Alone

Flasbacks and Doorbells

"Aleena." Zaryab says. "Aren't you excited for the wedding?"

We sit on the couch planning different aspects. I smile.

"I am, since you're finally allowing me to follow my dreams."

His smile falters as  he looks at me. His eyes becoming cold. "I lied. You need to clean and watch our children."

"What?"

"CLEAN AND WATCH OUR CHILDREN!" he yells and I fall off the couch.

"Zaryab it's my dream!" I plead.

Instead of answering he looks behind me. I turn around and see a baby on the floor. I quickly pick it up and hold it in my arms.

I turn back around and Zaryab hands me a broom.

"Clean and watch our children." he says and kisses me on the cheek. He walks to the door and lets Amira in.

"Aleena. Follow what Zaryab says. You don't want to be a doctor anyways." she says.

"Amira? Yes I do! I've always wanted to be a doctor!"

"Clean and watch your children. That's all you're allowed to do now. This is your life." she says.

"Clean and watch our children." Zaryab says again and I start to cry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wake up with a start in my bed with an ice pack on my head. What? I take off the ice pack and walk downstairs.

It seems to be early morning but my mom isn't cooking like she always does after Fajr. What time is it?

"Aleena! Are you okay?" Amira says from behind me.

"Of course I am!" I say and smile. "I thought you were coming over tomorrow."

"No Aleena. I came after Fajr. Don't you remember?" Amira says, looking worried.

---------------------------------------------------

(Flashback) Earlier that Day: Fajr

"Aleena, wake up, time to pray Fajr!" my mother says, shaking me awake.

"Huh?" I reply.

My mother yells in my ear, "Get up, get up!"

I eventually get up and after praying, I decide to do some last minute wedding decorations. I bring them to the kitchen table and my mom and dad kiss me goodbye.

"We're going grocery shopping. Amira and her friend, Harab should be coming over soon. Hina said she would go with Harab and get more wedding decorations, okay?"

"Yep, that's fine!" I say cheerfully. I'm so happy! Even a little while without Harab is better then nothing. He's so creepy, and controlling. I feel bad for his future wife!

Amira says he's very helpful and she likes hanging out with him but she always laughs with me when I ask if she wants to marry him.

A few minutes later, the doorbell rings and I answer it.

"Aleena!" Amira squeals.

"Amira, Harab!" I squeal back.

We hug eachother and Harab walks into the room.

"I'm going to get Hina." he says coldly.

"Umm, she should be in her room." I answer back.

"Right." he says and walks away.

"Well we're going to be home alone!"

"I know! I'm just going to go the bathroom for a minute, okay?"

"Okay, I'm going to finish this wedding stuff." I gesture to the table.

A few minutes later I knock on the door of the bathroom. "Amira are you okay?"

"Ya, I'm fine, I'm just fixing my hijab!" she replies.

"Do you need help?" I ask.

"No no, I'm fine thanks though. It may be a few minutes though, I'm really slow at putting on my hijab!"

"Okay, I'm going to go check on Hina and Harab, they haven't left yet."

There's no answer and I walk up the stairs to Hinas room.

The door is slightly ajar and I check inside.

"What?! What are you doing?!" I scream. The last thing I hear is Amira rushing up the stairs.