*The Twins*
*Chapter 5*
Mubarak sat in his room, staring at his desktop, but his mind wasn't on work. Thoughts of Zainab consumed him. All he wanted was to talk to her, to make her understand him and for him to understand her better. He hated seeing her anxious and nervous around him.
Mubarak knew he'd wronged her by being the reason she was forced into this marriage. Though he couldn't undo the past, he yearned to ease the tension between them. He wanted to show Zainab that he wasn't a bad person, that he genuinely cared about her feelings.
Mubarak shook off thoughts of Zainab and returned to work, but his mind wandered again. Frustrated, he closed his laptop and left his room to find her. He knocked on Zainab's door, but she didn't answer. Assuming she might be busy, he opened the door, only to find her room empty, including her bathroom.
Mubarak searched the house, finally spotting Zainab in the parlour, seated and lost in thought. As their eyes met, she panicked, making him feel worse. He approached her calmly and sat beside her, but she flinched, shifting away from him to the edge of her chair.
Just as Mubarak was about to speak to Zainab, she swiftly pulled out her phone and pressed it to her ear, pretending to be on a call. She then quickly got up and left the room, leaving Mubarak disappointed and frustrated.
A day into their marriage, Mubarak had expected some level of maturity and communication from Zainab. He considered following her to explain himself, but just then, the phone rang, distracting him. He picked it up.
Mubarak quickly grabbed his car keys and left the house. As soon as Zainab heard the door close behind him, she emerged from her room and returned to her seat, feeling relieved to be alone once again.
_____
Zainab's gaze locked onto the person in front of her, and she was met with an equally intense stare from Mubarak's sister, Barakah. Mubarak had returned with his sister, bringing her directly from the airport to see Zainab.
Mubarak entered with a tray of snacks, drinks, and water, placing it in front of Barakah who is now seated at a couch in the parlour opposite Zainab's direction, he also took his seat beside Barakah. He had considered asking Zainab to serve his sister, but given her refusal to even acknowledge him, he decided to do it himself. He didn't want Barakah to suspect any tension between them.
Mubarak cleared his throat, feeling embarrassed as Barakah continued to stare at Zainab. "Uh, um..." he began, trying to break the awkward silence and thier intense gazed on each others.
Mubarak, Masha Allah, you've found a gem!" Barakah exclaimed. "I had no idea you had such a beautiful wife. She's even prettier and lovelier in person than in pictures!" Zainab's lips curved into a faint smile.
Mubarak raised an eyebrow, slightly annoyed by his sister's behavior. "Uhmm, am I not as good-looking as she is?" he teased, knowing Barakah's playful nature.
Barakah chuckled. "Jealous? Don't even compare yourself to her! You, my dear brother, may look like me, but you can't hold a candle to this stunning fairy!" She gestured dramatically, making Mubarak roll his eyes.
Zainab's gaze fell on Mubarak, and despite herself, she blushed at the siblings' joking. Though she disliked Mubarak, she recognized Barakah's playful teasing. Zainab couldn't deny Mubarak's good looks, which seemed to equal or even surpass her own.
Mubarak's heart swelled as he caught Zainab's smile, a first since her arrival. Initially, he'd hesitated to invite Barakah due to her outspoken nature and his strained situation with Zainab. Now, he wondered why he hadn't brought his sister sooner.
However, Zainab's brief smile twisted into horror as Barakah spoke her next words: "I can't wait to see my brother's kids!, I wonder how good and adorable they'll look." Zainab's eyes widened, and she let out a startled cough.
This time, Mubarak found Zainab's reaction amusing, rather than infuriating. "Soon, Barakah," he teased, prompting Zainab to erupt into another fit of coughing. Her coughs grew more intense until Mubarak and Barakah rushed to her side, offering cups of water. However, Zainab deliberately ignored Mubarak's outstretched cup and accepted Barakah's instead.
"Are you okay, my dear?" Barakah asked, placing a comforting hand on Zainab's back. Zainab nodded, still puzzled by Barakah's bold comment and Mubarak's surprising support. What was he up to?
"Okay, good, Masha Allah, dear," Barakah said, as Mubarak retreated to his seat beside her, looking anxious. He hadn't anticipated Zainab's strong reaction and regretted joking about it.
"I'll get straight to the point, I won't be staying long," Barakah said, turning to Zainab. "I'm Barakah, Mubarak's twin sister. I apologize for missing your wedding; I was busy with my promotional exams. My husband and I live and work in Lagos with our three kids: Fadil, 11; Amina, 8; and Umar, 3. They're all taking exams, which is why they're not with me today, and also why I won't. Stay long."
Zainab's eyes widened in surprise. She had no idea Mubarak had a twin sister. In fact, she knew very little about him and his family, except that his parents were deceased, just like hers.
"You're welcome, Mommy Fadil," Zainab replied with a smile.
Barakah chuckled. "No, no, don't call me Mommy Fadil! I'm still young."
Zainab laughed. "Okay, you're welcome, Aunty Barakah."
Barakah waved her hand dismissively. "Just call me Barakah. I'm still young!." Zainab giggled, but she couldn't bring herself to address Barakah by her first name.
Zainab was surprised to find herself having such a pleasant conversation with Mubarak's relative. Barakah seemed kinder and more approachable than Mubarak, putting Zainab at ease.
Mubarak, too, was delighted to see Zainab smiling and chatting with his sister. Barakah is indeed Barakah and Mubarak was grateful for her presence.
As the conversation flowed, Zainab's initial reserve gave way to lively chatter, revealing a more talkative side to her personality. Barakah and Zainab laughed and talked, forming an unexpected connection.
Before long, Barakah stood up to leave. "My kids must be waiting for me; I want to go see them now," she said, smiling at Zainab.
Zainab thanked Barakah profusely before she departed. Mubarak escorted his sister to the airport, while Zainab considered following, but Barakah stopped her. "Brides shouldn't leave their husband's house immediately after marriage," she said with a knowing smile.
Mubarak hoped Zainab's pleasant mood would persist, or even improve, during her stay at his house. However, as Barakah left, Zainab's expression fell, and she was reminded that, despite the brief respite, nothing had truly changed.
Her circumstances remained the same, and her feelings about Mubarak hadn't shifted. The brief connection with Barakah had been a welcome distraction, but it didn't alter Zainab's underlying emotions.
____
After Asr prayers, Zara sat in the parlour, her head leaning against the couch, eyes fixed on the ceiling, and phone clutched in her hand. This had been her routine since morning – praying, hoping, and waiting.
Her Lukman, was still nowhere to be found. Initially, Zara hesitated to inform her family about his disappearance. When she finally worked up the courage to call her brother yusuf, he didn't pick or answer, despite her five attempts. Taking it as a sign to refrain from hasty decisions, Zara waited. But as Maghrib approached, and Lukman remained absent, Zara wondered if she'd made a grave mistake.
Lukman's continued silence – ignoring her calls – only deepened Zara's anxiety.
As the minutes ticked by, Zara sensed a presence and heard footsteps approaching. She quickly rose to her feet, and her eyes locked onto Lukman's figure. Her face lit up with joy, and she felt an overwhelming sense of relief. "Alhamdulillah," she exclaimed, tears of happiness welling up in her eyes.
Zara's hands reached out, and she enveloped Lukman in a warm hug. "Alhamdulillah," she repeated, holding him tightly. But Lukman's expression remained eerily blank as Zara holds him tightly. He slowly extricated himself from Zara's embrace, still wearing a vacant stare.
"Let me take a bath," Lukman said curtly, avoiding eye contact with Zara. His tone was flat, and his demeanor sent a shiver down Zara's spine.
Zara felt like she'd been punched in the gut. What had happened to her Lukman? She scanned the room again, wondering if this distant stranger was really her Lukman. Pain and confusion etched on her face.
She was shocked when Lukman turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone, reeling in distress. What had gotten into him? Zara had never seen Lukman like this before. He had never left her feeling so lost and hurt.
Overwhelmed, Zara collapsed onto the nearest seat, her mind racing with questions. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to make sense of Lukman's sudden change.
Zara quickly rose from her seat, convincing herself that something must have happened to Lukman to cause his distant behavior. She decided to give him some space, hoping he'd return to his normal self and explain what was wrong.
She headed to his room, seeing that he was still in the bathroom. While she waited, Zara busied herself by clearing away his worn-out clothes and laying out fresh ones from his wardrobe. Next, she went to the dining area to arrange the food Atika had sent over a few minutes earlier. Since the food was still warm, she didn't bother to reheat it.
Zara sat in the parlour, waiting for Lukman to emerge. When he finally did, she was taken aback. He was dressed in different clothes from the ones she had laid out for him. Zara's face fell, but she remained silent, expecting Lukman to approach her and explain his behavior.
Instead, Lukman did the unthinkable. He walked past her, heading towards the door. Zara's anxiety spiked, and she hurriedly followed him.
"Lukman, what's going on? Where are you going?" Zara asked, her voice laced with concern and desperation.
Lukman's response was curt. "I'll be going somewhere. I'll be back," he said, not even bothering to look at Zara.
"But you just came home," Zara protested, her voice trembling.
Lukman turned to face her, his expression still blank and emotionless. "I'm in a hurry, Zara."
Zara's frustration grew. "At least eat something. I've been waiting for you, and you haven't even explained yourself. You didn't come home yesterday, and now you want to leave again?"
Lukman remained silent, his gaze fixed on Zara. Finally, he spoke. "Zara, eat your food. Don't wait for me. I won't be back until tomorrow."
Zara was shocked. What was he even saying?
"But I'm alone here, I'm scared of staying alone in the house," Zara said, her voice cracking as tears fell from her eyes.
Lukman's silence was devastating. He turned his back on her and walked away, leaving Zara more than hurt – she was shattered. The thought of being abandoned by the person she loved was unbearable.
Zara's mind was flooded with questions. What had gone wrong? Had she done something to upset him? The tears flowed freely on her face as she struggled to make sense of Lukman's sudden and inexplicable departure.