Throughout that night, Maryam was restless. She couldn't sleep peacefully after what Saeed had said. The words just kept ringing like a bell in her ears. She couldn't believe Saeed broke his promise to her - the promise to never force her into making a decision she did not like. How could he do that to her!

She tossed around in bed, turning her back on Saeed. She refused to succumb to what Saeed wanted, but she knew she could not continue without his consent so she decided to try all she could to convince him. She was very well aware Saeed didn't like it whenever they had an argument and he couldn't take her silence. She decided to use that to her advantage. "Let's see if he won't give in to what I want tomorrow." Maryam muttered underneath her breath and closed her eyes, waiting impatiently for sleep to overcome her. She couldn't wait for the next day to convince Saeed to allow her continue her job - the job she was so passionate about.

• • •

Immediately after subhi prayer, Maryam went into the bathroom, did all she had to do and emerged. She went into their closet and dressed up for work as usual. She didn't forget their conversation with Saeed the previous day, but she had a strong feeling Saeed would take his words back. He would not be able to snatch her peace of mind from her - she knew.

~~~

After subhi prayer, Saeed spent some extra few minutes praying to Allah to
Make everything right in his family once more. He prayed to Him to make Maryam more understanding. He did not make that decision because he wanted her to deprive her of her happiness and make her unhappy. Contrary to that, he just wanted his children to have good upbringing and Nafisa was not the right person for the job. From the very first time he set his eyes on her, he knew there was something amidst the innocent behavior of hers and looks could be deceiving at times. He just wanted Maryam to be the one to take care of their children instead of some stranger. The idea of another person taking care of the children when it should be them didn't sit well with him at all. He sighed. He knew in his heart Maryam was an exuberant person and making her understand his decision would not be very hard.

Sauntering out of the masjid, Saeed got back home and met Maryam all dressed up. He smiled a little, ignoring her temerarious mind. He walked up to her and pecked her on the lips. "Good morning, habibty." He greeted.

Maryam looked at him puzzled and wondered if he had already forgotten what he did to her the previous day and if so then she had not. "Good morning." She answered and went towards the bed to pick her handbag and ambled back to him. "I'm going to work."

"Work." Saeed stated. "What work are you talking about?" He asked, his gaze never wavering from hers.

"My job at the hospital of course." She replied with furrowed brows.

Saeed smirked and took her hands in his. "You're going to resign today. Have you forgotten?" He asked.

"I don't want to resign. I won't resign." She said, adamantly.

Saeed raked his hand into his hair, signing. "We've already talked about all these and came to a conclusion. I am not changing my mind, habibty."

Maryam gritted her teeth and tears prickled her eyes. She really didn't want to quit her job and Saeed making her quit was really unfair on her side. "Please, habibi don't do this to me. You promised me... You promised never to force me into a decision I don't like. You're breaking your promise and you know that's a sin."

"I'm not doing this because I want to, habibty. I'm doing this because I have to. You don't know how heavy your words weighed..." He trailed off.

"I didn't mean what I said! I just said that in a fit of rage. I'd never kill my baby. Please reconsider your decision."

"We're just going around in circle, habibty." He inhaled and exhaled audibly. "You need to understand why I'm doing this. I'm not changing my mind." He said sternly.

"Fine, then don't!" Maryam yelled and threw her bag on the bed aggressively. "You want me to stay at home all day long right? Fine I will, but don't blame me for whatever happens later." She finished and yanked her hijab off.

It was an entirely new side of Maryam that Saeed was witnessing. Of all the years they have been married, he had never seen this side of her. She had never gotten so angry at him or anyone else in his presence before. Even her demeanor changed. The eyes that used to hold so much love for him before, held nothing but hatred and disappointment in them now. She was slowly changing from the Maryam he knew. He knew he did wrong by forcibly making her quit, but he was doing it for the sake of their family. He just wished Maryam would understand this later and forgive him. "I won't." He replied.

Wordlessly, Maryam narrowed her eyes at him and looked elsewhere.

"Has Manal woken up? Has she eaten?" He asked.

"Nafisa can take care of that." She replied, her voice dripping with nonchalance.

This was exactly what Saeed had feared and now it was already happening - she was starting to become unconcerned about her own daughter. "She can't."

"And why can't she? Now that I'm just a housewife, you expect me to be a nanny as well?" She asked in disbelief. She couldn't believe it was her husband she was talking to - he had totally changed.

"A nanny you say? Nanny? For your own child?" Saeed asked incredulously. He awaited a response from her and when he got nothing, he continued. "Nafisa is getting fired today."

Maryam sprung up. "What has the poor girl ever done to you? Why are you so keen in sending her away? I don't understand at all and I'm beginning to suspect -" One look from Saeed and Maryam knew she couldn't complete her sentence.

"Should I send her away or will you do it yourself? Saeed asked, calmly. He also didn't know how he managed to stay calm in spite of what Maryam was about to insinuate.

Maryam knew Saeed was very angry and that he was trying to keep his anger at bay, so without whingeing, she respected his decision. " I will do it."

"Good." He replied and ambled to the bathroom to shower.

As soon as Maryam heard the bathroom door close, she allowed her suppressed tears to roll down her cheeks. Saeed had separated her from what she loved doing - her passion and now he asked her to fire Nafisa. She cried to her heart content before sauntering downstairs to look for Nafisa.

She found her in the kitchen making breakfast for Manal. Maryam cleared her throat before speaking. "Nafisa."

She got startled for she didn't know someone was behind her. She spun around and saw Maryam standing in front of her with a straight, emotionless face. "Good morning, ma." She greeted. "I'm almost done with breakfast and Manal is still-"

"I want to have a word with you. Let's go to the parlor." Maryam said, cutting her off.

Oblivious to what Maryam was about to say, Nafisa turned on the faucet and rinsed her hand before trailing behind Maryam.

"Have a seat." Maryam motioned.

"Thank you." Nafisa said and sat opposite Maryam.

"You've been very helpful these past few days and I must commend your services." She began.

"Thank you very much, ma, but you need not commend me. I enjoy working for you." Nafisa beamed. She had a feeling Maryam was planning to increase her salary or something similar to that.

Maryam forced on a smile. She really didn't know how to dismiss Nafisa seeing how devoted to her job she was, but she had to. Anyhow. Unwillingly. "I enjoy you working for me as well, but..." She trailed off for some seconds. "... But your services are no longer needed." In spite of how hard Maryam tried not to seem rude with her words, she felt it was offensive to tell someone his/her services is no longer needed. She was not too good with words - she sighed and averted her gaze back to Nafisa.

Nafisa had not expected such words from her so it hit her hard like a speeding truck. Her eyes widened as if they were about to bulge out of their sockets. She opened her mouth to say something, but closed them back immediately, not knowing what to say first. She wondered why Maryam was suddenly firing her and if she had already found out the whole truth about her. She had plans to leave the house on her own accord soon for she found it disgraceful to be someone else's maid while her boyfriend was an affluent person. Before her boyfriend or even her friends would find out, she wanted to quit the job, but not empty handed. She wanted to take their belongings which would cause a fortune so she'd never lack in the years to come. This was not how she visualised herself leaving the mansion - being sent away like some piece of garbage. She visualised leaving with a huge bag filled with money, food and accessories. Her blood boiled at the way Maryam was about to treat her, but she managed to mask her anger behind a sad face. "Why...why ma? Please don't do this. My family depend on me for their means of livelihood. If you send me away right now, we will all starve to death." She cried and fell to her knees. She was determined to do anything in her power to remain in the house for she couldn't leave until her aim is achieved.

Maryam shut her eyes in pity for the poor girl. She couldn't afford to keep looking at her kneeling down and begging her with so much tears in her eyes. She pitied her - she was far too young to start hustling for herself and her family. In spite of how hard Maryam wanted to take her words back, she couldn't because she knew she couldn't go against Saeed after the horrible thing she was about to accuse him of. "I'm sorry, Nafisa, you can't continue staying here, but don't you worry, I will give you a large Amount of capital to start something useful - a good business. Allah will see you through in sha Allah."

"And what about my schooling?" Nafisa asked like the ingrate she was. She didn't even consider all the help Maryam was rendering to her. She still needed much more.

Maryam was a little bit taken aback by her audacity - she was supposed to thank her, yet she was complaining. She waved the though aside and spoke; "I will also give you some money to continue your studies from where you stopped here in any other school in your village."

"But why do you want to send me away ma?" - Nafisa asked in tears. All this while, she was still sitting on her knees. - "I'm so attached to Manal and I don't want to leave her. What wrong have I done? Please tell me; did Manal ever say something about me?-" she beseeched.

"Manal? Is there something about you she needs to tell me?" Maryam asked with a raised brow.

Nafisa was quick to reply. "No... No, there's absolutely nothing."

"Start packing your belongings, you're leaving right before my husband leaves for work. I'm sorry." Maryam said and sauntered back to their room, leaving an enraged and psyched up Nafisa behind.

With a flagitious look on her face, she gnashed her teeth. "You all should brace yourself for what's coming your way."