Sorry guys, it's a short chapter. My sister-in-law went into labour today and alhamdulillah I have a new born niece! : ) I was between uni and the hospital so this is all I managed to write!

Enjoy!

#Chapter Twenty Three#

{Unedited}

"Sameena...I don't even know what to say." 

"I know it's a lot to take in..." I glanced down at my pale fingers and heaving a sigh, I looked back up at him with a gentle smile. "But I thought that you should at least know. Only a select few people know about this and in regards to the press, they were given a false backstory. So I would appreciate it, if you could keep this information between us."

Tariq shook his head vigorously. "Of course..." He began to jiggle his right leg up and down, simultaneously running a hand through his hair and exhaling in frustration. "I just don't understand how someone could be that evil...to do this to you. How did your father react?" 

I let out a humorous laugh. "Baba? It was Salem they were worried about. After I heard the confession straight from his mouth that night and couldn't help but faint, Aiman had evidently tried to make a run for it and escape. Unfortunately for him, Salem was on guard at the foot of the entrance and when he saw how panicked Aiman was, he immediately became suspicious and questioned him. Out of fear, Aiman ended up admitting the truth seconds after that and I remember waking up a few minutes later, coming down the stairs and finding Salem on top of his unconscious body, shaking his hand out."

Tariq chuckled dryly. "He deserved it." 

"Salem hauled his body onto a sofa and left him there. I was too emotional unstable at the time, so Salem was the one who had to break the news to my family." I felt salty tears blur my vision but I quickly blinked them away before he could see. "Next came Ziad's wrath. He didn't wait even a second to punch him in the nose just as he'd awoken, knocking him unconscious for a second time in the span of an hour." I rubbed at my eyes, mentally berating myself when some kohl lined my finger. I forgot I was wearing some light make-up. "Anyway, after that baba, Ziad and even Salem felt terribly guilty for everything that had happened. They believed that they should have been able to see through his facade; especially baba. But I don't think any of us could have anticipated such a motive." 

"I have a sister and believe me, I would have felt exactly the same if that had happened to her." He shook his head sadly and turned to me. "I'm really sorry Sameena. For everything that you had to go through."

I smiled. "Don't apologise. In fact, looking back now, I feel blessed. Allah SWT by testing me with people like Aiman, was honouring me. I have developed into a better person because of them. Back then, I was so naive, quick to fancy myself in love and maturely ready for a relationship. I put too much trust into Aiman especially, I gave him too much power over my happiness and that's where I went wrong. Because that power should have stayed with Allah SWT, but I let it slip loose." 

"So you believe that by prioritising someone else above Allah SWT in your life is a greater sin than what Aiman did," Tariq questioned thoughtfully.

"Exactly." 

He smiled one of his breathtaking smiles. "I would agree and that really speaks volumes about your character. But I can't help but feel like you take too much upon yourself Sameena." 

My eyes flickered to his worried face and I felt my heart lurch in something close to affection, despite everything we had been talking about this evening. "It doesn't matter because I've learnt my lesson." 

"There are some exceptionally selfish people out there and I'm glad that you didn't let them break you down into complete pieces. That would have been a shame." 

"Indeed it would have." 

####

"Hello." 

I inclined my head towards the source of the voice to find a male student standing before me. I peered at him over the edge of my law textbook, both surprised and curious at his approach. No one approached me at uni. 

"Hello?"

He reached a hand out for me to shake and before I could kindly decline him, Salem grabbed his wrist and placed it by his side. I sent a light glare his way before focusing back on the student afore me. He had scraggly blonde hair perched on top of an extremely round face, almost oblong shaped, and his bright blue eyes were a sharp contrast with his pale white skin. He was skinny, attired in dress pants and a navy blue top that had written across it 'down with fascism!'

He frowned at Salem and then turned to me and cleared his throat. Clearly, the boy had no idea about the predominant social etiquette in this country. "My name is Tom and I'm from the Student Political Association. I was wondering if you had some time for a few questions." 

I glanced between him and my textbook. "Err, sure." 

He was the first person this whole semester to start up a conversation with me...who was I to deny him? The boy had to be credited for his bravery. 

He gave a curt nod and to my surprise again, sat himself across from me. I sensed Salem tensing from beside me. I don't know why though, he looks as harmful as an ant. 

"What do you think of feudalism?" he began. 

I blinked at him. "It doesn't exist anymore."

"Do you think it could? Exist again, I mean?" 

"Umm, it's very unlikely." 

"What about fascism," he fired off, before I could even finish my sentence. "Do you think that it could arise in this country?" 

I recoiled. "What are you implying?" 

"I'm merely questioning...what with your extensive background in this area, I wanted to know your personal views." His blue eyes stared into mine unrelentingly. 

"I should hardly give you my opinion when you come here and question me as if I'm in an interrogation room," I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest. 

When he only continued on, Salem was left with no choice but to physically grab him by the collar and move him away from me. It was clear he was opposition but I honestly didn't understand what he could have possibly benefited from asking me his useless questions. 

I packed away all the stuff I had brought with me to study, neatly placing them in my backpack, throwing it over my shoulder and promptly falling in step with Salem as we headed towards the car. 

"For a moment there, I thought I was going to make a new friend," I sighed. 

Salem gave me a sideways glance. "You don't need friends." 

I hummed in response as we made our way back to the car. Once we had gotten home, Salem unlocked the door and stepped back to allow me entry in first. 

"Sameena is that you?!" As soon as I walked through the door, Mira came running towards me with a large, excited grin on her face. "Oh my God, you have to see what I fou - oh." She paused when Salem's large frame appeared behind me, and in typical Mira smile, didn't blush or stumble but instead sent him a warm smile, like a wife who was greeting her husband after he arrived home from a long day at work. 

"Asalamu alaikum," he directed to Mira. I saw his lips tilt a quarter of the way up in a hint of  a smile. 

Wow.

Things were moving fast it seemed. 

Note the sarcasm. 

"Wa alaikum asalam," she chirped, wringing her hands together and swinging them. "How was your day?"

"Not enough action. Yours?" 

Mira giggled and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I observed Salem and it seemed the giggle had no effect on him. Once upon a time, he would send glares my way if I ever giggled in his vicinity. 

"Oh you know, just revolutionising the fashion industry as usual," she joked, all starry-eyed. 

"And my day was great, thanks for asking," I interjected, cocking an eyebrow at both of them. 

"No once cares about you Sameena," Salem said with a teasing tone.

I put a hand over my heart and feigned shock. "Did Salem just joke? This truly is amazing, Mira your influence is almost instantaneous!"

Salem wasn't really that bad, I just loved to prod at him. He had joked around me many times but I supposed that's because we grew up together. 

Mira giggled again and this time, I did roll my eyes. She was honestly on cloud nine and I didn't blame the girl. Salem has been so good to her in the last few week they had been getting to know each other. Not only has he been good to her, but awfully sweet, going out of his way to do this things for her that he would have never been caught dead doing before, like buying her her favourite fashion magazine, showering her with flowers and gifts and striking up conversations that I know bore him to death. 

He does all this anyway, because he knows it's what Mira's interests revolve around and I can't help but noting this is a side of Salem none of the family has ever seen before. 

I was extremely happy for the both of them.

####

"You did WHAT?!" 

"Don't raise your voice at me young lady!" 

I began pacing up and down baba's office. This is not happening, I told myself. From across the room, I felt Isaac's smug smile penetrating my back. 

"Can you please repeat what you just said," I replied in a calmer voice. 

"I fired Mr Ridwan. He is no longer a staff member of your university, nor is he apart of the laws faculty anymore." Baba intertwined his hands in front of him and straightened his back. "You must know, that this was done after much consideration." 

"I never asked you to do that! I was perfectly fine attending his classes!" I admitted, trying not to yell.

"Right, because you coming home, crying senseless is fine isn't it? How do you think I feel, as a father, knowing this was all happening and I did nothing about it?" 

"That was one time!"

"Verbal abuse is abuse nonetheless and I will not stand for it Sameena," baba said decisively, moving to pick up a piece of paper that was lying on his desk, as if dismissing me. 

I groaned in frustration. "Don't you realise what you've done? What message this sends out to the wider public?" 

"No."

"What are we restricting free speech now? You can't just fire someone like it's the easiest thing in the world!"

"I told you it was only done after careful consideration. Even Isaac thought this would be the best mode of action." 

I spun around to face Isaac, my glare so intense he almost flinched. "You...you were the one that told him to do this, didn't you?" 

"I only advised him, Sameena...which if you haven't realised if my job." He smiled sardonically at me.

"I don't know who the hell you think you are,-" 

"Sameena!" baba bellowed from across the room and I reluctantly turned to him. "Enough of this nonsense! Whether you like it or not, what's been done is done. I only acted in the best interest for you, so why don't you act a little more grateful and a little less demanding."

"What you did was an act of tyranny!" I exclaimed in exaggeration. I was just annoyed that baba wasn't grasping the point I was trying to make. 

"In your eyes, maybe." It was clear then. Baba had no regard for my input. Not now and maybe not ever. "I would appreciate it if you stopped blaming Isaac for every decision I make. In the end, it is I who makes them."

I stood there for a good minute in the middle of the room, my hands clenched by my sides, my eyes watery and my face hot in agitation. In the end, I resolved not to say anything. 

I walked out, dumbfounded. 

####