Fatal Attraction.

32

Rashad's POV.

I've never been so confused and lost.
At first I was so angry but hearing what Nasir said, I couldn't say anything. He might be an ass but the way he handled it was mature.

Telling me the reason behind it before he actually divorced her was a manly thing to do.

Ma, Baba, she and I are in the living room.
All my mother has been doing is cry. Finding out why her husband divorced her was a blow.

We couldn't hide the fact that the baby isn't his because he said he didn't want to be tied with it. He's starting afresh and he didn't want anything holding him back and I respect his decision.

I huff.
"So? What should we do?" Ma asks with the biggest frown I've ever seen on her face.
"What about the father?" Baba asks still pissed.

She shakes her head as she cried silently "I don't know. I don't know anything about him".

I didn't know what to do, it felt like I was going to lose my mind.
I huff.
"Even if we find him we can't force him" I tell them.
"We can't convince him?" Ma asks with hope.

I shake my head "I doubt it except if you want to coerce him with money and we both know that's not really advisable"
Baba nods "There's nothing we can do. She brought this upon herself and unfortunately there's nothing anyone can do to help her" he turns to Zoya "You should stay in the BQ"

"What?" She asks surprised.
"What?" He asks angrily "Your mother and I are going back soon. Plus the BQ has two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room and kitchen so what else do you need?"

She stays quiet.
There's really nothing she can say about it.
He turns to me "Maybe her sister can come stay with her?"

I nod "That's fine" I turn to her "We're not sending Fai'za for her to slave away, she's there to stay with you and not babysit. If she doesn't like the way you treat her, I won't stop her from leaving"
She nods.

::

I huff sitting on my bedroom couch.
It's been a stressful week.

Ruqayyah comes in moments later with a frown on her face.
She and I haven't really talked about the pills she offered Zoya and I really want to know if she really gave her said pills.

She sits next to me, fidgeting.
"You're back? How is she?" She asks curiously.
I take a deep breath "She's been crying. I know I'm angry and all but can you and Fai'za please go visit her tomorrow?"

She nods "I will"
"And also, Fai'za is going to be staying with them. Fareed is going to be one in just a week, I think you and I can handle him".

I know Fai'za leaving will make her emotional and although my sister makes dumb mistakes, the last thing I want is for her to think we've shunned her. She needs people who care about her now more than ever.

"You're right"

I sit up "So? Are you going to tell me about the pills you gave her"
"Technically, Aunt Hadiza gave them to her and she didn't use it so how are we to know if it works or not?"

"You sound so guilty and I'm not going to get mad at you. All I want to know is if you've used said pills on me"
She stays quiet.
I don't say anything, giving her time to think.

"Well—I'm sorry, I really am. It's just that I wanted a child so bad"
"You should have asked me"

She tilts her head "Would you have agreed?"
I shake my head.
No, I wouldn't have and I know that.

"That's why I did it. And I made sure it didn't have any side effects"
I scoff "There has to be some kind of side effects but that aside—I'm not angry but I don't want you doing things like that. I don't hate what you did because I've never been happier, I'm thrilled to be a father but don't take matters into your hands. It's my life too and I want a say in it, okay?"

She nods.
I put my arms around her reassuringly.

::

Ruqayyah's POV.

A year ago, everything was different. And now I look back, I realize that a year can do a lot to a person.

I've also realized that it's okay to want love.

At the end of the day, human beings need connection. We need one another. You can be the most foundationally sound person, you can be your own home, you can be so deeply content within your solitude—but that doesn't take away the fact that love is a beautiful experience, that love is something worth searching for.

Love is every single human beings desire, there are so many versions of love you can find in this world. Love is seeing a smile crack across the face of your best friend. Love is hearing your mother's voice. Love is pinned and blooming all around you, in the places that take your breath away, in the trips that change you, in the risks that force you to open up to the world and pour your curiosity into it.

So heal yourself, but don't rush.
Help people, but have boundaries.
Love others, but don't let them harm you.
Stay informed, but don't overwhelm yourself.
Embrace change, but keep pursuing your goals.

And I hope in your bad days that there is someone there to make it better, someone who wants to understand, someone who wants  to just sit there and listen.

Find a reason to be happy. For happiness is the key to life.

*The End.