Burnt Embers

Chapter Twenty Nine

Early morning of the next day, Khadijah woke up with a terrible headache and a feeling of dread embraced her being. She felt like saying no to the wedding, the way she feel is nowhere near wedding jitters, she had thought that she will be able to forget about the terrible things that happened to her when she married Ahmad but she was wrong because the  nightmare she lived through came hunting her on her wedding day .

" Sannu Deejan ! Please take this pain reliever before people start coming, mommy and some of Kaybee's relations from Daddy's side are on their way ."  Ummie offered D with a cup of water passing her the pills which she gulped down knowing that no amount of pills will set right what she's feeling .

" Can you please postpone the wedding Ummie ?" She pleaded with her mother and the woman almost lost her balance .

" Are you out of your mind Khadijah? " she shrieked not wanting to  believe what she just heard from her daughter.

" Allah am in my senses Ummie it is just that I have come to the realisation that I can't do this anymore . He will also rape me , all men are rapists " she sobbed out .

" Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun!!! Deejan Kaybee is not like Ahmad ,not all men are like Ahmad please don't let your fear come in the way of your happiness . I know that you must have this type of thoughts but that should not stop you from getting married. Pray as you always do and in shaa Allah nothing bad will happen to you my dear " Ummie consoled D , rubbing smooth circles on her back and holding her tears at bay .

Indeed Ahmad had cheated them and now all her optimism against Khadijah's marriage waivers .How can a marriage work where the wife will flinch whenever her husband come close to her ? And for how long will kaybee put off with that attitude ?

" Deejan please don't do this to yourself and us .This will shatter the happiness of a lot of people " Ummie pleaded getting up to open the door .

Khadijah lay on her bed motion less , a whirl of thoughts in her head, thinking of everything and nothing and shedding hot tears. The sound of her ringtone brought her back to the real world and upon seeing the caller ID she rejected the call and switched off the phone at once .

Kaybee got worried and dialled Ummie's number after an hour and still Khadijah's phone is off .

"Assalamu alaikum Ummie good morning, how is everything? " he asked suddenly feeling nervous .

" Wa'alaikassalam Ango how are you? I heard that you're already here,excited Much ?" She tried to tease him in order to hide the edge to her voice .

" Uhm Ummie please if you don't mind I want to speak with D ,her phone is off and it is very important " he stated .

Ummie was at a loss as to what to tell Kaybee, knowing that she can't lie that neither she nor D is at home she decided to hand over the phone to a curled up D whose body is burning with fever .

" Here,it is kaybee and don't try something stupid " Ummie whispered to D and she left the room to give them some privacy .

" Angel are you okay? " Kaybee's voice sounded alarmed

" I am fine "she croaked out her voice sounding hoarse .

" Subhanallah !!! D have you been crying ? Why  ? What happened?? Are you having second thoughts ?" He asked
freaking  out .

" I am fine Ya Kaybee " she deadpanned sounding annoyed .

" Please D don't do this to us, aswear I am not like him, I will never hurt you intentionally please Khadija don't shatter our dreams because of your past, I have a past too and I have taken what happened as a test from Allah and the moment I met you I am certain that you'll be the one that will wipe away my tears and heal my wounds.