Nadiya was dressing while crying, thinking, “What kind of oppressive life is this? A man sees your beauty and thinks he can control you? I have to leave this house to preserve my dignity.” Her heart felt heavy with resentment toward staying in the house. Slowly, she began packing her belongings into a box, slinging her books into a backpack, and dragging it out to the living room. The only sound was the hum of the AC. She reached the courtyard without encountering anyone, not even the workers.
Adams, as if snapped out of a trance, jumped off the bed, feeling the onset of troubling thoughts about his past pain returning. He grabbed the lemon drink he always kept reserved, which he hadn’t touched since meeting Nadiya. Pouring it into a cup, he stepped out to the balcony of his room, leaning against the railing, sipping his drink while gazing at the courtyard. Unexpectedly, he saw her in black palazzo pants and a loose top, her black veil trailing, dragging a large box of her belongings with a backpack slung over her shoulder. His heart skipped a beat, noticing how her curves were accentuated by the tight upper part of the pants, while the lower part flared like a skirt. In his eyes, she looked irresistibly attractive. He blinked, stared at her intently, wanting to stop her but knowing she wouldn’t face him. In his mind, he thought, “If you dare speak to her, she’ll think you see her as some lowly woman. Better to keep meeting in passing.”
He rushed back to his room, called security, and ordered them not to let Nadiya leave. He grabbed a chair, sat down, and kept an eye on the scene.
Nadiya, frustrated and angry, argued with the security guards who blocked her exit. “Why are you stopping me? This is my house! Don’t you know? I’m going back to my parents’ house; they told me to return!”
“Hajiya, it’s not our fault. We’re following orders from above. Call him and ask if he agrees, then we’ll let you go,” they replied. She hissed, pulled her box back, and returned, her heart filled with anger, thinking of a way out. Adams stared at her intensely, as if daring her to look back. Their eyes met, and she shot him a fierce glare. He gave her a smug look, but deep inside, he felt a thrill as she passed by, and he left the spot.
She kept to herself until night, unnoticed by anyone. When Momy checked on her, she pretended to be asleep.
During dinner, Momy glanced at Adams, who was eating calmly. “Sweetheart, what did you do to Nadiya?” His heart jolted.
“What did I do to her?” he replied defensively.
“I’m just asking because she seems upset,” Momy said.
Adams pursed his lips, feigning indifference. “I didn’t do anything to her. Why should I care about that dirty, stubborn girl? If she wants to isolate herself, fine, we’ll all be happier.”
“Hmm, don’t insult a woman. Women have a lot of power. And whenever you want to criticize someone, do it gently, so it doesn’t backfire,” Momy advised.
He dropped his fork. “Mom, do you think I’d ever get upset over that clumsy giant? Never.”
“Adams, I’m warning you to stop this and make peace,” Momy said sternly. He stood up, grabbed a glass of water, said goodnight, and left.
Momy smiled, got up, took Little to her grandmother’s room, and returned to check on Nadiya. She found her sitting, crying on the phone, but upon hearing someone approach, Nadiya quickly lay down and pulled the blanket over herself. Momy entered calmly, climbed onto the bed, and sat beside her. “What did I do to you, daughter?”
Nadiya stayed silent, holding her breath to hide her tears.
“Nadiya, if I’ve done something, forgive me, as it wasn’t intentional. I love you like I love Little. If someone else has upset you, tell me. Your place in my heart is special, and I’ll protect your honor.”
Nadiya sat up, throwing off the blanket, her eyes red from crying. Momy was shocked to see how frail she looked in just one day. Nadiya fell into Momy’s lap, sobbing. “Mom, tell Ya Adams to leave me alone. Look at what he did to me today—he forced me to bathe!”
Momy clutched her chest. “Forced you to bathe? Did he strip you, scrub you with a sponge and soap? Is that happening in this house, and I didn’t know?”
Nadiya, seeing Momy’s alarm, clarified, “No, Mom, he locked me in the bathroom and used some machine to wash me, then dragged me outside.”
Momy let out a relieved sigh. “Oh, I see. Alright, I’ll settle things between you two. It’s not his fault, nor yours, right?” Nadiya nodded in agreement.
“Good, we’re done. But I have one request for you, Nadiya,” Momy said, giving her a pointed look. “Please, start bathing at least once a day.”
