Chapter 4 (part two)

“You're going to clean the living room, the kitchen and the rooms upstairs, after you're done, you cook dinner before my husband comes back from work. The cleaning equipments are in the kitchen. I won’t be back early.” She started walking away and left Dalia there looking at her in awe. She had to do all of that alone, same day? She heaved a sigh looking at the wall clock. It was already passed 12 noon.

She walked towards the kitchen Amira showed her and started the work. She cleaned the living room first, the guest toilet, the dining and kitchen. She sprayed the whole living room and dining with the air fresher she found in the dinning room show glass.

She performed ablution and took the mat she found in the living room to pray. She stood there looking around as she wondered where the Qiblah is. She dropped the mat and wore her hijab before she walked out of the house to the gate to ask the gate man. She came back shortly and prayed before she continued her work.

She headed upstairs wondering which room to start with. She opened the first door which was muhsin’s room. She closed it back when she saw everywhere was already cleaned, include the toilet. She entered the next room which was Amira. She hissed softly and entered. She wondered how a human being would live in such dirty place. She first changed the bedsheet before doing anything. Her eyes caught sight of a picture on the side drawer.

She picked it up and stared at them. So he is Amira’s husband, she mused to herself. She shrugged her shoulders and dropped the picture before she continued with her work.

By the time she was done, it was past 3pm. Amira’s room was too dirty to be done in just few minutes. She moved to the show glass she saw when she came into the room earlier. She opened it, beaming, and brought out some of the burning incense that was arranged. She noticed none was touched when she was cleaning the place. There was a pack of artificial charcoal and a burner in the show glass. She picked some of the burning incense and went down stairs to the kitchen.

She turned on the gas that luckily she was taught by one of mommy’s maids. By the time she was done with the burning incense, the house was nicely fragranced. She sat on the carpet in the living room to rest a bit before Asr prayer.

A while later after she had prayed and well rested, she moved to the kitchen to cook. She opened the pantry wondering what to cook because Amira didn't mention anything to her after she had told her to cook. She stood there staring at the varieties of ingredients. She looked at the clock in the kitchen. It was almost 6pm. She knew she didn't know how to cook much fancy dishes but she managed to cook fried and chicken.

She was hungry by the time she was done with everything she cooked. She served herself the amount she knew it would satisfy her after she had arranged everything in the dinning room. She settled down on the stool in the kitchen and ate her meal before she prayed maghrib and started cleaning the mess she made in the kitchen.

The moment he walked into the living room, everything felt like a dream. From the sight of the spotless living room the aroma of food mixed with the burning incense. He dropped his briefcase on the sofa and moved to the dining room. He opened the warmer, mouth wide open. Amira did all this? She had finally decided to change. He smiled softly as he closed back the warmer. He looked at the kitchen door when he heard the noise coming from there.

He smiled gracefully as he walked into the kitchen. “Amira, you did all this...” He paused when he saw the tiny figure in front of the sink. She turned and jerked back in horror. She heaved a sigh of relief. “Sorry,” he murmured. “Where’s Amira?” He asked, brows furrowed.

“She's not back yet. Good evening,” she muttered, her head ducked. He massaged the space between his nose and hissed softly before heading out of the kitchen to his room. She rolled her eyes and continued with her work. She wondered why they both ignored her greetings. Maybe that was how they are, she thought.

She finished cleaning the kitchen and went to the living room. She settled down on the soft carpet and stared at the blank TV. She sighed softly and hugged her knees. She didn't even know if she was going to spend the night there or not. All she knew was mommy told her she was coming to help Amira with house chores.

She stood up sluggishly to pray isha when she heard the adhan. After she had prayed, she laid down there tiredly. She had never worked that much in her life. She tried to keep her eyes open but it was impossible to do that. Her body ached and all she needed was a good night sleep.

He walked down the stairs, into the living room and met her already fast asleep. He walked passed her and entered the dining area to eat his dinner. He had never felt so refreshed and calm in his own house ever since he got married to Amira. He looked around the clean dining area as he calmly ate his dinner. He gulped everything down with a cup of water and stood up. He went back to the living room and settled down on the sofa close to where she was sleeping.

He gently tapped the mat to wake her up. “Dalia, wake up.” She briskly sat up right rubbing her eyes. “Have you prayed?” He asked and she slowly nodded. “Okay stand up let’s go, I’m taking you home,” he informed her and stood up. He walked to the door as she also followed him after she had folded the mat and kept it in the right place.

She entered the car and they zoned out of the house. In few minutes, they were at the house. He entered thinking Amira was in the house but he wasn't. He met mommy in the living room alone. She looked at them in awe. “Muhsin, you're welcome. Where’s Amira?” She asked. He ducked his head as he greeted her. “She’s not back yet,” he responded. Dalia had already left the place after she greeted mommy.

“She's not back? She told me she was going to her friend’s house only, what’s taking her so long. I thought she would be the one to return this girl or you’d come together.”

He didn't pay attention to anything she had said. It would only irritate him more if he replied her or thought about it. He bade her good night and left. He didn't even have the strength to exchange words with amira that night.

Mommy picked up her phone the minute he left and dialled Amira’s number. “Where are you? Why haven’t you gone back home up till now? I thought you would be the one to return dalia instead your husband did.”

“Oh he has returned her? I was actually going to call him but I was afraid he wouldn't because I know he's still mad at...”

“Amira are you mad? So you’re telling me you left that girl all alone together with your husband in your own house because you don't have sense?” Amira wanted to hiss but she knew what would follow after that. “Mommy what’s there please? I trust him and that little girl wouldn't even dare try any stupidity with my husband. Trust me mommy, nothing will happen. I’m driving home now, we will talk tomorrow,” she finished talking and ended the call.

Mommy shook her head and kept the phone. She was not comfortable with muhsin bringing Dalia back home. Amira was too dumb to understand what her mother was telling her especially when he uttered those words about adding another wife.