Mustakeemah’s pov
I never believe I could breathe again because I have lost all hope, I keep wondering why Allah doesn’t want me up there, why? Just take me already am tired! But the crazy part my strength is back, Suddenly I heard a movement of someone but choose not open my eyes because I don’t know what and where I am right now, ya Allah why cant you please grant my last wish for me, all I asked for is death not happiness anymore am tired of breathing, am tired crying, am tired of being in pain, am tired of my sorrowful life.. if there is nothing you can do to help me then please take what belong to you am tired…I notice tears gushing out of my eyes again and gasp a little like aren’t you tired of this water…
Mubarak: (patiently seated waiting for her to wake up) when are you going to get up? You’ve been winkling your eyes aren’t you even bothered about where you are?
Mustakeemah: (finally open her eyes but not surprise to see him but still lay on the bed)
Mubarak: you don’t seem surprise to be in my house though! Is that something I should be worried about or you should be worried about?
Mustakeemah: (she finally get seated but keep mute)
Mubarak: (he angrily raises his voice) are you deaf? Aren’t you the one am talking to?
Mustakeemah: (not surprise) am sorry sir, what shall I do for you?
Mubarak: (clear his throat) well uhm, so you have sense before stressing me! anyway lets have a real discussion….. I will set rules in this house and you must obey each and everyone of it if you don’t want to face the consequences ok?
Mustakeemah: (she nodded)
Mubarak: do you ever wonder why I choose you over that money?
Mustakeemah: (no response)
Mubarak: (he yelled angrily) when am talking to you, you speak up!
Mustakeemah: (startled) sorry sir.
Mubarak: oh you know what? Go on your knees! Am talking to you and you are seated, where are your manners?
Mustakeemah: (she obeyed without hesitation) am sorry sir.
Mubarak: good! As I was saying, from the first time I set my eyes on you, I knew you will be mine, my property soon and here you are, (he adjust his position) now! Rule number one! You must not step your feet out of this mansion! If you do? I will naked you in front of my guest for 24 hours.
Mustakeemah: (shocked)
Mubarak: yes you are heard me right, if you need to buy any grocery and other stuff or what so ever it might be, delivery man will deliver it.. you just name all you need, second rule is when am angry try to find all means to calm me down, that’s the main reason I bought you because you have a calming sweet voice… so you better find all means to calm me down because if you don’t! I will beat you so mercilessly you will wish for death but you wont see.
Mustakeemah: (gasp) sir? (body shivering)
Mubarak: exactly how I expect you to react, so rule number three… you must prepare my daily meal at the right time, before am awake you have present my breakfast on my bed before 7am if you don’t work with your time you will take whatever I use to hit you at that moment.
Mustakeemah: (heart beat increases)
Mubarak: fourth rules is (thinking) am a very busy person so atimes when am free during the weekend I might be in the mood to have sex with you, you must comply with me or else I will make my way with force…
Mustakeemah: (panting heavily) sir! (she break down in tears) sir please I beg you with the name of Allah, I will do what ever you asked me except that please..
Mubarak: that’s not a big deal now! Besides you are not a virgin so why acting strange? Is not like you haven’t done it before?
Mustakeemah: (she bent her head in tears) sir please I beg of you please let me go please….
Mubarak: oh you think I don’t know, Suraj ones raped you when you were 12…. So better stay focus to the rules and listen very careful.. but I wont take advantage of you in haram way though, insha Allah by next weekend we will do our ahkid Nikkah, a silent ceremony because my family doesn’t live here and I was told you have no one as well so work is made easy right? All we need is some hustaz to witness and bless our union.. so don’t bother, you will be my wife soon and we will sleep in the same room… also, what ever you do under my roof I see everything, I install CCTV camera everywhere… so don’t ever think of running away because you cant.. my fence is wired, trust me you wouldn’t want to touch it…. So don’t worry my lovely wife we will spend the rest of our lives together, you are free to eat what ever you want wear what ever you like, I will provide everything for you… and we shall live together happily if you obey these rules… but If you choose to suffer first the choice is yours… now get up!
Mustakeemah: (crying bitterly) sir please I don’t want to marry, please have mercy on me, I promise to be your maid but please I don’t want marriage.
Mubarak: (face change) I said get up (he yelled angrily) when am talking to you ones, you listen and obey, if you get me angry now I swear you will face the consequences so when am talking to you, you act smart and do it.
Mustakeemah: (quickly get up and face down in tears) sorry sir.
Mubarak: good (finally rest his head on the couch) now go to our bedroom and change into something nice, after that you prepare my dinner and I give you just one hour to do that, all the groceries you will need are in the kitchen its all yours hurry up am starving, one more thing, if you ever think of poisoning my meal… that will be the end of you because I see everything…no go!
Mustakeemah: ok sir (she take her leave).
Mubarak: (staring at her backside) she doesn’t seem bad though…
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Mr. Suraj: (licking his fingers) baby this chicken is fire! Please put some more..
Mrs. Shola: (dancing and drinking) as in eh! So delicious… but honey we need to hire a maid o, I cant do all this house work all alone.
Mr. suraj: that’s a small matter, so don’t worry about that, lets just celebrate… (he join her to dance)
Olumide: (knocking) dad! Mum! Open the door…
Mrs. shola: (pause the music) that’s my daughter (she open the door) whats wrong honey? Do you need anything?
Olumide: mum I cant sleep In my room, its scary tonight and I cant find Mustakeemah to stay in my room till I fell asleep.
Mrs. Shola: what did you say? Mustakeemah keep your company?
Olumide: yes mummy so please can I stay in your room tonight?
Mr. suraj: (giving his wife a no signal) babe! Remember what we need to do tonight.
Mrs. shola: I remember but we need to cancel that till tomorrow.
Mr. suraj: hell no! (he get up) look sweetie off to your room, nothing will harm you ok? Off you go…. Bye good night (he slam the door) now where were we?
Mrs. shola: babe! Why would you do that to our child? She needs us! Why would you sent her away for your own selfish interest.
Mr. suraj: no! for our own selfish interest…. Babe I need you too, you’ve been with them since morning now that you need to give me attention you are diverting to the kids, that’s unfair now… hmmmm (he step closer to her) c’mon baby I missed you so much.
Mrs. Shola: you are so annoying honestly; wait now atleast let me lock the door.
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The next morning
Ayomide: (knock at his parent’s door, panting heavily) mum!!! Dad!!! Open the door… Olumide is not responding!
Mrs. Shola: (jump out of bed and open the door with a towel tie around her chest) what happened to her?
Mr. suraj: (also jump out of bed with boxer) lets go to her room.. (they all run to her room and found the room locked) what? Who locked the door?
Ayomide: I don’t know…
Mrs. shola: oh my God! Olumide my dear please open the door mummy is sorry.
Mr. suraj: please Olumide open the door! Please (they continue to knock and try to break the door open but Olumide wasn’t responding)… this is getting scary Olumide please!.
Mrs. Shola: (already in tears) please my baby open the door mummy Is worried, Ayomide go get daddy a hammer.
Ayomide: ok mum.
Mrs. Shola: please my darling open the door you are getting us worried… please my love.. (after several attempt to open door and calling out her name they finally break the door open and found her lying unconscious on the bed with tablets on the floor) olumide! (she rush to her aid) please honey open your eyes please! Ehh! He is not responding; Hospital get your car key nothing must happen to my daughter..Ayomide go get your shoes we are going to the hospit
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Mustakeemah’s pov
I woke up since 4am and I was unable to sleep, so I get myself busy with the house chores so I can meet up to his time scheduled for me, but the house is too big which require lots of work, I cried bitterly last night but I had to wipe my tears because Allah never hear my cries for ones, and I notice one thing about my life is that the more I cry the more things get worse, so all I need to do is find all means to survive and if the situation pass my power then I take my own life, I have no one to motivate me, no one to care for me and am about to marry a total stranger just to survive, from one problem to another but atleast I will be free here more than my previous life
I get myself busy with the house chores, such as cleaning, mopping, washing and cooking but I never get tired of chores but it has turn to my hobby, so that’s never a problem for me, last night I begged this man to let me sleep in the guest room or in store but he decline that I must sleep in his room but luckily he turns out to be a very busy person, he was awake throughout the night busy with his laptop but one different thing about him is that he doesn’t like to be disturb; I just need to be very careful with how I live with him….
6:59AM
Mubarak: (in bed pressing his phone) what’s the time? Mustakeemah! Where is my breakfast you have just a minute left!
Mustakeemah: (she barge in immediately holding a tray) here it is sir… (panting heavily).
Mubarak: (check the time again) this is exactly 7 o clock, you are safe for today, you can drop it on the bed lets see what you prepared.
Mustakeemah: (hand shaking) ok sir.
Mubarak: noodles? What kind of noodles is this? Cant you prepare reasonable food? Why noodles…
Mustakeemah: actually sir, noodles is a very fast food I can prepare for you the main dish is on fire, so to avoid breaking your rules that’s why I quickly present this to you before the main dish get ready.
Mubarak: (impress) oh really? Smart girl! That’s very thoughtful of you, you may leave.
Mustakeemah: thank you sir (about to take her leave)
Mubarak: uhmm before you go! I want you to write out all you need what ever it might be, just write them out ok? I will get them for you.. you may leave now.
Mustakeemah: ok sir thanks (she head back to the kitchen and began to think) if this man is as simple as this then my life is totally safe, all I need to do is obey his rules and take care of him… but….i can do all that without being his wife, I don’t love him… the only person I feel so connected to is Abdulhakeem, I wish he is in this man’s position I would have gladly agreed, but life is full of surprises…. He didn’t bother to look for me or look out for me, he made me feel so special but all was a lie to me, I just need to forget about him and move on but how?