All For What!

66

"Where is my daughter?" Maryam lurched towards Nafisa who was still gasping like a fish deprived of water. "Please have mercy on her. She is just a kid. Punish me instead, please."

"After... After what... Your husband attempted to do to me, you expect me to-" she wrapped a hand around her neck and cleared her throat with difficulty. "Expect me to have mercy on your daughter? You're pathetic! Do you know that?"

"What do you want?" Maryam questioned. "Mention it and it will be yours."

"Really?" She smirked. "To be honest, I'm not really interested in money or material things, because right now, I have enough of that. What I want is something you can't give."

Maryam shook her head vigorously. "Just tell me what it is that you want in exchange for my daughter. I swear, I'm going to give it to you."

Sa'eed looked at Maryam in astonishment.

"Alright, okay, since you want to hear it so desperately, I will tell you." She heaved a deep sigh before proceeding. "You see, ever since I step a foot into your house and saw the kind of relationship you share with your husband, I have been jealous and wanted that same type of relationship for myself."

Sa'eed gnashed his teeth. He was just a few seconds away from losing his temper and attacking her again - to kill her for real this time.

Maryam's chest fell. "What are you insinuating."

She rolled her eyes. "I thought you were smart. You should be able to figure it out, but since you can't, I won't beat about the bush anymore." She breathed. "I want you to convince your husband to get married to me."

That was the last straw Maryam could take. Her brows furrowed and her lips twitched. "You're sick if you think that's ever going to happen!"

Sa'eed gazed at her in absolute disgust. He had never looked down on a person before, but Nafisa had made that change. He certainly was irritated by her and to think she wanted him to marry her. How blasphemous and uncalled for!

"You're not ready to save your daughter then." She yawned exaggeratedly. "Mukthar! Cut the rope!"

To Sa'eed and Maryam's horror, the rope which was used to hang the sack to the ceiling was loosened, making it descend and land on the floor with a loud thud.

"Manal!!!" Maryam rushed towards the sack, screaming at the top of her lungs.

Sa'eed was glued to his spot. He couldn't move, despite wanting to do so - obviously, he was in shock.

"Manal! No!" Immediately she hugged the sack to her body, her eyes widened as she felt it wasn't a human inside. Without wasting any more time, she opened the bag and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw the contents - it wasn't Manal, but some tubers of yam and potatoes.

Relief washed over Sa'eed's demeanor and he muttered alhamdulillah underneath his breath.

"I gave you both quite a shock, huh?" Nafisa laughed, viciously. "Let the real fun begin."

Just as soon as she said that, Mukthar walked in with a motionless Manal in his arms.

Sa'eed felt a pang in his heart. He never imagined this was the state he was going to see his daughter in - she looked lifeless, her arms were bruised and her face too. She did not look anything like his daughter. His blood boil as he continued to stare at his daughter's bruised skin. His daughter whom he had not even once, raised a hand against. His baby. Slowly, he began to take few steps towards them. He couldn't even imagine what he would do to Muktar the moment he gets his hands on him.