Broken Hearts, Hidden Secrets

Chapter Four

"Congratulations, Ms. Hussein. You got the job"!

It was a Saturday morning Zianna was busy preparing breakfast for everyone at home, but her mind was on the job interview almost a week ago at the law firm. She was thankful to her stepbrother Tayyal for talking to their father about her working that's if she got the job. In shaa Allah.

Flashback.

Zianna just received an email explaining that she was offered an interview at the Muhsin Law Firm. She was surprised because she never applied to that firm. But for Zianna this is what she needed to do with her life after the discovery she made in the past few months after her graduation.

The one person she could count on was her older stepbrother to talk to their father about her going to the interview.

In the hopes that it might change her life and future.

"Could you please help by talking to Dad? I know that this will be the second favour that you owe me..."

"Calm down, Zian. I promise to do everything in my power for Dad to let you go to that interview and in shaa Allah you will get that job if it's meant for you, it not then there's something better for you in a different company," says her step older brother Tayyal with a grin on his face. "And about the favours, I will need you to be your best, Zian. In everything you do in life. I know that life hasn't been kind to you ever since you came to this house. In shaa Allah, things will change, he added hugging his sister who has a huge grin on her face.

Zianna experiences a range of emotions when her stepbrother warmly embraces her. Initially, the unexpected display of affection may surprise her, but as the hug continues, she starts to feel comfort and gratitude.

She wasn't accustomed to receiving that kind of affection from anyone other than her indifferent father.

At that moment, all her loneliness and isolation vanished, and she learned that family isn't always about blood ties. Zianna felt cherished and valued at that moment by the hug given by her stepbrother Tayyal. She viewed it as acceptance into his heart as his sister.

Even though Tayyal was the only one who accepted her in the family after the tragic death of her mother.

End Of Flashback.

She stood at the kitchen sink washing the dirty dishes that her stepmother asked her to do as she did all the work at the house.

Her stepsister Nour then entered the kitchen without Zianna noticing as her mind was somewhere else.

Nour slowly crept behind not before grabbing a bottle of cold water from the fridge, she then uncapped it. She then poured half of the bottle on Zianna's body, drenching her from top to bottom.

Zianna turned around to see Nour laughing while holding the half-emptied bottle of water.

"Nour, why did you this?" Zianna asks with tears in her eyes. "I never did anything to you," she added trying to keep herself from breaking down.

"Because you were born. I hated the fact that Dad would stay with you..."

"What is going on here?"

As the girls turn around, they are met with the sight of Zianna's stepmother and Nour's mother standing there, arms crossed.

"Mom, Zianna was about to throw water at me, so I pushed the bottle to her making the water splash on her," Nour lies to her mother with a smirk on her face.

But she doesn't need to lie as Nadia would accept whatever her daughter says about Zianna even if they are lies.

"But...thats not what happened..."

"So you are saying that my daughter is a liar? Is that what you are implying when I can see the evidence right in front of me?" Nadia says while glaring at Zianna. "I want you to finish the dishes and then mop the floor. Don't even think about changing your clothes before doing what I told you," she added, taking her daughter's arm and walking out of the kitchen.

Serves you right, Zianna. I will get you out of this house and out of our lives for good no matter what or how long it takes. I will do it.

Nour looked at her stepsister whose face was covered with her hands while wiping away the fallen tears.

Zianna kept quiet knowing that if she talked there would more problems especially when her father comes home from work.

Patience is a virtue that not everyone has it. Sometimes it is better to keep quiet than to talk because thats the only way that someone can be happy.

She remembered what her late mother had always told her about patience and kindness. But in the world, kind people will be seen as weak and taken advantage of.

But for Zianna, faking a smile is what she always knew especially after coming to this house when she was in her final year of high school.

She continued to do the dishes and after that, Zianna wiped every drop of water that Nour had thrown over her.

"Time to get out of this wet clothes before I get sick..."

Zianna couldn't even finish what she was saying when the sneezing started.

"Great, just great. I guess mamma's flu remedy will always come in handy today," she stated while getting a pan to boil some water and pouring ginger powder in a cup with a little bit of honey.

As soon as the water started to boil, Zianna switched off the gas cooker and poured the contents into the cup which was on the counter.

Zianna finished her tea, washed the cup, and went to her basement room. She couldn't even describe it as a room from what it looked like.

The window near the bed was rusted shut from years of neglect, making it impossible to open. Positioned beside the bed, there was a compact cupboard for her garments and other accessories.

Zianna prepared herself by gathering clean and dry clothes before going into the small bathroom.

As she was about to enter the bathroom, her phone started ringing. Zianna put her clothes on her bed and picked up the phone.

"Hello, is this Zianna Hussein," the caller from the other side asks her.

"Yes, this is she."

"I am calling from Muhsin Law Firm. I am calling you to give you amazing news. Well, Ms. Hussein congratulations, you got the job..."

Zianna couldn't believe her ears. She got the job that might be a step that she needed to get through with her plans.

"You will report Monday morning at 8. Am sharp. Someone will explain everything to you on Monday," the caller continued.

"Thank you so much for this opportunity. And I will see you on Monday morning, in shaa Allah," Zianna replies to the caller.

"Congratulations again, Ms Hussein."

And then the caller hung up the call.

Alhamdulilah.

Zianna couldn't believe that she now had a job and it was all thanks to her brother Tayyal. If it was for him talking to their father, she wouldn't have gotten such a great opportunity.

This is the beginning that I always wanted and dreamt of having ever since I finished high school. But one step at a time, Zianna. The original plan is and will always be there and soon I will achieve it in shaa Allah.