Chapter 39

She heaved a desolate sigh and got off the tall stool. She wandered upstairs to amira's room and knocked softly. She knocked few times again before amira forcefully opened the door. "What is it?" She looked angry, obviously about something but she was venting it on Dalia. "I was wondering what you'd like me to cook for dinner," she spoke tiredly. Her eyes kept closing, and all the wanted was to sleep. "Cook whatever it is." She shut the door on Dalia's face. She exhaled as she turned away and left. She sashayed into the kitchen and scanned through the pantry which was filled with goodies. She smiled a little before she brought out some ingredients from the pantry and closed it. She walked into the store and brought out a pack of spaghetti. She needed to cook something simple and fast as it just few minutes to maghrib. Her limbs pained and whomever looked at her would know she was tired. She prepared everything and went back to the living room to rest a bit before it was done. She prayed maghrib first before she checked what she was cooking. She lessened the gas before wandering off to the living room. As she laid on the soft carpet, a heavy sleep over comes her. She felt the blankness come over her. Like a blanket, but not a blanket of warmth but a blanket of coldness making her shiver. But somehow it's making her eyes feel heavier and heavier. She finally closes her eyes, sending her into a dreamless sleep. The smoke smell drifts out of the kitchen to the dining area and the entire living room. He rushed into the kitchen and turned off the gas. He furiously walked out of the kitchen wondering who did that. He never noticed the tiny figure lain on the carpet sleeping. Right from the stairs he started calling amira's name loudly. She quickly walked out of her room wanting to hear what he had in stock for her that evening. "What sort of nonsense is this? Were you cooking or trying to burn down the house?" She sniffed before her eyes widened. She walked passed him and headed downstairs. He followed her downstairs to the living room but she had already entered the kitchen. He looked around the clean place, astonished. That's when his eyes caught sight of her sleeping. Her face looks disturbed and obviously he knew definitely she was the one cooking and  maybe she dozed off in the process. Amira marched out, irked and launched towards her before she landed a hard smack on dalia's face. Like a nightmare, she jerked up as she muttered a supplication. She looked at the both of them unable to read what was happening. Then she smelt the the smoke again but before she could move an Inch, Amira slapped her again, twice. "Are you stupid? You wanted to..." The loud smack echoed across the four walls as Dalia jerked back in shock. Amira held her cheek as she slowly turned his way to make sure if he was the one that slapped her or Dalia had the audacity to slap back. "Muhsin? You slapped me? Again?" "This is more than the fifth time you're hitting this girl, in my presence because you're insane. Are you mad? Is she your maid? I am very sure she didn't rest when she got back from school and now you're hitting her for a mistake you're not above making it. Wallahil Azim the next time your hand would touch anyone, I mean anyone, I will do more than this." He turned his gaze to Dalia who had her gaze lowered. "And you, where your shoes now I am taking you home." He breezed out of the living. She quickly grabbed her bag, wore her shoes and followed him when amira Marched towards her. She entered the car and he drove out of the house. She sniffed and cleared her tears. If her father was still alive maybe none of that would have happened. That was the umpteenth time amira was slapping her over something silly. She cleared the unending tears again with her hijab. "I'm so sorry for what I did. I was so tired and sleepy that I slept off without knowing. Please forgive me, I would never try to burn down your house." He listened to every word she said but never replied to any. He continued driving till he reached to where he wanted. "Please take me home, I know mommy is back now, please I don't want to stay here and get in trouble." She pleaded while he was about to step out of the car. "Just give me a minute, I'll be back." He hopped out of the car and sauntered into the restaurant. She looked through the window and let out a long deep sigh. There were times she felt like the world was slowly disappearing in front of her. Or maybe it was just her who was fading away. That moment was one of them. Feeling anxious, broken inside. It doesn't even matter, she had felt a pain much worse than that when she lost her father. The tears arose again. Her empty burning lungs and her heart hitting her chest so hard that she thought it would break her ribs and rip apart her skin. And then the void. The black hole in her head, deep inside her soul, slowly swallowing all the hopes and dreams. That was the worst of that moment. She sighed again as she thought of a way she could tell daddy she has given up and wanted to go back home and take care of her only happiness, her mother. She quickly wiped the tears when he walked out of the restaurant, hand filled with leather of takeaways. He dropped the takeaways in the back seat before they zoned out of the place. The rest of the drive to Daddy's home was a quiet one, but uncomfortable for Dalia as she contemplated wether he was angry with her or not.