The twins, Chapter 9.
Zainab, still embarrassed about the incident from that morning, spent most of the day avoiding Mubarak and staying confined to her room. The lingering discomfort made her reluctant to face him, but hunger eventually forced her out. With her head downcast, she made her way to the kitchen. Seeing that Hafsat had yet to bring their food, she decided to quickly make herself a cup of tea and retreat back to her room before Mubarak appeared.
She filled the heater with water and busied herself, putting sugar, Milo, and milk into her cup. Her mind was focused on finishing as fast as possible when a voice cut through the quiet, calm yet catching her off guard.
"Please, I would need a cup of tea as well," the voice said.
Startled, Zainab nearly dropped the milk powder. She turned toward the source and saw Mubarak standing at the doorway. He was dressed in semi-formal office attire—a pristine white shirt paired with black trousers that fit him perfectly. The outfit made him look effortlessly dashing, but his face was unreadable, holding a rather blank expression.
Caught off guard by his presence and composure, Zainab quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks warming with embarrassment. She turned back to her cup, focusing intently on her work, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves his unexpected appearance had caused.
Zainab couldn't shake the worry that clung to her since the morning incident. Her embarrassment weighed heavily on her, while Mubarak, on the other hand, behaved as if nothing had happened—as if nothing was wrong at all. His calm demeanor only heightened her unease.
"Zainab, did you hear me?" Mubarak asked, stepping further into the kitchen.
"Oh, uhmm..." Zainab stammered, snapping out of her thoughts. She quickly turned to grab a mug for him, her movements hurried and flustered. Carefully, she added the necessary ingredients—sugar, Milo, and milk—into his cup, her hands trembling slightly as she worked. All the while, she avoided looking in his direction, hoping to finish quickly and escape.
Mubarak, noticing her hesitance but saying nothing, quietly left the kitchen and went to sit at the dining table, waiting patiently for her.
In less than three minutes, Zainab emerged from the kitchen, carefully balancing both cups of tea in her hands. She walked over to the dining table and placed Mubarak's cup in front of him. Without looking at him, she turned to leave, hoping to retreat to the safety of her room.
"Zainab, please also take your seat," Mubarak said, his voice calm yet firm enough to make her pause.
She hesitated, her mind racing with reasons to decline, but finally, she turned back and sat down in the chair closest to him. The atmosphere was heavy with awkwardness as Zainab fidgeted in her seat, waiting for her tea to cool. She hated drinking it too hot—it always burned her mouth.
Mubarak, seemingly unaffected by the tension, took a slow sip of his tea. After setting the cup back down, he turned his gaze to her, studying her face for a moment before breaking the silence.
"I'll be going to work today," he said, his tone casual. "I won't be back early. Can you stay alone at home?"
"Yes," Zainab told him softly.
"Are you sure?" Mubarak asked again, his voice calm but probing, as if he wanted to ensure she truly meant it.
"Yes," she repeated firmly. Even though she knew staying alone might be hard, she felt she needed the space to sort through her feelings and regain her composure.
"Okay, good," Mubarak said, a small smile finally breaking across his face. The subtle warmth in his expression momentarily eased the tension between them.
When he finished his tea, he didn't rush off. Instead, he waited patiently, allowing Zainab to finish hers.
"Zainab, what would you like me to bring you?" he asked gently, his tone filled with genuine care.
She smiled faintly, shaking her head. "Nothing," she replied.
"Are you sure?" he pressed, his eyes searching hers for any hidden request.
"Yes," she said again, her tone quiet but certain.
Mubarak hummed softly, a thoughtful expression crossing his face, before standing to leave. He picked up his bag and car keys, adjusting his grip as he turned back to her.
"Do call me if you need anything, dear," he said casually, the affectionate term slipping effortlessly from his lips.
The word "dear" caught Zainab off guard, and a small smile tugged at her lips despite herself. As she turned to leave the dining area, his voice called her back.
"Won't you escort me?" he asked, his tone light but expectant.
Zainab walked Mubarak until he reached his car, her steps slow but purposeful. As he opened the door, he turned to her with a friendly wave.
"Goodbye," he said, a genuine smile on his face.
Zainab smiled back, her heart fluttering slightly at the warmth in his expression. "Goodbye," she replied, her voice soft but sincere.
They exchanged one last smile, a quiet understanding passing between them before Mubarak got into the car and drove off.
Zainab stood for a moment, watching him leave, a sense of calm settling in her chest.
About thirty minutes after Mubarak had left, Zainab had just finished her shower when she heard the familiar sound of an alert on her phone.
Curious, she checked the message and saw it was from Mubarak:
'Hi, dear, I have just reached the workplace. Hope you are doing well. Please take care of yourself, and call me if you need anything or have something to say.'
Zainab smiled at the message, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her. She felt a sense of comfort from his words, her earlier tension fading away. She was about to type a response when she suddenly heard a knock at the door.
Zainab was about to respond when a sudden knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
Quickly, Zainab threw on a hijab, covering herself from head to toe, and hurried to open the door.
When she opened it, she was greeted by the smiling faces of her friends, Safeera and Safiyya. The sight of them made her heart lift with joy.
"Sisters!" Zainab exclaimed, her face lighting up with excitement. "What a surprise! Come in!"
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"Safeera, it's hard to see you these days. Hope all is well?" Zainab asked, her voice soft yet curious, as she reached for her portion of the food.
She had served the three of them on the same plate, and they were eating together in the parlour. Safeera just smiled at Zainab's question, offering no verbal response. She was always the quiet one among them, and today was no different.
It had been less than thirty minutes since they arrived, but their conversation was lively, particularly between Safiyya and Zainab, who always had much to share. The room was filled with the warmth of companionship and the occasional bursts of laughter.
Their chat was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. Zainab instinctively lifted her head, her curiosity piqued. To her surprise, it was Mubarak standing at the door.
Her brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "It hasn't even been an hour since he left," she thought to herself, wondering why he had returned so soon.
Mubarak's face lit up slightly when his eyes met Zainab's. For a moment, it seemed as though he intended to leave, but upon noticing Zainab's friends, he stepped further into the parlour to greet them politely. Zainab kept her head down, saying nothing, her gaze fixed on her lap. After exchanging pleasantries, Mubarak quietly made his way to his room.
Zainab resumed chatting with her friends, but her thoughts kept drifting to Mubarak. Why had he returned so soon? The question lingered in her mind, making it hard to stay fully engaged in the conversation.
"Excuse me," Zainab said suddenly, rising to her feet.
Safiyya, noticing the shift, teased her lightly. "So just because your husband is back, we won't get your attention anymore?" she complained with a playful pout.
Safeera, always the considerate one, began packing her bag. "I think we should leave." she said calmly, standing up.
Zainab quickly shook her head, a sense of urgency in her voice. "No, no, please stay. I'll be back shortly," she reassured them before walking out of the parlour, leaving her friends exchanging amused glances.
Zainab was about to enter Mubarak's room when they accidentally collided in the doorway. The impact caused her to lose her balance, but Mubarak's quick reflexes saved her. He caught her by the waist, steadying her before she could fall.
"Oh, sorry," they both said in unison. Zainab, feeling a rush of embarrassment, lowered her gaze as Mubarak gently helped her regain her footing.
He bent to pick up his car keys, which had fallen in the commotion, then stepped aside to let her in. For a moment, Zainab hesitated, unsure if she should proceed, but Mubarak's calm demeanor encouraged her. This was the first time she had entered his room since moving into the house, and she couldn't help but notice how tidy and inviting it was.
She stood awkwardly by the door while Mubarak sat down on the edge of his bed, his gaze steady but kind.
"Why are you back so early?" Zainab asked shyly, her voice soft and unsure. She clasped her hands nervously in front of her, waiting for his response.
"Oh, nothing. I'll be leaving now," Mubarak said casually as he stood up.
"Okay," Zainab replied, her mind calming. She stepped back to let him pass, but he paused at the doorway and turned to her.
"Please, Zainab, keep your phone close to you," Mubarak said, his tone serious yet gentle.
"Why?" she asked, confused by his request.
"Nothing really. I just messaged and called you several times earlier, but you didn't respond," he explained.
Zainab blinked, taken aback by his words. She hadn't realized he had tried to reach her. As the realization sunk in, she thought, So he just came back to check on me.
A warm feeling bloomed in her chest as she smiled softly. "Okay, fine. I will, Insha Allah," Zainab replied, her voice carrying a newfound warmth.
Mubarak expressed his gratitude, "Thank you" his face breaking into a warm smile. Zainab's face lit up in response, a bright smile spreading across her features. With a sense of mutual understanding, Mubarak bid her farewell and headed out.
However, this time he chose a different exit, making his way through the back door. Zainab accompanied him, walking alongside him until they reached the door. Mubarak departed, leaving Zainab to return to her friends, who were waiting for her.
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