| Life of a fraudster | ✔

▪LOAF 16▪

I wore my skirt and blouse, a veil around my head and a simple cartier wristwatch. It is apart of the things Mohammad bought for me as a bride.

Mohammad is still not back which makes me worried. I walk down the stairs and saw Ameera. "Ameera, have you seen Mohammad?" She shook her head.

"Nope, I didn't see him all day but he's most probably at work. He does that."

"Oh okay, thanks. Where is Maryam?" I ask as she points to the kitchen.

"Thanks again." She holds my arm. 'Um, ya Anisa? Can you take me out to buy ingredients for baking? I mean, we've never spent time together.. Please." She tries to manipulate me by saying that, reminds me of hadiza.

"Sure but later." She nods. "Thank you." I walk to the kitchen to find Maryam with some other women. Aunt Sarah, Halima, shamsiyya, Zahra and rabia.

I smile warmly at them. "Good morning." I say to them while I walked towards Maryam who was eating. "Good morning, our new bride." Aunt Zahra says smiling too.

"Which new bride? It has been weeks now." Aunt Sarah rolls her eyes. "As long as she is the last, she is still the new bride." Aunt Zahra defends.

"Yes, they proved it to us that night." Aunt Halima whispers before they erupted to laughter.

None of that bothered me since I expected it. I hang my head, acting shy. "Has Mohammad contacted you?" I ask Maryam and she shook her head.

"He and mom left together and they haven't been back since, they haven't updated anyone. At least he should've called you." She says when my phone rang.

I look at my phone, it is Mohammad. "It's him, thanks." I take the phone call.

"Hey, how are you doing?". I walk out of the kitchen.

"I am fine but where are you?" I ask walking.

"Don't tell me you're worried about your husband." Mohammad teases.

"This has nothing to do with that, some strangers worry about others."

I say crossing my arms.

"I'm at work and I'm busy.' His voice sounds tired, i felt bad for him. "You should come home and rest." I say to him.

"Am I supposed to expect anything?" He asks.

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. "I don't understand." I furrow my brows.

"Will we be having sex, is that why you want me to come back badly?" Mohammad asks enjoying teasing me.

"Yes, of course. To relieve the stress and to pleasure you. Hurry and come back, I can't wait." I say in a sarcastic tone and he laughs. "I'm on my way home so get ready."

"Just get back safely." I say smiling. "Okay but on a serious note, don't talk to my brother Sadeeq." He says as I nod. "Okay." I say before hanging up.

I turned as I saw Salis. "Hey." He says to me. "Hi." I say looking at the TV. "What are you doing?" He asks me and I sigh. "Nothing, I am going to go out with Ameera now."

I say stand up, untying my veil. "Okay, when you get back then we'll talk." Salis looks at me. "Sure." I walk out of the parlor.

******

I park my car at the parking lot of the house. We came back from the mall and she bought a lot of ingredients for baking. Ameera walks towards the kitchen as I sat in the parlor.

I felt useless, having nothing to do. Salis walks in using his phone. "Are you following me?" I ask and he smiles. "Of course, why wouldn't I? You are beautiful." He keeps his phone.