Chapter 47

Three months later.... 

Habiba has been lain sick ever since she got pregnant and he wouldn't dare leave her side or think of going to work. He was always by her side. She was four months far now but she was still dealing with morning sickness, headaches, cramps, weird cravings and mostly mood swings. Habiba never gets moody but ever since she got pregnant, everything changed.

It was past midnight but he couldn’t get a glimpse of sleep, not when she was in that condition. He thought; something atrocious might happen to her when he’s asleep. He held her closer, looking at her pale face. He explored the contours of her face. A work of art, beautifully shaped. Her nose is firm set in place. She was asleep but her lips were a little bit curved upwards. He slowly traced it, beaming alluringly.  

He heaved a sigh and closed his eyes. He still saw her even when she was beside him. He revived; when she smiles, the lines softened. Like light from an half open door. Her laughter bounced like waves. On the ocean shore.

She slowly opened her tired eyes and looked around the dark room. He turned on the dim light and their eyes met. She slowly beamed at him and freed herself from his hold. “How are you feeling, baby?” He asked, helping her to sit upright. “Why aren’t you asleep? It’s….” She glanced at the wall clock, “midnight?’ She looked at him and tilted her head. 

“I can’t sleep fully knowing you might wake up in the middle of the night and need something,” he spoke gently stroking her back. “I’m fine, I promise, baby.” She kissed his cheek and got off the bed to the bathroom. 

She came out few minutes later and met him close to the bathroom door. Her eyes widened, “I’m feeling better, I promise.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “Now you should get some sleep please. I’ll go make some sandwich before I come sleep too.” She urged him and pushed him towards the bed. “No baby, let’s go make it together. I mean what if you get dizzy or you start feeling nausea?” He clasped their hands together and they walked out of the room while she complained. “I'm not even allowed to do anything by myself... you should stop being over protective... I can take care of myself...”

 “Another word from you and I swear I will knock you down on this stairs with my seductive kisses.” She freed Herself from his hold and quickly ran into the kitchen. He chuckled shaking his head. He followed her into the kitchen and met her surfing through the pantry. She brought out everything she needed and arranged them on the kitchen island. “Sit, I will make it for you.” He offered. She beamed at him and nodded. She settled down on the stool and looked at him making the sandwich, just the way she likes it. 

Her mind wandered off to what she had once seen in his phone. She felt the urge to confront him and ask him who Maryam was to him. But one way or the other, she would find out whatever it was. “Have you ever been in love?’ She questioned, breaking the silence. He paused and looked up at her. He raised a brow, and held a befuddled expression. “I thought we've talked about this before,” he spoke gently and continued with what he was doing. “Well... yeah... I just wanted to know about the girls you've dated before,” she spoke hysterically. He sighed and stopped making the sandwich. He stood in front of her, arm folded on his chest. “I have never dated any girl before as I have once told you before....”

“So you're trying to say that you have never been in love?” She interrupted him. She looked up at him and stared into his eyes. She swallowed hard and lowered her gaze. He chuckled and went back to what he was doing. She looked at his face waiting to hear what he has to say but nothing came out of his mouth. The silence went thinner and thinner, making her to feel uncomfortable. He dropped the plate in front of her and settled down on the stool beside her. “Eat first then I will tell you short story.” He stated, a smile never left his lips. She returned a smile and nodded. 

She looked at the sandwich and felt the urge to throw up. She wanted to hear what he has to say, but, she knew he wouldn't talk till she eats. “I promise, the moment you eat, we will talk about it.” He assured her. She beamed and nodded. She the sandwiches and gulped it down with a cranberry juice.

“Everything that I am going to say now is in the past and I have totally moved on,” he stated. She stared at his face without uttering a word. Deep down in her mind, she was having a meltdown. Her heart beating against her ribcage. “When I lost my mother, I literally pushed everyone away. I was so depressed and lost because I lost my world. I didn't want anything to do with anyone. I stopped going anywhere. I was always alone with my thoughts, but then, a girl came into my life. She helped me go through my misery even though I still feel pain whenever I remember my mother. She was always there for me no matter what. She was no less than a blessing in disguise. I couldn't control my feelings and I fell for her.

I kept it to myself for years without speaking about it to her about it. It was the hardest thing to do but I managed to hold it without her knowing I was in love with her...”

“But, why didn't you tell her how you felt?” She interrupted. He chuckled and shook his head. “I was afraid of losing her and by Allah, each passing day my love for her kept increasing. I was going crazy about her that I once had a high BP cause of her.” Habiba’s eyes bulged out and she furrowed her brows. She swallowed the lump in her throat and fought the tears from gushing down. “I told you this is all in the past now, so relax, babe,” he reminded her.

“Her birthday was coming up and I never missed it. I wasn't home but I managed to fly back to surprise her just to find her in another man’s arms, a non Muharram, can you believe that?” He smiled bitterly. She sluggishly closed her eyes and opened them. “Well, long story short we are now strangers and I have completely moved on ever since I met you.” 

Her lips curved upwards even though deep down in her heart it was aching her. She wanted to know more, she wanted to ask if the girl was Maryam but she doesn't have any explanation to give on how she would think it was Maryam. “Come, lets get you to bed,” he said and held her hand. 

**

She paced back and forth, clutching on the pregnancy test kit that showed positive. That was the fourth test she was taking in that same day. “This can't be possible,” she murmured under her breath. She perched on her bed, holding her head that was mentally spinning. She saw her dreams and career crumbling before her eyes. She wasn't going to keep the baby, heck no. she wasn't even going to let mujahid find out she's pregnant. There was no way he was going to let her abort the baby.

She briskly stood up from the bed and sauntered into her bathroom to have her shower. After she was done getting ready, she picked her car keys and handbag before stepping out of the room. He also came out of his room. “Where are you heading to?” He questioned looking at her from head to toe. He was also dressed up and ready to head out. “I'm going to the boutique of course,” she retorted annoyingly. “Nadia, today is Friday and you never go to work on Fridays!” He spoke gently. “Look, I have a business meeting to attend to and if you keep asking me this idiotic questions, I will be late!” She nonchalantly walked away and descend down the stairs.

He looked at her retreating back in awe. What has he actually gotten himself into? What kind of marriage is that? But, whatever the case, he caused everything! When she did something outrageous, he remembered Maryam, how he maltreated and used her. 

On her way to the hospital, she called her friend which was also her personal doctor to inform him she was coming! She gripped on the steering wheel, having a second thought of what she was about to do. She loves Mujahid and he is one of the most important person in her life but, her career matters more. She was too young to start giving birth, it’s too early for that. No one would want to talk business with when she has a baby bump. Who would actually take her seriously?

She stepped out of the car, taking baby steps into the hospital. She headed straight to his office. She knocked before sauntering in. He looked up at her and beamed. “Mrs Mujahid, long time no see,” he smirked. She rolled her eyes and settled down on the patient’s chair. “Drop the act Kamal, I'm here to talk to you about something very important.” He shrugged his shoulders, waiting to hear what she has to say. 

“You know me all your life and you know how serious I am about my career. Let me just cut it short, I'm pregnant and I want to abort the child without my husband knowing about it,” she spoke and bite her lower lip. His stern look made her even more nervous. “Nadia why would you do such? A lot of women are looking for this amazing chance and you're here joking with it. You do know this is highly inappropriate right?”

“Damn it! Kamal are you going to do it or not, because you're wasting my time. I did not ask for your opinion please, simply do what I ask you to do and I will pay!” She spat irked. He threw his head back laughing. “Easy there. I see you still haven't changed this your habit of easily getting angry. Well, whatever the case, I will do it, but tomorrow.” He said before getting up. “What? Why?” She questioned also getting up from the chair. “I have a meeting to attend to now and it will take long before we round up. I promise, the moment you come tomorrow.... I'm going to do as you asked. But let me warn you, this is not easy and it is very risky!” 

She hissed softly and looked away. She hated it when he talked nonstop. “Fine, I will come tomorrow morning.” She sauntered out of his office before he could blabber again. He smirk, scratching the back of his head.

As they scheduled, she went to the hospital the next day to get rid of the baby. And as she wanted, the baby got removed within few minutes and she was more than glad even though it wasn't easy. Later that day, she was finally feeling better and took herself home. 

He paced around the living room, looking at the wall clock when she sauntered in. She heaved a sigh and hissed. She knew a war was definitely going to happen. “Look, before you start, I'm very tired and don't have time for any of your bullshit so save us the energy.” She spoke, boorishly and started walking towards the stairs but he briskly blocked her path. “I went to your boutique earlier today but you weren't there and your PA told me you haven't showed up in two days. Where do you go to, Nadia?”

Her heart did a flip but she masked her fear and held her head high like she was really innocent. “I went to visit my mother today and yesterday I told you I was going for a business meeting, not to the boutique. Now, if you will excuse me, I would like to go have my bath and sleep.” She walked passed him and he turned to look at her retreating back. He noticed spots of blood on her dress which made his heart to skip beats. Allah knows now he was afraid of what Nadia was capable of doing. He had regretted ever uttering does three words to her. He regrets proposing to her. He regrets marrying her!

“Everything that I am going to say now is in the past and I have totally moved on,” he stated. She stared at his face without uttering a word. Deep down in her mind, she was having a meltdown. Her heart beating against her ribcage. “When I lost my mother, I literally pushed everyone away. I was so depressed and lost because I lost my world. I didn't want anything to do with anyone. I stopped going anywhere. I was always alone with my thoughts, but then, a girl came into my life. She helped me go through my misery even though I still feel pain whenever I remember my mother. She was always there for me no matter what. She was no less than a blessing in disguise. I couldn't control my feelings and I fell for her.

I kept it to myself for years without speaking about it to her about it. It was the hardest thing to do but I managed to hold it without her knowing I was in love with her...”

“But, why didn't you tell her how you felt?” She interrupted. He chuckled and shook his head. “I was afraid of losing her and by Allah, each passing day my love for her kept increasing. I was going crazy about her that I once had a high BP cause of her.” Habiba’s eyes bulged out and she furrowed her brows. She swallowed the lump in her throat and fought the tears from gushing down. “I told you this is all in the past now, so relax, babe,” he reminded her.

“Her birthday was coming up and I never missed it. I wasn't home but I managed to fly back to surprise her just to find her in another man’s arms, a non Muharram, can you believe that?” He smiled bitterly. She sluggishly closed her eyes and opened them. “Well, long story short we are now strangers and I have completely moved on ever since I met you.” 

Her lips curved upwards even though deep down in her heart it was aching her. She wanted to know more, she wanted to ask if the girl was Maryam but she doesn't have any explanation to give on how she would think it was Maryam. “Come, lets get you to bed,” he said and held her hand. 

**

She paced back and forth, clutching on the pregnancy test kit that showed positive. That was the fourth test she was taking in that same day. “This can't be possible,” she murmured under her breath. She perched on her bed, holding her head that was mentally spinning. She saw her dreams and career crumbling before her eyes. She wasn't going to keep the baby, heck no. she wasn't even going to let mujahid find out she's pregnant. There was no way he was going to let her abort the baby.

She briskly stood up from the bed and sauntered into her bathroom to have her shower. After she was done getting ready, she picked her car keys and handbag before stepping out of the room. He also came out of his room. “Where are you heading to?” He questioned looking at her from head to toe. He was also dressed up and ready to head out. “I'm going to the boutique of course,” she retorted annoyingly. “Nadia, today is Friday and you never go to work on Fridays!” He spoke gently. “Look, I have a business meeting to attend to and if you keep asking me this idiotic questions, I will be late!” She nonchalantly walked away and descend down the stairs.

He looked at her retreating back in awe. What has he actually gotten himself into? What kind of marriage is that? But, whatever the case, he caused everything! When she did something outrageous, he remembered Maryam, how he maltreated and used her. 

On her way to the hospital, she called her friend which was also her personal doctor to inform him she was coming! She gripped on the steering wheel, having a second thought of what she was about to do. She loves Mujahid and he is one of the most important person in her life but, her career matters more. She was too young to start giving birth, it’s too early for that. No one would want to talk business with when she has a baby bump. Who would actually take her seriously?

She stepped out of the car, taking baby steps into the hospital. She headed straight to his office. She knocked before sauntering in. He looked up at her and beamed. “Mrs Mujahid, long time no see,” he smirked. She rolled her eyes and settled down on the patient’s chair. “Drop the act Kamal, I'm here to talk to you about something very important.” He shrugged his shoulders, waiting to hear what she has to say. 

“You know me all your life and you know how serious I am about my career. Let me just cut it short, I'm pregnant and I want to abort the child without my husband knowing about it,” she spoke and bite her lower lip. His stern look made her even more nervous. “Nadia why would you do such? A lot of women are looking for this amazing chance and you're here joking with it. You do know this is highly inappropriate right?”

“Damn it! Kamal are you going to do it or not, because you're wasting my time. I did not ask for your opinion please, simply do what I ask you to do and I will pay!” She spat irked. He threw his head back laughing. “Easy there. I see you still haven't changed this your habit of easily getting angry. Well, whatever the case, I will do it, but tomorrow.” He said before getting up. “What? Why?” She questioned also getting up from the chair. “I have a meeting to attend to now and it will take long before we round up. I promise, the moment you come tomorrow.... I'm going to do as you asked. But let me warn you, this is not easy and it is very risky!” 

She hissed softly and looked away. She hated it when he talked nonstop. “Fine, I will come tomorrow morning.” She sauntered out of his office before he could blabber again. He smirk, scratching the back of his head.

As they scheduled, she went to the hospital the next day to get rid of the baby. And as she wanted, the baby got removed within few minutes and she was more than glad even though it wasn't easy. Later that day, she was finally feeling better and took herself home. 

He paced around the living room, looking at the wall clock when she sauntered in. She heaved a sigh and hissed. She knew a war was definitely going to happen. “Look, before you start, I'm very tired and don't have time for any of your bullshit so save us the energy.” She spoke, boorishly and started walking towards the stairs but he briskly blocked her path. “I went to your boutique earlier today but you weren't there and your PA told me you haven't showed up in two days. Where do you go to, Nadia?”

Her heart did a flip but she masked her fear and held her head high like she was really innocent. “I went to visit my mother today and yesterday I told you I was going for a business meeting, not to the boutique. Now, if you will excuse me, I would like to go have my bath and sleep.” She walked passed him and he turned to look at her retreating back. He noticed spots of blood on her dress which made his heart to skip beats. Allah knows now he was afraid of what Nadia was capable of doing. He had regretted ever uttering does three words to her. He regrets proposing to her. He regrets marrying her!