Her Hidden Lies

11: Lost.

"I'm ready" Aisha says when she enters the living room.
Abdulrazaq was watching, he turns around and looks at her.

"You look great, are you sure you're just going to Zainab's place?"
She looks at him alarmed "Where else would I go? It's just her place"

He couldn't help but laugh "I was just joking. I know you're going there"
She huffs "I was already feeling a headache"

He smiles.
"Is your friend here? The one that is taking you?"
She nods"She's outside"

He stands and walks her to the door "Well, tell her to drive safely, she has my whole life in the car with her"
Aisha blushes just staring at him.
"Are you not going anymore?"
"You just said that, am I supposed to just go. You know I can cancel" she smiles.

He shakes his head "It's good for you to hang out with friends. I don't want you getting tired of my face"
She shakes her head "That will never happen"
"Then off you go"

She chuckles "Okay then, make sure you eat your lunch"
"Yes Ma'am"
"Okay, I love you"

There was a pause.
This was the first time any of them said those words.
"Bye" she scurries out.

Yes they were married and yes they've had sex numerous times, which at the beginning felt like a duty, as a husband and as a wife but I Love You wasn't just lust for one another, as you don't need love to sleep with someone but hearing those words meant there was something deeper.

He smiles although a bit sad she left in a hurry.
"I Love You Too" he whispers.

•

"You're always complaining about something" Zainab tells Latifa.

She hisses "You don't know what I go through with that man everyday" she was eating her food diligently.

Aisha huffs "What is going on exactly?"
Latifa keeps her plate aside, in explanation mode.
"Well, my dumbass husband invited his mother to stay with us while her place is being renovated"

I shrug "So?"
"So? He's her last child, as in her baby and she used to live alone. His older brothers decided she should stay at a guest inn and it was official but my stupid nosy bastard of a husband decided he wants his mother to stay with us and it's been a month since they completed her house and she doesn't want to go"

They both stay silent.
"Exactly. I don't know what to do. She's gotten so used to the special treatment we're giving her. The annoying part is that she wants to tell me what to do in my own home. Latifa cook that, Latifa put that chair there, Latifa this, Latifa that and I am sick and tired of her crap!" She says angrily picking up her plate.

Latifa had an arranged marriage like I did. But she married a definition of a turn-off. He's a mama's boy so she can't stand him most of the time. She calls him a weakling.

"I'm sorry but have you talked to him about it?"
She nods "But he's practically useless, I'm telling you".

"Talk to your parents about it. If your mother didn't go live with you and tell you what to do then why should his mother?" Aisha asks.

"You're right. I'll do just that"
"But wouldn't that create a rift between you and his family?"
She shakes her head "Nope, that's their problem not mine. Let it create as many rifts as it wants to"

Aisha bursts out laughing but stops when her phone starts ringing "Unknown Caller" it announces.

"Hello?"
"Aisha?"

"Yeah"
"It's Amira, I got your contact from Humaira"

"Oh, yeah how're you?"
"I'm okay, just fine. I wanted to see how you were doing, I was hoping to come see you tomorrow".
"Yeah that's fine but Abdul will be at work"
"Yeah, I'd be more comfortable with that"

She nods "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. I'll send you the address"
"Okay, Thank you. Bye"
"Bye"

"Who is it?" Zainab asks.
"Why are you prying?" Latifa asks.

"Is it Farouq?"
Aisha just stares at her "Really? That's the first person you think of? No, it's Amira"
"Oh, what does she want?"

She hisses and ignores her questions.

•

Aisha and Abdulrazaq were watching in the living room.
Technically, he doesn't know what he's watching.

"I don't understand how you can watch all this" he says.
She smiles looking up at him "Vampire Academy is actually very interesting"

"Because it has vampires?"
She smiles "Yes, exactly"

He shakes his head.
"Abdul I want you to have this experience. To enjoy the little things in life like watching"
"I do enjoy watching just not fictional stuff"
"Still".

He nods.
"Anyway, what time will you be coming back? Amira wants to come over"
"Wow, why do I feel like I'm being kicked out of my own house?" He says putting his hand on his chest like he's heartbroken.

"Probably after Isha'i"
She abruptly sits up "That late? Why?"
"I'm meeting with the guys, we're going to talk business"

"You're a doctor".
"And I also happen to take care of the 50 percent that belongs to my father. The company doesn't completely belong to Uncle Bashir".
"Oh. So you're just doing it on the side and you're a doctor because that's your dream profession?"

He shakes his head "Surprisingly, I didn't want to be a doctor, I wanted to be a pilot but Abba always loved the idea of his only son being a doctor so I did".
"So it wasn't a choice?"
"Not really, I didn't mind it. When he told me I'd do better as a doctor I listened".

"Oh"
"What about you? What was your dream ambition? It's exactly as they say it dream ambition, in this country it remains a dream for a lot of people"

She smiles "I wanted to be a doctor too and then I lost my parents and lost the interest along with them".
"You never told me how they passed. You just said it wasn't natural causes"

She frowns.
It's sad for her to remember it but she has accepted it.

"Uhh—I was ten, infact I turned 10 a week prior. My parents were traveling together and it was the first time they were traveling without me. I begged them to let me come along but they said they'd carry me along on their next trip. I cried all night like a spoilt child, they told me that they'd buy me so many things, dresses and toys, although I was happy with their promises I still wanted to go. They even stopped me from escorting them to the airport, they said I should stay home instead. The restrictions that day felt a little too much. Anyway, the last time I saw them their car was driving away, I cried myself to sleep that night. Apparently they had a plane crash, I don't know the details completely but I think the plane was too heavy" she huffs "it was after I grew up that everything started making so much sense, why they insisted that I stay".

He hugs her "I'm sorry babe. May their souls Rest In Peace"
"Amen"

He pulls back clasping her hands "But now you have me inshallah I'll do my very best to make you happy"
"I don't doubt it".

::