The Unloved Husband

Chapter Three: His Quick Question

Bismillah.

Chapter Three: His Quick Question

Isaac's POV

After the contract signing at the Islamic Foundation Televison, I told Fatima that I'll fetch her from her apartment an hour after. She said she could just meet me at the airport but I insisted.

"It will save us both time. Wadel is a fast driver," I reasoned out.

She simply nodded before climbing into a taxi cab I called for her. As I watched the cab go, my phone rung.

It was Ismael.

"Assalamu alaykum," he greeted me.

"Wa alaykumusalam," I greeted him back as Wadel opened the door for me to get in the backseat.

"So, tell me dear older brother, do you like your secretary in a way that could lead to a wedding?" he teased.

"Shut up. I'm hanging up if you're only going to tease me," I said, but smiling at the same time.

The thought of making Fatima Maryam as my wife somehow gladdened me.

"Wait, are you grinning? Masha Allah, my hard cold uncapable of loving older brother, hot shot bachelor, super successful, rich, handsome religious brother is finally swooned and swept off his feet. Allah has heard our Mother's du'a, alhamdulillah. I am excited to be an uncle and Mom and Dad would be grandparents, yey!" he exaggeratedly said.

I chuckled.

"Too early to say that. I'm still observing her," I confessed.

"Woah! So you like her, it's only been half a day," he contradicted.

"What are you saying? Are you being supportive or sarcastic?" I asked, feeling annoyed.

"Woah again. What's with the temper? You really do like her!" he exclaimed.

"I just arrive home," I simply said.

"Good. I'm home too," he said before hanging up on me.

Wadel opened the door for me. And as soon as I'm out of the car, I thought of something.

"Wadel, could you drop by Lemar's Boutique and buy me five pair of long sleeved and long skirt business attire for Muslim women? It's for Fatima. Tell Nessa there to wrap it up and send it to Fatima's residence two days from now," I told him.

Wadel seemed a little surprised but he smiled anyway. Wadel is ten years older than me with a good wife and male twins who are in high school.

"I will Sir," he said before ending our conversation.

As soon as I arrived at the house, I wasn't surprise at all Ismael and Mom talking in the living room about Fatima.

This is what I get for having a half – brother who thinks my single life is a problem.

"She's pretty Mom, I think you'll really like her. I like her myself," Ismael said.

"No you don't. You're not allowed to like her at all, in any way. She's my secretary," I sternly said while sitting next to Mom.

"See? She even has the power to make him hot – tempered and possessive. He's never like that," Ismael said who was also seated next to our Mother who was busy knitting another sweater for my stepdad.

Ismael encircled his arm on Mom's and leaned on her shoulder.

"I'm only looking out for you. You ought to appreciate me more, hmph!" he whined.

Mom just laughed. In the office, my brother and I are all acting professionals but at home, our Mama's boys attitude kicks off. We love our Mom dearly. She may be in her 50s but still she looks younger and healthier, alhamdulillah.

"Oh you two are still such babies. Ismael don't pressure your brother alright but keep on telling me about this new girl," Mom said.

I stood up.

"Don't believe every word Isma says Mom," I warned before kissing my Mom on the cheek and standing up.

"Don't call me that!" Ismael huffed.

"What Isma? What is ma name? What is ma favorite dish? What is ma brother's name? Isma is ma brother's name!" I sing – song before running towards the stairs and onto my bedroom.

I heard my little brother say something like me being childish but I no longer pay attention to it as I started packing for my flight.

My heart was excited and jittering. I am going to be with her. A hadith says that to truly know someone, you should have either lived with them or travelled with them. I am very much looking forward of getting to know more about Fatima Maryam.

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Fatima's POV

I was freaking out because Vianna is freaking out. She's blabbering a lot of nonsense things so how can I concentrate on packing?

"I don't understand. This is so unfair. I've been his secretary longer than you have and he never, and I mean NEVER EVER have asked me to travel with him. And for him to fire Alesier, that sweet funny smart charming Alesier just because he flirted with you is totally wrong. And what's worse than that is that... is that...." Vianna stuttered.

"What?" I asked as I opened my drawer and decide what veil I am going to wear for the flight.

"He gave you a book! He even had it personally signed and personally gave it to you. He likes you. The big boss obviously likes you," she said, with a tone of realization.

That statement of her made me pause and think. Is that even possible?

"No, no, no, you're just overreacting Vianna," I said dismissively.

I got the pink and apple green veil. Hmmm, I will wear pink because I love pink. And tomorrow I could wear the green veil in the ground breaking ceremony. We will be coming back home tomorrow night anyway so I would only lead light packing.

I turned around and saw Vianna huffing and pouting as if somebody has just stolen her rainbow.

"Look, this should not upset you," I said trying to make sense of her weird behavior.

She looked at me willingly and then looked away.

"You're just too perfect, that may be the reason why he likes you already. I feel such a wuss and a total loser," she cried out.

Next thing I knew I was hugging her to my chest, soothing her. Vianna wasn't really crying. She's just being difficult maybe because she knew that the big boss actually had indirectly fired her. Now that I think about it, Isaac Khalid is a nice man.

"Okay, I will not be upset about it. I guess the embarrassment of being transferred to the lower floors is just sinking in," she admitted.

"Just trust God and love your job," I advised.

She nodded but suddenly held both of my shoulder.

"Just promised me one thing," she said.

"And what would that be?" I asked.

"That if Mr. Isaac Khalid has a thing for you, I'll be the first to know. After all, I was the one who brought you to him," she said.

I chuckled.

"Why would someone like him ever like someone like me? Have you forgotten Harun?" I said.

And even as I said that, the sadness is still inside of me. Vianna made gesture to hug me but I stood up.

"Okay, I'm just going to take a shower," I said, not wanting to talk about the last guy I had a haram relationship with.

While I was feeling the water in my body, my eyes closed and the love I lost still overpowers my emotions. Tears come down my face and I let it, promising again, that this shall be the last time I shall cry of the man who broke my heart many many times, again and again.

I can do this. I have a new job. And having a boyfriend is simply haram. I should have listened to my parents but I ignored their warnings. That earned my heart a great deal of torment.

I shook my head and cleared my thoughts. Positive thinking Fatima, positive thinking.

After taking a quick shower and getting dressed, my phone rang and it was Father.

"Assalamu alaykum Dad. Did you get my text?" I asked.

"Yes and your Mother and I were shocked. Who are you travelling with?" my Dad asked with his skeptical voice.

"My new boss, the owner and CEO of Writeworthy Inc. They published Islamic books Dad. He is a good man. You got nothing to worry. You can ask Nurina to search his biography on the internet," I said.

"Oooh, I will," younger sister who's in second year college said in the background.

"Alright, then let me at least talk to him, just to be sure. If only your brother Ali got his passport, he could totally go with you," my worried Father said.

Ali is my troubled little brother who's graduating Computer Engineering this year. He isn't reliable but my Mom still gave him money to get his passport since I got mine when I graduated. It's been six months and still no passport. Both Dad and I knew he must have used the money to meaningless hangouts again.

"Okay Dad. I will tell him that as soon as I arrived at the airport," I assured him.

"Okay sweetie. Your Mom wants to talk to you," Father said.

I smiled and willed my heart to get rid of the homesick feeling. I left our city to find a better job opportunity here for my family. Ever since the incident with Harun in the high school where we were both teaching, I had to be away from the place where I was publicly humiliated when my colleague and two – year – lover Harun was caught kissing someone in one of the empty rooms. Word spread fast thereafter and all the teachers and pupils could talk about how pitiful I was for being dumped and cheated for. To make things even harder was the fact that he cheated on me with my very close friend. Since then, trusting anyone with my heart is not an option.

"Make sure you sleep in separate rooms. No brushing off shoulder, or legs or thumbs, or whatever. You are a Muslim woman and you should preserve yourself for your future husband. So that means no intense gazing, no touching of hands, shoulders, no hugging..." Mother said.

"Okay Mom, I got it, I really need to go. I love you. Bye!" I said and hang up.

Woooh, they are stricter than they were before. I almost forgot I'm 22 years old there for a while.

I said goodbye to Vianna who was still feasting on the news that my boss is fetching me from our apartment.

"Come on, let me walk you out. I wanna see how he looks like when he looks at you. And then from there, I would be able to say whether he has a thing for your or not," she pleaded.

"No Vianna, that would be totally awkward," I said, brushing her off and hurriedly climbing down the stairs of the apartment building.

I was carrying a shoulder bag and a knapsack with my clothes. As I reached downstairs, my boss familiar white car came into view. What shocked me was when Isaac himself got out of the car and got my knapsack for me. He even opened the door for me. I tried not to admire how dashing and handsome he looked on his blue thick long- sleeved shirt and slacks. His hair was no longer gelled but instead it was smoothly flowing down from his head and stops right above his ears. (see image above) I had the sudden urge to want to touch it. Astaghfirullah, what are these thoughts?

"Ready?" he asked me.

"Yes Sir," I answered.

He was seated beside me. Suddenly my Mom's warning of not brushing off legs with him resounded in my ear. So I slightly move towards the far end of the seat. He noticed it and instead of feeling insulted, he only smiled and looked away.

Wadel started driving.

"Excuse me Sir, uhm, there's a slight condition my Dad set for me to be able to go on this trip with you," I started saying.

Isaac gave me a serious look.

"Okay, what's that?" he asked, his voice a bit edgy and nervous.

I've never seen him this nervous.

"He wants to talk to you on the phone," I simply said.

He nodded and smiled.

"Wadel, can you please stop the car for a while," my boss said.

Wadel does as he is told. Then he got his phone and gave it to me.

"Dial your Dad's number so I could ask permission to take you with me," he gently said.

I got the phone and started typing my Dad's number. I have memorized my parents' cellphone number ever since they gave me my phone back when I was in college. It gave me a feeling of security.

"Interesting, you know it by memory," Isaac commented.

We both locked gazes and smiled at each other even as he called the number I just entered. I realized that I was staring but I didn't care. If him talking with my father is an excuse for me to ogle at his handsomeness then be it. Opportunities like this are golden.

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Isaac's POV

Fatima is staring at me too much and I am the only one he sees. Somehow, I liked that.

"Assalamu alaykum Mr. Maryam. This is Isaac Khalid, your daughter's boss," I said politely.

"Wa alaykumusalam. Oh Mr. Khalid. We are very relieved to know that you have called," the voice on the other line said.

"My apologies Sir for not calling you first before asking Fatima to come with me on this business trip. It was rather abrupt. Next time, I will dutifully ask for your permission days ahead. It's just that she applied today and got hired today. Your daughter is one smart intelligent reliable woman," I said, my gaze looking at Fatima's eyes who slightly looked away from me.

"Yes that's our Fatima alright. Could we trust that you will take good care of her and won't bring her to any danger or harm?" the old man asked.

"Absolutely Sir. If anything, feel free to call me on this number," I assured him.

"In shaa Allah. Thank you Mr. Khalid," he said, with his tender voice.

"You're welcome Sir. I hope to meet you very soon," I said expectantly.

The man only chuckled before formally saying goodbye and hanging up the phone. Then Fatima was looking at me again.

"So? Did Dad seem okay with me travelling with you?" she asked.

"Yes," I simply said to her.

She sighed in relief and arranged her glasses.

"Wadel take us to the airport now, fast," I commanded.

Wadel drove fast and the silence came back. I was busy with my thoughts of Fatima's Father. It touched me that she is loved, so well – loved and so well taken cared off by her parents. I wanted to learn more about her. I wanted to know if her parents were working, how many siblings she has. But I was also scared of caring too much. What if I care too much and found out I really don't like her background? I know it's plain stupidity but I think I want her to be perfect. And when I mean perfect, I want to know that she never had any relationship with any man before. Because I think if it's otherwise, I might just do one of two things. And that is fire her or hunt the man down.

"Can I ask a quick question?" I blurted out, breaking the silence.

We both shifted and looked at each other.

"Yes Sir?" she asked with that innocent tone of hers.

I seriously like both of her tones: the serious commanding one and the innocent subservient obedient one.

Aargggh, you like everything about her Isaac. You're whipped.

I stared at her eyes as she anticipated for my question.

"How much is your dowry?"

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"So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord."

- Qur'an, 19:110

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