Chapter Twenty Nine

"A blast from the past"

"رُدّيني عليَّ أو هاتيني إليَّ"

 Mahra

A smile spread on my face as I surveyed our front yard and found Hamad's car in the garage, which meant he was home. Upon turning left I saw the garden which was as green as I remembered it last. The outside kitchen's door was open as well. Delesia must be there, helping mother cook, I thought. Our house was exactly how I had left it, only a little too quiet.

"Hala Wallah, Ya marhabah." A very dear and familiar voice welcomed, and I looked up.

And there, there he was. There was home, there was safety and protection. There was all that I had missed immensely this past week. In that smile, in that face lay my bliss and my internal happiness. There standing a few feet away was my brother... Hamad.

My heart beats quickened upon seeing him. And my lazy steps now became quick and desperate ones. Without realizing I had left my husband behind, to engulf my brother in a nostalgic hug. A hug filled with love, pain and longing.

When he hugged me back, I let out the breath I had been holding. And the first word I could utter was. "Habibi. (Dear)." I held him tightly, afraid that someone would steal him away from me.

Now I realized how blessed I was under his shadow. He'd protect me from anything and everything. He'd back me up and make me strong. He was the reason I held my head high and looked the world in the eyes. He was my pride.

"I missed you." I told him, trying to close my eyes and control the tears but they betrayed me yet again.

Hamad shook with silent laughter, "Alright, let me at least say hello to the man." He complained, reminding me of the calamity that I brought along with me. I heard my man chuckle from behind me, which surely was pretentious.

I didn't resist when Hamad gently grabbed my shoulders and pulled me away. He focused on my face, my teary eyes, wet cheeks and red face. "What's wrong? What happened?" He questioned, the smile of formality still there on his lips.

I shook my head, meaning 'nothing'. "I missed you." I repeated once again.

He held my face with both hands and planted a kiss on my forehead. "But it's only been a week." He said, staring at me.

"Still." I muttered, removing my tears with the back of my hand. Only I knew what kind of a week it had been for me.

He threw his head back, slightly. "What am I gonna do with you, Mahroo." He called me by my nick name, which I had missed a lot, and then moved along to welcome his friend.

I heard them both exchanging greetings, warmly, and asking about each other's wellbeing. Wonder what story Zayed has told Hamad that he's still so nice to him.

When he turned to me again and found me crying, Hamad tsk-ed in disapproval. "You are embarrassing me in front of the man." He complained again. "You'd always find excuses to quarrel with me and now you are shedding tears because you missed me." He completed, placing his hand on my shoulder and pulling me closer to him, but I had my head bowed and didn't look up nor reply. "She's quiet too." He notified. "What did you do to her?" He looked from over my shoulder at my husband.

And they both shared a laugh.

"I don't know. Why don't you ask her?" Zayed stated. I could see him walking beside me towards the entrance. I didn't want to hear his confident voice right now. He was always so certain that I won't give him away. Wonder what made him so sure? He reminded me of his world where he controlled me, but I was now in my territory and wanted to be here, to stay here.

We reached the entrance and I noticed, from the corner of my eye, Zayed hesitate before entering without being announced. I think Hamad noticed as well.

"Igrab ya Zayed, Ma fee hd ghareeb (Come in, ya Zayed, there's no one strange here.)" Hamad invited, at which Zayed relaxed, moving forward and I furrowed my eye brows.

"Why? Where is Reem?" I whispered to my brother.

"She hasn't visited since your wedding." Hamad informed, making me sad. I wanted to see my sister.

"Didn't you tell her I was coming?" I asked, a little loudly. At my question Hamad chuckled.

"Forgive us, Ya Sheikha." He ridiculed, in that old mischievous manner of his. I didn't know if I should scold him for embarrassing me in front of Zayed or laugh at his loveable joke!

Before getting to the living room, an unfamiliar feeling took over me. I had been afraid that this house, these walls and chairs might have forgotten me. But as we stood in the heart of the room everything came back to me. All my dear memories rushed to my brain like a flood. This room was filled with love and laughter of my family. I could almost hear the sound of a warm argument running between Hamad and I, and my voice was louder of course.

Suddenly, all feelings of belongingness disappeared, when Hamad asked both me and Zayed to have a seat. I mean I would get why he'd ask Zayed that, but why me? I was finally home. He didn't need to treat me like a stranger!

Refusing to sit, I inquired about mother and went to her room to fetch her, leaving Zayed alone with Hamad. Upon entering the calm and soothing environment in my mother's room, I found her siting on her green siyadah, and doing Tasbeeh on her fingers. At the sight of her, my eyes became watery. Holding my breath, I silently and slowly went to sit beside her.

Engrossed in her prayers, it took mother a while to feel my presence and when she did, she pulled me in a tight hug and started crying. Surprisingly, I held back the tears that had filled my eyes earlier and hugged her back, lovingly.

The first thing that she said to me when she pulled back crushed me into nothingness. "I dreamed of your father." She informed, her eyes searching mine. "He kept asking me about how you were!" Mother said, holding my hands. I felt my heart sink deep into my chest and then ride up to my throat, at that instant. As her words registered, my eyes burned and warm tears swam in them.

I think I was going to start crying and sobbing right there and then, but there was a very strange source of strength that entered my insides and covered me from all angles. It was a sudden source of force, taking over my weaknesses.

"I am fine." I lied, without meeting her gaze and hugged her again. "I am fine mother. Don't worry about me." I consoled and heard her thank her God many times in my ear.

When both mother and I had collected ourselves wholly, it was then that we left the room to meet with our men. Although one of them might be unwanted but these two really were all I had.

My unwanted man stood up to greet my mother at our approach and kissed her forehead in respect. Mother sat close to him, asking after his and his family's health. Zayed chatted with my mother as normally and respectfully as he would with his own. And why wouldn't he, he'd known my mother more than he knows me.

I, on the other hand, chose to sit next to my dear brother, making small talk with him while my ears paid full attention to my mother's conversation. She was showing Zayed her concern at how she and Hamad hadn't known where we both were this past week. It was an indirect way to reproach him.

But I doubt it affected the hardhearted Zayed.

He brushed it off ever so calmly; "I apologize for any inconvenience." He said. "With my father in such a state, we thought it best to stay in the country and not travel." He used his best weapon - his sick father - again. That was how he had me fooled as well.

My mother had silenced, what could she possibly say to him now? It frustrated me that he was playing his games with my mother too and what was even worse was that I would repeat the same lie to her if she asks me anything again.

Delisia came to serve drinks.

"I thought Badr called and told you, Hamad." Zayed continued, picking up his drink and turning to face his friend.

"Yes, he called on Sunday, saying that you had chosen to stay in Abu Dhabi." Hamad replied, refusing the drink that Delesia offered him with a gesture of his hand. "Although I wanted to hear it from you." My brother protested, with a smile.

It was good to see some people who cared for me and had my back. People who would give Zayed a hard time for what he did. After all, I wasn't that unfortunate.

There was a pause in which Zayed leaned forward to place his glass on the table. "Samhoona 'Aad. (My apologies)" He uttered, not completely meaning it. I had noticed, ever since the office days, that he never seems sincere when he apologizes. It was just a meaningless word he pronounced to get rid of a current problem.

"La Masmooh, Ya'l Ghali (No, it's alright, dear one)." Mother responded, her tone filled with warmth. I couldn't help but arch an eye brow.

Ya'l Ghali?! Ummi there was nothing precious about that man!! I wanted to scream, but didn't.

"Hamad missed his sister, that's all." She asserted, making me forget my earlier thoughts and a smile appeared on my face.

"Sure he did." Zayed replied with an ironic smile. "And we brought him his sister." he rejoiced, gesturing to where I sat. For a couple of seconds our eyes met, and I couldn't believe that he was the same man I had had an irritating conversation with in the car, just half an hour ago.

~* ♥

The first night of my stay at my mother's had been completely delightful. When Zayed and Hamad left after lunch to take uncle Waleed for a dialysis treatment, I tried to ignore spending time alone with my mother, knowing that she was going to ask many disturbing questions. Claiming that I was tired, I went up to my room and slept my heart away. I hadn't felt such comfort in a long time.

The next day passed by, pleasantly, when most of our relatives came over at lunch to see me, except my sister. I called Reem and asked why, and the reason was as always her husband's work. But she promised she'd come tomorrow to see me. Another thing I looked forward to!

It was after the 'Asr prayer, when I was sitting in the living room, joined by Sara and Ayesha, who laughed and talked, merrily. I had some difficulty coping up with their happiness, because I felt empty inside, yet I tried to laugh when I ought to and pretend to be embarrassed when they talked about my husband.

All at once, we heard someone clear their throat on the door and we all straightened in our seats. I frowned, asking who was there and a grinning Abdullah emerged from the other side of the door.

"Abood." I cried, smiling and stood up to greet my dear cousin. He looked me over from head to toe, his eyes out, exaggeratingly.

"Is that...Is that you Mahra?" He asked, coming closer to shake hands with me. "I thought we'd gotten rid of you." Abdullah joked, making me and the girls laugh. Normally I would punch him on his arm for such a behavior but I don't know why I didn't. Perhaps I had changed.

"You've changed." He announced my thoughts, still holding my hand. "I mean you look different."

Different? I don't know why he would say that! There certainly was no chance of me looking different in a good way, the opposite was the case. But I had tried to, after my mother's numerous lectures, look like a new bride for those who came to see me. Dressing up nicely and hiding the bags and dark marks under my eyes with some make-up. Did that make me look different?

When I didn't reply, he carried on. "I would understand it if you had travelled abroad and then came back, but you only went to Abu Dhabi." He sniggered and the girls laughed along with him. "Didn't your husband take you to Paris?" He ridiculed and laughed some more.

Usually by this time, I would've stuffed him with a remark but apparently today I couldn't come up with any. I just watched the innocent laughter that reached his eyes, smiling as I did.

"The Eifle tower doesn't interest him?" Abdullah asked winking at the girls behind me.

"Apparently so." I finally came up with a reply and changed the topic. "Anyway how's my car?" I questioned, hiding some weird feelings that had taken over me.

"You should ask about its driver first!" He retorted.

"The driver must have asked about me first, don't you think so?" I arched an eye brow, taking my seat back down.

"Don't sit down," Abdullah pointed at me. "Your husband is waiting for you outside." He informed, and I instantly stood up again.

"What?" I inquired, aghast.

"He came to take you to Paris."

"Stop fooling around, Abood."

Abdullah shook his head. "I am serious. Zayed is in the maylis, waiting for you."

"But Mahra you said you were going to stay!" Sara reminded, moving towards the window in hopes to see something.

"Is he alone in the maylis?" Ayesha asked her younger brother, following Sara to the window pane.

"Yeah." Abdullah replied and turned to me, gaping at him. "Well don't just stand there, Mahra. Yalla get ready." He ordered, making his way to the door. "I am going to join the man in the maylis. Don't make him wait for too long. He looked like he'd come straight from his office to take you."

WAIT WHAT?

~* ♥

Later that night

Closing the door of the apartment shut with great force, I kept muttering angrily to myself, which caught his attention. He preceded me to the living room and I was still in the corridor, getting rid of my heels, when he turned to face me.

"What?" He inquired, his face grim.

"What what?" I answered with a question, without looking at him. "Like you don't know what's wrong with me!" I went ahead, tossing my bag on the nearby sofa. "You said I could stay at my mother's and come whenever I wanted to with Hamad. There was no need for you to show off and come to pick me up."

"Is that why you have been grumbling and mumbling all the way?" I heard him say, his voice tired and confused.

I turned to look at him, ignoring his last sentence. "You should've let me be where I was. Surely you didn't miss our infamous arguments." I spat and he looked away, shaking his head.

"I can't...." He carelessly ran a hand through his hair and moved towards his room. "I am not in a mood to deal with you right now." He chose to disregard me on purpose, which had me go nuts.

"I don't have the patience to deal with your arrogance either." This made him pause and turn to face me. I gulped the lump of fire in my throat

I was furious at him. At this moment looking at him agitated me. It was because of him that my mother packed my bag on the last minute and sent me with him despite my stubbornness. He was the reason I didn't get enough time to spend with Hamad or mother. I didn't even have a chance to see Reem. He wasn't fair. I unwillingly gave him and his family all my time and attention but he didn't return it. This was seriously not going to do.

He didn't reply and kept glaring at me. "Why did you even bother?" I shouted at him.

"My mother was the reason I bothered to bring you." He yelled back. "If it were on me, you'd be wishing for the day I'd show you my face."

I rolled my eyes at that. The loyal son of his mother!

"Everyone else might buy your act of a considerate gentleman, but not me. I know you to be a sleazy man, who does everything for himself only." I scolded, my eyes burning with rage.

"If you know me so well, then why do you question my decisions?" He said with a stupid smirk that drove me crazy. I lost my composure and raised a shaky and accusing finger at him.

"Listen you..." I was going to curse him, but swallowed my words when I saw him march towards me. He came to a pause at a distance from me, towering me like a gigantic mountain, his dark eyes scarier than darkness itself.

"I what? Go on..." He challenged, looking daggers at me and I shuddered under his glare. There seemed to be a silent tornado that spun within him. Once again I knew I had hurt his manly pride. "What did I say about you raising your voice in my presence?" He spoke the words through gritted teeth, staring down at me. "You're a woman, be lady enough to stay in your limits."

My pointed finger suddenly fell and with my hands fisted on both my sides, I stood only inches from his face. His threatening tone had killed all the words that had been on my lips and burned my rage to ashes. Aghast, I wasn't able to move or say anything, seeing that he made his way to his room again, probably satisfied.

That night, I chose not to cry because of him. Other feelings were surely there, torturing me throughout the night like my mother's depressing dreams, but mostly my conscious blamed me for being poorly week in front of him. I didn't know myself to be such a coward. If another man had dared to speak to me like that, I would've skinned them alive, but here I didn't or better yet I couldn't fight back.

And I didn't get why!

Was it because he was a lot older than me or because he was once my boss? Being uncle Waleed's son can also be a factor. Did I respect him because he was my husband? That thought made me smirk. It couldn't be true. Respect, trust and love are three things that need to be earned and Zayed hadn't earned any of them yet. Fear, distrust and hatred were feelings that dwelled within me when it came to him.

~* ♥

Monday - 7: 15 AM

With those thoughts, I had fallen asleep and woke up late, missing my fajr prayer. Mad at myself, I got up and took a quick shower, then put on a dull cream colored jalabia. Without bothering to wear anything on my face, I got out of my room. There, as I was headed to the kitchen, I saw Zayed sitting in the living room, flipping through the pages of the newspaper. He looked like he was ready to go to work. I wonder if he had had breakfast.

Why do you even care? Forgot what he said to you last night!

Walking past him, I entered the kitchen and saw an empty glass of juice on the counter. I grabbed another glass and poured myself some juice as well, taking the chair on the round table, from where I could see Zayed. He sat there for another ten minutes then folded the newspaper, and made to leave.

But before getting out of the apartment, he paused at the kitchen door, without looking at me. "I won't be back till midnight, you can have dinner on your own." He informed and without waiting for my reply, he left me alone, surrounded by nothing but walls, once again.

As I heard him shut the door behind him, lack of belongingness took over me again before sadness ever could. Refusing to dive in sorrow one more time, I got up and searched for my phone. Since I had broken the last one, I brought another of my phones with me, yesterday. This was the one I used mostly at work, for colleagues and friends.

I had intended to call my mother and talk to her, when I found it on the bed, next to my pillow. But before I could do so, I heard the phone vibrate in its place. I grabbed it and looked at the screen to see an unfamiliar number. At first I didn't reply but it kept on ringing for the second and third time. I couldn't ignore it anymore, and with some hesitance I answered.

"Hello."

There was a long pause.

"Assalaam-u- Alaikum." Came a somewhat familiar masculine voice and I held my breath.

"Wa Alaikum Assalaam, who is this?" I inquired, my voice dead.

"Is this Mahra?" asked the man. I arched an eyebrow. How did he know my name!

"Yes, who am I speaking to?"

"It's me, Khalifa." The man on the other end informed, making me anxious. "Forgot me so soon." He added with a smile in his voice.

"Ahlain ukhooi Khalifa. (Hello brother Khalifa)" Surprised at his bizarrely unexpected phone call, I didn't even ask after his health. Whereas he did.

"How have you been, Mahra? How is Mr. Zayed?"

Mr. Zayed? He means my husband?

"Alhamdulillah, we're fine." I still didn't ask him about his health, thinking of any good reason that would make him call me after my marriage. I had a bad feeling about this.

He was quiet for a while. "I have been trying to reach you." This made me frown. "Since I learned that you and your husband were in the country." Khalifa completed, confusing me.

He did realize that I was married, didn't he?

"May I ask why?" I haughtily questioned, noticing him being reluctant before replying.

"I'll get straight to the point, without any introductions." He began.

"I'd rather you do." I muttered in answer.

"I...aaaa." He paused. "I am afraid there's someone trying to harm your marriage!" His words didn't register well.

"What do you mean?" My frown deepened.

He took his time thinking and I impatiently waited. Millions of doubts and thoughts running in my brain.

"It's Noorah." Khalifa announced. "She is threatening me she'll tell Mr. Zayed that there was something going on between me and you."

I felt as if I had been hit by a thunderbolt, both because of the last sentence and Noorah's boldness. "What are you talking about? Why would she do that?" In the back of my mind, a voice told me that Noorah wascompletely capable of inventing such lies and spreading them. She was evil enough and could easily stoop so low.

"She is seeking her revenge from me, after I.." He let his sentence hanging there, incomplete. "But I am afraid you are going to be an innocent victim in her vicious games." Khalifa spoke once again, chewing at his words many times.

"Why would she threaten you of me?"

"She thinks I rejected her because of you."

"That is not true."

"Yes it isn't, but it's been killing her for a long time now. And she thinks she can get to me, by hurting you."

"That's ridiculous." I snorted but knew Noorah very well and her low mentality. This was how she played it. After knowing about Khalifa's proposal to me, she fooled my family and they made the worst decision of my life. They ruined me. What do you want from me Noorah? Hasn't what happened enough?

"I called to let you know that she threatened to tell Mr. Zayed at work, yesterday."

Here I felt my brain turn upside down and blood boil under my skin. At this moment if I was allowed to murder only one person, it would definitely be Noorah.

"Thank you for informing me Khalifa. I really appreciate it. And don't worry about me and Zayed. I know how to handle my problems." I confidently said where inside I was cold ashes. I bid him a formal farewell and cut the phone. My hands cold and shaky with agitation.

What if she tells Zayed now? What will I do then?

I spent the rest of the unusually long day with my heart in my mouth. My thoughts took me back and forth, imagining scary things. She might've already told him, and he went to my family to inform them as well! That was what Reem did. What will mother think of me if she knew? What will Zayed think of me if he knew? Would he let me go now without waiting for a few months? Without caring for his father's health?

Frightened and impatient, I waited for him at midnight but he didn't arrive, not even after that.

~* ♥

Tuesday - 5:10 AM

The next morning when I saw him was when I came out of my room at Fajr to search for a Quran, ever since our wedding I hadn't read The Quran which was shameful. He was on his way to his room, when I saw him and came to a halt. Remembering my issue with Noorah, I stared at him with alert eyes, waiting for him to say something, but he didn't, at least not about that.

"You look like you have seen a ghost." He said, turning away from me to enter his room. There were no signs of rage or annoyance on his face, which meant all was well. Or maybe he did know but he didn't care about it!

"Are you..." I began after gathering myself. "Gonna be late again tonight?" I asked, watching him walk to his room.

"May be. I am not sure." He replied, without turning to look at me, his tone as cold as ever. Closing the door on my face, he had me standing there, like a fool.

I shook my head at his pride and neglect, he knew very well where exactly to pinch you so that it hurt. Trying to ignore my heartache, I entered my room and didn't get out until he was gone.

Only God knows how dreadful these past two days have been for me. They were agonizingly slow and awfully disturbing. All I ever did was lie down on the sofa in the living room, watching TV without being able to concentrate. Not wanting to cook for myself, I ate fruit as my lunch and slept again. Sleep didn't come easily, since I worried about Noorah and her schemes.

At sunset, Zayed came back and closed himself up in his room again. I wanted to go see him, to find out if Noorah had told him or not! Anxious about that, the minutes till the 'Isha prayer felt like days and I still couldn't make my mind on what to do!

~* ♥

Carrying the horror of his reaction to what I will tell him next, I dragged my feet that slowly lead me to his room. The door was ajar, and I saw Zayed on his bed. He had a pillow behind his back and legs stretched out with his lap top on his laps. His narrowed eyes were glued to the screen, trying to concentrate on work and work only.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked at the open door to grab his attention. He looked up from his lap top, briefly to notice it was me and then looked down again. As if I was of no importance at all.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" I put forward, my heart beating faster. This was a wrong decision. I shouldn't have come to him.

He examined me, closely. If he was surprised then, I wouldn't know because as always he was trying his best to hide it. "Yeah, come in." He welcomed, straightening in his place, sitting cross legged now.

"No," I hesitated and pointed to the living room. "We'll talk outside." I suggested. Hating the idea of entering his room.

He didn't argue or hesitate but surely gave me a poisonous look before getting out. I walked after him and both of us took seats, away from each other, in the living room. I had taken the armchair and he the whole sofa to himself. With his back pressed to the sofa, and arm stretched on the arm rest, he looked at me, demandingly.

"What is it?" He finally announced his curiosity, looking as if he didn't have much time for whatever nonsense it was that I was going to utter next.

Leaning forward, I sighed deeply, my elbows on my knees and eyes fixed at my entwined fingers.

"The time that I spent away from you, helped me realize things that I was ignorant of." I began, holding my breath. "I appreciate the trouble and inconvenience that you have been through because of my presence in your life and we both know that it isn't going to end soon." I stated, not daring to look up in his eyes or at his expressions.

Moving my gaze from my fingers to the floor, I continued. "I will, or at least try to, forgive you for the pain that you have caused me. Although unintentionally done, as you claim, but your decision still has ruined my life once and forever." I finished, feeling as if hundreds of needles were thrust in my heart and it flapped in agony.

Trying to control my quivering voice I went on. "It is hard for me..." in spite of fake composure, my voice broke and I unfortunately glanced at him. He was as silent as ever. The look in his dark eyes was vaguely familiar. For the first time in days, he seemed engrossed in what I had to say. Staring at me, pondering over my words.

"It is hard for me." I repeated. "To live like this." My eyes had settled back on the floor. "God knows when uncle Waleed will recover, although I wish it is soon In Sha Allah, but what if it takes him weeks or even months??... I cannot bear to live like this! This condition of mine has been gnawing at my heart, eating me inside, it can't go on for much longer." I complained, my voice a little higher and heavier and my uneasiness shown in the harsh way I was rubbing my fingers.

"What do you want from me?" His impatient question made me turn to look at him. I had clearly gathered some courage from my stay at my mothers, and was staring back in his icy eyes now, without blinking.

"Some peace." I exhaled and it took him by surprise but he collected himself soon.

"We are not having a war here either." He contradicted, shaking his head.

"That's what you think." I was referring to the cold war between us but he didn't comprehend. "I don't want to be allies with you." I shook my head. "God knows, I can't even bear the thought of it. But I don't want to live here, thinking of you as my enemy either!" Suddenly my cowardice reappeared, making me look away. Or maybe I was intimidated by the deadly glare in his destructive eyes.

For a while, I imitated his silence, using the time to think of my upcoming words.

"I am not asking for much. All you have to do is reduce any chances of arguments between us, avoid the fights or any rude interactions. Don't want you to be nice or friendly." Here, I saw him from the corner of my eyes, placing one leg over the other and heard him snicker. I felt like he was making fun of me, as if he was laughing at me which was agitating.

"I am serious here." I finally snapped.

"I can see that." He replied, with a suppressed smile.

"You have no right to treat me like that." Disgust and accusation filled my tone. "I am sick of your attitude, your ego and arrogance. I am sick of your unforgiveable pride." I chanted, catching my breath.

"You have made my life a living hell and you still don't seem to be satisfied. What else do you want me to do? I have agreed to all your conditions already. I have chosen to stay and pretend to be the happiest woman on earth in front of your family. I smiled till my jaw hurt and lied to them on their faces. I lied to my own mother straight in the eyes all because of you. She knew something was wrong. She knew something was bothering me, but I didn't tell her all because of you. What else do you want from me? Is this pain not enough?"

I held the sob that had reached my throat and stuck there in the form of a lump. Facing the other way, I tried to collect myself. You will not break in front of him? Not again! But the symptoms suggested otherwise. My breathing was fast and so were my heartbeats. All the blood in my body had rushed to my face and ears, making them extremely warm.

When I felt like I couldn't control my rage anymore, I stood up. "Forget it. This is useless." I grumbled, taking a couple of steps in front of him, towards my room.

However, I gasped as an awful pain beginning from my injured wrist surged through my arm. A hand had stopped me, a cold and hard hand, too unfamiliar. At first, my heart stopped functioning, in fact the entire world around me had come to a pause. But when it started pumping again, the heartbeats weren't in their normal speed. If I thought I was warm earlier then I was igniting flames now. Both with anger and embarrassment.

"Sit down. We're not done yet." He ordered, his tone flat. With that sentence, he let go of my hand.

Still standing there, with my back to him, I was completely awed. The hand that he had just touched was now close to my heart. I searched for any scars but he had left none.

For some odd reason, I carried out his request and sat back down on my seat. Remembering why I had chosen to speak with him in the first place. I had to tell him before things could get any worse. And there really was no place for more distress in my life, I had had enough!

"What you ask of me, will be easily given to you. From now on, I act as if you don't exist and the same goes to you. Still I will not deprive you of your main necessities, so if there is something you need, you must come and tell me." He asserted, looking at me and then leaned forward. "Is that all you wanted?"

No. I wanted to tell him. That wasn't at all what I wanted. I didn't want him to neglect me. That would make things harder. What was wrong with this man?

When I didn't reply, he repeated his question, making me gaze at him. Could I trust this man with a secret? The man who failed to understand me?

"No." I shook my head, my eyes surveying the silent room. "There is something else." Placing a stone on my heart, I risked it. Both of us were leaning forward, with our hands on our knees, and a small distance separating us. "I have a problem." I uttered, staring hesitantly back at him.

A questioning frown appeared on his proud face.

"I can't tell Hamad and aside from him, I don't have anybody else." I completed. Zayed averted his eyes away from me, as if my last sentence had disturbed him, exceedingly.

"Why are you telling me then?"

"Because it relates to you, because you are the only one who can solve it for me."

He arched an eyebrow. "What is it?"

A moment's silence.

"I am being threatened." Unsure of my actions, I told him my secret. My mind cursing my heart.

You can't trust him! You can't trust him! My mind ranted.

What I witnessed in front of me was horribly astonishing. He jerked back, his frown had deepened and I don't know if it was concern I saw in his eyes for me.

"What are you talking about?" He demanded, uncertain of what he'd heard.

"I am being threatened from someone at work. A former colleague." I informed, not wanting to mention any names.

"Our workplace?" he raised both eye brows. Apparently, that news was more shocking than the first one.

I nodded, briefly.

"What kind of threats?" He questioned, completely baffled.

I leaned back on the chair, taking in a deep breath. How do I explain this to him?

"Since you are my husband now, they plan to feed you false stories about me. Stories that could destroy whatever relationship we both share or destroy my name and status." These words were hard to pronounce. Saying it to him made everything worse.

I bit my lip, staring at my hands in my laps, when his voice finally came.

"What could be the content of these stories?"

I looked abruptly at him, frightened. This was what I was scared of!

"They are not true." I justified.

"Okay, but what do they suggest?" He questioned, trying to keep his calm.

Inquiry meant that there was doubt, and doubt meant that I was over. I shouldn't have come to him. He will never understand.

"They aren't true. I swear to God, they aren't true." I repeated, hoping he'd believe me.

"Mahra." He interrupted. "Tell me." And fixed the power of his gaze at me which worked.

"She will come and tell you that I had an affair with this man at our workplace, but I haven't I swear to God I haven't. She only says it because she likes the man herself and he doesn't care about her. She is coming back at me for what I once did to her. She hates me, she's always envied me." I explained, not looking at him for his reaction.

"I have been through a lot of trouble because of her already. She tried to mess with my family, with my job and she still won't leave me alone." I paused to breath.

If only she knew how weak our relationship already is. There is nothing that needs to be ruined between the both of us! We're already shattered! My present life was chaotic enough, I didn't need a blast from the past.

When his silence lengthened, my heart sank. It was a sign that he was considering this as well. He might as well believe her too.

"I know you'll believe her just like my family did." I certified, my voice shaking. "But it isn't true, I swear on my father's grave that it isn't." I fought to push back the gray fog that surrounded my mind and swallowed the huge, aching lump in my throat, blinking to hold back tears.

Another long moment of silence dragged by, in which I painfully waited for his reply.

"Is this girl named Noorah?" He asked, expectantly.

Surprised, my head shot to him once again, and I tried to search his eyes for any confirmation of his trust upon me, but his eyes were as dead as steel. My reaction had answered his question because I saw him give me a brief nod.

"Who is this man she is linking you up with?" He shot another question at me, making me uncomfortable. I had decided to keep Khalifah away from this and not risk his job. Besides he was only trying to help me! Why endanger his position?

I simply shook my head, refusing to reply, which caught his attention.

"You won't tell me?" He observed and fixed me with an intense gaze, trying to read my face as if it was an open book. "Is he a friend of yours?"

I scoffed. "Just an acquaintance."

"Then why are you protecting him?" He peered at me doubtful.

"I am not protecting him. I could care less about him or his wellbeing." I frowned, disgusted at where his thoughts had led him. "Clearly he has no idea of what's going on between me and that low life, I shouldn't drag him into this. It won't be fair." With rage, I retorted.

He looked like he was going to comment but then decided against it. I let out the breath that I had been holding once he changed his mind and instead asked me. "Why would she start such a rumor?"

Silence...

I inhaled. "It's a long story." And exhaled loudly. She was the reason I had been forced to marry you!

"I am listening." His voice was patient but his eyes had been stubborn.

Taking my time before speaking again, I realized I was in great difficulty now. But I had brought it to myself. If Noorah aimed for vengeance, then she clearly won over me a hundred times, because she has me sitting here, defending my character in front of a man that is immensely judgmental.

"I don't know if you remember how I was before marriage." I reminded, steeling a glance at him.

"Of course, how can I ever forget that?!" He ridiculed.

Fighting the urge to roll my eyes at his obvious mockery, I continued. "Well, I did something to her." I looked down, ashamed. "But she had been the one to provoke me at first." I instantly defended.

He nodded, encouragingly.

"She stuffed my sister the same story, she threatens me she'll tell you and unfortunately my family misjudged me because of her. At first they believed her over me, and I was told to leave my job. It took me days to convince them that she was lying and that I would never break their rules or forget their teachings." I watched as he folded both his arms across his chest, listening to me carefully, without breaking in. "Then when fortunately they came around and I was allowed to go to work again, I taught Noorah the lesson she needed to learn." I clarified, not knowing why I was giving him such personal and close details. It didn't seem right. But if I had to make him believe me, he might as well know the whole truth...well not all of it.

"She's coming back at you now?" Zayed questioned, surprise coloring his tone.

I nodded, slowly.

"You shouldn't have been bothered with any of this, but I would rather have you hear it from me than anybody else, so that you'd stay away from making false assumption. I intend to avoid future trouble. We've both had enough of that already." Ignoring his eyes, I uttered my last sentence.

He nodded.

"Is that all she has against you?" He asked, concerned. I bobbed my head in reply.

"Don't worry about it." He straightened in his place. "When she comes to me with these stories, I'll make sure to disappoint her." He consoled, his voice empty.

"Really?"

He nodded once again. "I appreciate your honesty."

I stared at him, with a surprised and grateful look in my eyes. For the first time, he had me feel relieved, which wasn't something I was expecting from him. Soon he stood up to leave me, I felt like a huge burden had been lifted away from my shoulders. He couldn't believe that he trusted me.

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~With Love

~Witty & Witch