Hidden bonds of love

15.

Maryam and her mother arrived at the airport, a sense of confusion lingering within Maryam. Mrs. Fatima approached the receptionist to inquire about their travel plans, only to discover that the flight she had booked had been unexpectedly canceled by an unidentified caller.

"Ma, we deeply apologize for the inconvenience, but someone called last night claiming to be your assistance and requested the flight cancellation," explained a young lady at the counter.

Infuriated by the lack of confirmation, Mrs. Fatima's anger flared. "How dare you cancel my flight without verifying with me? And who was this person who took such liberties?" she demanded, her frustration evident.

The young lady offered an explanation, "We sincerely apologize, ma'am. The person identified himself as a male family member, but we cannot ascertain his true identity."

Despite her mounting anger, Mrs. Fatima managed to restrain herself from expressing it outwardly. Meanwhile, Maryam observed the unfolding situation, her curiosity piqued. She attempted to ask her mother once more about their destination, but Mrs. Fatima remained silent, engrossed in her phone without acknowledging Maryam.

Subsequently, Mrs. Fatima requested the airline staff to arrange an alternative flight, only to be informed that she was not permitted to travel to Korea. A realization dawned upon her – she now comprehended the orchestrator behind the flight cancellation. Suppressing a frustrated sigh, she motioned for her trolley and signaled Maryam to accompany her, as they embarked on a new course of action.

Upon returning home, Maryam's desperation was palpable as they entered the house. Anxious to understand the situation, she approached her mother with a calm but upset tone, "Mommy, could you please explain why we're heading to Korea without my knowledge? Is this some sort of unexpected journey, or do I have reasons to worry about being kidnapped?" Her white eyes, wide with curiosity, remained fixed on her mother, who was engrossed in her phone.

Maryam's mother finally looked up from her phone, meeting her daughter's gaze. With a distracted air, she responded, "Maryam, refrain from bombarding me with questions right now. Head upstairs; I have an important call to make with your grandfather."

Acknowledging her mother's lack of responsiveness, Maryam let out a frustrated retort, "Very well, Mommy. Extend my regards to Grandfather during your call, and make sure to let him know I'm absolutely delighted that he prevented you from proceeding to Korea." Her tone was laced with anger as she grabbed her trolley and ascended the stairs to her room.

Suddenly, a wave of fury overcame Mrs. Fatima upon hearing her daughter's words. She raised her voice, attempting to regain control, "Maryam! How dare you address me with such disrespect? Remember, I am your mother! Come back here this instant!"

However, Maryam chose to disregard her mother's summons and continued her ascent. Witnessing this defiance hurt Mrs. Fatima deeply, pushing her emotions to a breaking point. She vented her frustration by striking a nearby flower vase, causing it to topple and shatter. Adding to her anger was the fact that her attempts to reach her father through phone calls had gone unanswered, intensifying her exasperation even further.

❀

The following day, Mustabshira's concern for Maryam weighed heavily on her mind. Without Maryam's phone number, she felt helpless in trying to reach out to her sister and was deeply troubled by the thought of Maryam's sudden departure.

Seated on her bed, Mustabshira dialed Ahmad's number, a mix of worry and anxiety swirling within her. It had only been a day since Maryam's departure, yet it seemed like an eternity. She couldn't quite fathom the intensity of her emotions towards Maryam, leaving her bewildered.

Ahmad answered the call, and after exchanging greetings, Mustabshira wasted no time in delivering the news. "Ahmad, you need to return home. Maryam's mother showed up yesterday and took Maryam away. She's in dire need of your assistance," her voice quivered with an almost hushed urgency, tugging at Ahmad's heartstrings. Her voice wavered as if on the verge of tears.

"Mustab, are you on the verge of tears because of Maryam?" Ahmad's question was laced with surprise, his astonishment evident.

"Ahmad, I imagined myself in Maryam's shoes and it felt overwhelming. You should have seen the events unfold yesterday," Mustabshira managed to convey, her voice still shaky.

With a calming demeanor, Ahmad reassured Mustabshira and promised his swift return. "Mustab, I'll be flying back tomorrow. I understand the urgency, and I want to help Maryam as best as I can."

In the face of uncertainty, Mustabshira found solace in Ahmad's commitment to support Maryam, as she anxiously awaited his return.

❀

Maryam lay in her bed, still feeling overwhelmed by sadness and distress. The events of the previous day kept replaying in her mind. She found herself asking a multitude of questions: Why did her daddy agree to such a perplexing agreement with her mommy? Did he harbor any resentment towards her? Who exactly was this person involved? She grappled with the unsettling feeling that she hardly knew them anymore. What secrets could her mommy possibly be concealing from her? The uncertainty gnawed at her, leaving her heartache too intense to even shed tears.

The pain was almost insufferable because of the deep love she held for her family, yet she couldn't shake the belief that they might not reciprocate that love. In that moment, Maryam even began to doubt the authenticity of the affection Ahmad showed her. The thought crossed her mind: What if everyone around her was merely pretending to care? What did their love for her truly entail?

Her mother's knock at the door broke through her thoughts, but the locked door prevented any immediate interaction. Maryam remained silent as her mother called her name, until Mrs. Fatima fetched the spare keys to unlock the door.

"Maryam, what's going on? I've been calling you, and now your food is getting cold. Come downstairs," Mrs. Fatima urged, frustration lacing her words. However, Maryam's response caught her off guard.

"I'm not hungry. Just leave me be," Maryam murmured softly, her voice barely audible.

Mrs. Fatima sighed, crossing her arms as she observed Maryam lying beneath her blanket, her body tucked in to escape the chill from the air conditioner.

"Sweetheart, please get up. You didn't have breakfast, and now you're skipping lunch," Mrs. Fatima gently implored, trying to reason with her daughter. Maryam's lips remained sealed, and she turned away from her mother's gaze, seeking solace facing the other side of the bed. Mrs. Fatima inquired if Maryam was feeling unwell, to which she shook her head. A heavy silence enveloped the room as Mrs. Fatima pondered her next move, eventually switching off the air conditioner.

The room seemed to hold its breath as Maryam finally voiced her burning question. "Mommy, are you hiding something from me? A secret, perhaps?" Her words hung in the air, surprising Mrs. Fatima with their weight. Confusion etched across her face, Mrs. Fatima questioned, "Darling, where is this coming from?"

Maryam shifted, locking eyes with her mother as she sat upright and pulled her hands out from under the duvet. A tense silence lingered, Maryam's intuition sensing that her mother was concealing something significant. Eventually, she mustered the courage to speak again. "I'm finding it hard to trust you, Mommy. Right now, I just want some time alone. I'll come downstairs to eat when I'm ready." Her gaze dropped from her mother's, focusing on her restless hands.

Mrs. Fatima, unsure how to address Maryam's concerns, opted to plant a kiss on her daughter's forehead before exiting the room, leaving behind a sense of unease and unresolved questions.

Sorry for any errors.