Chapter 4

"stop it Basma! "

" why do you care? Just let me be Kalthum. "

" please don't go to him. " Kalthum sobbed " don't do this to yourself please" she knelt down and held her sister's legs tightly

" please, you're wasting my time with all this your crocodile tears. He is already waiting for me in the s!" Basma rolled her eyes and dragged her legs out of her sister's embrace

" please yaya Basma. This isn't the right way. Have you forgotten that we now have a new job? We'll be working for the Dantatas. Have you forgotten what you told me yourself? You yourself said that this is an opportunity for us to earn money so why do you want to sell yourself out to a stranger. Or have this been going on for a while now? " Kalthum eyes were wide open anticipating what her sisters response would be 

Basma shrugged " please stop acting all innocent Kalthum. Do you want to tell me that you've never kissed anyone before?"

"Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajihun!" she exclaimed " this isn't right Basma. "

" please kalthum just leave me alone. The man is already waiting for me and I don't want to waste anymore of his time! Please let me pass" 

Kalthum wiped her tears " fine, since this is the path you chose, Mom will hear it when she gets back"

Basma chuckled " I know you won't say anything to her so stop the drama. I promise this will be the last time. okay?  "

" I can't believe you!. You are taking this as a joke? You can't be serious. Just know that whenever this wayward act of yours becomes known to the whole world, I won't be there to help you"

" so be it then. I don't care" she blew her little sister a kiss then turn away to make her way to the hotel. 

Immediately the door made a banging sound, Kalthum screamed out of frustration. Her sister was never like this before or maybe not? Maybe she doesn't know her sister after all. 

It was coincident that she came to find out about this. She was in the sitting room watching the on going program when her sister's phone rang profusely beside her. At that time Basma was in the bathroom. Kalthum then decided to pick the call thinking that it might be her sisters friend and behold it turned out to be one of her sister's clients.

" why can't she understand?" Kalthum said to herself. " maybe I should follow her to the hotel? " she thought to herself. Kalthum came to a conclusion to do so. 

***

Upon reaching the hotel, Kalthum watched her back in case someone she knows saw her. luckilyfor her the faces are new. The only problem is how she will locate the particular room. She already know the number of the room from the text message the client sent to her sister. It was room 101.

Kalthum tried thinking of a better lie to tell the receptionist. 

Maybe I should pretend as if I came to look for someone too? 

Wouldn't the lie be too obvious? 

Ughhh, what should I do?

She was losing her patience. Finally she came up with a solution which she is going to put into action. 

She repaired her clothes. It was a simple long gown that held her shape a little. She then decided to just tie the Vail she used to cover herself. She tied it around her head in a turban style which she is very good at doing. Atleast now she looks believable. 

She didn't come with any bag but her purse. She calmed herself for a while from where she has been hiding then finally walk to the door and pushed it before entering. Kalthum is a lady with the beauty and charm, atleast it comes in handy for her. She majestically walk to the receptionist on the left side because her face looks more friendly than the others. 

" welcome to prestige hotel ma" she smiled warmly at Kalthum 

Kalthum returned the kind gesture " thank you"

" We have two rooms available. How many days will you be staying with us ma? "

Kalthum smile " Actually I'm here to meet someone "

Their is nothing the receptionist didn't know around the hotel. It isn't new to them to see a young lady here to meet a man

" oh. What room could that be? " the receptionist asked 

" Room 101"

" OK." the receptionist believed her thinking maybe the person in the room knew about her visit "Just take the stairs on your left "

" Thank you" without much time wasted, Kalthum went up the stairs and her hunt for her sister started. 

Kalthum went from door to door in search of room 101. Luckily she finally saw the room which was the last on that floor. She took in a deep breath before turning the knob. In the process, she caught the two people in the room by surprise. 

" Kalthum? " a wide eye Basma whispered 

" so this is the man you came to meet?" Kalthum spat and glared at the shirtless man with hate " have you no shame? I'm sure you have a wife at home but here you are trying to ruin my sister's life "

" young lady you need to shut up" the man roared " Basma what is going on here? This isn't what we planned "

Basma pleaded with the man with her eyes " I'll settle this "

" Their is nothing you'll be settling. We're leaving this place right this moment " Kalthum told her firmly

" are you out of your mind Kalthum? " Basma whispered yelled " don't do this right now please"

" oh no? sorry big sister, I'm doing this right now. We're going home "

" please stop this. This isn't the moment or time"

Kalthum held her sister's hand tightly " we are going home right this moment "

" let me go"

" No"

" let me go" she sent a slap her way

" you slap me? "Kalthum held her face 

" yes and I'll do worst than that if you don't let me go"

" so this is what you want? This is the life you chose? "

" please stop all this your emotional trick. Just stop it. Get out of this room right now "

" yes you heard your sister, leave us alone."

" SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP! " 

" please Kalthum leave "

" I can't. I can't let you do this "

The man cackles " well-done saviour mistress. Who told you this is the first time we've been doing this. Can you just please let us be "

" if you don't shut that trap you call a mouth , I'll shut it up myself with my hand" Kalthum gritted as she look at him with fury

" then come do that love. Come sh...... 

" I KNEW IT"

They were interrupted for the second time again. 

" Halima?" the man called out in shock 

" yes it's me " The lady who just barged in said. She glared at her husband " so this is where you always come  to spend your time with all your sluts?!"

" I can explain, please" he pleaded and quickly put on his shirt. 

The lady who is known to be Halima faced the two sisters. 

" you two have no shame at all" she spat " who amongst you is his mistress? "

" she is the one "

Kalthum was rendered speechless. She couldn't believe her sister "Basma! "

Basma pleaded with her eyes and ran out of the room leaving her junior sister behind.

" so you're the mistress ko! " Halima dragged Kalthum by her dress. Halima over powered her because of how chubby she was. 

" please let me go" Kalthum pleaded 

The man moved forward to help save her but his efforts was in vain. The shout got the attention of other room mates.

Halima dragged Kalthum to the corridor " I'll make sure to disgrace you today. You'll never think of ever sleeping with a married man ever again"

" please ma ,let me go"

" Shut up " she slapped her again 

" WHAT'S GOING ON HERE" a firm voice asked . Even Halima herself had to pause because of how commanding that voice sounded. 

Kalthum knew this was the end of her. Her life was finally over. Some people even took a video of all the chaos . She is suffering for what she knew nothing about. Her own blood sister who she loves so much put her in this situation. Who would have thought that the sister she hold dear to her would put her in this situation. 

She is doomed 

" I just asked a question " the commanding voice said again 

Halima kept humming " can you imagine this prostitute! I caught her in action with my husband. "

" is that why you're making a chaos here. This isn't the way to handle this "

" this is my problem and I can handle it the way I like " she retorted back " and you young lady, thank your lucky stars " with that being said, she dragged  her husband out of the place.

The mysterious man shrugged and faced the lady on the floor " Get up" he ordered 

***

The man took her to a small office downstairs. It seems he is the owner of the hotel cos of how well he knows his way around the hotel. 

She sobbed quietly. Her sister's betrayal hurts more than Halima's beating. Today she just had to find out that her sister has no heart. 

" take this" the mysterious man passed her an ice pack " use it on the swell"

She took it from him " thanks "

The man studied her . She looks so young. What is a young lady like her doing in a hotel while her mate are in school? The man wondered. Women of today have no shame at all. 

" what were you thinking? "

" excuse me? " she asked cocking a brow

" what were you thinking when you followed that man to the hotel? Don't you have any shame"

" Stop it. Stop talking as if you know the whole truth. You don't even know half of the story but you're already judging "

He cackles " oh really? What I witnessed is enough for me. You sell your body for money. It's as simple as that. 

" SHUT UP"

" The truth hurts right? Next time you should think before repeating the same mistake "

" PLEASE SHUT UP !! PLEASE" she broke into tears. It hurts Alot. Now she is the prostitute. People will laugh at her if they come to watch the videos some people took. 

" Okay" he raised his hands up in surrender 

" I want to go home " she stood up

" I can send my driver to drop you if you want "

" No thank you. Wouldn't want part two to repeat itself " she said in sarcasm" thanks for the ice anyways.

***

Basma kept pacing round the room. She knew what she did was totally brutal. She pushed her sister to the lion's den. How will she face her sister? The thought of Kalthum paying for a crime she didn't commit hurts her alot. Basma was so scared when Halima asked who the mistress was that she pushed her  sister to her. What kind of elder sister will do that to her own little sister?

Their mom Suwayba was home already and has been asking for countless time about Kalthum's where about. The only reply Basma could give was she went to her friend's place. 

" please call her again " their mom suggested again

" OK " Basma answered and tried calling " same thing mom "

" still switched off? "

" yes" Basma nodded

" I don't know what that girl is thinking. Don't tell me she has started following men up and down"

Basma slightly rub her neck " I don't know "

Suwayba hissed " she'll see the bad side of me when she gets back "

" Mom please don't do anything to her "

" This doesn't concern you Basma. Just leave me with her"

They were interrupted by the knock on the door. 

" it seems she is finally here" Basma said and ran to open the door for her

The sight she was welcomed with wasn't what she had pictured. Standing in front of her is a eye bruised Kalthum. She also has a swell on her forehead. 

" Kalthum? " Basma whispered with teary eyes " I'm sorry " she whispered so only her can hear

Kalthum glared at her " don't even try acting all innocent 

" Kalthum come here" her mom ordered from where she was sat. 

Kalthum walks slowly to her " good afternoon ma"

" hold your greetings to yourself. Where have you been and where did you get all these bruise?"

" i-i-i followed -

Basma was looking at her with pleading eyes. Begging her not to say the actual truth

" yes? I'm listening"

" I went to Zainab's house"

" with whose permission? And how come you have those bruise? "

" I'm sorry" that's the only thing she could utter

" this is why I always tell you to follow your sister's footsteps. She took permission from me before leaving the house and she even came back before I did. Why are you always different? "

" please forgive me mom "

" what about the bruise? "

" i-i-i face fell"

Suwayba snort " why won't you face fell"

" infact just get out of my front. I don't have your time at all"

***

Kalthum dried herself up with the towel. She put on her nighties and was about to climb the bed when her sister saunters inside. Kalthum rolled her eyes. 

" what do you want? "

" I'm so sorry"

" please save me the tears. You actually surprised me today, you really did " she scoffed " I never knew that me trying to save you will end me in this mess. If I had know I wouldn't have followed you at all but how can I? I love you so much sister. Today you showed me the extent of your love for me. "

" no please don't say that, I love you so much. You're my little sister " Basma sobbed 

" but why? Why did you do this to me? "

" I was so scared .....so scared that I wasn't thinking right. I was so stupid for doing this to you"

Kalthum heaved a sigh " today you actually tint me. I'm now the laughing stock of whosoever is staying in the hotel and even outside the hotel. I-i -i can never forget this day, I can't ,even if I want to"

" I'm so sorry kalthum"

Kalthum sat on the bed " Don't worry I won't say anything to even mom. Your secrets are save with me "

" please forgive me. Your forgiveness is what matters to me alot. The guilt is killing me "

" Don't worry I've forgiven you but I know I can't forget this"

Basma breath out in relief " Thanks you so much " she ran to hug Kalthum " thank you. I  will never repeat this again"

Kalthum could only nod but it still hurts