EPISODE SIXTEEN
Hazeemah runs out of the office in tears and bumps into Mariam, who stands by the door.
Mariam: Did she just quit her job? Or did I hear her wrong? Just because he yelled at her? I thought she was the only one who could endure his attitude. (Shakes her head) This still doesn’t feel right... The last thing on my list is to quit my job. (Gently steps away from the doorway and returns to her office.)
Inside the office:
Khalid: What the hell, man? Did you really have to be so mean to her? I thought she was your wife or something?
M.K: (Panting heavily) This is all because of you!
Khalid: Oh, now you’re blaming me?
M.K: Why did you come back? Why!? (Raises his voice)
Khalid: (Steps forward) If this is how you’ve been treating her all this while, despite being your wife, then you don’t deserve her. I know her better than you do. I know she rejected me because it was too late for me to recognize her worth, but she doesn’t deserve to be treated like this.
M.K: (Angrily hits the desk) Kindly leave my office! Now!
Khalid: You better work on your anger issues, or you’re going to lose her to me forever.
M.K: (Roars) I said, LEAVE!
Khalid: That’s what you’re best at, actually... I expected better from you. I’m out of here. (Turns to leave.)
M.K: And as for the collaboration—we’re done.
Khalid: (Smiles) We’ll see about that. But first, I’m going to find her.
M.K: (Tightens his fists and pushes Khalid out of the way, leaving him in the office. He runs downstairs as the elevator fails to open. Dialing her number repeatedly, he reaches his car.) Hazeemah, please pick up...
At the nearest cemetery:
Hazeemah sits outside the cemetery wall, lost in thought. She bows her head to her knees, sobbing softly, inhaling the bitter air of reality. Suddenly, her thoughts are interrupted.
Khalid: (Standing in front of her) As-salamu alaikum.
Hazeemah: (Gently raises her head in surprise) What are you doing here? How did you even find me?
Khalid: Well, uhm... you once told me back when we were together about your healing place. I tracked you down with that. (Moves to sit a little farther next to her.)
Hazeemah: (Suddenly gets on her feet) You shouldn’t be here.
Khalid: Neither should you. I’m just here to make you feel better, that’s all. And you know how much I care about you.
Hazeemah: That’s not your responsibility. I’m married, okay? So please leave me alone. I never want to see your face again.
Khalid: Well... you sure will. But I can’t stand by and watch you being treated like this by your so-called husband. He doesn’t even deserve you.
Hazeemah: That’s my decision to make. (Sets to leave.)
Khalid: I swear, I mean no harm. I just want to be there for you. Alright then, let me at least take you home.
Hazeemah: Whether you mean well or not, I don’t care. You need to stop coming back into our lives. You’re the reason he’s changed towards me.
Khalid: Because he’s afraid you might leave him for me?
Hazeemah: I’m done talking to you. (Walks away.)
Khalid: Hazeemah! Please wait! (Runs after her and finally catches up.) Please, hear me out...
Hazeemah: (Suddenly breaks down in tears, raising her pleading hands.) I’m begging you—leave. Please! If you really cared about me, you would understand this better. We were not meant to be, so stop trying. It’s killing me. And don’t you dare come after me again. (Walks away.)
Khalid: (Exhales deeply) Hazeemah!!!
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At home:
M.K: (Searching the entire house) Hazeemah! Please answer me. I know you’re in here somewhere. Please listen to me—let’s sort this out. (Still no response.) Hazeemah, alright, I’m sorry, okay? I’m stupid and crazy for yelling at you. Please… (Suddenly hears a door open downstairs. He races to the stairs and sees her opening the door.) Baby! (Runs down the stairs.) Where are you coming from?
Hazeemah: (Sadly looks at him and walks away.)
M.K: Hazeemah, please, I’m sorry.
Hazeemah: (Getting emotional as she climbs the stairs.)
M.K: (Goes after her) Please... hear me out. I know I was wrong for everything.
Hazeemah: (Tears gush down her eyes as she opens the bedroom door.)
M.K: Please say something. Let’s sort it out. I know you’re deeply hurt right now. Just tell me how I can make it up to you. (Realizes she is sobbing silently, then lowers his tone.) Hey... (Moves closer and tries to touch her.)
Hazeemah: Don’t you dare touch me, M.K. Is this who you really are? I’ve been trying my best not to be reminded of how you used to treat me at the company. So, this is how you’ll treat me? What happened to the man who respected me when I was in hijab? What happened to the man who couldn’t bear to see me shed a tear? What happened to the man who wanted to treat me like his wife? You embarrassed me several times back then when we were strangers, but how could you do it now? (Tears gush down her face.) All you care about is yourself. Do you even consider how I feel? I can’t sit here and watch another woman disrespect my husband, but you disrespect me?
Yes, you’re right. I know you and I met at that company. Yes, I was under you. Yes, I was after making my money there. But that doesn’t give you the right to treat me like I don’t matter. If working under you makes you disrespect me this way, then I quit for real this time. And I’m never coming back. (Tries to leave, then pauses again.)
And speaking of my ex, you proved to him today that you don’t deserve me. Instead of treating me better when we were with him, you treated me like a rag—just like you used to call me. So much for the loving Abdulmalik. You don’t even know me. You never even tried to know me better. I was at the cemetery because that’s the only place I remind myself that, no matter how much I stress about this world, whether I win or lose, I’ll end up there one day. So whether you treat me right or not, you and I are both going to end up there. I thought you’d find me, locate me. But no—you’re too proud to do that. Someone who isn’t my husband knows me better than my husband.
One last thing: as a Muslimah, I will never commit adultery. Never. If I could keep myself until our nikkah night, I can never cheat on you. If this marriage brings me nothing but pain, I’d rather leave than commit a great sin. (Her face is filled with sadness, covered in tears.)
And another thing: I told you I wanted to have a baby. What’s the point of saying it again? You clearly don’t want it. You don’t even listen to anything I say. You’ve turned your father into your enemy—what a pity. After all I’ve said, you’ve never changed. I will do nothing but turn you into a screen. Marriage is filled with ups and downs anyway. But I’m never returning to M&S Company. With or without you, I will achieve my dreams. May you never know the value of what you’ve got until you lose it. (Breaks down in tears and falls onto the bed, crying bitterly.)
M.K: (His eyes are red, trying to get hold of his emotions. He stands at the same spot, speechless, not knowing the next step to take.)
*************************************************************
The next morning, 5:34 a.m.
Hazeemah woke up and noticed her husband wasn’t in bed. She gently got down, only to accidentally step on him—he had slept on the cold floor all night. Surprised, she knelt next to him and looked at him with sad admiration, wishing he would change for the better. A tear slipped from her eye and landed on his face. He stirred and slowly opened his eyes, shocked to see her so close.
M.K: (Sits up, his voice low and heavy with emotion) Baby...
Hazeemah: (Holds his gaze for a few moments, then stands) It’s time for Salat. (She moves toward the bathroom.)
M.K: Hazeemah... please wait.
Hazeemah: (Pauses without looking back) It’s time for Salat. There’s no time to waste. Please go to the mosque. (She enters the bathroom, then returns shortly after. She heads to the dressing room, pulls out one of his thick jackets, and hands it to him.) Take this... it’s cold outside.
M.K: (Takes the jacket and gently holds her hands, pulling her into an embrace from behind) I’m so sorry... deeply sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you. I didn’t realize the monster I was becoming. I let my emotions take control.
Hazeemah: (Attempts to free herself as the Adhan is called) Please go... I don’t want you to miss the prayer. Hurry up. (She wipes her tears and helps him into the jacket.)
M.K: I’ll be right back. (He leaves the room, guilt weighing heavily on him.)
Hazeemah: (Watches him leave, then breaks down in tears once more.)
M.K: (Stands outside the door, groaning softly as he hears her cries.)
A few hours later
Hazeemah: (Entering the room) Breakfast is ready, sir. I just wanted to let you know.
M.K: (Looks at her silently, guilt written all over his face.)
Hazeemah: Sir? I said breakfast is ready... please don’t reject my meal.
M.K: (Suddenly gets up) I’m ready to eat.
Hazeemah: (Smiles faintly and leads the way to the dining room.)
A few minutes later
M.K: (Quietly eating, glancing at her reactions with every bite.)
Hazeemah: (Breaks the silence) When you’re heading to work, can you drop me off at my parents’ house? I’d like to see my mom.
M.K.: (Clears his throat) Actually, I’m not going to work today.
Hazeemah: (Raises an eyebrow) Why?
M.K.: I want to spend time with you. I want to get to know you better and take you on a date. I want to fill the gaps I’ve left unfilled.
Hazeemah: (Takes a spoonful of food, her voice subdued) You don’t need to do that.
M.K.: That’s my decision to make.
Hazeemah: But I really need to see my mom. She told me my brother brought Salamah home.
M.K.: (Frowns) He did what? Is he serious about marrying her?
Hazeemah: Yes. I wish I could locate Salamah and talk to her. I want to hear her side of the story.
M.K.: Then let’s do it. We have her home address on file from her credentials. We can go together.
Hazeemah: But your company needs you.
M.K.: That’s not my company. My real company is in the U.K., and I run it remotely. Right now, my priority is spending time with my wife and making things right.
Hazeemah: Can we not talk about us for now?
M.K.: As you wish. (Smiles softly) Let’s finish breakfast and get ready to explore.
Hazeemah: Okay.
Watch out for the next episode!
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