BY ZEE ASLAM
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The next morning, Farida was too weak to get off the hospital bed. She though of ways she could convince her boss that she was going to be absent at work before an idea popped into her head.
She was going to text Khalid so he would help her convey the message to her boss.
After texting him, she switched off her phone and placed it under the pillow. The nurse maid had gone home to prepare Sufyan for school so she was all alone in the room.
She sneered on the inside but kept her composure. At this moment…….she received an SMS from an unfamiliar number through her Nokia 3310.
When she opened it up, she realized it was from her boss, then she recalled she didn’t save his other number in this phone. He was asking after her health and the hospital she was admitted.
She led out a laugh and sent a response then kept the phone beside her. She closed her eyes and soon dozed off.
12pm.
She managed to pull herself off the bed and had breakfast. She was still eating when her phone rang. It was that same number she wasn’t familiar with.
She picked it up after it rang twice and the caller spoke softly. “Am in the hospital premises, which room are you”?
Her heart skipped, her boss actually paid her a visit in the hospital. “Room no 15”. She replied and hung up.
Quickly, she put away what she was eating and wore her hijab adjusting her sitting position.
Not long have she done that, that he appeared by the door. He was in the company of Khalid.
Farida slowly exposed traces of smile even though his face was contorted like he doesn’t know how to smile, however she was used to that mood.
The nurse maid was also in the room then, she greeted the men as they walked in and went out.
Khaleel sat down without saying a word while Khalid dropped the shopping bag beside the bed and kept smiling like he has won a lottery.
The hospital gave it’s usual unpleasant smell, it was written on Khaleel’s face that he wasn’t happy with the visit but maybe he had no choice or probably he was sweet mouthed by Khalid.
“How’s your health now, hope you are much better”? Khalid asked her.
“Am fine, Alhamdulillah”……she said smiling and turned to Khaleel.
“Thanks for coming” she uttered.
Khaleel only led out a cold “hmph”. He despised the smell of a hospital coupled with the fact that he was forced to be here.
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Not long after, an anxious figure appeared by the door. ‘It was Bello’.
He stared at them innocently and went to stand opposite Khaleel stretching out his hand for a shake.
“I am Bello, her husband. Thanks for checking on her” he said as they shook hands.
Farida just glared at him in anger. How cheap did he look faking a smile and putting up an act. The anger in her was boiling up.
“Who told you I was here”? She finally asked him.
“The nurse maid did” he replied gesturing at her not to ask further but she neglected him and still asked besides there was no need keeping secrets again…
“And who is your wife you mentioned earlier”? She asked sizing him up and down. He didn’t reply, rather he walked over to stand by her side.
Khaleel made an eye contact with Khalid signaling they should leave. He stood up and left while Khalid shook hands with Bello first before joining him.
“What was that all about, did you have to go as far as denying me in the presence of strangers”? Bello asked her furiously.
“Yes I had to, am no longer your wife or is it too difficult for you to understand”. Farida also said angrily pushing him away.
“You are my wife and will forever be” he shouted.
“Aren’t you ashamed of yourself………she started but he gave her a hard slap forcing back words into her mouth.
Farida stared at him in disbelief. For the years she spent with him, he had never been violent not to talk of raising his hands at her face.
He has always been a caring, loving and understanding husband. She never knew he had this side because he never showed her.
She wanted to stand up but another slap sent her back. She landed face down on the bed as her body twisted.
He swept one of her arms expertly up behind her back then pulled her other arm back. The second wrist was captured quickly and painfully as her hands were locked behind her waist.
She struggled trying to wiggle away as she kicked back with her feet.
“Somebody help me”! She cried then shrieked as her hands were forced up between her shoulders
“Don’t bother shouting, no one is here to help you”. He whispered to her ears.
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Farida was scared, she was beginning to lose hope as her hijab got stuck to her neck.
“Please let go of me, you are hurting me” she croaked out amidst tears.
“I have not done anything yet you are complaining, do you think you can decide to leave just like that, you are mine, your body is mine and everything about you is mine” he said laughing.
“When I release you, I want to sit here and see you unclad”. He whispered to her ears.
“What! you must be joking, what has come over you” she managed to say.
“Okay then, since you have refused to comply, I have no choice but to force you” he said and tore her hijab.
He was proceeding to her clothes when the door suddenly opened, someone barged in and pushed him away.
With the help of her savior, she sat on the bed breathing heavily. Her eyes were swollen to the size of a walnut and her whole body ache thoroughly.
She couldn’t believe what just happened.
Was it actually Bello or his replica.
Was he drunk?
Was he possessed?
