BY ZEE ASLAM
CHAPTER THREE
She sat on the bed and held her mum’s left hand.
“Umma am nothing without you, I have no idea what to do again”.
The doctor confirmed you are responding to treatment yet no improvement.
I promised to take care of Sufyan and I am trying my best but we all need you by our side. “She said in a lower and sober voice”.
She knew her mum could hear her but providing an answer was the problem.
She could remember with hindsight how happy they were before this repulsive occurrence, her father had passed away even before Sufyan was delivered. Their hearts have been heavy since then.
“Umma my marriage is a mess, am beginning to lose my right in my husband’s house”.
God why me???
‘She added and cried her eyes out’.
Umma was and is her only confidant even though she never got any response from her. Sharing her problems alone with her is a bit relief to her.
She stood up and went into the bathroom, washed her face and applied cream slightly. She made sure she was okay before walking out of the room.
She gave the nurse maid sum of money for their upkeep before she hurriedly left for the hospital to visit their family doctor.
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The queue in front of Dr Hassan’s consultation office was long. It was however not unusual. The women especially, trooped into the hospital to see the famous doctor for one or two gynae-ailment or another.
She greeted the women she had met there briefly and sat stiffly, putting a little distance between her and the next patient.
As she sat and nervously waited for her turn, her phone rang.
“Mama was boldly written on the screen”. Her heart skipped, what could possibly be the reason behind the call.
She picked the call and remained silent.
“Where have you been?”. Mama raised her voice at her.
“I went to visit my mum”. Farida replied briefly.
“Must you stay this long because you went to visit your mum?” Mama asked again.
“But it’s barely an hour since I left the house and besides it’s not like I have anything doing there”. She bluntly replied doubting her confidence.
“What do you mean by that, who is going to take care of Husna and her needs?”. Mama kept the questions coming.
Farida felt a tear dropped on her chin. This is too much for her to bear. She hung up the call immediately and left the hospital premises.
When she got home, mama and Husna were in the sitting room watching a movie. She made attempt to tiptoe into her room but her feet caught their attentions.
“Don’t just sneak into your room, it’s better you walk into the kitchen and prepare something for us to eat, we are so famished” Mama bellowed.
She stopped halfway and stared at them. Are they expecting her to always be in the kitchen, she was there not upto an hour ago or would she spending the rest of her lives in the kitchen all in the name of looking after an expectant mother.
She shrugged her shoulder and walked straight to her room. Bello was lying on the bed when she got there, she undressed and changed into something light before going to the kitchen. He stared at her till she was out of sight and shook his head.
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Farida was in the kitchen when Husna came in.
“Yes what do you want?”. Farida asked her curiously.
“I just wanted to let you know I crave for amala and ewedu soup and please use goat meat instead of cow meat or fish”. Husna replied squeezing her mouth as she spoke.
“Can you hear yourself……..I crave for amala and ewedu soup”. Farida said mimicking her.
Let me tell you this, open your ears and hear me clearly
“I am not your maid, if you need someone that you would order around, then get yourself one”. Farida uttered bluntly and continued what she was doing.
Husna looked at her from head to toe, hissed and said, atleast I have what you don’t have.
“It’s been 7 good years and you are yet to prove being a woman”.
Well I don’t blame you, what could you possibly offer when you’ve got nothing.
“She added and rubbed her baby bump smiling sheepishly”.
Farida swallowed every word she gushed out then gave it back to her in her own coin.
“It’s better to be married and barren than carry a bastard whom is yet to be accepted”
It’s obvious you took advantage of my husband’s condition that night but nothing is hidden under the sun, you will surely regret your actions…..
Farida said and she could see the change of expression on Husna’s face.
Husna turned and left the kitchen quietly.
“The tears Farida had been trying to hold back, found their ways down her chin freely”.
