Hidden bonds of love

10.

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After school, Maryam headed directly to her mother's workplace. Upon arrival, she inquired with the receptionist about the whereabouts of Mrs. Fatima. Jennifer, one of her mother's friends and employees, spotted Maryam and approached her. After exchanging greetings, Jennifer guided Maryam to the elevator, and together they ascended to the third floor.

Exiting the elevator, Maryam caught sight of her mother, engaged in animated conversation with her employees. They huddled around a large paper on the table, attentively listening to Mrs. Fatima's explanations. As Maryam and Jennifer approached, Jennifer announced, "Mrs. Fatima, you have a visitor." Mrs. Fatima looked up in surprise, locking eyes with Maryam. Overwhelmed with emotion, Mrs. Fatima hurriedly embraced Maryam, though the gesture was met with minimal response. Their interaction garnered the attention of the employees, who observed the scene and exchanged whispered comments.

Breaking the hug, Mrs. Fatima proceeded to introduce Maryam to her colleagues, who warmly greeted her. Maryam responded with a smile and allowed Mrs. Fatima to lead her to her office. Once inside, Maryam subtly withdrew her hands from Mrs. Fatima's grasp, prompting a puzzled gaze from her mother.

Maryam returned her mother's gaze, anticipating her next words. Mrs. Fatima finally spoke, her tone a mix of concern and desperation, "Honey, my baby girl, how are you? I've missed you so much. Did he harm you? Did he do anything to you?" Her hands rested on Maryam's shoulders.

A steely expression crossed Maryam's face, causing Mrs. Fatima to remove her hands from her shoulder. "Maryam, I'm deeply sorry. I wanted to see you, but I couldn't bring myself to go to that house," Mrs. Fatima's voice took on a pleading quality, her eyes brimming with redness.

Maryam's gaze remained fixed, her voice a blend of calm sadness and simmering anger. "So you chose not to visit me because you didn't want to encounter Mommy's beauty or Daddy? If I had been a victim of that monster, you wouldn't have come? You didn't even call me on the phone to talk. What kind of mother does that make you?"

"Maryam, I was overwhelmed with work. I apologize for not being there for you, for not reaching out. I did ask your brother Ahmad to bring you to me, but he refused," Mrs. Fatima's voice trembled with remorse, her expression filled with regret.

"It's been a week since this happened to me, and your only concern seems to be work. I came here seeking an explanation for your actions, and your words now confirm that you don't care about me. You used to be so attentive to what I went through," Maryam's voice remained steady but tinged with restrained anger. The Tears she had held back finally streamed down her cheeks, her words carrying a mixture of disappointment and longing. As much as she wanted to unleash her frustration, she restrained herself, mindful of the respect due to her mother.

Just then, Mrs. Fatima's favorite assistant entered the room carrying refreshments, which she placed on the table before discreetly withdrawing to a smaller room in the office.

"Don't cry, Maryam darling. I promise I'll make it up to you and be more attentive," Mrs. Fatima's reassurances brought a fresh wave of pain to Maryam. Her mother's promises had often been empty, unfulfilled, leaving her with a deep sense of hurt.

"This time, I can't bring myself to believe you. Your promises have always been broken," Maryam's voice wavered as she wiped her tears, the emotional torrent unabated. Mrs. Fatima reached out to wipe the tears away, but Maryam turned her face away, a barrier between them.

Mrs. Fatima clenched her hands, staring at Maryam, her heart aching at the sight of her daughter's tears. Yet, her facade of concern seemed brittle, an act to hide her true feelings.

"Maryam, I'm sorry. Khalid didn't even assault you, so why this dramatic reaction? I've apologized, what else can I do?" Mrs. Fatima's frustration slipped out, her words more accusatory than intended.

Maryam met her mother's gaze, a bitter chuckle escaping her lips, her smile laced with sorrow. A pang of pain, unfamiliar and intense, gripped her. She was stunned by her mother's reaction, struggling to reconcile the woman before her with the caring figure she once knew. The room fell silent, the tension palpable, only broken by Amnat's footsteps as she came out from the room she entered.

"I believe you're not deserving of the title 'mother'," Maryam's final words hung heavily in the air as she turned and left the room. Mrs. Fatima remained frozen, the weight of those words settling in. Amnat, standing behind her, had also heard the cutting remark, leaving her stunned.

Seated at her desk, Mrs. Fatima glanced through the CCTV footage screen, observing the sequence of events as Maryam exited the elevator and swiftly left the building.

Despite her longing for a resolution, Mrs. Fatima acknowledged the futility of persuading Maryam. The thought of dispatching the driver to fetch Maryam crossed her mind, but she anticipated that Maryam's anger would prevent her from accepting the offer.

Outside the premises, Maryam hailed a tricycle and entered, her tearful countenance revealing the depth of her emotions. The tricycle operator noticed her distress and inquired, but Maryam remained silent, eventually imploring him to cease his questioning.

✿

As the Maghrib prayer time approached and Maryam remained absent, Mustabshira attempted to reach Maryam's phone, unaware that it had been left behind in her room.

"Mustab, you realize your Father and Ahmad will be furious with you for returning without Maryam and for your silence upon arriving home. I had no inkling your resentment toward your sister ran this deep. If any harm befalls her, you'll share the blame."

While Mustabshira was scolded by Mommy Beauty, the sound of the door opening diverted their attention. Hastening to the entrance, they discovered Maryam's disheveled state – pallid and with swollen eyes, suggesting she had shed many tears. Her steps were slow, as if she had been drained of all energy.

Mommy Beauty approached Maryam, her voice quivering with concern. "Maryam, what's happened to you?" she inquired repeatedly, her grip on Maryam's shoulders gentle yet reassuring. Wishing to aid Maryam's breathing, she delicately removed Maryam's small school hijab. Turning her with maternal care, Mommy Beauty inspected the back of Maryam's school uniform, scanning for any signs of distress, as though her first thought was that Maryam might have been harmed.

Yet, before Mommy Beauty could urge Maryam to take a seat, a sudden dizziness overcame her, causing her to collapse to the floor. Mommy Beauty's alarm intensified, while Mustabshira remained frozen in shock, unable to move or speak.

What happened to Maryam? Where did she go after leaving her mother's place? 
Keep following the book so as to see what happened.

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