Mustakeemah’s POV
I thought this pregnancy I’m carrying would be the one to change my life for good, but it’s turning otherwise… I thought this pregnancy would unite us and make him love me for real this time, but it was all a lie. I thought this child I’m carrying would also change my way of living, but instead, things keep getting worse and worse. Ever since I realized that I’m pregnant, the excitement of bearing a child keeps me going. The fact that I’m going to be called a mother soon is so amazing that whenever I’m sad and I remember I have a great gift coming into my life, I feel relief from my sorrowful life. I’m going to carry a child in my hands, and I’ll give my child everything he or she needs in this world that my own mother wasn’t opportune to give me. Now I finally feel like a real woman. I was busy thinking about all this in the kitchen, patiently waiting for his dinner to be ready, when I heard his voice from the living room talking to someone. I quickly sneaked out of the kitchen to cover my head because he had warned me several times about that and I didn’t want to be disgraced in front of anyone. Immediately I heard his voice again calling out my name, so I quickly came out of our master bedroom, struggling with my head tie as I walked fast to meet him.
Mustakeemah: Yes sir, you’re welcome sir.
Mubarak: Where were you? I’ve been calling your name like six times now!
Mustakeemah: I’m sorry sir, I went to get my head tie from the room, that’s why. I’m so sorry sir, dinner is almost ready.
Mubarak’s Friend: Guy, who is she?
Mubarak: Oh! She’s my maid, what happened?
Mustakeemah: (shocked)
Mubarak’s Friend: Well, your maid isn’t that bad, she looks hot for me though. How are you doing, beautiful? And what’s your name?
Mustakeemah: (her eyes meet Mubarak’s, but his reaction says it all. She understands quickly not to utter a word, so she turns back and heads to the kitchen) Please excuse me, sir.
Mubarak’s Friend: Yo! Wait now! Mubarak, please help me talk to her now. These are the type of wife material I’m looking for, so please help me. I don’t mind her educational standard, all I need is a wife to take care of me and our children. So will you help me talk to her?
Mubarak: (his face changes) Can we get back to business that’s more important?
Mubarak’s Friend: So this isn’t important right? Bro, and you know how much I’ve always updated you about the ladies in my life.
Mubarak: (not smiling) Can we talk about that next time? You know I don’t joke with money, so please let’s get back to work.
Mubarak’s Friend: Okay o, no problem. I’ll get her myself. So, where were we? (as they continue discussing business, Mustakeemah comes in to serve them drinks) Thank you so much, gorgeous.
Mustakeemah: Thank you sir. (she responds with a smile, not knowing Mubarak was angrily staring at her) So sorry sir. (she quickly leaves)
Mubarak: Nonsense!
********************
Later in the night
Mubarak: (running after her) Come back here, you fool! I swear if I catch you tonight you won’t like it. I said stand there! Don’t move out of that spot.
Mustakeemah: Sir please, I’m sorry. At least pity my condition, I’m carrying your child. Please sir, I’m begging you.
Mubarak: (he angrily moves closer to her and slaps her twice) Prostitute! So now it’s my friend you’re eyeing? You’ve got some nerve!
Mustakeemah: Please stop beating me, this is unfair… totally unfair! I am a human being just like you, and you know deep inside your friend was the one playing around. I obeyed all your instructions, but if you’re not okay with it then caution your friend. You don’t have to always beat me for no reason. At least pity my condition.
Mubarak: (jaw drops) Did you just talk back at me? (immediately he pounces on her and beats her mercilessly for a very long time, until he realizes she is bleeding, then he stops) This will serve as a lesson to you, not to ever in your life talk back at me.
Mustakeemah: (struggling for air as she groans in pain) I’m bleeding! (she screams out in pain) I’m bleeding! Please call the doctor! (panting heavily as she cries bitterly) Please help my baby, I’m bleeding! Please, I don’t want my baby to die, please! Please Mubarak, help me, please!
Mubarak: (realizes she has miscarried) I’m coming, let me call the doctor. (he walks out on her, leaving her in the pool of blood with her swollen face)
Mustakeemah’s POV
It was at this moment I realized that if I don’t take action in my life, I will die a painful death in this monster’s hands one day. The fact that I screamed in pain and he left me in the pool of blood… I realized right then that I need to pay back for all the things he had done to me. I felt like strangling him at that moment, because he didn’t care whether I died or not. I never realized the blood was too much until I passed out. But to my surprise, I found myself still on the floor being treated by our doctor as I groaned in pain. I looked at the doctor furiously, thinking you are also a monster, and I will make sure you all pay for your contribution in this. I turned to him and asked in a weak tone, “Doctor, how is my baby? Is she still inside me?” But he responded with just one word: No. I broke down in tears. Even though I had no strength in me, I couldn’t bear the fact that I had lost my baby—the only hope I had left in my life, the only happiness I was holding onto, was bitterly taken away from me by this monster called a father. Tears continuously flowed down my eyes as I mourned the death of my unborn child. He didn’t let this pregnancy last in me. What did my parents ever do for me to deserve all this? What is my offense? I cried so loudly that the doctor had to tie my mouth so I wouldn’t make too much noise, but that didn’t stop me from crying.
The next morning
I woke up around 8:30am. I noticed he wasn’t next to me on the bed. As I placed my leg on the tiles, I felt a very sharp pain shooting from my abdomen, preventing me from getting up. But I had no choice but to swallow the pain and prepare his breakfast before he came with a knife this time around to remove my head. As I got to the living room, I found everywhere quiet like a graveyard. Suddenly the telephone rang again. At first, I bitterly stared at the phone, purposely watching it so he could see everything. I began to ask myself: what’s the worst he can do to me than beat me? If he really wanted me dead, he wouldn’t have called the doctor. So let the worst happen, because I’m tired of this life already. I’m so tired. As I was about to take a step closer to the telephone, I heard a voice at the compound. I struggled to move my legs, and when I got to the compound, I saw that same delivery man smiling as he finally saw me. I moved closer to him, trying as much as possible to hide my pains, but it was so hard. Immediately I set my eyes on him, patiently holding his pen and paper, I broke down in tears.
Delivery Guy: Madam, what’s wrong? Why are you crying? Did someone hurt you? You don’t even look so good.
Mustakeemah: (wipes her tears but they couldn’t stop flowing) I’m fine, just give me the pen, let me sign on it and leave.
Delivery Guy: No, you don’t look so good and I can’t leave you like this. You look terrible. What happened to your face? Madam, talk to me, if there is anything I can do to help you.
Mustakeemah: (falls on her knees and breaks down in tears again) My babyyyyyyyy!
Delivery Guy: (curious and worried) Your baby? What happened to your child? (he continues to console her, then later realizes she’s in an abusive marriage) But I hope your baby is okay, right? Because you don’t look okay at all. Does your husband beat you? Like, does he hit you? Madam please talk to me so I can report to the police.
Mustakeemah: He is a monster. I need help, please… before he kills me too… please help me.
Delivery Guy: (quickly on his phone) I’m listening. He killed your child?
Mustakeemah: Yes! You need to save me and get me out of here, please brother, please. I’m dying here. This monster will kill me soon and dump my corpse. Please help me. (cries bitterly as she pleads for help, suddenly Mubarak barges into the compound, angrily walking up to the delivery man, panting heavily, giving her deadly looks. That was when she realized he would definitely kill her today for exposing him to a stranger.)
Mubarak: (tries to control his anger as he faces the delivery guy) Mustakeemah, my love, please go inside while I talk to the delivery man.
Mustakeemah: (panting heavily)
Delivery Guy: Don’t go inside! Stay right there while I deal with this monster.
Mubarak: Who are you referring to, my brother? (he gives Mustakeemah a deadly look again, which makes her quickly run inside the house and slam the door) Why is a delivery man talking to my wife, trying to harass my wife in my own house? Oh, I see. I can see now that you’re tired of your job. Now let’s make this clear between us. I know my wife must have told you something about me, and I’m not scared about that either. And you know, just now I realized your mother is in the hospital fighting for her life and uhmmm…
Delivery Guy: (panting heavily as he hears his mother mentioned) How did you know about my mother?
Mubarak: No, you don’t have to worry about that. All I need from you is to zip your mouth and act like you heard nothing from my wife. But if you choose to turn a deaf ear, first I will kill your mother and your two sisters, then I will come for you as well. And I mean my words. So stay out of this. (he takes the pen from him and signs)
Delivery guy: (scared) Are you threatening me?
Mubarak: If it sounds like a threat to you, then take it like that and act smart. Are you after saving this girl or saving your entire family? And remember, they are the only loved ones you have. The sad part is, you are from a poor family. A rich guy can’t be a delivery guy, you know… so use your number six. (He pushes the pen and paper on his chest) Now leave!
Delivery guy: (panting heavily as he angrily leaves the house)
Mubarak: Such a foolish boy! You are too small for me to handle. Now back to you, witch.