I grab Tooba's hand as we approach the 'Harder and Faster' strip club chain. I feel nervous. I don't know what to expect. Tooba guides me into a hidden staircase and we walk down it. The music is so loud it makes my head ache. As we approach the dancefloor, I see masses of people bopping around me. Must be popular, I think.
'Drink?' Tooba hands me a small glass with golden liquid in it.
'Err.. no, I'm okay,' I give her a weird look. I didn't expect her to be the alcohol type. But who am I to judge when I've ended up here as well? My mum would be so disappointed in me. No, not disappointed, more like 'you fucking prick I'm sending you to boarding school in North Korea!' I shiver at the thought of her finding out.
I grab a can of coke, and open it. As I turn around, someone crashes into me and my drink spills all over my dress. Why do liquids love to spill on me?
'Oh shittt, I am so sorry!' A guy with green eyes says apologetically.
'I would say it's fine, but what am I supposed to wear now?' I frown, looking down at the mess.
'Well, you are at a strip club... So uhh, strip?' He looks at me and suddenly his eyes are filled with lust.
'I've never done this before...' My cheeks heat up but he probably can't see it. I cannot believe I am actually in this situation. Who would have guessed?
'Come, it's not that bad,' he assures me, taking my hand and leading me towards the back where there's fewer people.
'I don't really want to be naked around random people,' I admit, suddenly not feeling the clammy liquid on my dress. It must have dried by now.
'Okay, well let's start with less people. How about... just me?'
Zainab is your typical 'fake' Muslim, in New York, and surrounded by the most tempting of distractions. If she lets herself fall for them, will anything good come out of it?
(filled with unexpected plot twists and relatable scenarios)
WARNING: THEMES OF RAPE, DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND SEX
"Everybody has a chapter they don't want to read out loud"~a.n
INSTANCE 1
"your ammi said you have been irritating her asking about your childhood again and again"
"I just wanted to know, just like how you, ammi and samreen remembers their childhood"
"beta, enough. It's ok if some people don't remember... Just enjoy your life. See you have completed your studies and now you are also getting married, what else do you want?"
"my memories" I said quietly looking down and went to my room. I had lost my appetite.
°°°°
INSTANCE 2
I walked up to her and hugged her. I could feel her heart beat was very fast.
"what is happening here?" I asked
"it doesn't concern you" her mother said who was standing behind me
Just then, I saw some papers lying on the sofa. I picked them up and the whole world crashed in me. THOSE WERE DIVORCE PAPERS!!
"hafsa you wanted divorce from me?" I asked in a low tone
She shook her head into a 'no' so briskly that it almost removed her hijab.
"yes she demands divorce" her ammi yelled from behind "she wants divorce from you because she likes someone else"
~~~~~~~~~
Hafsa, after getting married to a manager, Mohammed zafar hussein, finds herself in a very familiar place.
She doesn't remember her childhood, she doesn't know which place she has come to but still it's so familiar to her.
A lot of things happen to her in her life which leads her to the truth which would change her life completely forever
Does that place really hide secrets? Will she be able to find out the truth?
Join hafsa on her journey to find out!
ALONG WITH A BONUS CHAPTER DOWN THERE SO DON'T FORGET TO GIVE THE FULL BOOK A READ! ✨