Chapter 23

Ahmad walks into the house for the first time in a week. It looked different as if he had spent months without being at home. Excitement bubbled up in him as wafts of burning incense mixed with sweet scent of lavender hits his nostrils. He walked further into the living room. It was sparkling clean. Hidayah had really been taking care of the house. It made him blithe. 'You're back." She said thrilled and astonished at the same time. Ever since he set foot out of the house on his wedding day, Ahmad never return or even call or text her. He had completely erased her out for the past 7 days he left. 'Yes." He muttered and walked past her. Her smile faded the moment he brushed pass her. Her body didn't know how to react, it just shut down. She froze to the point where she was hardly breathing. His attitude made her to rethink of the past 7 days. Did she do anything to offend him? Negative; she had been at home and if she could remember, they never spoke during that whole week. he didn't even inform her he was coming back that day. Then why was he now acting up? Or that girl had fed him something to make him act that way? Whatever it was, she knew she was innocent. Two days later, on a cloudy Sunday. It was her joy--- but today was different. She had been in bed for as long as she could remember. She felt so lost and alone even those days when she had people around. The fact that she had to put on a fake smile each morning she goes to work tires her. Today was a day off and she couldn't be more happier about it. She laid in her bed silently, covered in and with a sense of loss so powerful that her muscles wouldn't respond to anything. Just as she thought, she heard the droplets of rain dancing on the roof. She hid her face in her pillow. Her tears matching the rhythm of the rain droplets as they fell to the ground and roof. She felt like her heart had been ripped out. A state of misery that she couldn't see the end of the tunnel. A terrible weight fell onto her shoulders as she lay still on the bed. It was as though a giant boulder landed on her and she couldn't straighten out. 'Hidayah." He called out, not so softly like he used to. It was so harsh, almost sounded like he was forced to. She uncovered her face. Her eyes were puffy from crying for the last three hours. She was dehydrated, and her entire body was sore. Even when her father died, she didn't cry that long. How was it that the pain outweighed such treasured memories? She sat up, as the thought of the things she went through the past two days he was here. It all went bad the moment he set foot into the house. He despised seeing her around him. He no longer tolerated her, not one bit. He barely even speak to her, let alone have a conversation with her. For the past forty-eight hours, Hidayah couldn't get her finger wrapped around why he was acting that way. 'I'm going on a honeymoon with Layla and we would be there for a month." He announced. Did she hear him right? Honeymoon? They never went on a honeymoon together. There was an aura of grey around her. It was a fog that wouldn't rise or fade. 'O-okay. I wish you a safe journey. And my regards to her." She mouthed. A single tear rolled down her cheek, as she stood up and left the room for him. She was too wounded inside to stay and keep watching him. A giant hole found a permanent home in her heart. Her life would never go back to the way it was. She looked like death and the consequences that came with it. He felt a thud in his heart when she brushed passed him. He looked at her retreating back; it was so devastating to see her that way, walking like a zombie. But he had to stay strong and wait for the right time. She aborted his baby and almost ran away with another man-- he reminded himself that. He left the room and went to start packing for the trip he was in actual fact going on. ** Hidayah walked into the house, all smiles and happy. She was finally visiting home after so long. Last time she was here was two days before Ahmad's wedding. She was so caught up in her miserable life that visiting home always skipped her mind. The good part was her sister, Safiyah was also there. She was content to see her siblings as though she hadn't seen them in years. 'Hidayah? Have you seen how you've lost so much weight? You weighed about 70kg now what do you weigh... 45?" Safiyah had her mouth agape as she take another look at hidayah's appearance. Hidayah grimaced and ignored her sister. 'Ummah where's Nafisa?" She asked. Nafisa was the only one that has been there for her through thick and thin, good and bad times. How could she ever repay that sweet girl? 'I sent her to the market an hour ago, but I'm sure she'll be back soon." Ummah mouthed. She looked at hidayah again for the second. She had lost so much weight. Her face didn't glow as it always did before. She has changed a lot. Ummah heaved a sigh, having a thought if she could keep up with the act. Hidayah settled down beside Aisha on the sofa. 'Back to you. Why don't you like coming to my house? Nafisa and ya Safiyah are the only ones coming to my house, especially Nafisa." She threw the question at Aisha as she raised a brow. Aisha lifted her head from her phone. 'Why should I, when all you do is cry like an old widow?" She rolled her eyes and went on with was she doing. 'Aisha!" Ummah sternly called out her name. Aisha shrugged, 'it's the truth, Ummah. Why would I cry over a man that doesn't love me? Pathetic!" Hidayah furrowed her brows and rolled her eyes. 'At least I have a husband." She responded. Aisha laughed out of astonishment. 'At least I'm happy." She mentioned. Hidayah's mouth opened but words couldn't find their way out. Mentally, she brushed off Aisha's offensive comment and moved on. Everybody went about with their business till it was lunch time. Safiyah left immediately after lunch. Ummah and her daughters settled down in the living room downstairs. They were discussing about Aisha's upcoming graduation when suddenly ummah changed the topic. 'This girl is very well-mannered and respectful," ummah commented. 'And she's very beautiful too." Aisha agreed. Hidayah looked at them, puzzled. Nafisa peered at her sister, uneasily. 'For the first time, I can say Ya Ahmad is happy, genuinely." Aisha said, showing something on her phone to Ummah. It was a picture of Layla. Ummah smiled, 'they look good together." She commented. The blank, emotionless expression swept over her face at the realization of the conversation gradually seeped in. She felt a lump in her throat but ignored it. Hidayah wanted to pretend as though she didn't get what they were conversing about but Aisha kept rubbing it in her face. They made her feel worthless, like she didn't mean anything to them. They basically chose Layla over. Even her mother? She preferred a stranger over her own daughter. Tragic! Nafisa placed her hand on Hidayah's hand and squeezed. Hidayah looked up and she gave her an assuring smile. It made the situation less tight. 'And she's so well-mannered. I mean, he knew her for a long time. I don't know why didn't just marry her first." Aisha looked Hidayah dead in the eye. 'That's enough, Aisha. Sometimes you don't know how to control what rubbish comes out of your pie hole." Nafisa fired. She had to step in. 'You might as well tell ummah that since you're trying to be rude and stupid." They heard the loud slam from the entrance door. The room went silent when they figured out Hidayah had left in the middle of the fuss. Ummah turned her head fiercely to Aisha, shooting her a death glare. 'Are you out of your mind?" She said, sternly. 'Ummah-- but I thought we were trying to---" 'Shut up! You're going to her house tomorrow and apologize for being such an irresponsible and rude sister. Why can't you for once have some respect for her." She enraged by Aisha behaviours. It always bothered her by the way Aisha was treating Hidayah, and she never steps. But today, it made ummah twice infuriated than she used to be. 'But--" Ummah shoots her another glare that made her to swallow back her words. All she wanted was to get her mind off him. Get distracted and spend time with her family, but they all ended up adding salt to her wound. She was never going to the house again. Not until they realize what they're doing to her is wrong. She collapsed on the sofa as she felt the searing pain in her heart. She shoved her hand in her bag to fetch her phone. She checked the notification. There wasn't any phone calls or text from him and it has been 3-weeks since he had left. She bite her lip to keep her from crying. Her eyes welled up but she looks up to the ceiling to avoid the tears from rolling down. She'd had enough of it. If only there was a way she could erase him from her life... The following week, she was shopping together with Nafisa at the new boutique that was launched three weeks ago. She browsed through the dress aisle and moved to shoes. 'This would look good on you, Ya Hidayah." Nafisa showed her a carvela; a Jemm Elastic chunky-sole sneakers. 'Or these." She said, gleefully. The second one Nafisa showed her was a white low-top panelled sneakers. 'I like the second one more. Oh, and It's size 39. My size. Perfect!" She grinned, adding it to her cart. Her phone chimed. Hidayah ignored it until they were done shopping. In the car, she fetched her phone to check her notification. Her entire body jerked to a still unexpectedly. 'You look really bothered," Nafisa said, worriedly. 'Uh-- no, no-- it's nothing." She lied. 'Ya Hidayah, spill it." She urged her. Hidayah let out a shaky breath. 'It's a text from him. He hasn't called or texted ever since he left."