Arab by blood, Viking at heart.

Chapter 3

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I lay awake on my mahogany bed, staring at the bamboo ceiling without blinking my eyes for a very long time.

What would have happened if ummi learned about abis' illness? Surely, she will be devastated. Praise be to Allah, we were able to convince her nothing in what she suspected was true.

Ummi does not exchange words with Abdullah, he being her first child, so his interference at denying her thoughts had placed a halt to her curiosity. Hence, had put an end to it.

I haven't gathered my scattered thoughts before an innocent breeze swept them away, leaving me in a serene quiet place to end my day.

The following day passed me by, like a reminder of the past, receiving silence from Abdullah, Abdkarim, also Abdsalam. The only words exchanged between us were plain greetings and cordial jest.

Also, the day after, and the day after, the next and the next. I had narrated my unfortunate encounter to reeda when she informed me of having the money in her possession. But today shall be the last day of my wait as I have vowed to speak to Abdullah.

At sun dawn, Abdullah returned home. The firewood smoke had grown unbearable and I decided to step away for sometime, that was when I saw him walking to his chambers, on other thoughts, he took a route to the cooking area where I was at the moment standing.

"Fareeda, I wish to discuss a matter of great importance with you." he vocalized and left, paying no heed to my reply.

In a blur of minutes i joined him at the male sitting area. Though he didn't ask me to prepare anything for him, I had, on my own thought to make gahwa to lighten his mood, if not for his sake, then for mine.

After serving him, I walked to a corner at the extreme of the room and sat, legs bent.

"Why did you choose to serve no other than reeda, a girl you are familiar with since your tender age." Abdallah asked in an authorized manner.

"She never will look down on me, more to say, she is aware of why I trade my freedom." I managed to appeal with a
strong voice.

"Hmm. I will not fail to remind you of my disapproval on this matter, should there arise a misfortune, Abdkarim and Abdsalam shall stand tall on it."

"Prithee, what wrong have I committed to warrant your anger, ya akhi?"

"Anger is expressed to those whom a person has a right over. I have apprised umm fareeda of your decision and as expected, she embraced it." He replied sarcastically.

"I need to ask you of something, does the sheikh know someone from this clan shall serve his daughter?" The issue at hand should be known to only close relation, as in regards to the sheikh, no.

"If the sheikh agrees, what shall become of you when ustaz returns, you know he despises keeping his own a slave." Abdullah pressed.

Sometimes the right answer to a question is silence. Absolute quietude.
Abdallah is on the throne of anger, all he craves is a wee space to unchain his restrained frustration. At such a time, silence is the simple answer- speak or not, his mind will not bulge.

"I need to restore my strength. You may leave." he dismissed at the peak of frustration, swallowing his own venomous saliva.

Abdallah could be annoyed by my decision, but at the end, the outcome will be his own rest of mind.

After my departure with Abdallah, I went in search of ummi, whom I sighted in her room with esham and rabi'a. I sat on the same mat as her but opposite. Esham rolled to me and sat down on my lap, laying his little head on my chest. Ummi has a lot to speak about but chooses to stay quiet.