forbidden whispers

chapter 6

After her parents left to attend Qasem’s engagement, Maseh was left alone to face her aunt, who could barely tolerate her presence in the family.

She endured a grueling week with the woman who was supposed to be her aunt. The woman was harsh, rude, and treated Maseh as if she were an orphan, though she was not. Yet Maseh responded to every hurtful word with a radiant, innocent smile. She could have made her aunt’s week even worse, but she chose to rise above retaliation. She also wanted to avoid troubling her mother with complaints, as her aunt would surely seize any opportunity to turn her mother against her. So, all Maseh could do was endure these two weeks and anxiously await her parents’ safe return. With this in mind, she decided to make the evening special for her aunt, hoping to soften her sharp tongue even slightly.

Maseh prepared a delicious dinner for herself and her aunt, then ran up the stairs excitedly. She knocked on the door and opened it, knowing that waiting for a response was useless—the aunt would not grant her entry. Her aunt was brushing her hair, and upon seeing Maseh’s sudden entrance, she yelped in annoyance.

“Oh my God! You scared me! What do you want?!”

Maseh snatched the brush from her aunt’s hand and gestured, pressing her fingers together to indicate admiration. Then she guided her down the stairs, along the length of the steps, amid her aunt’s protests, ensuring she didn’t stumble. Maseh didn’t let go until they reached the living room, where she had set a table full of fast food, appetizers, and various snacks.

Her aunt frowned, staring in surprise.

“What is this? This isn’t like you. Who do I owe this honor to?”

Maseh shook her head and pointed to her heart, signaling that she did it out of love. Hanaa glanced at the appetizers, all her favorites, and felt a sense of pride and vanity that Maseh was trying to win her approval. She sat at the table arrogantly, speaking condescendingly:

“Don’t make those silly gestures. I don’t understand them anyway.”

She bit into a piece of cheese-filled pastry and continued teasing:

“If you’re doing this to marry my son (Ragheb), you’re mistaken.”

She looked at Maseh with arrogance, pouring some juice into her glass while Maseh closely watched her lips to catch every word.

“It’s impossible for you to marry my son—or any other woman’s son. No woman would risk marrying her son to a girl with a disability so that her grandchildren might inherit it. Even your mother wouldn’t consider marrying her only son to a girl with an impairment. Rest assured of that.”

Maseh’s aunt’s words struck hard—no one knew about her feelings for Qasem, as she had buried them deep, never showing them even to him. Her mother would never think in such terms; she knew that well. Only her wicked sister might, but Maseh trusted her mother completely. The sibling bond with Qasem was the only obstacle. Only her parents and a few close family friends knew she was adopted. But it didn’t matter anymore—Qasem was married to another girl, and her hidden love had been consigned to oblivion.

She shook off the dark thoughts that had invaded her mind after her aunt’s cruel words. Tonight, nothing would disturb her peace. She threw her aunt one of her innocent smiles, pressed the buttons on the media console, leaped onto the couch, and placed a plate of nuts and light snacks on her lap. She gestured to the screen, inviting her aunt to sit and watch the movie with her, even selecting one that matched her aunt’s taste for mystery and drama.

Her aunt sighed softly, looked at the screen, and decided to declare a temporary truce, settling down to watch the movie.

The next morning, as usual, Maseh got ready to go to the equestrian club, which she visited every Monday and Friday. She spent four hours there, learning to ride skillfully and care for the horses. She enjoyed her time at the stables more than at the swimming club. Although she had mastered swimming well, she visited the pool only once or twice a month, preferring the sea and the thrill of the waves.

However, after accidentally seeing her father there with his wife, she decided never to return to the sea. That day, she had been unable to sleep, haunted by nightmares, and she didn’t want to risk encountering any of her family again, fearing it would jeopardize the loving family she now had. Three years ago, her father had come, pretending to miss her and wanting to see her. Maseh had watched him with deep resentment, recalling the nightmares he had caused her. That day, she had fled from his sinister gaze, and Hanan had pulled her inside, asking her husband to handle the matter. Since then, he had never returned. Indeed, Maseh had grown into a lucky, happy child thanks to her new family.

Maseh then visited her friend Mirna’s house, where her mother’s loyal and kind driver dropped her off, agreeing to pick her up an hour later.

Mirna’s brother, Qusai, came out to greet her. Qusai was twenty-four years old and had not continued his university studies due to their family’s financial difficulties. He had worked in a mechanic’s workshop to help support the household and had eventually succeeded, establishing his own workshop and generating profit, which also helped pay for Mirna’s education.

Qusai had been very fond of Maseh. From the moment she matured before his eyes, he had fallen for her, regardless of her disability. He had even confessed his feelings to Maseh’s mother, who promised him that no one would find a better, kind husband for her, but she wanted Maseh to focus on her studies rather than love. Qusai decided to keep his love in his heart, waiting for the right moment. Secretly, he was learning sign language for her so they could communicate, but he hadn’t revealed this to Mirna to avoid her teasing.

“Maseh, welcome! Come in.”

Maseh smiled and entered hesitantly, seeing him bare-chested and greasy from work. Qusai noticed her embarrassment and apologized:

“Sorry, I was fixing the washing machine… Mirna, where are you?”

Mirna rushed over, and when she saw Maseh, she squealed with joy, jumping to hug her:

“I’m so happy you’re here! Come, I’ll show you what I’ve done!”

Maseh and Mirna disappeared into their room, while Qusai watched with a foolish smile on his lips.

Mirna and Qusai had lost their father at a young age while he was cleaning a tall building. He fell due to the company’s negligence regarding worker safety. Their mother had successfully sued and received compensation, which supported their small family.

Mirna loved drawing, and Maseh always encouraged her hobby. Her drawings were impressive, despite being an amateur.

“What do you think? Do you like them?”

Maseh nodded enthusiastically, gesturing:

“They’re wonderful… you could make a comic story with them.”

Mirna hid another drawing behind her back and said with a mischievous smile:

“That’s exactly what I plan to do… and this is the hero of my story.”

She revealed the hidden drawing atop the others. Maseh froze, eyes locked on the image. How had she drawn him with such skill? She held the drawing, staring at his smiling face—it was truly lifelike.

“He’s handsome, isn’t he?! You know my taste in men… Qasem is exactly my dream prince.”

Maseh felt a pang of fear, as if her friend were encroaching on her own cherished memories. She shook her head, rejecting the direction of her thoughts, and gestured:

“Maybe you should change your mind… Qasem is no longer available.”

She needed to tell her friend, so she wouldn’t become entangled in illusions like she had. She had to move on and change her mindset.

Mirna cried out in shock:

“What?! No… explain in writing… tell me what happened!”

Maseh sighed in annoyance and began writing:

“He sent an invitation for his engagement party, and my parents went last week. Forget him, silly. When he left, you were still a little child.”

Mirna grabbed Maseh’s hand, looking at her urgently:

“Maseh… don’t lie to me about this… you don’t know what it means to me… it’s my first love.”

Maseh pulled her hand away and wrote in bold letters:

“Your first love now belongs to someone else.”

She threw the paper aside and stood up, her mood soured, wanting to return home immediately. She would go back to her aunt and engage in a fight, perhaps to distract herself from the knife that had pierced her heart.

Mirna followed, protesting:

“Hey! Where are you going?!”

Maseh waved her hand irritably:

“I’m going home. I feel suffocated… I’m tired from horse training and need to rest.”

Mirna frowned, watching her, wondering what had disturbed her mood. Maseh walked a few steps away… she didn’t ask Mirna to call Latif to pick her up—she knew it herself and accepted her own stubbornness.