Due to the call to prayer, Zynah broke out of her trance. She wiped a lone tear from her eye and swallowed a lump in her throat. She was tired of living like an outcast in a house that was supposed to be her home. The regret of the decision she made years ago was eating her up.

  Momentarily, she contemplated on leaving the house and going very far away from all of her worries and problems - away from her marriage. Away from her monster of a husband, Bilal, but the big question was; would she be able to succeed?

  Ambling to the bathroom, she performed wudhu (ablution) and emerged afterwards. She spread the prayer mat by the corner of the room and began to pray to the creator of the universe. Like always, she cried in sujood (prostration) and pleaded with Allah, the most merciful and compassionate to make a way for her. A way out of her sham of a marriage. She wanted to be strong - she really tried, but her courage and patience had been exceeded. She couldn't fight any longer. She was tired. Exhausted. This wasn't a life she was meant to live. She wouldn't live another day like this. If an opportunity to escape presented himself, she would seize it without thinking twice. The first thing on her mind, was to return to her family and beg for their forgiveness and rebuild the bridges she had burned when she chose Bilal over them.

  Folding the mat after praying, she walked into her walk-in closet and dragged out her box. Heaving a deep sigh, she began to fold her clothes into the box. Tears welled up in her eyes as she took a certain abaya in her hands - a clothing gifted to her by Ramlah. She could remember the day she gave it to her very vividly. She had returned from school and met it on her bed. She instantly took a liking to it, for it was exactly her taste. The colours were not too lucent and the design was perfect. Admiring the abaya, Ramlah walked into the room and asked if she liked it. She nodded with a smile and could only wish it was hers. She couldn't suppress the smile on her face when she was told it was hers. Since then, she had cherished it for it was more than just a piece of clothing to her, it was the first gift her little sister had given her with her very own first earning.

  Another tear escaped Zynah's eye as she dwelled in the memory. She missed Ramlah terribly and couldn't stop imagining what was currently happening in her life. Was she married already? In spite of not being in good terms with her older sister, Rashida, before she left, she couldn't stop worrying about her as well. Perhaps she was already married as well and her parents, she wondered how they would react on seeing her again after more three years.

  The rustle of clothes ceased abruptly. Zynah's head snapped up, a strangled gasp escaping her lips as the bedroom door creaked open. Her heart began to thump faster against her ribs, each beat faster than the previous. There, standing in the doorway, stood Bilal.

  Trembling visibly, beads of sweats started to form on her forehead, tracing down the sides of her face.

  His expression, however, was deadpanned.

  Her heartbeat skyrocketed as he began to take composed, yet dangerous strides towards her. Without fail, she knew she was done for - doomed. "I..." She attempted to make up an excuse to save herself from his brutality, but ended up trailing off.

  He raised a hand and reflexively, Zynah flinched and backed away.

  After a second or so, she reopened them when she felt his hand on her forehead, caressing it affectionately. Her lips parted to say something, but no words could emerge. Her brows furrowed in absolute confusion.

  "Why are you sweating so much, despite the air conditioning?" He questioned. "Are you sick?"

  "I..." She stuttered. "I... Am perfectly alright."

  He was about to say something, when his gaze darted to the box lying behind her. His demeanor hardened instantly. "What is that for?" He questioned, his voice laced with confusion.

  "Nothing." She was quick to reply. "It's nothing. I was just rearranging stuff." She lied.

  "Interesting." He remarked, his voice laced with suspicion. "Rearranging stuff." He repeated and walked closer to her, closing the distance between them.

  Zynah felt her heart beating even faster. She couldn't decipher the storm brewing behind Bilal emotionless eyes. But she had a hunch he wasn't buying her lie. How was she going to be able to escape now? "I just thought I'd... uh, I would clean up a little."

  "Are you planning to leave me?" He snarled, his voice dripped with fury. His entire demeanor contorted in anger, the chilling blankness replaced by a terrifying rage that made Zynah shudder.

  Fear flooded her voice, momentarily stealing her voice. Mustering all the courage she could, she forced out a "No."

  In a split second, Bilal's frown turned into a smile, a predator satisfied with his prey's submission. He reached out, gently framing her face. He leaned in, and for a fleeting moment, she thought he was going to hit her, but instead, she felt his lips on hers. She stilled.

  Pulling away after a second or so, he spoke; his voice a low, menacing murmur. "Good," he crooned, the possessiveness in his voice sending a fresh wave of tremor through her. "Because no matter how hard you try, you can never get away from me, you will only get yourself in trouble with me, and trust me, you're going to hate yourself for defying me."

  Zynah swallowed nervously, her throat suddenly dry. She forced a smile. "I know that."

  "You do?" Bilal asked, cocking a questionable brow. "Why...are you suddenly so nervous? You look as if you've just seen a ghost."

  Not wanting her plan to fail even before she had the chance to execute it, she heaved a deep sigh, restoring her composure. "You're probably mistaken. I'm not nervous. Why would I even be?"

  "Am I?" He asked, taking her hand in his. "Why is your hand trembling so much? Is presence scaring you? Tell me, Zynah," he pressed, his voice low and menacing. "Are you afraid of me?"

  Yanking her hand free from his grasp, she narrowed her eyes at him. "If you don't mind, I'd like for you to excuse me. I was busy with something before you barged in. Uninvited." She enunciated.

  He chuckled. "Uninvited? Come on, Zynah, you are my wife and I have the right to come into this room at any time I want and besides, this is my room as well."

  At his response, a seed of doubt sprouted in Zynah's mind. This wasn't the usual explosive rage she expected. Did he perhaps hit his head on something? Was he trying to manipulate her again? She couldn't let her guard down.

  "You haven't answered my question, wifey. Are you afraid of me?" He hummed.

  Zynah met his gaze head-on. "No." She lied, the words tasting like ashes on her lips. "Not at all."

  For some reason she couldn't fathom, his lips curved into a smile. "I'm hungry." The sudden shift in topic further fueled Zynah's suspicion. "Go make me some food."

  Wordlessly, Zynah sauntered out of the room to the kitchen and started preparing spaghetti. She just wanted to get everything over and done with and be able to leave as soon as possible.

•

"Hey!" Nazmeera called, making her jump a little.

  Not bothering to turn around, Zynah totally snubbed her.

  "My room is a mess." She said.

  The urge to give her a befitting reply was insurmountable. For that one time, Zynah didn't want to be silent. She wanted to make it clear to Nazmeera that she wasn't her slave. "So what?" she retorted, finally turning to face her.

  She chuckled humorlessly. "So... You have to go in there and tidy it up."

  "Why should I?" Zynah asked, standing daringly in front of her. "It's your business. Take care of it!'

  "Because," she scoffed. "That's what you're here for. Don't you dare act smart with me."

  Realizing that she was only wasting her time talking to Nazmeera, Zynah turned back to what she was doing before Nazmeera interrupted.

  "Did you just snub me?" She squeaked; her voice laced with disbelief.

  Silence.

  "I'm talking to you." She boomed, exasperated.

  Silence.

  All of a sudden, Zynah felt Nazmeera's hand on her shoulder, turning her around aggressively. She raised a hand to strike her across the face, but Zynah was quick to catch her hand midair.

  "Don't you dare." Zynah warned through gritted teeth. "You have no right to treat me like this! Not. Anymore." She enunciated her last two words for a clearer understanding. "I will no longer tolerate this. If you don't know how to respect yourself, then I'd glad you show you how I disrespect people like you."

  Nazmeera's jaw slackened in disbelief. "Did you just speak to me in that manner?" She sputtered.

  Zynah rolled her eyes. "I did and I will do it again if I must. I'm sure you've heard of the saying; respect is reciprocal. It's a two-way street. If you want me to respect you, then you should respect me and also, learn to respect yourself."

  "How da-" For the second time, she raised her other hand to hit her, but Zynah was quick to stop her again, catching her hand before it could land.

  "When you start respecting yourself for the sake of your age, I will respect you as well. Excuse me." With that, she flung her hand aggressively and turned back to the cooker.

  Nazmeera's fury reached a boiling point. With a shriek, she lunged at Zynah, grabbing her her hair and twisting it like a maniac.

  "Nazm—"

  "You want me to act my age, huh?" Nazmeera hissed, her voice dangerous. "well, I will show you how." She dragged her closer to the wall and before Zynah could fight back, Nazmeera had slammed her head against the wall.

  The impact stole the breath from Zynah's lungs, a searing pain exploding in her head. Her vision blurred, making the world around her swirl. Then, darkness. Zynah crumpled to the floor with a loud thud.

  •

  Bilal was lying down on his bed with an earpiece plugged in his ears when Nazmeera barged in, panting heavily, like a dog.

  Removing the earpiece from his ears, he sat upright. "Nazmeera, are you alright?" He questioned, worried.

  "Zynah... unconscious... kitchen... blood." she rushed out.

  "What are you saying?"

  "I was just passing by the kitchen," she heaved a deep breath. "I saw Zynah lying on the floor...blood. I think she.... might be dead. I don't know what happened to her, but I think she might have fallen or—"

  "What!" In a split second, Bilal was right in front of her. "What happened to Zynah?"

  "She is unconscious and -"

  "What the hell happened to my wife?" He boomed, his voice laced a worry he wouldn't acknowledge.

  "I found her in the kitch-"

  Not waiting for her to finish her statement, Bilal stormed out of the room like a raging bull with Nazmeera trailing behind him.

  The sight that greeted him in the kitchen ripped the air from his lungs. Zynah lay sprawled on the floor, with her blood splattered around. His breath ragged, and his eyes turned bloodshot. "What the hell happened here, Nazmeera?" the question ripped from his throat.

  "I don't know." She replied, her voice quivering. "I just saw her like this, and rushed to your room for help immediately."

  He ignored her, his focus solely on Zynah's motionless figure. Scooping her into in his arms, bridal style, a wave of protectiveness surged into him. "Zynah! Zynah!!" He called with a desperation he hadn't felt in years. "Zy!" he tapped her cheeks gently and for the first time after so long, he called her by the name he used to call her, even without realizing it, a subconscious plea for her to wake up. "Don't worry, Zy, you're going to be fine. I'm here with you."

  Nazmeera was totally taken aback by the sudden display of affection from Bilal. Bilal, who rarely spoke to Zynah, let alone comfort her, was now cradling her like she was the most precious thing in his life. She used to believe he didn't have any feelings left for her, but after witnessing how worried and afraid he was to lose her, she realized she had been wrong all along.

  "Can you hear me? Please wake up." He continued shaking her, but his efforts proved abortive.

  He didn't waste another second, with Zynah limp in his arms, he raced out of the house, his white T-shirt stained with her blood.

  Nazmeera had no choice, but to follow him, as she didn't want to seem guilty to Bilal.

  •

  "Zynah, talk to me; are you awake now?" Bilal rasped, cupping her face in his hands.

  "She will be fine, Mr Bilal. She's sleeping right now." The female nurse assured, then turned to leave the room.

  Jameel nodded, waving a dismissive hand at her.

  "Thank you so much for saving my sister," Nazmeera feigned concern. "I was so worried."

  The nurse smiled warmly at her, before exiting the room.

  Bilal took Zynah's hand in his and slowly began to caress it.

  "This is such a relief." Nazmeera heaved a sigh. "I thought she was dead already."

  Her words triggered a glare from Bilal.

  "I... She is never careful. I'm sure she did this deli—"

  "Accidents aren't planned, sister!" Bilal cut her off, emphasizing on the word 'sister'.

  "I... Didn't mean it that way..." She trailed off, when Zynah began to wince and stir in her sleep.

  Bilal's gaze instantly drifted back to her. "Zynah." He called, tightening his hand around hers. "Are you alright? Do you feel better now?"

  Zynah nodded weakly, her hand instinctively reaching for the bandage around her head.

  "Hey! Don't." He removed her hand from her head. "What happened? How did you fall? Why are you so careless?!"

  Zynah flinched at his harsh tone, a lone tear rolling down the side of her face.

  "Sor-" Before he could utter the forbidden word, he cut himself off. The one thing he could never do was to apologize to a person. The word wasn't included in his dictionary. " I didn't mean to raise my voice at you... care to explain how this happened to you? Did your eyes stop working or something?

  "She," Zynah croaked, her voice weak, but her eyes filled with a newfound strength. "Did this to me." she pointed a shaky finger at Nazmeera who stood frozen in the corner.