Adventures of Sinbad and Layla

Arranged (Part IV)

That night, Amir went to bed after she had fallen asleep. He saw the tears that were still on her pillow and sighed with a shake of his head.

"Things will have to change, my wife," he spoke even though she was sleeping. "Don't worry."

*

The next morning, Layla woke up still feeling quite upset. Amir had to return to work so she hoped that his mind would reset and he would understand his mistake. After freshening up, she returned to the bedroom to find him awake.

He smiled at her. "Good morning."
She didn't smile in return. "Good morning."
"Where that dress again please."
She raised a brow. "How can you expect me to do anything for you after the accusation you made of me last night?"

He just looked at her for a few seconds before slowly getting up from the bed and walking over to her. He smiled again and held her face.

"Please?"
She sighed. "Fine."

Happy with her answer, he left to the bathroom. Layla couldn't understand why he had suddenly changed but she just hoped he would return to his normal self. She quickly got changed and did her hair in a braid. When he stepped out of the bathroom, he was pleased.

"Lovely," he said. "I have to go into work today. Make my breakfast lunch."
"A simple please would be nice. You managed to use it earlier."
He went over to her again and looked down at her. "Please? And put a loving note in there for me."

Annoyed by the way he was behaving, she left the room to go to the kitchen. She made him breakfast as well as his lunch, packing his lunch into a tiffin for him. She even wrote a small note for him as well and placed it inside.

He soon came down ready for work and sat at the small table in the kitchen. She served him his breakfast and placed his lunch there as well so he would remember to take it. She sat down beside him to eat her breakfast as well. As she ate, he began to stare at her. It was beginning to creep her out.

"Please eat," she said. "Your food will get cold."
"Did you write me a note?"
"Yes."
He smiled. "I don't believe you."
"Check it."
"No." He sighed and began eating. "I have locked all the windows in the house."
Her brows furrowed slightly. "Why?"
"I will also be locking the doors."
"But why?" she repeated. "I was going to do some household shopping."
He smiled at her again. "Because I don't trust you."
"Excuse me?"
"I know the moment I leave for work, you will run off to your lover and I'm not going to let that happen."
She groaned in frustration. "I don't love him! Please believe me. I love you and no one else."
"I know you're lying." He got up and grabbed his lunch. "You can't leave and no one can open the door except for me."

He leaned down and kissed the top of her head before leaving. She heard him lock the door from the outside and she knew she was trapped. She dropped her head onto the table and stared blankly into nothingness.

'This can't be happening... It can't be... My husband thinks I'm having an affair.' As tears began to well up, she closed her eyes and breathed out shakily. 'What do I do..?'

For the rest of the day, she wondered around the house looking for things to do. She tried reading but she couldn't concentrate. She wanted to cook but they didn't have enough ingredients to make a decent dish.

After a few hours, she got annoyed with seeing herself wearing the dress. She changed into what she had brought with her and took her hair out of the braid. Sitting on the bed, she leaned back against the headboard and gazed out of the window.

'Sin, please come back soon... I'm so scared...'

***

She didn't know when she had fallen asleep or how long for, but she she was awoken by a knocking at the front door. It took her a while for her to come about but when she heard the knocking again, she gasped. Someone had come.