Unedited.

Maryam woke up very early the next morning and went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her family. She fried eggs and toasted some bread. She was very glad she didn't have to go to work today for it was weekend - a Saturday and she wasn't on morning shift. She would have enough time to make it up to Sa'eed for not agreeing to allow him throw Nafisa out of the house in the middle of the night and for angering him. She set the table and made her way to Manal's room to wake them up for breakfast.

On getting to the entrance to her room, she hesitated before knocking on the door. She had no idea if her husband was still mad at her or not. Without waiting for a reply, she twisted the doorknob and walked into the room. Sa'eed had his arms wrapped around Manal and they were both still sleeping. She smiled at the sight and adjusted the duvet on them. She didn't want to disturb their peaceful moment. She kissed both of their foreheads before exiting the room. She went back to theirs and plopped into bed. Unknowingly, her eyelids met and she drifted into slumber again.

• • •

Nafisa woke up late due to the previous day's ruction and went to the kitchen to start her morning chores only to find the table already set for breakfast. She heaved a sigh of relief and went back to her room. She made sure the door was securely locked before she brought out the envelop given to her by Mukthar. She emptied the entire content of the envelop on the bed and lay on it with a broad smile on her face. She couldn't believe her luck. Things were finally falling into place for her. Soon enough, he will start showering her with more gifts - she was confident. She wouldn't let him go for she had hit a jackpot! Her ticket to richness! "Very soon, I won't have to work as a house help anymore. Very soon, I will become very rich and leave this godforsaken house and—" she was cut her by the loud beeping of her cellphone. She picked it up and took a look at the caller ID — it was unknown. She wanted to ignore the call, but on second thought, she decided to pick up - it might be Mukthar. She didn't want to miss her chances. "Hello?"

"Hi, beauty," came the now familiar voice of Mukthar.

Nafisa thanked her stars she didn't reject or ignore the call. She plastered a smile on her face and cleared her voice to make it smoother. "Who am I speaking to?" She asked, feigning ignorance.

"It's your new friend, baby girl, Mukthar," he replied, coyly.

"Oh," was all Nafisa could reply.

"How was your night? Hope your parents didn't bash you?" He asked, humorously.

"They didn't," Nafisa replied, hiding the fact she wasn't living with her parents, but her employers from him.

"Good." He chuckled.

"I wanted calling you yesterday to know if you got back to your house safely, but..." She trailed off.

"But what, beauty?" He asked. 

"I didn't have airtime... Actually I still don't, but I will—"

"Which network do you use?" He asked, cutting her off.

Nafisa couldn't control a huge smile from appearing on her face. She was getting him exactly where she wanted! "Airtel."

"Don't worry about going out to get it, I will quickly send recharge card to you," he said.

Nafisa had to control herself from squealing. She sighed before speaking; "you didn't have to, but anyways thank you and thank you also for dropping me home last night, it meant a lot to me. Thanks."

"Oh come on, that was nothing. I wanted to."

"Alright. Bye."

"Wait... Please wait."

"What more?"

"When will I be able to see you again?"

"I don't know. I'm a very busy person, but I will see if I can make time. I will inform you when I do so."

"Alright. Thank you very much. I will call you later in the night."

"Alright, bye." Nafisa said and ended the call. Immediately she did so, her phone beeped, indicating a new message. She viewed the message and squealed — Mukthar had sent the recharge card just as he promised.

• • •

Sa'eed stirred in his sleep as someone was shaking him lightly. He groaned and turned to the other side. "Let me sleep, habibty, I have already prayed." He said, groggily.

"Abee! Wake up," Manal shook him some more.

His eyes fluttered open as he heard Manal's voice. It wasn't Maryam's. He was a little bit disappointed for he was not used to waking up in the morning without her by his side. He was not used to her not being the first person he sees whenever he wakes up every morning, but seeing his other bundle of joy wasn't so bad. He smiled brightly at her. "Assalamualaykum, baby. Good morning."

"Wa alaikum salam," Manal replied, kissing his forehead. "When did you come to my room? Where is ummi?" She asked, pouting.

"My little princess." Sa'eed smiled, caressing her cheeks. "I came this morning."

"But you were sleeping," Manal pointed out.

Sa'eed scratched his head. "I was?" He asked.

"Yes you were," Manal replied.

"Oh yes... I fell asleep when I came in and saw you sleeping and..." Sa'eed blabbered on.

"Did you sleep here last night, abee? Are you and ummi having a fight?" Manal Inquired. She may be quiet at times, but she was very observant of things going on around her. She knew whenever her abee came to sleep in her room so suddenly in the night, he must have had a quarrel with her ummi.

"No we aren't, baby. What gave you that idea?" Sa'eed asked. He didn't know his daughter was this smart and  observant.

"You slept here in my room instead of sleeping in yours and ummi's." She replied.

"Come here, baby," Sa'eed said, patting his laps for her to sit on. "Don't I sleep here sometimes?" He asked, softly.

Manal settled herself on his laps. "You do, but whenever you do that, it's always with mum." She pointed out.

Sa'eed knew he couldn't lie to his daughter anymore. She was already convinced they were having a fight.

"Are you and mum going to separate?" She asked, lowly, her voice laced with worry. She sounded as if she was about to cry.

"Of course not, baby! Just because we are having a little argument right now doesn't mean we are going to separate-" he sighed. "You're way to young to understand it's normal for couples to have misunderstandings sometimes. Don't you ever think that way again, okay?"

She nodded. "Please promise me you're going to make up with her."

"In sha Allah." Saeed kissed her forehead swiftly. "Are you hungry?" He asked, changing the topic and when she nodded, he stood up with her still in his arms and made his way downstairs. He went to the dining section and met the table already set. He wondered who prepared the dishes. He looked around and found Maryam nowhere in sight. "Wait here, baby, I will be right back." He said and walked to their room. He was surprised to find her still asleep. It was unlike her. He wanted to go to her, kiss her and make up with her. It had only been few hours, yet he missed her terribly, but he reminded himself she was to be blamed for their argument and so, she should be the one to approach him first.

He turned to leave the room, but he couldn't. Not until he had spoken to his wife. He heaved a deep sigh and went over to her. "Hab- Maryam! Maryam!!," he cut himself off from using her endearment on her to convince her as well as himself that he was still mad at her.  He called her name severally and when he got no reply, he began to worry something might be wrong with her. "Habibty?" He called, tapping her a little. As soon as his hand contacted with her body, he felt her temperature high. He instantly began to panic. "Habibty?" He called again, feeling her temperature with the back of his palm.

She opened her eyes slowly, looking very tired and weak. "Habibi..."

"Subhan'Allah! What's wrong with you, habibty?" Saeed asked, worriedly. "Your temperature is high. We need to go to the hospital now."

"No... I think I'm just stressed out. It will pass. I made breakfast for you and Manal." She said, smiling.

Saeed Instantly felt bad for leaving the room. He left when she needed him. Only Allah knew since when she started feeling this weak. He should have been there for her. He felt extremely bad and disappointed at himself. "since when have you been feeling this weak?" He inquired. He dreaded the answer she would give for if it had been since yesterday, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.

"Just this morning," she replied with her eyes closed.

Saeed took her hand in his and stroked her head with the other. "I'm so sorry, habibty." He apologized. He didn't even know why he was apologizing, but he felt a huge urge to.  For some reason, he felt she fell sick because of him and their argument...

Maryam shook her head. "Why are you apologizing, habibi? It should be the other way around. I should be the one apologizing to you because I-"

Saeed quickly cut her off, by placing his index finger on her lips. "It's okay... Actually, it's my fault, I shouldn't have said all that I said. I realize my mistake now."

Maryam smiled and brought her lips to the back of his palm. "I'm also sorry for provoking you."

"You didn't," he countered. "- I was provoked by..." He trailed off, not wanting to mention Nafisa's name. "I shouldn't have left the room." He finished, regretfully.

"You shouldn't have," Maryam agreed, feigning anger. She smiled afterwards.

"Are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital?" Saeed asked, his voice laced with worry.

"I'm sure," she smiled, reassuringly.

Sa'eed returned the smile. "Alright then. We've kept Manal waiting for so long, let's go and taste the delicious  dishes you prepared."

Maryam's face scrunched into a frown. "No habibi, you go ahead, I don't have an appetite."

"What! I think you're really sick. We are going to the hospital," Sa'eed said with finality.

Maryam breathed in. "No need... I will have breakfast."

"That's more like it! Let's go?" He asked.

Maryam smiled and nodded. "Okay." With little help from her husband, she got up and they left the room together for the dining room.