All For What!

8

"About you looking for a house help, I have found someone who is willing to work for you, she's in her late forties."

"Oh really? I'm very sorry but I won't be needing her services, I have a nanny now. She's very young and well mannered," Maryam said. "Sorry I didn't tell you about this earlier."

"It's okay, but from where is she? How old is she?" Aisha inquired.

"She's just seventeen."Maryam replied.

"Seventeen...shouldn't she be in school instead of working. Given her age?" Aisha questioned.

"I have also thought about that and I've decided to help her further her education for as long as she stays in my house," Maryam said. She made a mental note to tell Sa'eed immediately she returned back home. She wouldn't want the same commotion that took place the last time to repeat itself.

"Wow! That's good, but I still think you should have hired someone-"

"I know...I know, but she isn't complaining at all because she desperately needs the money for her brother." Maryam cut her off

"But-"

"You have absolutely nothing to be worried about, Aisha. Nafisa is a very nice girl, you should stop by someday and judge for yourself and when you decide to do, don't forget to bring Khadijah along," Maryam smiled. Age wasn't her problem at all. All that she required from Nafisa was her dedication to take care of Manal and the house in her absence.

"I won't," Aisha smiled and they went back to going through patients' folders.

~~~~

Nafisa angrily finished cleaning up the dining room and was going to her room to rest. She passed by Saeed's room and decided to ask him if he wanted her to prepare a meal for him. Maryam has specifically warned her not to cook for Saeed - she recalled, but what did she expect him to eat when she was not back from work? She shook head in disbelief - she was indeed not sensible She didn't hesitate further and softly knocked at the door.

It didn't take a minute for Sa'eed to open the door. He was surprised to see her at his door. "Do you need something?" He questioned with a raised brow.

"I...I wanted to know if you'd like me to prepare a meal for you. You haven't eaten anything since you came back from work," she blurted nervously. She also had no idea why she was being nervous around him.

"No, it's fine, i have already eaten. I believe my wife told you your chores and cooking for me is definitely not one of it." he stated.

"Yes she did," she replied.

"Good. Is that all?" He asked.

Judging by the demeanor he had on, Nafisa knew she was disturbing him. "Yes sir," she replied and before she could comprehend what was happening next, he had already slammed the door at her face. "How rude!" She muttered underneath her breath. "I was just trying to be nice." She shrugged and proceeded towards her room.

Laying down on the word, his words came back to her; "I believe my wife told you what your chores are, and cooking for me is definitely not one of it," she mimicked. "Doesn't she have a name." She wondered. Ever since she came into the house, she had never for once heard any of them call each other by their names, except for habibi and habibty - she rolled her eyes and brought out her small Nokia phone from her bag. Just when she was about to dial her mother's number, her call came in. She smiled and clicked on the receive button.

"Hello ya Nafisa, is that you?" Her immediate younger sibling, Hafsa asked.

"Yes, Hafsa. Why are you with mummy's phone? Where is she?"

"We are at the hospital." She replied.

"Hospital? How is Khalifa doing?" She asked with shaky voice. She prayed his health was not deteriorating as she suspected.

"That's the reason I called ya Nafisa, Khalifa-"

"Don't worry about anything, tell mummy not to worry about the money for his hospital bills as well. I have gotten a job and the woman has promised to pay me in advance. I will be coming back to the village first thing tomorrow with the money." Nafisa breathed. She was suddenly having a bad feeling.

"It's too late now. Too late," Hafsa cried.

Nafisa's heart skyrocketed. "What do you mean by that Hafsa?" She asked with shaky voice. It couldn't be what she was thinking. No, it was not possible.

"When we got to the hospital, the doctors refused to attend to him, unless we pay the bills first and-"

"And what Hafsa? Don't you even dare lie to me, you know how I get when I am being provoked. What happened?" She yelled on the top of her lungs.

"He passed away. Khalifa is dead." She sobbed.

Nafisa couldn't believe what she heard, it felt as though her ears were deceiving her. She allowed the phone slip out of her hold. All her effort to save him by coming to the city was now in vain. Her lips quivered and she held her mouth with her palm so hard to suppress the sob that threatened to escape. "This is all her fault. If she had given me the money the day I stepped into this house, this wouldn't have happened. I will never forgive her for what she's done. I will make her pay." Nafisa swore through gritted teeth.

Instead of praying for her deceased brother, she was busy blaming someone else for his death, but she couldn't care less - she was blinded by her new found hatred for Maryam.