Unwanted: The Arranged Marriage

My Sisters Pain

Abdulaziz

As i was driving home i couldn't help but feel frightened, what is this girl up to? I need to show her that she can't talk to me the way she wants, I have to put her in her place. I parked and got out of my car, I took a deep breath before going inside the house, I could hear noises coming from upstairs "so we're not alone" I muttered under my breath in relief. I sat down and switched on the TV to watch and elementary was on, i have to admit I like the series, it's really good.

I was watching for at least 2 hours before she came downstairs with some girls, I recognized them because they attended our wedding, one was Shahida but I couldn't remember the other girls. I shrug my shoulders when they left without saying a word, of course she must have told them great things about me [ note the sarcasm in my voice].

After 5 minute's or so she came back in and sat on a couch by the left, she was typing and laughing like an i***t, and then a call came in, she picked it up and changed her voice to make it sound cute. Who's That? Her boyfriend? Or does she plan on marrying someone else that's why she came back? To get a divorce? I shake my head dismissing all those questions.

I picked my phone and called my sister Amina. we talked for a while before she told me she had to go, I missed her a lot but I guess she's all grown up now. I missed two Years of her life and now she treats me like a stranger and not her brother, and that made me sad.

I was thinking so hard I didn't realize suhaiba was standing by the side staring at me.

"what?" I asked startled by her presence

"just noticing you look like a sad boy who got his candy taken away from him. And I have to say I love that look on your face." Her eyes sparkled with joy

"who knows" I shrug nonchalant

"that's your problem, anyway I'm going out I might or might not come back home."

"are you crazy? A married woman staying out late? don't even think about it." I seethe In anger

"oh please you don't have the right to stop me from going out and we both know that, besides I don't consider you my husband so sit there and shut up." She rolled her eyes clicking her tongue in annoyance

She picked the car key and left in a hurry, My mind wondered to how she used to be before everything happened. I couldn't blame her though , after all I'm the reason she's this way.

**********

Even though I was at home all day i couldn't shake the feeling that something was fishy with my friends, they avoid me in all ways possible and imynot sure why. Could something have happened that I didn't know of? I have to find out. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of door being bang shut, she's back.

"i thought you weren't coming back home tonight?"

"I wasn't but the get together was so boring and I'm not gonna spend a whole night listening to their pathetic love stories." She made this disgusting look on her face

"yup, anyway did you do anything to my friends while I was away? because all of them seem to avoid me by all means possible."

"it's the other way round. After you left a lot of them came to me and asked me to divorce you, that if I did they were willing to marry me. I said no of course because as you know none of your friends are my type." She answered sounding bored

"no way they would never do that, You're just making thing up aren't you?" I try to make sense of what she just told me

"and why would I? Yes i love inflicting pain on you but this time I'm serious, you can ask them if you want. But it's sad to have someone close to you hurt you right? Karma is a b***h baby."

She spun around on her heels and left me sitting there in thoughts, could they have really done that? Come to think of it few of them did call regarding the matter of my divorce. I told them that we weren't divorced yet, I guess that was what they were after. I sent a text to them telling them to meet me at home tomorrow, i need to confirm it before jumping into conclusion.

*****

By now everyone was gathered just as I planned, they were joking and laughing with each other.

"guys I need to confirm something."

"just ask whatever it is we'll give you an honest answer." Abdullahi nod string at the others as they all hummed

"when I left, how many of you made advances towards my wife?" I deadpanned

The room fell silent and the laughter disappeared leaving a tense feeling behind.

"fine, I wanted to ask because I didn't want to jump to conclusions, but just like she told me I bet she can also tell me the names of the guys who did ask her to divorce me. I just wanted to give you guys a chance to tell me yourselves, so later on you won't think I'm being petty towards this issue." I spoke out straightforward clear and

"you're right, for me I can swear to you that i didn't, I already have two wives. But I do know some of us who did talk to her about the divorce." Abdullah Spoke out

"I did, I talked to her about it." Ibrahim mumbled

"I did too, twice actually." Sadiq raised his hand

"I'm sorry but I did too." Sagittarius looked ashamed while admitting it

"same goes for me, I'm sorry for disappointing you." Sam'aan rubbed his neck

"trust me your wife isn't my type so I didn't. And they all know that." Lukman sighed in disappointment

"it's all good, at least you told me. But let me make this clear, whatever is going on between I and my wife is between us. It has nothing to do with any of you, if she hates me or loves me it's my concern. If she divorces me or stays with me that Is also my concern. So for those of you who really did make advances towards her I'm disappointed in you, and I'm not sure our friendship would ever be the same agin" I truthfully say

"he's right, you guys did do him wrong. Even though he's an i***t and a coward who left his wife for another girl but it has nothing to do with us, We have no right to interfere with their marriage. The best we can do is mock him and hope that it he realizes his mistakes so he can correct it." Yuh could say Abdullahi was correcting them but you could also tell he was taking a swipe at me.

Ibrahim Looked remorseful he turned to to me and said "I'm sorry dude, I really am. We all are." I nod smiling faintly at them

Suhaiba

I roll my eyes as I heard Abdulaziz and his friends laughing so loud. 30 minutes ago they were all serious about not being true to one another and the fact that their relationship wouldn't be the same, and now it's like they've forgotten everything. I'm not surprised though, boys will be boys. My phone rang And i picked it up immediately.

"hello"

"hi hi how are you" saffiyas voice asked

"I'm good, how are you holding up?" I could hear a sigh and the other end of the phone

"he's here right now, downstairs. I can't go suhaiba, I feel like immediately I see him I'm going to break. I need your help." She croaked

"OK stay in your room, I'm on my way."

I picked my veil and phone and ran downstairs to the living room to pick the car key. All heads were turned to look at me when I went in.

"is something wrong?" He asked looking alarmed

"yeah I need to go see saffiya she's not feeling well."

"and your going out looking like that?" He stared up and down at my outfit with a frown on his face

I looked down at my outfit, I was wearing a black skinny jeans, a pink sweater that outlined my curves, and a nude veil that was tied carelessly on top of my head. Not to mention the flip flops I was wearing.

"yup and so? I'm going to my parents house, it doesn't matter." I shrug

"at least wear an Abaya on top of it, I'm not doing this for me but you. And you know am right." Of course he was, if my dad finds out I went out looking this way he would kill me.

"fine whatever." I groan heading back upstairs, I rushed up stairs and grabbed the Abaya, I slipped into it in a hurry before wearing my nude Zara slippers storming out of the room.

++++++++

I arrived at my parents house and stormed inside through the back door, I ran upstairs where I found my dad and my mom in their room.

"lafiya Naga kinzo kaman an koro ki?" (Is everything okay, you rushed in like someone is chasing you)

"no am fine, saffiya called so am here."

"that's good, you guys have to be here for each other through the difficult times. She's in safwan's room." Mama smiled looking proud

I hurried to safwan's room which was the last room on the right, I went in to find her sitting on his couch and holding Ayman like her life depended on it. Ya Salim, safwan and ya sahil were sitting next to her trying to calm her down.

"I'm here"

"thank God, what am I going to do? He's been here for almost five hours, He won't leave us alone." She mumbled shaking like a leaf. Seeing her cry broke my heart, I wish I could be the one to deal with him but she has to do this on her own or else he wouldn't leave her alone. I helped her wash her face and apply makeup.

"look you have to be confident, You've always been the most confident amongst us. Well except ya sahil and safwan who are self absorbed of course" they laugh out loudly "I know it's not easy trust me, but you have to do this for your daughter and for yourself. Make him regret what he missed out on OK?" She nod with conviction clear in her eyes, She looked over at Ayman and smiled before turning to me....

"you're right, all I have to do is look at her and I'll gain the courage to." I rub her arm mumbling that's my girl.

I held Her hand and we walked downstairs, as we made our way to the living room I could feel her hands shaking, I grabbed it and held it tight, I nod at her to let her know I was here . As we entered the living room Muhammed was now in full view, he stood up immediately he saw us. I stood by the side while she walked confidently and sat on the couch opposite him.

"you've been here for five hours, what do you want to from me?" Her voice sound stern and serious

"saffiya I'm sorry about everything, I know I screwed up, I hurt your feelings and i wasn't grateful for the love you gave for me." Mohammed pleaded

"I think you're too late, you've said this more than once, every time I give you another chance you screw me over. If it's just you fine but what of aymam?" she burst out in tears "i won't let her grow up seeing her dad hit her mom constantly."

I felt my breath hitch up my throat, he hits her? Why didn't she tell us? I thought I was in pain but compared to hers I haven't experienced anything. I felt tears roll down my cheeks, is this what my little sister had been going through?

"saffiya it was a mistake." His shaking hands tried to reach out to her

"am I your punching bag? how many times have you hit me? The first time was a mistake fine but what of the ones that came after? I won't be like those women who live in hell became of love. I wasn't raised to be someone's punching bag." She moves away from his touch

"what? Did you just say he hit you?" Sahil asked enraged

Before we could reply to his question he was already across the room punching Muhammed .

"you bastard, I trusted you with my sister. I thought you were different." He punched him kicking him harder

Ya Salim and safwan came in and pulled ya sahil off him, Ya Salim shouted at Muhammed. "leave! get out now!"

I've seen ya sahil when his angry but never this way, After Muhammad left saffiya sat beside the chair crying. Ya sahil sat next to her with tears in His eyes.

"it's all my fault, I trusted him too much that I convinced mom and dad to marry you off to him without proper investigation about him." He held her close with so much pain

We sat in the living room quietly while saffiya cried, I couldn't help but shed few tears too. I looked at saffiya and she was like a different person. The girl who always smiled without a reason was gone, She was broken. All that her eyes held was pain and anger, Why do we get heartbroken by the people we trust the most? Is it a crime to fall in love and give your all? I shook my head as the tears in my eyes fall.