BROKEN (completed)

Chapter 18

"Surprise!" That was the first thing Ruqayya heard walking into the living-room with her sister and brother-in-law.

"Happy baby shower! We can't wait to meet your baby!"

Ruqayya shake her head, blinking back her tears. What will her family gain from mocking her? She glared at Hamida who was smiling and walk away. She went to her room and lock the door. She doesn't understand why her life is a joke to her family. How can they think of organizing a baby shower for her? She threw her phone on the floor and sat down on the bed. She was very angry at her family. Maybe the baby shower is their way of mocking her. It would have been different if she got pregnant in her husband's house. Not when she was raped by her cousins. They were also there, smiling. She hasn't forgotten about what they did simply because she forgave them. She remembers every single day.

She can't believe her mother is also involved in this. She should have cautioned them.

"Ruqayya!" She heard Sameer called, taking her by surprise. She knows someone will come after her but she didn't expect it to be Sameer. That is the least person she wants to see now. She chose to keep quiet and ignore him.

"Ruqayya! Please open the door. I want to talk to you."  Ruqayya hissed under her breath. She doesn't care about whatever Sameer wants to say. What could he possibly say? They are sorry so she should come downstairs and celebrate? They must be a fool to send Sameer up here.

"Get out Sameer!"

"Please Ruqayya! Open the door." Ruqayya rolled her eyes and got up from the bed and opened the door.

"Why are you here?" She asked, hands akimbo.

"Uhm...I..."   Sameer gulped nervously, staring at the floor.

"You what!?"

Sameer scratch the back of his head, thinking of what to say. He just came upstairs without thinking of what to say.

"Stop wasting my time" she left the door open and sat on the bed.

"Ruqayya" Sameer called, softly. "Can I come in?"

"You are already inside." She rolled her eyes. "What do you want?"

"I want to talk to you and apologize for everything."

"You want to say sorry and what else? I am not interested in your apology. I have forgiven you but you know it will take time before I forget. It takes a lot of time to forget things like that." Ruqayya blink back her tears. She doesn't want to look weak in front of Sameer but she couldn't help it.

"It was never our intention to hurt you and we didn't kill Farida. Someone very close to you killed her."

Ruqayya look at Sameer for the first time since he came inside the room. She raised her eyebrows, confusion written all over her face. If Sameer and his brothers didn't kill Farida then who killed her? Or is he trying to mess with her?

"If you want I can tell you what happened that night, but that will be after the party."

"I am not interested in the party." Ruqayya glared at him.

"I know you must be feeling bad, but please come downstairs with me. We organized the baby shower to take your mind off things. Please Ruqayya" Sameer beseeched. They will mock him if Ruqayya doesn't come downstairs with him. He told everyone he will convince her to come downstairs.

"I am coming" Ruqayya said. Sameer nodded and went out of the room.
.........
"I bought this cute shoe for the baby. I hope you like it?" Habibah smiled at her sister and place the shoe on the table in front of her. Ruqayya mentally rolled her eyes. She can tell Habibah's smile was a fake one. She can fool everyone but not her.