All For What! - Episode 17

 

"Stop there," Saeed commanded and sprung up from bed, careful not to wake Maryam to the commotion that was about to take place. 

He walked closer to Nafisa in just his pyjamas and asked, "what are you doing here?" From the first time he set his eyes on her, he knew she was up to no good at all. He didn't like a tad bit.

"I...I-" Nafisa paused to think of a sensible and valid excuse before continuing . Her hand well hidden under her shirt. "Manal was crying in her room, so I decided to come wake either of you up, but when I saw you two sleeping peacefully, I decided not to wake you up and pacify Manal myself." 

"What! Did you ask her what the problem is?" Saeed questioned, his doubt about Nafisa being in the room, fading away completely. 

"She didn't say," Nafisa replied. "Sorry for coming here this late-" 

"If it's about Manal, then it's alright. You can leave now," he dismissed and walked to his daughter's room to know what was wrong, why she was crying as Nafisa reported. 

Saeed opened the door to Manal's room and found her sleeping peacefully on the bed. She showed no sign of discomfort

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. Maybe she Nafisa managed to pacify her - he thought, kissing her forehead before leaving for his and Maryam's room. 

Maryam's eyes opened slightly due to the noise of door opening. Her face scrunched up in confusion when she saw Saeed coming in. Where was he coming from? - she wondered and sat up. 

"Where did you go?" Maryam asked in a sleepy voice. 

Saeed got in bed with her and pulled her closer to his body. 

"Nowhere habibty, nowhere. I just stepped out to receive a call," he lied. He knew she was very exhausted from work and had lots on her mind lately, he didn't want to add to her stress, by telling her about Manal. 

"To take a call?" She asked in disbelief "- by this time of the night? Who was that?"

"It's not important, just back to sleep, okay?" He kissed her head and his eyes closed. He enjoyed spending time with his family and his only wish at that time was for his wife to stop working and take care of the house herself, but each time he brought up the topic, she refused to hear any of it. She was adamant. 

Maryam rested her head on his chest listening to his steady heartbeat and drifted back to sleep immediately. 

~~~

"Won't you go to work today?" Maryam asked as she finished getting ready for work and Saeed was not even moving from the bed. 

"Nope-" he answered. "- I took the day off." He wanted to spend the Friday alone with his wife, but he knew it was not possible. She had to go to work - this was what she would say - he knew. 

"Really? But why?" She asked, sitting beside him. 

"Why?" He asked in disbelief. "- you're asking me why I took the day off? It's because we have not been spending enough time with each other, we don't see each other in the afternoons anymore. Several times I'm home, you're not and that's okay with you? I decided to take the day off to spend with you, but apparently, you have work to attend to." 

"Habibi-" she placed a hand on his cheek. "- I'm sorry. You know it has always been my dream to be a nurse since I was a kid and now that I am, I just can't give it up. I hope you understand." 

"I don't. I don't understand why you are been so adamant about this." He stood up. 

Maryam stood up too and shook her head. The particular argument was an unending one between them. Why couldn't he just accept the fact she didn't want to be an housewife? 

"In sorry habibi, but I have to leave now, I'm getting too late," she said. She at least expected him to wish her luck as he always did, but to her astonishment, he didn't. 

He turned his back on her. 

"Salam'alaikum." She picked up her handbag and left the room with a heavy heart. He was making an effort for them to spend more time with each other and what did she do? She ruined everything for him. She was deeply sorry, but quitting her job was something she wasn't sure she could do. She loved her job too much. 

~~~

Saeed heaved a sigh, his gaze focused on the door in which Maryam left just few minutes ago. He lazily got out of bed and went to Manal's room to see if she was ready for school. 

"Asalam'Alaikum baby," Saeed kissed her forehead. She was already dressed in her school uniform with the aid of Nafisa and was ready for school. 

"Waalaikum salam," Manal answered. 

"Good morning sir," Nafisa greeted, making her presence known to Saeed. 

"Good morning," Saeed answered. "- are you ready to go?" He asked Manal to which she nodded. 

"Alright, let's go," he picked her up in his arms.

"Have you eaten?" He asked.

"Yes," she answered.

Nafisa rolled her eyes at that. That was the reason she was a spoilt brat. Her parents were spoiling her so much. 

~~~

After Saeed had left to drop Manal off, Nafisa went back to her room and started preparing for school. She smirked as she remembered the money that was in her possession. She would prove to her classmates she was rich and send the remainder of the money to his parents. 

She hid the money in her backpack and set off to school. 

"Hey Nafi," Zeenat greeted when she saw Nafisa before their school's usual assembly. 

"Hi Zee, I didn't see you in school yesterday," Nafisa said. 

"I was sick," she answered. 

"Oh, I didn't know. How are you feeling now?" She asked. 
"Better, alhamdulilah," she answered. 

"Let's get to the assembly ground, before it starts," Nafisa said and Zeenat nodded in agreement. Together, they left for the assembly ground. 

~~~

"Uhm Zeenat, I will be right back," Nafisa stopped Zeenat from tagging along with her to her new friends, yes she already considered them as her friends because she knew once she showed them the amount of money she brought with her to school for the day, they'd be convinced she was rich and accept her in their clique. 

"Where are you going?" Zeenat inquired. 

"I just need to go to the cafeteria to buy some snacks," Nafisa replied. 

"I will come with you then," Zeenat offered to accompany her.

Nafisa sighed inwardly, but managed to convince her not to go with her. 

"It's okay Zee, really. You need all the rest you can have, after all you were sick yesterday," she convinced. 

Zeenat smiled at her friend's thoughtfulness, " thanks Nafisa." 

"We are friends aren't we?" Zeenat smiled and nodded. "- then you don't need to thank me for such small things," Nafisa said, patting her shoulder a little before leaving to meet her new set of friends. 

She met them on her way to the cafeteria. They were also headed the same way. 

"Hi girls," she smiled, sheepishly. She still didn't know any of their names and didn't want to ask from Zeenat. She wanted them to tell her themselves. 

They exchanged looks, rolled their eyes and continuing walking, totally ignoring Nafisa. 

She heaved a sigh. It was not going to be as simple as she thought, but she was more determined to make it happen. 

"What do you want to buy girls?" She asked, immediately she caught up with them at the cafeteria. 

"Can you please stop calling us girls?" One of them rolled their eyes. It wasn't the leader of the group though. Nafisa noticed she was awfully quiet today. "- we have names you know?" 

"I'm sorry, I don't know your names," Nafisa apologized. "Do you want to buy some snacks?" 

"No, we came to practice how to dance here-" the leader answered now, her voice laced with sarcasm. "- obviously we came to eat and why on earth do you keep enquiring?" 

Nafisa smiled. "Because everything you want to buy is on me. Buy whatever you want and I will pay. As I told you yesterday, money isn't my problem, we have lots of it." Nafisa opened the zip to her backpack and brought out the money. "-this is just my daily allowance." 

The three girls exchanged looks once more and were finally convinced she was indeed rich as she claims. 

"Welcome to the group then!" 

~~~~