Mustakeemah: (knock at his door) can I come in sir?
Mubarak: (in the shower)
Mustakeemah: hello? (she slightly push the door and it open) oh! (she enter inside and found no one) where is he? (she place it on the table) here is your food sir (she take her leave) my body hurts so much and my head hurt, where can I get paracetamol? (she head to the kitchen) am starving and am tired… (she put her food and sit on the kitchen floor)
Few minutes later.
Mubarak: (called out her name while looking for her) Mustakeemah!!!! Where on earth could she be? (he head back to his room and tried to know her where about by watching the CCTV ) no she is not in the living room and neither is she in the guest room, she is not in the compound neither is she in the toilet? Oh! The kitchen but even if she is in the kitchen she was suppose to respond to my calls! Here she is…. Wait a minute… she is sleeping on the floor? (exhale softly) funny girl but I never knew she was a great cook; very lovely but to think of it for the fact that I hit her so hard she still manage to calm my nerves, this is the woman have been searching for my whole life… I woman I can turn into a punching bag and still love her, a woman that will calm me down and take good care of me? gosh! What took her so long to come into my life? Although I feel bad for hitting her, so that will serve as a punishment for her not ever break my rules in this house… but right now I need to arrange our Nikkah that will take place in the living room with few people.. she is definitely my dream woman, I will do anything in my power to take good care of her if she is willing to be as patience as she was today forever (bright smile on his face) I better go meet her (he head to the kitchen as he gently open the door and tap her) hey! Mustakeemah! wake up! Why are you sleeping over here?
Mustakeemah: (hurriedly stand up in fear) sir!! Am so sorry sir, I didn’t mean to break any rules don’t be offended I promise it will never happen again please forgive me… (Pleading for mercy)
Mubarak: (seems confused) what are you talking about? And why are you shivering? Did you see me with belt? I search for you in the entire house but you were nowhere to be found not knowing you were here… anyway go to the room and sleep if you are tired.
Mustakeemah: no sir, am ok like this, I swear am fine like this (rubbing her body in fear)
Mubarak: how on earth do you expect me to leave you here; you are my wife to be and I need to take care of you, what if a friend of mine found you here wont they say am maltreating you? Now this is a command get up and go straight to the room…and if you don’t want to sleep in my room then go to the guest room.
Mustakeemah: ok sir (staring at the ground) I will do that right away.. but sir do you need anything before I go? Like water or juice?
Mubarak: (bright smile) you are such a caring girl and I love that about you, anyway am absolutely fine, you can go in and rest.
Mustakeemah: thank you sir (she stylishly leave him in the kitchen)
Mubarak: I must marry this girl at all cost, she belongs to me and she will be mine forever.
*********************
Few days later
At the hospital
Mrs. Shola: (sit next to her daughter’s bed) my princess please wake up, we need you.. please come back.
Mr. Suraj: I don’t even understand what the doctor said; how can he said there is nothing wrong with her than she took overdose vitamin c, does that even make any sense? I don’t think this hospital is professional enough for my child, lets move her to another hospital at least we can know exactly what is wrong with her and find a solution cus am tired of all this.
Mrs. Shola: (angrily staring at him but didn’t utter a word)
Mr. suraj: did you heard what I said honey?
Mrs. Shola: (Angrily scan him front head to toe and hiss) is not your fault oh, honestly is not, all this happened because I listened to you that night; if you let her slept in our room this wouldn’t have happened because I don’t know why this is happening as we are struggling to free ourselves from one bondage we are landing into another problem, all I need now is my daughter’s safety nothing else.
Mr. suraj: I understand how you feel and if I knew this would happened i wont hesitate to take her into my arms that night but I thought she is…
Mrs. Shola: (cut in): she is what? Tell me! what kind of a father are you? (yelled angrily)
Nurse: madam please keep it down you are shouting, you are not the only one in the hospital now.
Mrs. Shola: am sorry… (lower her voice) we are not done talking about this!.
Mr. Suraj: (roll his eyes) cant you let bygone be bygone? You always over react on everything.
Mrs. Shola: (angrily raise her eye balls as she stand on her feet) you are gonna pay for this promise you (she walk out on him and hit his arms)
Mr. suraj: babe! C’mon! is not upto this… (his phone ring and he quietly pick the call) hello baby! Why are you calling me by this time of the day after I told you my child is admitted in the hospital…. No!! don’t visit me, we are fine! Do you have to land me in trouble all the time? Ok!! I will call you back but don’t make any stupid moves ok? Please am begging you….alright then I love you (quickly end the call and move closer to his daughter’s sick bed) please get well soon my angel… so all this drama can be settled..
************************
The next morning (7:10am)
Mubarak: (stretching) is morning already (surprise to see the room neat and food place next to his bed) wow! (chuckled) this is a blessing, now I feel like a real king (he open the food and gasp) masha Allah! Now that’s a chef indeed (he get up and woke up? Mustakeemah!!!
Mustakeemah: (in the guest room taking her bath until she heard his voice, she quickly pour the remaining water and run out of the bathroom trying to find something to wear) sir am coming sir.. (struggling to wear clothes as she hurry up) am coming sir (she quickly use one of the hijab he bought for her and head out) sir you called me am sorry sir I was taking my bath that’s why..
Mubarak: (scan her from head to toe and smile) since when you woke up?
Mustakeemah: I didn’t check the time sir… (staring at the floor as she speaks)
Mubarak: anyway since you are done with all the chores, delivery man will bring the foodstuffs and your bride’s wear; you need to prepare a meal of 10 people and also, we are getting married tomorrow morning, also make sure you pack all your belongings to my room… it will be a very small wedding ok? So do as I say I don’t want any question.
Mustakeemah: (almost break down in tears) sir please am begging you, besides am doing all you instructed me so please atleast give me the freedom to make choice of who I want to marry please sir, I don’t want to marry you please.
Mubarak: (face change) what did you said to me? how dare you! You are mine, I own you.. you are my property because your relative sold you to me, if you are important in their lives they wouldn’t have used you as an exchange of money, there shouldn’t be a difference between you and a slave instead of you to be grateful for taking good care of you because you are very obedient, this is how you repay me? I can wish not to marry you and use you anyhow I want but I choose to respect you by making you my legal wife and you want to ruin my day with your stupidity? You wouldn’t dare me! and if you don’t do as I say or even try to cry to the Alfas that I bought you from your relatives, I will makes sure you pay for it in a very very dangerous way, I will makes you suffer more than you could ever imagine…if you think I cant do that try me and see, you should be grateful its you I want to marry there are many beautiful, educated and high class women out there begging to be my wife but I choose you, you better don’t provoke me this morning….
Mustakeemah: (panting heavily as tears roll down from her eyes) sir please am begging you with the name of Allah please.
Mubarak: (he raise his voice angrily) Mustakeemah! Don’t dare me this morning, do what I ask you to do so you wont die a painful death, am leaving the house soon so make sure you rest well while am gone I wont say more than that.. excuse me (he walk out on her)
Mustakeemah: (she fell on her feet and break down in tears)
*******************
4 hours later.
Mustakeemah’s pov
What am I going to do? I don’t want to marry this man, he is very dangerous and kind at the same time, he will just kill me before my time.. what am I going to do? This questions keep hitting my heart so hard that I wish I can just disappear from his world besides I said am tired already, or should I take my life? All my life my only hope was when I marry I will finally gain my freedom but not this way yaa Allah! This is not how I want it… what am I going to do? The only man I like is Abdulhakeem but he had moved on without me, he didn’t bother to search for me.. but atleast he tried for me, assuming i can run away from here I will find all means to locate his house and express how I feel about him, he is the only good creature in my life… but I wasn’t favored by him.. when will I ever smile willingly? When?
Those thought occupied my mind while I was in the living room lost in thought and am sure he is watching me right now and he can call me at anytime…. What kind of luxury life is this that I cant move out of the house.. suddenly the telephone ring again but i was staring at the phone not willing to pick it then I realize he might be watching that I ignore his calls, I quickly jump out of the couch and pick it.
Mustakeemah: hello sir good afternoon sir.
Mubarak: oh so you didn’t want to pick it before.. right?
Mustakeemah: no sir its not like that..
Mubarak: no problem oh, no problem! Go outside.. the delivery man is outside (end call)
Mustakeemah: ok sir (she drop the telephone and wear her Hijab)
Delivery guy: (patiently waiting)
Mustakeemah: (open the door folding her arms) good afternoon sir.
Delivery guy: oh as salam alaykum madam, we meet again; what a coincident.
Mustakeemah: (fake smile) walaykum salam sir (scan the deliveries but surprise to see plenty of it) where am I going to sign?
Delivery guy: (lost in thought) she is very obedient, I cautioned her about the hijab the other time and she obeyed; masha Allah.
Mustakeemah: (notice he seems distracted) hello!! Sir!! Please hurry up let me sign I cant stay outside for long..
Delivery guy: oh! Am so sorry here is it (he hand over the pen to her) please sign here and here (he notice her hand is shaking) are you ok madam? You don’t look ok…
Mustakeemah: am fine just let me sign and leave, I shouldn’t be talking to you for long..
Delivery guy: (curious) are you sure you are ok? (notice she pause) ok its M.U.S.T.A.K.E.E.M.A.H, Yeah.
Mustakeemah: thank you sir (she hurriedly pick the deliveries and head back inside)
Delivery guy: (worried as he scratches his head) she doesn’t seems ok, she look weird and scared at the same time? Isn’t she Mr. Mubarak wife? Hmmm that’s not my business; I better get going.
Mustakeemah: (as she close the door she rest her head by door) I hope am not in trouble for staying long again..(telephone ring) oh no! am in trouble again!.