Chapter Ten: A Painful Discovery
1366 Words
The afternoon sun was beginning to descend over the village when Nadia quietly stood up from the stool beside Isaac.
Isaac had finally fallen asleep after eating the food she brought and taking his medicine. His breathing was calm, and for the first time since she arrived, he looked peaceful.
Nadia smiled faintly.
"At least he's resting now," she whispered to herself.
Not wanting to sit idle while Isaac's mother was away, Nadia decided to help around the compound.
She first went into the kitchen.
There, she noticed a pile of dirty dishes stacked beside a clay water pot. Without hesitation, she rolled up her sleeves and began washing them.
After finishing the dishes, she swept the kitchen floor and arranged the cooking utensils neatly.
From there, she moved to Isaac's room.
A basket containing some of Isaac's dirty clothes sat in one corner.
Nadia sighed.
"Mama is already doing too much," she murmured.
She gathered the clothes and carried them outside.
As she washed them carefully, her thoughts drifted to Isaac's mother.
The elderly woman had become both mother and nurse to her injured son.
Every day she cooked for him.
Fed him.
Helped him bathe.
Supported him whenever he needed to move.
And still found time to handle her own chores.
Nadia shook her head.
"I cannot allow Mama to overwork herself like this."
When she finished washing the clothes, she spread them neatly on a rope behind the house.
Afterward, she returned to the kitchen to see if anything else needed attention.
That was when she noticed the cooking pot sitting on the fireplace.
Curious, she opened it.
The pot was empty.
Nadia frowned.
"Oh no."
She looked around.
There was no prepared food anywhere.
Even the food remaining in the flask she brought for Isaac was very little.
She slowly closed the lid.
"What will Mama eat tonight?" she wondered.
Before she could think further, she heard footsteps entering the compound.
Turning around, she saw Isaac's mother returning from the market.
The elderly woman carried a basket on her head and a smaller bag in her hand.
The moment she saw Nadia, her face brightened.
"My dear Nadia!"
She immediately smiled.
"How have you been?"
Nadia rushed forward to help her with the basket.
"I'm fine, Mama."
Isaac's mother studied her carefully.
"I haven't seen you for days. I was beginning to worry."
Nadia smiled politely.
"I wasn't feeling too well, Mama, but I'm better now."
The older woman nodded.
"Thank God."
Then she affectionately touched Nadia's cheek.
"You came to check on Isaac and me, didn't you?"
"Yes, Mama."
Isaac's mother smiled warmly.
"You are truly a blessed child."
Nadia felt embarrassed.
The older woman continued,
"Any family that gets a daughter-in-law like you will be lucky."
Then she sighed.
"I honestly don't understand what Malika has done to my son."
Nadia shifted uncomfortably.
Isaac's mother shook her head.
"He is so blinded by his feelings for her that he cannot see what is right before him."
Unknown to both women, Isaac had already woken up.
From inside the room, his voice suddenly echoed.
"Mama!"
Both women turned.
Isaac was looking at them.
His expression was far from pleased.
"Malika has done nothing to me."
His voice was firm.
"I love her."
Isaac's mother sighed heavily.
"And where is she?"
The question immediately silenced him.
She stepped closer.
"Since the day you got injured, has she come back to see you?"
Isaac looked away.
His mother continued.
"Has she called?"
Silence.
"Has she even bothered to ask how you're doing?"
Still no answer.
Isaac's mother folded her arms.
"You love her so much, but I doubt she loves you the same way."
Isaac's jaw tightened.
"Mama, Malika loves me."
His mother shook her head.
"You keep saying that."
Then she pointed toward Nadia.
"Look at this girl."
Nadia immediately lowered her eyes.
"She isn't even your girlfriend, yet she keeps coming here."
"She brings food."
"She helps with chores."
"She worries about you."
"She cares."
Isaac groaned.
"Mama, please."
His voice carried frustration.
"Not again."
The older woman sighed.
"Fine."
She picked up her bags.
"I'm going inside to arrange the things I bought."
Before leaving, she smiled at Nadia.
"Thank you for helping around the house."
Then she disappeared into her room.
The moment she left, silence filled the compound.
Isaac stared at Nadia.
His expression became cold.
Nadia immediately sensed something was wrong.
"What is it?" she asked quietly.
Isaac frowned.
"You enjoyed that, didn't you?"
Nadia blinked.
"Enjoyed what?"
"The way my mother was talking about Malika."
Nadia's eyes widened.
"What?"
Isaac shook his head.
"You sat there while she compared both of you."
Nadia was stunned.
"Isaac, I didn't say anything."
"But you didn't stop her either."
His voice was accusing.
"You like it when she praises you and criticizes Malika."
Nadia felt hurt.
"That's not true."
Isaac looked away.
"Do you really think all of this will make me fall in love with you?"
The words pierced her heart.
She swallowed painfully.
"I never asked Mama to say those things."
Isaac remained silent.
Nadia lowered her head.
"I'm sorry."
His expression softened slightly.
After a few moments, he spoke again.
"Okay."
Then he sighed.
"I'll forgive you."
Nadia looked up hopefully.
"Really?"
Isaac nodded.
"But first, you must do me a favor."
Nadia immediately replied,
"Anything."
Isaac raised an eyebrow.
"Anything?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Isaac stared at her for a few seconds.
Then he spoke.
"I need you to check on Malika."
The smile on Nadia's face disappeared.
Isaac continued.
"I've been calling her for days."
He held up his phone.
"She isn't answering."
His voice was filled with worry.
"I just want to know if she's okay."
Nadia's chest tightened.
Isaac continued.
"Please go and see her."
"Ask her why she isn't answering my calls."
"Tell her I miss her."
"Tell her I'm worried."
Every word felt like a knife twisting inside Nadia's heart.
Still, she remembered the promise she had just made.
She forced herself to nod.
"Okay."
Isaac visibly relaxed.
"Thank you."
Then he added,
"Can you do it today?"
Nadia hesitated.
"Today?"
"Yes."
He immediately sat up slightly.
"If she talks to you, call me."
Then he recited his new phone number.
Nadia quickly saved it.
Secretly, a small part of her felt happy.
At least she now had his number again.
Even if the reason was painful.
"If this is what keeps me close to him," she thought sadly, "then I'll do it."
After saving the number, she stood up.
"Let me wait for Mama to return before I leave."
Isaac shook his head.
"No."
"It's getting late."
"Please go now."
Nadia forced a smile.
"Alright."
She picked up her phone and adjusted her wrapper.
Then she slowly left the compound.
As she walked away, her heart felt heavier than ever.
The man she loved had just sent her to deliver a message to another woman.
Yet she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
Meanwhile, at Malika's house, the young woman was entertaining a visitor.
Laughter drifted from inside her room.
She appeared happier than she had been in days.
Completely unaware that Isaac had been desperately trying to reach her, she spent her time enjoying the company of a handsome young stranger who had recently arrived in the village.
The two were deeply engrossed in conversation and paying attention to no one else.
A few moments later, Nadia arrived outside the house.
She paused.
Voices came from inside.
At first, she thought Malika was speaking with her friends.
She knocked on the wooden door.
No response.
She knocked again.
Still nothing.
Confused, Nadia slowly pushed the door open.
The sight that greeted her froze her where she stood.
Inside the room, Malika was sitting very close to a young man Nadia had never seen before.
They immediately turned toward the door.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Nadia's eyes widened in shock.
"Malika..."
Her voice trembled.
"What is going on here?"
And suddenly, Nadia realized she might have just discovered the reason why Malika had completely abandoned Isaac.
The question now was whether she would tell him the truth.
- Writer
