"What...what are you doing here?" Rashida asked again, her voice quivering. Bilal's gaze bored into her menacingly. "I'm not here for you, Madam. Where is Zynah? I need to speak to her urgently." Ignoring what he just said, Rashida whisper-yelled. "You should leave before anyone sees you. My parents are around, Ramlah too. Please just go. If anyone sees you, it won't be good." "Didn't you hear what I just said?" Bilal huffed. "I'm not leaving this house until I see my wife. Being Zynah out right now!" "She isn't here," Rashida seethed. "So please, get out!" She pleaded, her gaze darting around to ensure no one else apart from the gatekeeper had seen him. Bilal's brows furrowed in confusion. "Why are you so afraid anyway?" Rashida swallowed, an audible sound. "Why would I be afraid? I just don't want my family to see you after everything you did to my sister." "After everything I did to your sister?" He repeated, disbelief dripping off his tone. "Do you want us to go the
As soon as they left, Bilal walked closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Please tell me it's true!" Disgusted by his touch, Zynah pushed him away with all of the strength she could muster. She took a few steps away from him, her chest heaving. "Don't you dare," she pointed a finger at him, warningly. "Touch me again." His touch brought back hurtful memories. Memories she didn't want to be reminded of. "What do you want to talk about? Say it quickly. I also have a lot to say to you. I'm even glad you came here. We can settle this once and for all." "You and I both know what I'm here for," He said, his voice flat. "So, let's stop beating about the bush. It would do us both no good. What you did is unforgivable, you know that, don't you?" Zynah resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his delusion. She remained quiet, allowing him to continue. "Good," He added, taking her silence for concurrences. "But because I still love you, I'm willing to forgive you for that. Let's go
Instead of flaring up like Zynah had anticipated, Bilal chuckled. He actually chuckled. She gazed at him as if he had lost his mind. Did he not hear what had said? "Divorce me?" He chuckled again. "I don't want to believe you're serious right now," His expression hardened. "If this is a joke, you better not repeat it because it's not funny anymore. It was for a second though." "I'm not here to joke around with you, Bilal," Zynah's gaze bored into his. "I wouldn't have agreed to even see you otherwise. After everything you've done to me, the best thing you can do, is to allow me move on with my life. I deserve that at least." The sides of Bilal's lips lifted in a humorless smile. "That's never happening, Zynah. No one is moving on. We're going to be together again because we're destined to be. You're mine, and it'll remain like that forever." Zynah huffed, disbelief written all over her face. His effrontery was second to none. "I have given you a reply. I won't repeat mysel
"Where is my son?" He asked, clenching and unclenching his hand. He was visibly shaking from anger, or was it anxiety? Zynah turned back around, her eyes failing to hide the fear in them, and the stutter making it even more pronounced. "What did you just...say?" "He is my son, right?" He questioned. His gaze didn't waver from hers even for a split second. "Bring him to me." Unsure of what to tell him, Zynah swallowed a ball of nerves that sudden got stuck in her throat. "You can leave now. Like I said, I'm done talking to you!" She had started walking away again, when she felt Bilal's hand around her arm. The feel of his hand on her skin felt like being electrocuted. Gritting her teeth, she yanked her hand back. "I have warned you not to touch me. Do it again and see what happens." "But we weren't done talking," he rasped in the authoritative voice Zynah had gotten accustomed to. "You can't just walk away in the middle of that important conversation. I need answers! I w
"Who the hell were you speaking to, on phone just now?!" He asked, his voice laced with fury and distrust. She flinched at the tone of his voice, the phone clattering to the floor. Her lips quivered in a violent manner and her body began to tremble tremendously, like someone drenched in rain and had caught a cold. "I... I'm -" she attempted to explain herself, but was caught off by a resounding slap on her left cheek. Pain surged into her body from the impact of the monstrous contact against her cheek. Even without seeing it, she knew his palm would have definitely left its ugly print on her.She mustered all the patience she could and stopped herself from retaliating or even shedding a tear in his presence. He was not worth her tears at all, but in another viewpoint, she couldn't blame him for the way he was currently treating her. It was all her fault. She caused everything upon herself. If only she knew the type of a person he was...If only she could turn back the hands of tim
Consciousness flickered back, a slow tide pushing against the darkness. She was still lying where she had passed out. Wincing, Zynah pushed herself upright, her whole body aching. As she began to maneuver to their room—their room? Why was she even sharing a room with the monster? Why couldn't she muster the courage to escape from the house and his life for good? A butter laugh escaped her lips. The answer was simple — she had nowhere else to go. As cruel as he was to her, he was the only person who considered her family in the whole world. She had no one else to run to for help. With a shaky hand, Zynah grasped the doorknob and twisted it as gently as she could, revealing her supposed husband in bed. The brightness of his phone screen shone on his face. He didn't look up from his phone, oblivious of her return. She heaved a small sigh of relief for it was exactly what she wanted and needed— invisibility. This way, she wouldn't have to deal with his condescension, even if it would be
The day broke faster than Zynah had anticipated. She was awakened by the relentless call to prayer. Stretching, she rose, her whole body still aching. The bathroom offered her a moment of solace as she performed her ablution. . Emerging from the bathroom, her gaze landed on Bilal who was still comfortably sleeping in the bed and snoring lightly. Waking him for prayer was a gamble. She dared not for she knew what the outcome of her action would be and she wasn't prepared to face it yet — the day had only just begun. Bilal was the type of person who didn't like his sleep to be disturbed. He would probably get up like a wounded lion ready to pounce on his prey. Breathing profoundly, Zynah retrieved her prayer mat from the top of her bookshelf, where she always put it. Facing the Qibla, she spread it neatly on the floor and began her Fajr prayer. Each movement, each whispered supplication, was a plea for strength, for guidance. After she had finished praying, she remained on the mat, pou
Zynah flinched at the tone of his voice, but within a split second, she regained her composure. "The neighbor was here." She replied, curtly. Bilal didn't move, his gaze a dark storm cloud gathering above her. "The neighbor!" He echoed, anger dripping off his tone. "Did you just say that?" He questioned, taking a menacing step forward and invading her space. Zynah swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. "I said the neighbor was-" The sentence died on her lips as his callus palm struck her left cheek mercilessly. "How dare you! After giving you an order, you defy me?" He jabbed a finger towards his chest, his whole body taut with anger. She remained silent and it only infuriated him further. His brows furrowed and he gnashed his teeth in exasperation. "No one! I repeat, no one can ever come into this house henceforth, without my permission. You cannot go out either." He spat; his voice laced with venom. "Is that perfectly understood?" All Zynah could manage was a small, almost im