Life Under the Hijab | ✔

{21} And the Truth Comes Out

Zaynub Khalid

I couldn't focus in any of my classes at all today. All I kept thinking about was Zakir and that girl, Maysa. What is going on with those two? And why did he mumble Bahiya's name in his sleep? I was fuming of anger today. 

Calm down! Zakir isn't the type of guy to do that. He never was, so why would he start now? spoke the reasoning part of my brain. 

Ya Allah, my brain was giving me a headache.

I entered the house and saw that my father-in-law and Laila were home with my mother-in-law. Deeliyah and Khadijah must still be at school. What really surprised me is that Zakir's car was parked in the driveway. He's here too? Ugh. Why can't men be simple creatures? 

I sighed and went up to our room. I hoped he didn't see me. I was not ready to deal with him without bursting into flames.  The guy I loved was keeping secrets that didn't look so good. When I opened the door to the bedroom I saw Zakir laying down on the bed. When he saw me, he stood up. I just kept on walking towards the closet to change.

"Zaynub?"

"Yes?" I asked in monotone without even looking at him.

"Are you okay? Cause' I'm getting a feeling that you're giving me the cold shoulder," he observed.

Oh, wouldn't you know?

I turned to look at him. I needed answers and I needed them now. "You left your phone at home today and a girl named, Maysa, called. She said she needed to talk to you before anyone found out about you guys," I said as nicely as I could, but on the inside I was feeling and immense pain in my chest. It had been bugging me all day.

Zakir stared at me in shock. He didn't even deny it. Was it true then?

"Zakir, are- are you leaving me?" I choked out. Please don't let this be true, Allah. I can't deal with the pain of heartbreak now. I just can't.

Zakir had guilt written all over his face. He ran a hand through his brown hair. "Zaynub, I-I'm doing stuff to protect you right now. I'm not gonna leave you, but you have to trust me," he sighed.

I clenched my fists. "Trust you? Last night I heard you on the phone talking to someone and saying that you didn't want me to find out something. What are you hiding from me?"

"I'll tell you soon and it's not what you think."

"I'm tired of your secrets! Do you not realize that you're actually hurting me instead of protecting me from whatever. And while you were asleep last night you mumbled Bahiya's name. What is going on?"

"Zaynub, I told you it's not what you think," he pleaded.

"Then what was all that about last night and the phone call?" I questioned while crossing my arms over my chest.

"Last night I was having a bad dream that Bahiya did something to hurt you. I don't like Bahiya so relax."

"What about Maysa? What was the 'us' she implied about?" I continued as I put air quotes around the word 'us'.

"I can't tell you that now. Or I might ruin everything," he mumbled, averting his gaze.

"Ya Allah! Just tell me already!" I exclaimed.

He was about to say more until someone barged into our room. It was my mother-in-law and Laila.

"What is all this shouting about?" asked my mother-in-law.

I stayed quiet. I was too hurt to talk. My heart was breaking, I knew I couldn't jump to conclusions, but the evidence against him was overwhelming. Fear consumed me and I wanted nothing more but to believe him, to trust him. My mind was jumbled into puzzles and it took everything in me to not scream in frustration.