•Basma

"Are you going to start praying now?"

"Yes babe." He added, "I've started already."

"How about the brethren?"

The world was supposed to know about his affiliation to a cult but his money spoke and his voice overruled the tiny squeal of the numerous plaintiffs he had stumped on.

"I'm trying to leave. I've stopped attending meetings and speaking to them."

"How do you plan on leaving?"

"I'll go back one last time and tell them then whatever I'm asked to do, I'll do it to leave for good."

"That's good. If we're going to do this marriage, I want to be comfortable and be sure you're still treading on the path of Islam."

I knew the only way to keep him at ease was to play this pretence game but sometimes he got me so riled up that I couldn't respond to his romanticizing.

He was a smart man and he knew what I was doing but to beat a master of lies and deceit you have to become one yourself.

Three weeks and four days have gone by. I'm supposed to be at his house—my house, with my family—but I was still watching the sun rise and fall in my unappealing hospital gown—on the small yet comfortable bed.

Jameel has also turned the hospital to his second home since Dr Shamsudeen told him I had a panic attack one night that resulted in the increase of my blood pressure again.

Call me ungrateful but I didn't want or need Jameel here. If not for the circumstances, I wouldn't have approved of his visitation to my room.

He really expects me to marry him but the only thing he's marrying is the wall of his next prison cell. I was just playing him to get him to sign the papers his father had given me and I'd return to my former life.

I was bound to leave this place whether it was by my deception or forceful extraction by his father.

"Don't worry I've changed for good. Just allow me to show you." He smiled.

I mentally threw up at the mere sight of his happiness and regret to why I ever listened to Bashir to go on vacation. I should've been more careful. Ajman warned me, didn't he?

"I'm happy for you and us." I grinned, overly excited that he'd soon be dressed in prison wear and rotten, tattered underwear for the rest of his life.

He left his sit and made for the door as he blew me a despicable kiss and went out of the door, "Goodbye love, I'll bring your phone tonight." before leaving me to enjoy the solitude I had been lacking for a while now.

I sat upright and thought of ways to run out of the hospital before his return without getting caught by the staff.

I kept thinking, Ajman told me so, while I cursed Bashir, his family and their ancestors since he didn't have kids.

Dr Shamsudeen walked in with a Salam, a smile and a folder in his hands.

"How are you Mrs Jameel?"

"I'm good doctor. Are you here for another check up?"

"Yes." He took the stethoscope that was snaked around his neck and pressed it to my chest.

"Ok sir."

"Your heart beat is fine." He murmured, writing onto a page in the folder, "Your arm please."

He dropped the folder and wrapped a cotton like material to my arm and repeatedly squeezed a ball that was connected to it till it felt tight and as if blood couldn't pass through there.

"Ouch!" I cried, "Doctor it hurts."

"Sorry it has to be this way."

The lean man wrote down some numbers on a paper as he squeezed harder on the ball. He stopped shortly and took it off when he was satisfied with taking down his notes.

"I'll take my leave now."

I fell asleep shortly after I had my breakfast of oatmeal, berries and apple juice. The day went by fast as I spent it watching the soap operas the channels made available.

Some were funny while some just made me realize how depressed I was. I cried most of the time and yelled profanities to the empty sound proof room. I was starting to get convinced that I was a running mad slowly.

It's now the evening time, I'm yet to pray Subhi not to talk of the current Magribh. What was my life turning into? My body became immobile whenever I heard the adhan and would fall asleep immediately.

I worry that my extended relatives from the village have really cursed me. Or was it just me getting frustrated? I argue with every nurse that comes for their regular rounds and shout at the cleaners for unnecessary reasons.

Rayyan has been on my mind since I was abducted. He made ninety percent of my everyday daydreams and would sometimes get overthrown by ones about Bashir.

Now my stomach has grown to the size of a little football and if you didn't look closely you wouldn't know I was pregnant at all.

The door opens and my heart freezes out of shock. A girl stepped in and shut the door. She apologizes for scaring me and introduces herself as Rahina.

"I'm his personal maid. He has asked me to bring your food and your phone because he can't make it." She explains.

"Why couldn't he make it?"

"All he said was that he would be in his study room and he shouldn't be disturbed."

She hands me my phone and the food she unpacked for me. The first spoon that lands in my mouth sends my tongue to a tasteful frenzy of flavors and I dive my spoon in for more of the elegant delicacy.

"Who made this?"

She smiles, "I made it."

"The food is amazing. You'll have to show me the recipe."

"That's a family secret." She joked.

"You might as well teach me since I'm about to marry your boss again."

She clapped, "You'll be the best we've seen walk into that house in years."

"What do you mean? Has he been bringing different women to his house?"

"It is not in my power to give you such information." She turns away.

I ignore her and continue to eat my food silently. Once I'm done, she packs up and sits down and we watch each other in a stinging silence.

"Your phone!" She yells as it beeps.

I forgot I turned on the phone before I started eating. The device beeped again and I picked it up. She looked at me suspiciously and turned away as I caught her staring.

The first message I saw was from Afaf then Aunty Hafsat, Sa'adatu and a few other friends. I wanted to reply but Rahina was there watching me like a hawk so all I could do was read through without replying.

Fofu{12/10/25 07:00am}: Where have you been?

Aunty Hafsat{15/20/25 13:00pm}: Please talk to us!

Sa'a{17/10/25 02:30am}: Talk to us please.

All these were days—weeks—almost a month ago. My eyes increasingly watered as I opened more until I couldn't again. I called Afaf first and she picked.

Rahina moves her sit a bit closer to listen in on more on our conversation and I couldn't be more aggravated.

"Can you at least give us some privacy?!"

"I'm sorry. Boss said I shouldn't let you out of my sight when you're on a call."

"I just need a few minutes with her."

"He'll kill me, please."

"Ok."

Afaf answered immediately and started crying.

"Baby are you ok?!"

"Yes I'm fine."

We both kept quiet, listening to our own breathes through the speakers.

"I'll soon be leaving." Rahina announced, shifting uncomfortably in her chair.

"Ok." I replied briskly.

"Talk to me, are you alone?" Afaf questioned.

"No."

"You know, I don't even care. Just tell me where you are. We already know Soldierboy kidnapped you just that the family doesn't have evidence to pin him down."

"I," I whispered, tears filling my eyes, "Want to stay Afaf. I love him."

"Are you stupid?! Lil sis I love you but you can't do this to yourself."

I now decided I wouldn't tell her about the pregnancy since she's already angry and confused. She has always been the closest sister to me even if we were close to Sa'adatu too.

She would possibly accept me but I don't know about the rest of the family.

"Are you still there?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Ok, are you sure of what you're saying?"

"Yes Afaf. I still love him."

"Stop saying that! I know you're lying. Is he there? You must be joking." She laughed hysterically.

"I do love him."

I sneaked an eye to see Rahina smiling cluelessly. It seemed she was lost in her own thoughts.

"I can't do this anymore. Talk to Sa'adatu."

I heard shuffling in the background, running and murmurs before Sa'adatu's voice became audible.

"Sa'a is that you?"

"Yes BasBas. How are you? Are you ok? Afaf tells me you're going to stay with that monster. Is that true?"

She has always been the rational one. Never quick to judge or tell, always thoughtful and accommodating.

"Ok then. Have a safe marriage. When can we come to see you?"

"What are you saying?"

"I've approved of the marriage and Afaf does too."

"I do not!" Afaf yells through the speakers.

Their arguement remains inaudible while I struggle to keep my laughter low.

"Are you guys done?" I ask.

"Yes. Now you'll tell us where you are so that we can visit you, ok?"

"I don't know..." The maid gave me a suspicious look . "...where I kept it."

"What are you saying?" Sa'adatu sounded confused totally.

"I Don't Know Where I Kept It!"

"I don't understand."

"You won't understand."

"Talk to me BasBas. Where did they keep you? Don't talk, I know he's there. Aunty Hafsat came today. We'll call you tomorrow."

"Call me in the night. That's the only time I'm allowed to make calls."

"That's crazy! But it's ok if you can handle being with him. Remember though, he's a cultist."

I felt the food I ate move upwards and stopped at my throat and sweat began to cover my forehead. She didn't know she had just made me realize why being here would only lead to my destruction if I didn't act fast.

"He's changing sis."

"Are you sure? Does he treat you well?"

"N.. I mean yes."

I coughed and covered my mouth to prevent her from hearing me cry.

"Are you sure you're fine?"

"I don't know."

I heard Afaf saying 'he's there she won't tell you the right things.' Then Sa'adatu replied with 'That's why we have to bring out the big guns.'

I wiped the final tear drop and waited for them to say the code.

"3120?" Sa'adatu inquires covertly.

I nodded as if she could see me, "3120."

She hung up after that since she now knew I wasn't really feeling as good as I'd said earlier. The El-Nafaty sisters use the numbers in case of emergencies.

It represented the day we lost our parents. The third of January twenty-twenty. They died in their hotel room when they took a trip to Albania.

I, Afaf and Sa'adatu were supposed to go and meet them there but before the day we were supposed to arrive the embassy called to us inform us of their deaths. That had to be the most traumatic event that struck my life till date.

The next person I tried to call was My aunt who was probably asleep since she refused to pick her call. I left her a message and promised to call her the next night.

I called Aaliyah and Immediately she answered, Rahina interrupted us.

"Your time is up. I'll try to come early so that you can talk to more of your family members."

"Just give me a minute more." I begged.

"I'm sorry. It's getting late."

I sighed and thumbed the red button to hang up and handed her the phone.

She dropped the phone in her pocket and asked for my permission to use my bathroom. I agreed and she returned to ask for my hijab.

After praying, she folded all that I'd given her to use and kept them safely in the box underneath my bed.

"It's almost past Isha time, won't you stand up and pray?"

Oh wow the most holy has spoken!

"How is it your business if I haven't prayed?"

"I just wanted to remind you. I also forgot until I saw the time on my phone."

"I didn't ask you!"

"I was just trying to help."

"Get out!"

"I'm sorry again." She apologized.

"Leave!"

She turned the lights off and exited the room looking scared. A few minutes later I let out a frustrated scream, pull at the long ends of my attached box braids and begin to release tears for my recent misfortune.
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This chapter, as promised is dedicated a girl that I still can't find her username but I remember her name being Fatima. This is for being the first to figure out where Basma was taken to.

Did y'all like it?

~Aisha Safiyanu🥀