Umm Rasheed took it upon herself to go to the gym room where Faisal was since he woke up. She couldn't wait anymore. The truth must just come out today and she prefers to hear it today from his lips. The suspicious act was already getting too much.
She glanced over Kalthum's direction and their eyes met. Kalthum quickly avert her gaze immediately. Yes, that's what Umm Rasheed was talking about. Kalthum doesn't meet her eyes this days. It was as if she felt guilty of doing something which she doesn't want Umm Rasheed to know.
This is the reason Umm Rasheed decides to have a talk with Faisal .
Umm Rasheed wiped off her hand and left the maids in the kitchen to go talk to Faisal over at the gym room.
***
Faisal was already all sweaty. He opened a new bottle of water and gobbled it down like the thirsty man he was. He was sprawled on the floor trying to catch his breath.
He took his phone from where he kept it. He smiled when he saw a message from Kalthum thinking it was one of their normal love message. He cock a brow when he saw what the message says.
" I think umm Rasheed knows about us. She is already heading to the gym room" the message says
Before Faisal could respond back, Umm Rasheed had already entered the room.
" Faisal" Umm Rasheed called as she walked in.
Faisal dropped his phone then sent a smile her way " Good morning Nanny" he greeted
She was here meaning business " Morning "
" Why are you hostile today Nanny "
Umm rasheed exhaled loudly " we need to talk Faisal "
" but we are already talking " he said trying to act smart.
" Don't play that game with me boy! You know what I meant"
Faisal chuckles " OK I'm sorry. Please sit down Nanny, you're making me feel uneasy "
" That exactly what I want you to feel Faisal. Uneasy"
He chuckled and raised his hand in surrender " Calm down Nanny. Just tell me what it is "
She also smiled, finding the whole thing funny. Her coming here meant well. She sat on a stool.
" What is it with you and the maid? " she asked going straight to the point
He raised a brow acting confused " which maid?"
She stale faced him " you know who I'm talking about. Kalthum of course"
He rub his neck " what about her? "
" please Faisal just tell me the truth. I can't help it anymore Faisal. That girl is here alone and suffering a heart break is going to be very hard for her. Please Faisal it's best you stop whatever it is you're doing to that girl"
" I don't get why you don't have hope in me Nanny? Do I look like someone who can hurt her ?" he rubbed his face out of frustration
" so my suspicion was right after all. You two are an item. When do you see it deem to tell me Faisal? Don't you trust me again? Faisal! You know how I support all that you do but I'm trying to understand why hid this from me of all people! " Nanny was angry
Faisal stood up pacing " I'm sorry OK. I'm sorry nanny but I was only respecting her wish. Please don't be mad at me or her "
She nodded " when did it all started? "
He heaved a sigh " it's over a month now "
" A WHAT??" she looked shocked " and I knew nothing? "
He smiled " I'm so sorry Nanny please forgive me "
She glared at him playfully " and here I thought we were a team. We don't hide things from each other "
" please forgive me "
" What can I do with you, boy? " she shook her head
" I want your forgiveness " he pout like a small child
Nanny burst out laughing " you've really changed. Kalthum must have done alot to change you" she sobered up " Faisal, I won't stop you two but please don't try making things uncomfortable for that girl. As it is now, she is younger than you are and still expressing what life is. She has no one here to comfort her other than her sister "
He nodded " trust me Nanny. I'll never hurt her. I don't get why you're making me look old. I mean I'm just 28 going to 29. I'm not that old " he laughed
Nanny giggled " You're still old boy. Old is old"
He shook his head at her " you're too funny nanny "
" Just please stick to my warning. I don't want to see that poor girl broken. She is a very sweet girl and I like her. "
" I promise. "
" Better. By the way, I'm happy you chose her over hindatu" Nanny said
At Nanny's utterance, Faisal's mind went back to his last encounter with Hindatu. She has been avoiding him and he didn't know what he has done to her.
" Faisal? " nanny called as she noticed his absent mind
He snapped out of it " yes? "
" are you OK? "
" hm" he nodded
" OK then. I'll leave you to your workout "
" Thanks Nanny "
" Don't thank me. Just do the right thing and we'll be good "
***
Kalthum tried escaping as she saw Nanny heading back to the kitchen but luck wasn't on her side. Nanny called her back.
She tightly closed her eyes as if praying for this conversation she was about to have with Nanny should be good. She turned around with a forced smile.
" Ma?"
Nanny rolled her eyes " you don't need to run away anytime you see me coming Kalthum. I know everything " she whispered the last part
Kalthum froze speechless " I'm sorry I didn't tell you" she bowed her head ashamed
" you better be, girl"
" I'm sorry "
Nanny turned around to see if anyone was listening " I'd suggest we go outside to talk. I'm sure you two are still keeping it a secret "
" OK ma"
Outside
They both sat down on a low slab.
" Kalthum dear, I just want to be sure if you know what you're doing. Are you ready to fight for Faisal with all obstacles that might come your way? "
Kalthum heaved a sigh " I'm ready Nanny. I'll fight whenever I have to fight to be with the one I love. I know you might be thinking that I'm stupid but Nanny believe me, we have no control over who we fall inlove with. Life throws us in a situation we never expect. I don't know how Faisal and I end up like this but what I know is that I love him with all my heart Nanny"
Nanny smiled " look at you. Looking all grown and sensible "
Kalthum blushed
Nanny turned serious " I'll never judge you Kalthum. It's your decision to make and I'll never force you. Sometimes, what we thought might be right for us might eventually turn out wrong "
Kalthum looked at her quizzically " What do you mean? "
Nanny heaved a sigh " Let me tell you a story Just similar to yours "
" Once upon a time, there live this young and high spirited young lady. She came from a very poor poor back ground but she was ready to do anything to uplift her parents.
On this particular day, her uncle came for a visit from the city. He sells grill meat in the city and he makes good money out of it. This uncle of hers came bearing a good news for this girl's parent.
This uncle had a customer who loves to buy grill meat as much as he can. Her uncle got invited to this customer's house one day and was surprised to see that his customer has no wife. He leaves alone and sure needed a wife in that home the uncle thought. "
"This uncle then asked his rich customer why he hasn't gotten married and her comes the rich man's answer ' he said he hasn't seen a woman who stands his lost wife. He still hasn't found that woman who can fill the void his lost wife has left. He was still mourning over her
This uncle then came up with a suggestion . He said he would help him bring a maid over at least Someone who would only help him clean his house because the house felt so lonely and this rich man agreed.
The parent of the girl were happy to release their daughter to work in the city. As at that time, the community have a lot of respect for those working in the city"
" even the young girl was happy about it. Most of her friends were also there in the city working as a maid
It was time for her to leave, heading to a place where she has no one except her uncle. She spent the night in her uncle's place before she was then taken to this mansion. She was happy Beyond doubt. Never have she ever seen such a house as big as that . It was the most beautiful place she has ever seen. At some time she stupidly called that place her heaven. She was poor, what did you expect.
" Her uncle had already told her everything she needed to know and she was good with it as far as she could have her privacy and from What her uncle had told her she knew the man she would be working with was a good man and she couldn't wait to start working.
The first day at work was easy. She was helped by some of the maids that usually comes in the morning and leaves at night. She was the only maid living in the house as she was incharged of making his meal.
At times he wouldn't be home early and when he was home, she was already asleep. It then turned to a routine and she always noticed the untouched food. Sometimes she was always scared that maybe he doesn't want her there, that maybe he only felt pity because of her uncle. The worst of all is that she doesn't even know how her boss looked like . The first day her uncle brought her, he wasn't home but had left a message to one of the temporary maids who then delivers message to them and now it was her fourth day in the house and still hasn't seen him around.
The house was too big for just the two of them to sleep in. At times she gets nightmere thinking that a Seriel killer might suddenly enter and kill them. Luckily for her, she heard sound of the jiggling door, she knew it was her boss so she rushed down to welcome him. Something she had never done before since she came here. In her heart she knew it was an opportunity to see who this boss of her was.
The rich man entered and was heading towards his room when he got stopped by this sweet angelic voice. He thought he was dreaming, cos she sounded exactly like his late wife. He turned around and was surprised to find another face other than his dead wife.
She welcomed him so well that most of her action does seem like that of his dead wife. He was fascinated by the young lady as time passes. At times he literally glance at her when she wasn't looking just to be sure if he was only hallucinating thinking she might be his lost wife. Days passed then it turned to months. They grew used to each other.
The rich man began to develop a liking for this poor girl. He loved listening to her when she speaks or when she does the laundry singing in her own world. It was sudden that he finally knew he was in love with her. He likes everything about her but couldn't find the courage to tell this young lady who knew nothing.
He went to a friend of his for advice and this friend told him to tell her his feelings before it was too late. He manned up and told her what he felt for her and to his surprise she also felt the same, it's cheesy I know. Let's just say that was when their love life began.
They love each other so much that they were willing to fight all the storms that comes their way. One-day he took this girl to his parents house to introduce her as his fiancee. He thought his parents would be happy for him but they weren't. They insulted the life out of the girl that you'll think she has no one to fight back for her. They kept reminding her of the poor background she came from and the worst of it was her lack of education. She stopped in primary six. What shock her the most was how this rich man didn't defend her the way she wanted . He tried defending her but it wasn't enough.
That moment that lady knew she couldn't do it anymore. She began to doubt whether that rich man loves her or not. She was scared of how she would be treated if she becomes his wife, how his parent would treat her badly without him doing anything. She needed him to fight for her the same way she was willing to fight for him. "
"She wanted a peaceful life which she couldn't have because his parents where against it"
Umm Rasheed stopped then wiped her tears " Don't mind my tears"
Kalthum felt bad for the lovers but then again she had this feeling that this story was about Umm Rasheed " Nanny why do I have this feeling that this story was about you? "
Umm Rasheed chuckled sadly " I thought you'll never catch up on time "
" so it's about you then? "
Umm Rasheed nodding " yes"
" But did you later marry him? I mean you must have, If not you wouldn't have a son right? Does this mean you two have a son whom you named Rasheed? " Kalthum has so many questions which needed answers .to
Umm Rasheed chuckled " one at a time dear. Yes, I have a son but that doesn't mean it was with Rayyan"
Rayyan was the rich man's name
" I also noticed something Nanny. You kept using was for him. Does it mean he is dead? When did he died? I just can't help it, I want to know the full story "
Umm Rasheed laughed " In due time I'll end the story dear. All I'm trying to say here is that, I want you to be strong. No matter the storm you'd face,you shouldn't give up. If you trust on your love that much then you'll be able to fight it all"
"Thank you Nanny. This really mean alot to me"
" You're highly welcome dear. Anytime. "
They both departed. Kalthum went straight to her room while Umm Rasheed went back to the kitchen.
***
Kalthum closed the door behind her as she entered. She dropped her phone on her bed then went to the restroom.
Few minutes later she came out reparing her dress not noticing the person standing in the middle of the room with her phone.
" ARE YOU SLEEPING WITH SIR FAISAL??
Kalthum looked up as she heard that question. She saw Basma standing with her phone in hand looking pissed