coming '

He knew who that voice belongs too and he needed to prepare how he was going to to face her especially what his mother had done to her.

The door finally got opened and surprisingly, hindatu's mom beaming face came into view. Here he thought she was going to give him the cold shoulders but the woman looked nothing but happy to see him.

" Son! What a surprise!" she smiled as she opened the door wider " come in "

He nodded with his own smile then entered. He greeted her politely and she answered back with that same happy smile on her face.

" so what do I owe this surprise visit. For a second I thought you've forgotten about me

You don't even ask for me again " she chuckled

Faisal smiled softly " I'm sorry about that. Things has been so tight lately "

She nodded in understanding " I guess work must be so hard on you"

" you can say so" he rubbed his neck. He then finally asked for the person he came to see " So ... Where is Sameer and his mother? "

Aunty Jamila smiled " she went out with him but they will soon be back "

Faisal noticed that she smiles alot since he walked in. Things must be going well for them, he thought

" okay . Maybe I should come back next time "

" why do I feel as if you'er trying to run away because of me."

" Ah noo" he scratched his ear lightly with a finger.

She chuckled at his nervous self " you don't need to get nervous son. I'm over whatever it is between your mother and I and infact we have good news to tell you. Hindatu and i"

He nodded for her to go ahead " okay? "

" well Hindatu should be the one saying this but whatever. I'm just so happy to tell you. Hindatu is finally getting married " she said with a broad smile.

This must be the reason she has been happy since he walked in, Faisal thought.

The news kind of came as a surprise to him. A wide smile also spread across his face " wow! I'm very happy for her and she didn't even think of calling to tell me " he was actually happy and the last part was said with good intentions.

" she was going to actually but you don't pick her calls anymore so she didn't want to disturb you " she explained

He felt guilty . He had totally forgotten that he blocked her number . He never meant harm, he was only doing exactly what she did to him. She also blocked him and now he also did same.

" Look who finally graced us with there presence " Hindatu walked in with Sameeer trailing in front of her. She saw Faisal car outside when her fiance dropped her home which was how she knew he was here .

Faisal smiled in guilt. The little sameer he knew before isn't little anymore. He can now walk and he also look kind of chubby in a cute way .

" I'm sorry"

Hindatu shrugged as she came to sit on a chair " I'm over it. Infact I met Kalthum some days ago. I hope she delivers my message? "

Sameer went to sit beside Faisal who then carried him and put him on his laps " message? What message was that? "he asked with furrowed brows.

Hindatu was confused that the message didn't reach him " you mean she didn't tell you? "

Faisal shook his head " no"

Aunty jameela decided to excuse the two.

" well it wasn't anything serious. I only told her to please help me talk to you so you can finally pick my calls " she shrugged. The truth is she was disturbed at the reason why Kalthum didn't relay her message and she even begged her..

Faisal began to seethe. To him this just proves that Kalthum was playing a game with him. What Faisal didn't know was that, Kalthum did tried to tell him one time but that was when Raihana came to dragged him out of the house . The day he showed her around town. That then leaves them to the day that incidence with his mother occurred which then made Poor Kalthum to totally forgot to tell him.

" I should have know " he said to himself in anger.

Hindatu find his behavior strange " are you alright, Faisal? "

He turned to looked at her " yes I'm fine "

" No you don't. Is there some kind of fight between Kalthum and you? "

His silence finally answers her question.

" what happened? Why are you two fighting? Please talk to me Faisal " she was concerned for him. After all he is like her older brother.

He exhaled loudly " She isn't worthy to be talk about "

Hindatu's mouth were wide agape. Say what? " you don't mean what you just said Faisal. Stop talking like that. That girl loves you and you also love her too so what seems to be the problem? "

He rubbed his face " well it turns out that she was only in the house to deceive us. She isn't who she claims to be "

She just couldn't believe her ears. What was Faisal talking about? That girl is charming which now made Hindatu like her after their last encounter.

" You are not thinking straight Faisal" she scoffed " you need to stop talking like this "

" You just won't understand that is the thing "

" Then make me understand " she said exasperatedly " one minute you love her and now you're saying something like this. Please faisal,if this is some kind of joke,you need to stop it. Stop it right now before you regret it "

Hindatu's reaction actually got him speechless.

" I thought you didn't like her before so why are you suddenly defending her now? " he couldn't help but ask.

" Thank God you said before , back then I was jealous because you had eyes for her and not me but now I truly understood that you weren't meant for me. I belong to someone else. She has done zero harm to me and she looks so sweet like an angel. Tell me, how do you expect me to hate that kind of person? Tell me Faisal "

He groaned " I don't have time for all this " she also has joined the crew, he thought bitterly " Don't let her good looks deceive you "

" That's where you're absolutely wrong Faisal. You're the one being deceived by whosoever it is that I don't care to know their name. All I'm going to tell you is to think straight. That girl will never do anything that will harm you. I can never forget the jealousy I saw in her eyes that day at your office when she thought you and I were dating. Who gets jealous like that? That only meant she loves you. "

" just stopped talking Hindatu. You're just like the others. You don't even know what she did but you're here defending her "

" That is the thing Faisal, unlike you, I'm not the king of person that listen to rumours or lies. I can never allow anybody to manipulate me. You and I are two different people " she shot him a smile and her words hit home.

He clenched and unclenched his jaw. If care isn't taken, his teeth might actually break into pieces. He kept Sameer on his chair and then stood up.

" Here I thought you of all people will be on my side but no you decided to be on Kalthum's side. I can see clearly that her charm is actually working but I'll never be swayed by that "

Hindatu shrugged " Call it whatever you want to call it Faisal " her eyes turned soft all of a sudden " wallahi ,I care about you alot like a sister does for her big brother. That girl is a gem and I wouldn't want you to lose her. First you need to think straight stop fighting the good side of you Faisal. I know your heart is screaming and shouting at you but you're only trying to block it. Just please don't do something you'll regret and if you've already done the worst please go to Kalthum and beg her "

He snorted " over my dead body will I do that. When I'm not the person that did wrong? why should I be the one to beg her? That is where you are wrong Hindatu. I know what I saw and believe. All of you can believe whatever it is you want to believe I don't care "

After saying what he said, he stomped out leaving a mouth agape Hindatu. She began to have a rethink whether this was the Faisal she use to know.

***

" Well, habib, I'll not watch you insult my daughter in front of me " aunt Suwayba said but her eyes betrayed her.

Kalthum burst out laughing " Mom, if you want to intimidate ya Habib you need to try harder than that "

Habib grinned as be drank his sachet of pure water. He just finishing having rice and stew. The man treats himself as family already upon it was his first time of coming. Aunty Suwayba had found a liking on the young man in just few hours. The man is full of happiness.

What people don't know about habib is that behind that happiness, there live a man who is still mourning but he will never put his problems first. That's one thing he learnt from his late wife Rasheeda. She thought him how to be there for others ,she was so full of life that it's so hard to get her image out of his head. He misses her Alot .

" Aunty, if you'd seen how kalthum treats me over there at the house, you would never think of defending her. "

Aunty Suwayba's ear perk up at this info " Really? So she was a lot to handle? "

" very troublesome " he wink at a mouth agape Kalthum

" Mom, he is lying! Don't believe him. He is the troublesome one not me " Kalthum defended herself with a pout.

Habib presence actually made her forget her pending problems. He is just so perfect that she is lucky to have someone like him in her life. Sometimes Kalthum's tries thinking of ways she can repay him his kindness and she already know what to do. The only thing Habib needs in his life is to move on. It's high time he finds someone new in his life.

"Okay kids. Enough with the banters" aunty Suwayba stopped them from arguing more.

Habib pout with folded arms. Aunty Suwayba chuckles seeing the young man with a pout. She looked at Kalthum too and was surprised that she was also pouting just like Habib. She groaned

" You two are too much to handle . " she stood up " infact I'm going to my room to sleep off the headache I'm beginning to develop" she didn't wait for their response as she leaves. She knew the two needed to talk and that was the only excuse she has and moreover she was actually beginning to develop a headache.

" So...

" I'm...

They both said at the same time

" You should go first " Kalthum told habib who then nods his head.

" I'm truly sorry for what Faisal did to you. You don't deserve to be treated that way Kalthum "

She heaved a sigh " I just don't know What to think anymore. I tried thinking overnight about where I meant have gone wrong and I don't seem to know that up till now. I just wish he can tell me what I've done " she broke into tears " it's so tiring ya Habeeb "

Habib felt so bad for her " I wish I can take your pains away. I wish but I can't "

She wiped up her tears " Did he by any chance tell you what exactly is my crime? I'm very sure its wasn't because of what happened with your mother. I've this feeling that it's something else "

Habib rubbed his forehead " Yes you're right. It's something else "

" please tell me " she looked at habib eagerly

" Well.. It's a picture which was sent to him "

She furrowed her eyebrows confused " what pictures?"

" A picture of you and a particular guy at a park"

Realization dawned into her " No.. no... no.... no" she held her head." I should have know that Bashir will never change "

Habib's ear perk up at this " So you know the guy then? "

She sighed " yes but I didn't follow him to the park willingly. That day I went to the supermarket and when I got out I met Hindatu.....Oh no... Hindatu! I've forgotten she gave me a message to tell Faisal!"

Habib looked at her confused " what do you mean? "

She groaned " Hindatu sent me to Faisal and I've totally forgotten. How will I do that now that Faisal and I aren't talking "

" I can give you her number if you want " he told her " that way you can explain things to her "

" Oh Allah, you're a life saver ya Habib. That really mean alot to me "

" You don't need to thank me. Continue with what you were telling me earlier "

" I entered into his taxi without knowing that he was the one driving it. It was already too late to get down since he locked the door. He drove us to the park without my consent wallahi. I should have known that something like this will happen "

" I asked him why he brought me there and he told me he only want to apologize for what happened at the hotel few months ago "

Habib was confused. He needed to know full details about what happened at the hotel " Tell me something kalthum, what actually happened at the hotel? "

This was it . The only person that knows the real truth was her mother and now she is also about to tell habib who her sister really was.

" please tell me kalthum "

" That man didn't go to the hotel with me" she started

" Then who did he go with? "

" With.... With my sister, Basma "

" WHAT! "

*