Early the next day, Maryam went to a nearby pharmacy and bought some pregnancy test strips. She had a strong hunch it was indeed pregnancy, but she wanted confirmation. Saeed was still sleeping when she returned. He went back to sleep immediately he came back from the masjid after fajr prayer. She walked carefully to the bathroom to avoid Saeed getting up and asking her what the matter was. She hated lying to him. She peed on the strips and waited for approximately ten minutes before taking a look at the result - it was positive. A huge smile appeared on her face and her eyes shimmered with happiness for the additional gift Allah blessed them with. She smiled, imagining how happy her husband would be when he hears of the news. He would be overjoyed. Manal was going to have a sibling to play with. She would no longer be lonely - this thought lighten her heart a lot, but on second thought, if Saeed comes to know of her pregnancy, he would surely force her to quit her job - she was certain. Her lips instantly twitched into a frown and her brows furrowed. She didn't want him to have a reason for stopping her from working, therefore, she came to the conclusion to hide the pregnancy from him for the time being. She would think of ways to make him allow her continue working when her pregnancy starts showing. She quickly  threw the sticks into the trashcan then walked out with a straight and emotionless face like nothing just happened. She lay down on the bed, subconsciously with thoughts regarding her pregnancy running through her mind. Undoubtedly, Saeed would be mad at her when he comes to know she's hiding her pregnancy from him - she knew, but there was nothing she could do at the moment. She was only trying to protect her career.

• • •

Few days later.

Saeed was still oblivious to the fact he was going to father another child soon and Maryam had no intentions of informing him any time soon until she starts showing. Saeed noticed some changes in his wife, but not once did it occur to him she may be pregnant. He believed if that was the case, she would know because she was a nurse and definitely wouldn't keep it from him.

Nafisa on the other hand was becoming more devious and heartless as each day passes. She enjoyed the attention she always got from Mukthar. There was nothing she wanted, she didn't get from him, yet she was not contented. She resulted in stealing from Maryam and Saeed. Whenever she sights their valuables, she would sneakily take it or make Manal bring it for her. On a fateful day when Maryam came back from one of her colleague's weddimg ceremony all exhausted, Nafisa noticed she was putting on expensive gold jewelries - a set of earrings and a necklace. She instantly took a liking in it and was determined to make them hers. She wanted to showoff her new jewelries to her friends and tell them it was a gift from her parents from abroad. That evening, she was restless. She didn't have any means of stealing the jewelries from Maryam because she was not allowed to enter their room. She sat down on the sofa and started thinking of malevolent ways to accomplish her mission. "If I sneak into the room and start rummaging through her drawers and wardrobe for the jewelries, she might wake up or worse her husband. No no." She spurned the thought. It was a senseless. "What if I make that stupid girl, Manal go into the room and take it for me? Yes yes, this one is better." She smiled and arrived at a conclusion to do just that. She stood up and went directly to Manal's room. The poor girl was sleeping peacefully when Nafisa entered. She hissed and started shaking her vigorously in an attempt to wake her up and when she didn't, she went into her bathroom and came back with a bowl of water in her hand. Without thinking twice, she poured the while content on the her. She instantly jerked up all soaked in cold water. Seeing Nafisa in her room scared her more than one could comprehend. She was like a ghost, hunting her every night. She quickly hid her face in between her  folded legs and began to whimper.

"Hey! Will you stop making that irritating sound of yours or until I make you?" Nafisa asked, annoyingly. She didn't know what the exact reason was, but she had a deep hatred  for Manal... Even more than the hatred she felt for Maryam. Saeed was an exception though. She knew how much he hated her, but that didn't change a thing. Her hatred was only directed to Maryam and Manal only.

Manal flinched at the tone of her voice and instantly kept mum. She was deeply afraid of Nafisa. So afraid of her that she couldn't open up to her parents how badly Nafisa treated her whenever they are away or sleeping for she feared the threats made by her. She felt like a stranger in her own house.

"Listen carefully to what I'm about to say," Nafisa commanded, pulling her right ear. "I want you to do something for me. Something you always do." She smiled, monstrously. "Are you listening?"

Manal could only nod.

"Good. I want you to go into your parents room. You know where ummi always keep her jewelries right?" She asked.

"No," Manal answered, her voice breaking due to extreme fear.

Nafisa rolled her eyes and pushed her away angrily. "Foolish girl. You mean you don't know where she keeps them? You're such a fool and a dumbo."

Manal was now very used to insults from Nafisa that it didn't affect her that much anymore - a thing her parents had never done.

"Still, I want you to go into their room and search everywhere for the jewelries she put on today. If you return to this room without it, I swear I'm going to strangle you with my bare hands." Nafisa threatened to scare the little girl who was visibly shaking by now.

She nodded and was about to go to leave the room for her parents' when Nafisa yanked her back. "And where do you think you're going drenched like a sick puppy? Come on, change right now."

Manal quickly did as she ordered and was about to leave again, but was tugged back again by Nafisa. She pulled her ear and spoke. "If you are caught, don't you dare mistakenly utter my name. Am I clear?"

"Yes." She replied, tearfully.

"That's my girl -" she smiled, villainously. "Now go."

Immediately Manal left the room, Nafisa plopped into her bed and a huge malicious smile appeared on her face. She was definitely going to get what she wanted today and any other day. All types of nefarious thoughts crossed her mind. It was just the beginning, they had not seen the worst of her just yet. She was still busy smiling iniquitously to herself when she sighted Manal walking back into the room. She furrowed her brows and sat up. "Where is my jewelries?"

"The door... Is lo...locked," she stuttered.

"What! How comes? I need those jewelries and there is nothing that is going to stop me from getting them. Go back and continue knocking on the door until one of them opens the door." Nafisa ordered. "And when they do, tell them you are having a headache and you want to sleep in their room. When they eventually go back to sleep, that's when you will search for the jewelries and bring them to me. Don't. You. Dare. Sleep." Nafisa enunciated, warningly.

Without a single word, Manal went back to her parents' door and started knocking. She didn't stop until the door eventually opened. Saeed was so surprised to see his daughter up soate in the night and standing outside their room. He rubbed his eyes to get rid of the sleep in them. "Manal? What are you doing here? Why aren't you asleep?" He asked, huskily.

And just like Nafisa wanted, she lied. "My head hurts. I want to sleep with you and ummi."

Hearing what she just said, made Saeed worried. "Subhan'Allah! Since when has it been hurting?"

Manal wanted to reply, but she didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to lie, but Nafisa was slowly corrupting her innocent mind. "Since... Since..."

"Sorry, baby, don't worry, tomorrow ummi is going to take you with her to the hospital in sha Allah. Come on in," he said.

He shut the door and helped her get into the bed beside him and wrapped his arms around her. Maryam was sleeping all along, peacefully. "Sleep now, baby. You will be fine tomorrow in sha Allah."

As little as Manal was, she felt bad for lying to her father. He was the one who taught her never to lie and that lying was the behavior the prophet (PBUH) hated the most and now, Nafisa was making her do it, not to anyone else, but her parents.

She had started dozing when she recalled Nafisa's words; and don't you dare sleep. Instantly, she untangled herself from her father's arms and tiptoed to the dressing mirror. Fortunately for her, the jewelries were lying there unhidden. She took them and carefully walked to the door. She almost screamed when she saw Nafisa standing just outside the room, waiting impatiently for her.

"Where is it?" She whispered yell.

Manal unfolded her hands and Nafisa quickly snatched the jewelries from her, smiling like a maniac. "Good girl." She patted her on the head and within seconds, she was gone.

Manal wiped her tears and walked back into the room. She went to her father's side and lay down. He drew her closer to himself and kissed her forehead. She dozed off instantly.

• • •

Who wants to kill Nafisa? 😭

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