*The Twins*
*Chapter 15*
Monday arrived quickly, marking the start of the school semester.
After their little argument the other day, Zara and Lukman hadn't spoken to each other since, both stubbornly avoiding any interaction. Zara couldn't help but think this was exactly how Lukman preferred things.
That morning, Lukman was seated in the parlor, a cup of tea in front of him. He was dressed in an all-black outfit, his impeccable appearance only enhancing his natural charisma. Zara glanced at him briefly, her thoughts bitter. Looks can deceive, she reminded herself.
Coincidentally, Zara was also wearing black—a flowing abaya and a veil loosely rolled around her head. She found the unintentional matching somewhat ironic and brushed the thought aside.
"Please drop me at the school," Zara told Lukman as she stood near the door, waiting for his response.
Lukman didn't say a word. He calmly finished his tea, picked up his bag, and headed for the door without acknowledging her.
Feeling dismissed but determined, Zara followed him. His silence made it clear he wasn't going to stop her, so she quietly got into the car.
The drive was silent, the tension between them palpable. Neither of them said a word until Lukman dropped her off at the school gate. Without so much as a goodbye, he drove away, leaving Zara standing there with a mix of relief and unease.
Inside the school, Zara was greeted by familiar faces—her twin sister, Zainab, and their friends Safina, Safiyya, and Safeera.
"Assalamu Alaikum!" Zara exclaimed, her face lighting up as she hugged her friends one by one. But when she got to Zainab, the response was noticeably cold.
Zara hugged Zainab tightly. "Assalamu Alaikum, Zainab," she repeated, her voice softer this time. But Zainab only returned the hug briefly before pulling away.
"I'm sorry, Zainab," Zara pleaded, sensing the tension.
Zainab said nothing, her lips pressed into a thin line as she looked away.
"What did my best friend do to you, Zainab?" Safina asked, her curious gaze shifting between the twins. The rest of the group leaned in, equally curious.
Zainab crossed her arms, finally breaking her silence. "Ask her," she said curtly, her tone sharp.
Zara knew Zainab was still upset with her for rejecting her offer that day, but she couldn't let their disagreement escalate further. She gave Zainab a pleading look, silently asking for forgiveness and hoping she wouldn't cause a scene. They were twins, and their friends didn't need to know about every little disagreement between them.
"My bestie, please forgive Zara," Safiyya chimed in, her cheerful tone cutting through the tension.
Zainab hesitated, her expression softening slightly. "Fine," she finally said with a sigh.
The twins smiled at each other, and Zainab pulled Zara into a warm hug. The group cheered at their reconciliation, the atmosphere lightening instantly.
The day at school was uneventful but productive. They spent their time completing course registrations and checking their results. The highlight, however, was the results themselves.
Zara had almost a perfect grade point average of 4.98, tying with another guy in their course. Zainab followed closely behind with 4.94, and the rest of their friends, while not as high, had all done impressively well.
The group cheered for one another, their joy contagious.
To celebrate their success, Safeera offered to drive them out for an impromptu outing, something they often did before when life felt lighter. They piled into Safeera's car, chatting and laughing as they drove off, leaving the stress of school behind for a while. The day turned into a joyful adventure, strengthening their bond and creating more cherished memories.
At almost Maghrib, Zara and her friends were at Safeera's house, their spirits high after a fun-filled day. They had shopped, visited the park, and indulged in the kind of carefree moments that had brightened their mood.
Now, Safeera, Safiyya, and Safina were planning a girls' night, excitedly unpacking snacks and setting the scene. But Zara, feeling a tug of unease, glanced at her phone. She knew she couldn't stay much longer without heading home.
As she unlocked her phone, her breath caught. Several missed calls stared back at her, and the name displayed made her heart skip—"My Love." It was Lukman.
It surprised her. It had been a long time since he'd called her by that, infact since before their marriage, his calls had been more formal, almost distant.
"Hmm," she murmured to herself, trying to suppress a smile. But then reality set in. She hadn't informed Lukman about her plans with her friends. It wasn't an accident either; deep down, she knew he wouldn't have let her go. "The enemy of my happiness," she thought bitterly.
Before she could put her phone down, it rang again. Lukman was persistent.
This time, she answered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Hello?"
"Which type of lectures are you having that would take this long without finishing?" Lukman's voice was firm and edged with annoyance. "And where on earth have you kept your phone?"
Zara froze, guilt flooding through her. She couldn't bring herself to lie or explain. Instead, she stayed silent, her mind racing for an answer.
"Zara?" Lukman prompted, his tone softening slightly, though the irritation lingered.
"I..." she started but stopped, unsure of what to say.
"Zara, I'm asking you a question," Lukman said again, his voice calmer but still expectant.
Finally, she gathered the courage to respond. "I'm at Safeera's house," she admitted, her voice shaky.
There was silence on the other end for a moment before Lukman spoke again. "And you didn't think it was necessary to tell me?"
Zara sat quietly, staring at her phone, unsure of how to respond to Lukman. His abrupt end to the call left her with a sinking feeling, and no words came to her mind. She sighed, placing the phone down and trying to compose herself.
She stayed with her friends, pretending to be at ease. Thankfully, they didn't seem to notice the turmoil she was trying to hide.
Not long after, Zainab stood up, slipping her phone into her handbag. "Sisters, I'll be heading home now. My husband just arrived to pick me," she announced with a wave.
Zara quickly got up, seizing the opportunity. "Zainab, please, drop me at home," she said, her tone almost pleading.
Zainab nodded in agreement, and the twins left together. Outside, Mubarak waited in his car, offering a polite smile as they approached.
During the ride, the atmosphere was quiet. When they arrived at Zara's house, Mubarak pulled up and glanced at her. "It's quite late. Please greet Lukman for us," he said kindly. Zara nodded, murmuring a thank-you as she stepped out.
As the car pulled away, Zara walked to the front door. She reached for the handle, only to find it locked. Her heart sank as she realized Lukman had locked her out.
Looking around, Zara was certain Lukman was home—his cars were all parked in the driveway, confirming her suspicion. She knocked on the door several times, each knock growing louder, but there was no response. Frustrated, she pulled out her phone and called him. The call rang for a moment before being cut, and then his phone was switched off.
Her chest tightened with panic. "What do I do now?" she thought, her mind racing. The idea of being locked out at this hour, exposed to the night, was something she despised.
She considered calling Nafisat but quickly dismissed the idea. Nafisat only stayed at the house when Zara is around.
Even as the time for Isha prayer approached, the door remained firmly shut. Lukman refused to let her in.
Anger bubbled inside her, mixed with hurt. Lukman had crossed all boundaries tonight.
With a deep breath, Zara made a decision. She was done tolerating this. If Lukman wanted her out of his life so badly, she would grant his unspoken wish. She would go back to her brother's house, tonight.
The thought was both painful and liberating. Overwhelmed by emotions, she turned away from the locked door and started walking toward the gate, her heart heavy but her resolve firm.
Zara had reached her breaking point. Her emotions were like a storm inside her, making her head spin. Each step felt heavier as she walked, her vision starting to blur. She felt dizzy, her breath shallow, but she couldn't stop now.
She was almost at the gate when she heard Lukman's voice call her name. "Zara."
Her body tensed, but she didn't turn back. She couldn't face him—not like this, not after everything.
The weight of her feelings became too much. Her head was spinning, her chest tight with anxiety and pain. Just before she reached the gate, everything became a blur, and she felt herself losing her balance. Her legs buckled beneath her, and the world around her seemed to tilt.
But before she could hit the ground, a hand grabbed her, steadying her. Darkness quickly overtook her, and she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness.
___
Zara eyes shot open, she blinked, trying to adjust her vision as she slowly took in her surroundings. The sterile smell of the hospital room hit her first, and the soft beeping of machines in the background reminded her where she was. Her body felt weak, and the slight thrum of a headache pulsed through her head. But as she focused, her eyes landed on Lukman, sitting across from her. His posture was stiff, his gaze fixed on the distance, as though lost in his own thoughts.
She quickly sat up, startled by her sudden awareness of her surroundings. The motion caught Lukman's attention, and his gaze shifted to her. For a fleeting moment, there was a flicker of something in his eyes—concern? Relief? But it quickly vanished behind his usual, emotionless mask.
Without a word, Lukman poured water from a jug into a cup and extended it toward Zara. But she didn't take it. Instead, she made an attempt to rise from the bed, her movements shaky but determined.
"No, no, calm down," Lukman urged, his tone firm but not harsh. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Home," Zara replied boldly, her voice laced with determination.
Lukman raised an eyebrow, glancing at the clock on the wall. "At this hour?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. He pointed to the time—almost 2 a.m. "And the doctor hasn't discharged you yet."
Zara felt the anger simmering beneath her calm exterior, her fists clenched tightly in her lap as she suppressed the urge to lash out. She had no intention of staying here, no matter what. But for now, she remained seated, her fury seeping through every muscle in her body.
Lukman remained standing beside the bed, the cup still in his hand, as if waiting for her to accept it. Zara turned her face away, refusing to take it.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice softer now, as though concerned. He reached out, his hand hovering near her cheek, but she pulled away, the distance between them growing.
Zara's heart raced as she lifted her gaze to meet his. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, and the words came out before she could stop them.
"I want a divorce," she said, her voice firm, cutting through the tension in the room.