Haifa turned her head when she heard
the entrance door to their home being opened. Zishan also turned. Her mother
came out, heaving two plastic bags, one in each hand.
“Ifa, dharifulha, let's go quickly.
I think we are already late,” she caught sight of her companion, “Hello Zishan,
how are you?”
Zishan stood up, “I am fine,
Nasreena daththa. May I help you with your bags?” he offered.
“It's okay, we are just taking this
to Ifa’s Kaafa house, a few blocks away,” Nasreena replied, giving him a
distracted smile.
Haifa stood up slowly, watching the
exchange between them. Is there anyone who did not know this man? Or could
resist his charm?
“Ok then, you both must be on your
way,” Zishan said, “So happy to see you again, Nasreena daththa.” He then
turned to Haifa, “I will see you again soon.”
“Nice to see you, give my regards to
your parents,” Nasreena said before Zishan waved and left. Haifa simply nodded.
***
.jpg)
As Haifa approached their father's family
home, she noticed the tension on her mother's shoulders. It was a good sign,
she thought. Her mother's already tense state would make it easier to provoke
her during the upcoming first phase of her plan.
The house was one of the grandest
Haifa had seen since she arrived in Vavathi. It stood tall with three stories,
featuring pristine white walls and a clay tile roof. The residence boasted
double balconies and elegant French windows, all with sills and frames matching
the roof's shade. Even the entrance door harmonized with the overall design,
giving the expansive structure a blend of coziness and modernity.
Her mother knocked on the door and
greeted, "As-Salaam-Alaikum."
A voice from inside replied,
"Wa alaykumus salam." The door swung open, revealing her Uncle
Zuhair, who welcomed them with a warm smile. "Come in, come in,
Nasreena," he said, his eyes then turning towards Haifa. "Haifa,
welcome."
Uncle Zuhair was a tall, slender
man, his physique having been strengthened by years of working as a fisherman
in his youth. His hair had thinned considerably, now mostly white, and he
sported a neat, thin mustache.
Taking a deep breath, her mother
clutched the large bag of gifts she had brought from Male' to her side and
gestured for Haifa to enter ahead of her.
"It's been such a long time!
How are you, Nasreena?" Latheefa, her Uncle's wife, exclaimed, covering
her mother's hand with both of her own in a prolonged handshake. "Haifa,
you've grown up so much," she added, looking at Haifa with a pleased
expression. Latheefa was a heavyset woman with twinkling eyes and a big smile.
"I'm fine, how have you been,
Latheefa?" Nasreena replied, returning her smile.
"Wonderful," Latheefa
said, turning to the person sitting on the living room sofa. "Noor is
still at work. Shafiya and Noor said she has some housework, busy as always.
You know what happens when we start a family. Shafiya has two girls now, and
Nuha has a 3-year-old boy and is six months pregnant."
"Rameez, come meet your
cousin," Latheefa, the ever-enthusiastic hostess, continued excitedly.
Haifa offered a polite smile in
greeting. Rameez was a similar model to his mother, heavyset with a joyful
smile.
The interior was just as beautiful
as Haifa had anticipated. The floor was covered in large, white designer tiles,
while the walls were painted in a rich cream color, giving the home a warm and
inviting atmosphere. A sleek border with cornice engravings ran just below the
ceiling, adding an elegant touch to the room. The ceiling itself featured an
artistic design with white gypsum in a wavy pattern. It was clear that a lot of
thought and care had gone into the tasteful interior décor of the house.
The living room was furnished with
four-seat cream-colored soft leather sofa. On each side of the room, there were
matching cream-colored recliners for added comfort. A 64-inch television was
mounted on a dark wood TV wall, surrounded by a few dozen white floating
shelves.
The shelves were tastefully
decorated with beautiful potted plants, photo frames, and various ornaments,
adding a touch of personality to the room. In the center of the living room, a
mahogany coffee table stood proudly, and a soft fur carpet adorned the floor
beneath it. Every aspect of the house exuded elegance and style.
“We have brought some gifts for the
family, it's not much, but I hope you like it,” Nasreena said, presenting the
bags they had brought to Latheefa.
"Oh, you shouldn't have. Thank
you so much," Latheefa replied with genuine appreciation as she accepted
the bags.
After some time in the living room,
Latheefa led them to the dining room, which was much more spacious than their
own. The table was large and elegantly set with designer ceramic plates and
bowls.
As they settled in, two women
entered the room, each carrying dishes from the kitchen. Latheefa introduced
them with enthusiasm, "This is Jabeena, Noor’s wife," she gestured to
one of the women, "And this is Faree, Rameez’s wife. It's too bad it’s a
school day; otherwise, Haifa could have met the children too."
The meal was exquisite, and they
engaged in casual conversation about island life and their children. Lunch
extended for an hour before they decided to move to the backyard, which faced
the beach.
This outdoor space resembled a hut,
complete with a large antique wooden swing suspended by chains. Patio furniture
was arranged around, and the ground was covered with wooden flooring.
Haifa and her mother settled into
the chairs, while Uncle Zuhair took a seat on the swing, gently rocking back
and forth. Latheefa busied herself making coffee. Haifa decided it was time to begin.
"Your house is absolutely
marvelous, Uncle Zuhair, perhaps the most stylish one on the island," she
commented. "Even in Male', I haven't seen such exquisite decor."
Uncle Zuhair beamed with pride.
"We've carried out numerous renovations to finally achieve the right
look," he explained. "Our most recent one was in the kitchen, where
we added the latest oven and stove models. The dining room table was custom-made,
crafted from the most expensive wood in the area."
"You have to be quite attentive
when it comes to your home, right, Uncle?" Haifa continued. "We must
be selective when creating a home."
Her Uncle nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. We work diligently for what? To build the finest home and
provide the best for our families."
Nasreena observed the exchange, her
face reflecting confusion. She was likely wondering what had prompted the
usually quiet Haifa to become so talkative all of a sudden.
Undaunted by her mother's searching
gaze, Haifa pressed on. "Yes, I've heard about how you built a business
and led it to great success. I must say, Uncle, I'm truly impressed. You're a
brilliant man," she remarked, offering her uncle a nod of admiration.
Then, she leaned in a bit closer and inquired innocently, "So, Bappa also
worked with you to establish this business, didn't he? To build it alongside
you, Uncle?"
Uncle Zuhair's expression darkened
slightly. "Yes, Naeem was with me from the very beginning. That was before
he got married and decided to leave us for Male'," he replied with a hint
of disappointment. "I tried convincing him numerous times. But he was
quite stubborn and left, abandoning everything he held dear."
Haifa nodded sympathetically.
"It must have been really tough to see your own brother and business
partner leave like that," she commented. Then, she began to weave her
scheme with dramatic flair, her voice carrying a tone of lament.
"You see, Uncle, we used to
live in a tiny one-room apartment in Male'. Mamma's salary was quite modest,
and after paying the rent and bills, there was hardly anything left. I often
wish we could have afforded a bit more," she added with a heavy sigh,
shaking her head in apparent misery.
Nasreena glanced at Haifa with
curiosity and a hint of concern. Haifa's sudden shift in conversation had her
intrigued, and she wondered where her daughter was leading this discussion.
"I did ask your mother to come
back, but she refused every time," Uncle Zuhair stated with disapproval.
"If she had listened to my advice, you both would have had a much better
life."
Nasreena's frown deepened, and she
responded firmly, directing her words towards Zuhair, "I couldn't come
back, as I've told you before. Educating Haifa in Male' was Naeem's dream, and
I can't let that dream die."
"It doesn't matter what he
wanted; he had passed away," Uncle Zuhair's voice rose with anger.
"We could have given you both a better life, but you were just as stubborn
as him."
Latheefa, sensing the rising
tension, interjected, "Let's not argue about this. It's in the past. Let
bygones be bygones."
Haifa, trying to stoke the flames in
a particular direction, waved a hand dismissively. "I always wondered why
my own father's family had severed ties with us," she remarked casually,
as if she were oblivious to the mounting tension in the room.
Uncle Zuhair rose from his seat,
anger evident in his posture. "I implored your mother to come back for
months. I finally gave her an ultimatum: either return, or we will not be
responsible for you both," he directed his response at Haifa, but his eyes
shot daggers at Nasreena.
"What I did, I did for my
child's education. I don't believe anyone has the right to pass judgment on a
parent's decisions about how to raise their children," Nasreena also sstood
up, her tone unwavering. "Haifa's education was her father's last wish,
and I have no regrets for honoring it. You were the stubborn one, leaving your
own brother's family behind in our time of crisis. He helped build this
business with you, and he had as much right to it as you do. Just because he
isn't here anymore, you took full advantage of it."
Zuhair's fists clenched in anger.
"You dare speak to me this way? I pleaded with you to return," he
hissed. "Sometimes, I wonder if there was someone else more important that
you didn't want to come back for."
Nasreena's mouth gaped, her face a blend
of shock and anger, as if she'd been slapped.
"Please, stop this,
Zuhair," Latheefa begged, her voice trembling with concern.
"Are you implying that I would
choose a man over my daughter? She is everything to me, and she will always be
everything to me," Nasreena's voice turned icy, her eyes steely. "You
can make all kinds of accusations, but I have no reservations. I have fulfilled
my husband's wishes and I have raised my daughter on my own. If I had to do it
again, I wouldn't change a thing."
With those words, Nasreena turned on
her heels and left the room. Haifa shot an exaggeratedly hurt look at her uncle
and silently followed her mother, leaving behind a bewildered and agitated
Zuhair.
During the quiet walk back, Haifa
struggled to contain her internal excitement. She couldn't believe how well her
plan had worked. She had expected to put in more effort, but the tension in the
room had exceeded her wildest expectations. It was like a powder keg waiting to
explode, and it had gone off with spectacular results.
Of course, she wasn't thrilled about
her mother being accused of such things. But at this moment, her singular focus
was on one goal. Haifa couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for hurting her
mother in the process. She wished there had been another way, and if one had
existed, she would have gladly taken it. But her hand had been forced, and she
had acted accordingly.
Haifa couldn't wait to get home and
share her success with Aish. She knew her friend would be thrilled with her
acting skills and the clever way she had orchestrated the fight without making
it obvious. With Aish's help, they could plan their next move, and Haifa would
be back in Male' before she knew it.
She glanced at her mother's grim
face, and once again, a wave of guilt and mixed emotions threatened to
overshadow her current sense of accomplishment. No, she thought firmly. She
needed to steel herself against those feelings. This was the right choice. They
didn't belong here; she didn't belong here. The sooner they could return to
their real home, the better everything would be.
Did you love the chapter, please let me know your thoughts
in the comments.
Have a wonderful day!
0 Comments