Fickle

Chapter 5

A week had passed by, but Kulthum couldn't stop feeling anxious. She just couldn't help but think that he may pull a string at her or, rather, a stunt. All she wanted was for him to disappear from her life and that of her kids. Was that too much to ask for? She deserves a peaceful, quiet life for once, at least. Today, as she sat in her living room trying to focus her attention on the movie playing, she almost pulled her head off. 

It wasn't working! He still controls her even after all these years. Tears welled up in her eyes. Why was she even crying? Wasn't she strong enough? Was she just going to allow him to keep predicting and controlling her life for her even in his absence? No, she wouldn't do that. She won't allow him to do that. She wiped the few drops of tears off her cheek and went up to her room. 

“Your highness? Where are you going?” Anisah asked, Kulthum was dressed as if she were going somewhere. But, today was kind of like her day off? So where was she going?

“Hospital;” she declared, “I can't let him dictate my life even when he is absent. I have let him do that for so long, but not anymore. I can't let my fear ruin my household. Moreover, he can't really do anything to me” 

“He can't to you, but he can to your kids” Anisah sighed, “look your highness, I won't allow you to put yourself in danger or that of your kids, seeing you out there now will just give him an opportunity to strike and believe me, he will strike more than you can imagine. In ways you can never imagine. Don't forget, he is the crown prince. Prince Abdullah that everyone fears” 

“So what do you want me to do now? Do you just expect me to go back and hide under my bed like a scared little girl? I can't let him win this time, I've been running for six years. Away from him, away from everything that has to do with him. I'm tired. This all has to stop. I can't keep doing this. My children are my first priority, and I know that he will go after them if I do nothing about it. So if he wants to play, I will give him a game” she said and walked out.  Anisah sighed again, she understands where Kulthum was coming from, but all this ‘being strong’ thing was all a facade. Kulthum was not in her right senses. 

   

As soon as she went to the hospital, she headed straight for the OR, and unfortunately, for Kulthum, there wasn't any surgery scheduled for that day. Or at least for her. 

“Excuse me, ma'am? What are you doing here?” The OR attendant asked. She was not supposed to come in today.

“Umm.. I had some pending surgeries and decided to do them today. Why?” She answered and asked in the process. 

“I was told that all your surgeries are now taken care of by Doctor Jane for the rest of the week and maybe even after” she was shocked to hear that. Why? All of a sudden, all her patients are being taken care of by her colleague. Why? 

“Why? Do you have any idea?” She asked, looking at him confused.

“I'm sorry, Doctor, but I can't help you” he said and left. She was dumbfounded. She wasn't expecting that kind of answer from him. She made her way to her office, and lo and behold, she saw General Mustapha seating in her office awaiting her presence. 

“Your highness” he bowed deeply, “its been a while” 

~~~~~~~

“What happened to him? Is he alright?” Kulthum asked, distraught. Usually, it was Jenna that pulled off her stunts, but hearing Hudayfah being in the hospital made her lose her mind temporarily. 

“Calm down your highness, his royal highness is with him now but he kept on asking of you, if you would follow me now…” he was about to complete his sentence when she banged the door leaving him inside. He shrugged and followed her