BY ZEE ASLAM
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
A very hot slap landed on her face which made her withdraw her lips immediately.
“Listen, I can never be seduced by any woman and don’t you ever try this again” he marveled.
She held her cheek as the anger in her kept boiling. ‘You will pay for this’ she said and headed towards the door but he held her back.
“Are you stupid, your mother is out there, what do you intend telling her if you go out now”? He asked as he pointed at the door furrowing his brow.
“Watch me as I turn the table round” she said and opened the door then walked out but there was no one standing there. She heaved a sigh of relief and tiptoed to her chamber.
Boss man came out afterwards, he was at ease when he discovered Didi had left.
He went straight to the king’s Zaure where he knew they would be sitted by this time.
Baba am sorry, he muttered as he sat down.
It’s alright boss man. But you also made a mistake by keeping such things to yourself alone. We are your parent, it is our right to know the status of the woman you want to make your wife or are you hiding something else!. Mai martaba cautioned him.
“I hid it because I was afraid you all would kick against this marriage if I had let you know” he solemnly said.
“My son, you are a man. Stand firm on your decisions and take responsibility for it. Once you start harboring fears then you are gradually becoming a coward”. His father chipped in.
They had one or two more topics to talk about before they finally. retired to bed.
The next morning was calm like every other morning. Farida woke up and remained in bed thinking about yesterday. She wondered why her boss had not called her or did his family not accept her.
She sighed rolling her eyes checking the screen of her phone.
It was weekend and it looked like it was going to be boring as usual. She isn’t sure if she had lost her head to her heart or if it was all illusions. Much as she tried, she couldn’t get Khaleel out of her thoughts.
The door suddenly opened and Sufyan peeped in. “Mami can I come in”? He asked.
“Ofcourse you can”, she replied and sat upright on the bed.
He came in and sat by her side. Farida noticed he was looking sad and disturbed.
‘Are you okay’ she asked concern.
“I would have been okay if Umma was healthy just like us” he replied.
She stared at him in pity. His words passed a salient message and she understood.
“Sufyan am sorry you have to go through all this. Umma will be fine very soon. Let’s be patient and prayerful, as you can see am trying my best”. She said rubbing his hair.
“Your best is not enough, you had the opportunity of saving Umma but your pride didn’t allow you do it” he shrugged and she became dumbfounded. What was he aiming at???
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“What do you mean”? She asked confused.
“Uncle Bello stopped by this afternoon, he told me everything and even how he gave you money to save our mother but you rejected the money and left him for another man”. He replied confidently.
At the mention of Bello, she figured out where the problem lies. He must have poisoned her brother’s mind against her. How could he even stoop so low to brainwash a kid just because of his selfish interest.
“Look Sufyan, everything he told you were all lies. You are too young to understand what’s going on. When you come of age, I won’t think twice to let you know” she said hoping to convince him but her words fell on deaf ears.
“I have eyes to see and ears to hear, if anything goes wrong, I won’t forgive you”. He bellowed and walked out on her.
Farida couldn’t hold back her tears as they found their ways freely down her chin.
She wondered why Bello would stoop so low to poison Sufyan’s mind. What more could he have told the kid, is he trying to get back at her using her brother? No way!!!
She quickly dressed up and left the house.
It was drizzling slightly outside as she crossed the busy road to the other part of the street.
She got to the gate and noticed it was open so she walked into the compound but the door to the sitting room wasn’t open.
She knocked at the door vigorously.
“Who is that’? Came a deep voice from within.
She kept mute and continued knocking.
“Who is that fool that wants to bring down my door”? Bello shouted angrily as he opened the door.
He stood there without knowing what to do. Is he to welcome her back home or otherwise because her mood gave no room for such.
Before she could open her mouth to talk, a teenage girl emerged from behind him wrapped in a towel.
Farida stared at the girl then at him then shook her head.
“Is this what you have turn into”? She asked him.
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Shame ran down through his limbs that he didn’t realize his mouth was agape.
“Shame on you Bello, I never knew you to be this stupid. You know what they say huh!……There is nothing hidden that won’t be revealed someday because every secret has an expiry date”.
“Who would have thought the almighty billionaire stupidly lavish his hard earned money on young girls to warm his bed”?
“Well that’s by the way, I didn’t come here for that. I came to warn you to stay away from my brother, the next time I get to know you had anything to do with him, I won’t let it slide by easily”. She said staring at him disgustingly.
“And you” she turned to face the girl.
‘I can see he is paying you well and taking care of your needs but don’t be carried away and forget all this are worldly desires and they will lead you astray’.
‘Stay off men, face your purpose in life and achieve your dreams. He will only use and dump you, nothing more’.
She ventured and left them there devastated.