All For What!

21

Unedited.

Nafisa laughed viciously as she heard Saeed's car drove  out of the compound. It was her chance to teach the little brat a lesson she would never forget. "Manal! Manal!!" She yelled. "Come down right now."

Manal who was in her room watching cartoon was startled by the way Nafisa was yelling for her. Due to fear Nafisa ignited in her, she quickly got up and hurried downstairs to her. She went downstairs and met Nafisa seated on the couch with one of her legs crossed over the other, looking like the madam of the house.

"Come closer!" Nafisa said in a cool voice. The things she wanted to do to her! Manal remained where she was for the fear of what she might do to her. She knew she didn't do anything to offend her, but the look of her face proved otherwise. "Kneel down!" Nafisa commanded and when Manal hesitated, she quickly went into the kitchen and came back with a pestle. "Will you do as I say or wait till I break your thick skull with this?" She asked, aggressively.

Out of dreadfulness of what she could actually do, Manal did as she was told and instantly began to shed tears.

"Why are you crying?" Nafisa asked, irritatedly. "- have I touched you yet?" She questioned. When she realized Manal wasn't answering any of her questions, she fumed. "Am I taking to a wall? Answer me when next I talk to you, foolish girl. Why were you screaming last night?" Though she knew why she screamed - she was even the cause, she wanted to intimidate her.

"I saw... Saw a... Ghost in my room," Manal stuttered, fearfully.

Nafisa burst into laughter. "I saw... Saw a... Ghost in my room." Nafisa imitated her voice mockingly. "- a ghost indeed. Now listen carefully to everything I have to say; never, I repeat, never you ever ignore me while I'm talking to you. 2. Once your parents leave this house each day, I want you to start sweeping your room- not just your room, the entire house. Am I understood?"

"I can-"

"Don't worry, you will learn. I will not be the only one working in this house while you do nothing. You are old enough to do house chores that's why from now henceforth, we will do all the work in this house together and... Let me give you a warning; don't you ever try to do any chores while your parents are at home, if you do, I will kill you when they are not around. You know they are always not at home, right? Right?" He asked again sternly with widened eyes.

"Yes," she replied with shaky voice and tears running down her face.

"Good, now get started," She commanded. "I want this living room to be well swept before I come out from my room." She narrowed her eyes at her before sashaying to her room to relax. She locked the room from the inside to prevent any disturbance then plopped down in her bed. She drifted into a peaceful nap few minutes later.

Manal picked up the broom crying. She was not used to working, but she knew she had to do it otherwise Nafisa would kill her; like she threatened. She swept the floor once and continued doing it again till it was neat. She didn't even know when she fell asleep on the floor due to exhaustion.

By the time she awoke, it was already 12:00pm. She couldn't believe she napped for almost five hours and she had not even prepared breakfast for Manal and herself. Sluggishly, she stood up and left her room. On her way to the kitchen, she met Manal sleeping on the floor with the broom she used in sweeping lying beside her.  Nafisa's eyes darted to each corner of the living room, scanning Manal's work. She was surprised to see she did a good job. She smiled - it wasn't her job to sweep anymore. It was left to Manal now. That was if her parents were away of course.

Because she was happy and satisfied with Manal's work, she went into the kitchen and prepared noodles. When she had had her fill, she went back to the living room and woke Manal up to go and have her breakfast in the dining room.