Share
24. Talks
It was decided that Zeenah should go live with her Uncle for some time as things settled down. Zeenah didn't like the idea, but she understood the logic behind it.
Fortunately, she had no problem whatsoever staying at her uncle's. Her cousins were amazing and her siblings visit from time to time, most especially Khadija, and she speaks with Maama on the phone every day. Her dad was the only one still distant regarding what happened, but her mum had been as supportive as she could, and that had helped Zeenah in ways she couldn't have gotten through. She was in the second month of her Iddah (waiting period after a divorce), and along with it, Zeenah had been repenting.
She's still yet to speak to Samirah about what had happened, though Samirah also visits from time to time, she didn't ask about what had transpired between her friend and her ex-husband. For now, what matters the most was that Zeenah was safe and alive.
*
Related chapters
Broken Within 25. A Psychopath
For the next three months, Zeenah healed outwardly, the bruises fading, and she started going twice a week to a therapist. Having never been to a therapist before, she expected she was going to have to lie back on a sofa and talk while some impersonal white-coated professional took notes.Instead, she was welcomed into a small, cosy office with a sofa upholstered in flowered yellow twill, by a therapist who didn’t seem all that much older than her. Her name was Karima Shehu, and she was beautiful in her own way and sociable. It was a relief beyond description to unburden herself to her. She was understanding and smart, and as Zeenah described things she had felt and gone through, it seemed she had the power to unlock the mysteries of the universe.Karima said Abubakar's behaviour fit the pattern of someone with a narcissistic personality disorder, which was common for abusive husbands. As the doctor explained about the di
Broken Within 26. Never Ever
Saying she was frightened was an understatement. She was shuddering within her body, and her heart was beating hastily against her ribcage, she felt as though it would explode. Her eyes stung with tears, and she willed herself to stay strong and not shed a tear in front of him."What do you want?" She said bitingly, feeling confident when her voice didn't crack."Babe," he said softly again, as he moved close to her.Zeenah stood her ground and refused to bulge. She wouldn't give him that pleasure of seeing how scared of him she was."I've missed you," he added. "But it looks as though you're doing okay, with no thoughts about me. Can't you see how desperate I am?"The guts of this man! Zeenah thought miserably. She hissed and turned away. Staying in the same place as he suffocates her. She can't handle even seeing him for so long."Please, wait." Abubakar pleaded, but Zee
Broken Within 27. The Meeting
Zeenah's face was devoid of any emotions as she listened to her mother. "I don't understand, Maama," she finally said."I said," Maama started all over again, "what do you think of the idea of getting married, again?""Maama," Zeenah whispered brokenly, her voice shaking. "Don't do this to me, please.""I shouldn't do what?" Maama asked soothingly. "I shouldn't advise you to get married again? You think I like seeing you all broken and in pain each and every day?""Maama...""I understand you need time, but from what I understood, it won't change anything in you. It will only make you hate him more, with each passing day, you hate Abubakar more than you hated him yesterday. I can see it in your eyes, and that, my dear, is not a healthy trait.""But I don't want to get married anymore," by now, Zeenah was crying so hard, heart-wrenching tears rolled down her cheeks in folds
Broken Within 28. Not Again
She reeled back, trying to break free, but he followed her across the threshold. Abubakar's smile never wavered. She knocked his hand away from her and faced him, trying to keep the alarm from showing on her face.She was in the middle of a nightmare. She thought it couldn’t be real, except that misery and fear and anger were swarming over her like insects, and that feeling was all too familiar. It had been her reality for almost two years.She woke up with a start, sweating all over and her breathing a lot heavier than normal breathing. It was dark, and as she checked her phone for the time, it was 2:00 am.Slipping down from her bed, Zeenah decided to pray through the night to relieve her fear. It had now become a constant fit for her to dream about Abubakar almost every night. She goes through the day burying herself into her studies and her day to day activities.When will she ever get r
Broken Within 29. Thoughts
Her eyes blurred, and she wasn't sure if she had heard her father right, or if she did hear him wrong. She had no idea. But as she looked up again and saw the pain in her father's eyes, Zeenah knew that she had heard him right. He wants to marry her off. And she couldn't help but feel helpless, terrible. She had no idea she was hyperventilating until she felt her mum close to her, telling her to breath in and out."I think we should adjourn this seating until she's calm enough," Maama said worriedly."I think so, too. But we are going to go through with the wedding. I won't sit back and watch my daughter live in pain, live in her past life. Let's just hope that this doesn't crumble her more," her father said."I can vouch on the young man. His dad is a very good man and I've never heard of anything bad about the boy. In fact, he had been married once too, and as I explained, he's also closed off about women and relationshi
Broken Within 30. Him
Three weeks later.She needed time. Time to think, time to plan her next move. She could not bear to go back into a marriage she had no idea how it'll work out.She had spent the recent night wide awake, lying on her large bed, staring at the ceiling. In her mind she replayed the conversation she had with her mum that afternoon. It seems like they'll go ahead with their plans, to them, they are "trying" to help her move forward.But they don't understand. They have no idea that they were trying to destroy her that way. They were trying to make her heart dry, and she hated the husband to be with passion before even having the chance to meet him.What a mess!It was a perfect day, cloudless and warm, and the singing breeze carried a tantalizing mixture of scents of cool air. Zeenah had woken a little bright, after finally coming to a decision on what to do. She had decided
Broken Within 31. The Encounter
It had never crossed her mind. She had no idea how it happened, neither had she ever imagined it. It came as a shock, a wild sensation trying to eat up her mind and soul.But he was there, sitting before her, in her father's living room, on her father's most cherished chair, looking at her as though a predator had seen its prey.Damn!He was looking at her with the same intensity she was looking at him. It was so hard to believe that he was sitting before her as her fiancee. It feels unreal, and he wasn't sure if he had ever imagined something like this happening.Not for the second time again...She looked so stricken as though she had seen a ghost, but that wasn't what amused him. The fact that she stood right before him, jaw clenched and her lips tightened in suppressed rage was most amusing, and he didn't know when his lips curled up slowly in an amused smile."You're
Broken Within 32. Misery
She was furious beyond comprehension. If she had known he would be the one, then nothing or no one would've forced her to go see him.Damn him! He was so full of himself. As arrogant as a peacock. But a peacock is way better than him, aye? How she hates him!She glared at his back as he left the room and stayed for few more minutes before she also stormed out angrily. She was fuming with rage and couldn't wait to get to her room so she can call Sameerah and rant off her ears. She knew about this, yet she kept quiet and pretended as though she didn't.That witch! She sneered inwardly, still walking towards her room."Sister Zeenah," she heard her name being called and groaned inwardly. Turning swiftly, her eyes locked with her maternal cousin, Maryam.
Latest chapter
