Chapter 18

18

Khalid's POV

I've been working non stop for the past three weeks and now, I'm very tired. I slump lazily on my bed immediately I entered my room, changing the setting of my phone to silent mood, I drift off to sleep.

I woke up to see 8 missed calls from Maryam.

Why would she call me this much? Could there be something wrong?  Definitely, there must be something going on. I was about to dial her number but her call came in through instead.

"Hey beautiful " I said immediately I picked up.

"Khalid, please save me".  She sound frightened.

"Please save me Khalid I...I don't know what Kareem is up to... Please save me I-".  Everything went silent as the call get disconnected.

I sit up straight and dial her number but was switched off.  What has Kareem been up to again?  I won't spare him, I swear.

I put on my cloth, picked up my car key and went out of my room.

"Hey son, where are you off to?".  Mom asked with a raised brows.

"Mom, something urgent came up. I need to leave now".

"Something came up, Like at work? This is almost 10:00pm already Khalid!".

"Mom, it's not about my work. Actually....".  I trail off.

"If it's not about your work,then it's what?  Don't tell me, this is about Maryam again? Khalid, can't you see? That girl is married to your friend! Your best friend already!" She told me sounding disappointed.

"Mom please, don't get mad!  She actually called me. She sound terrified, she said something like to save her from Kareem....I don't know what's happening".

"Innalillahi.....then, what are you doing?  Go quickly".  I kissed her cheek and rushed out of the house before entering my car and drove off in full speed.

Kareem's POV

I loved her and this is what I get in return?  It's hurt to know that the person you loved was cheating behind your back. I trusted her, everyone's of my family trusted her,  but she was lying to us all along. I swear to God, I won't spare her. I'm taking her to my parent immediately.

I went into my room and change into something comfortable, once I was through,  I sauntered to her room but she's gone.  Where the hell did she go to?

"MARYAM! MARYAM!! MARYAM!!! " I called out her name but no response.  I rake my hair roughly as I sauntered back to the living room and sit on my favorite arm chair.   I kept thinking on how she endured so much from me just to make me finally dance to her tune. she's a good actress, she made me believe in her and the worst... fall in love with her!  How did I end up loving her? It was Safeenah right? But the way I feel about her was so different from Safeenah.  Why do you have to do this to me Maryam, why?! Just why?!

The main door burst open as Khalid rushed in panting.

what's wrong with him? Is there someone outside chasing him?

"Where is she?".  He asked.

"Who?".  I asked confused.

"Maryam, where's she?".

I should have known!

"Oh! Had she called you already?! Wait, don't tell me you also dance to her tune?  She left already! She deceived everyone, including you".

"Deceived everyone? What do you mean?"

I told him everything, what I saw when I went to the mall and how I came home and saw the same dress in her closet. Then, I felt his punch on my right cheek, a very big one!

'What the hell was that for?!".  I glared angrily at him.

"Are you seriously asking me that?  Can't you see Kareem!  I bought her the damn dress. Yes! I had bought her the dress! she told me, not until she told you about it, she won't wear it!".

He sauntered up to her room and I followed him behind.

What's wrong with this guy? Can't he see the truth?

He entered and saw everywhere being messy but he kept mum, he took the dress as he roughly shove it on my face. "Touch it Kareem!  Does this cloth seems like a worn cloth? No, take a look! And take a look a the edge of the cloth.... does it?".  He asked and truth be told, it looks new. It looks untouched.

But, I had seen her on the same cloth at the mall. Wait a minute! I wide my eyes in horror as I recalled something.  I had seen the lady's hand, she's was putting on a golden ring and golden wrist watch while the ring on Maryam's finger was the one I had given her on our wedding engagement.

"Shit! Khalid, I made a big mistake.  What have I done?!  I...I won't be able to forgive myself if anything bad happens to her. I won't Khalid".

"what are you saying?" He asked confused.

"I think, she have a twin?".

"What?!...Maryam had a twin?!".

"I need to find her, I need to ask for her forgiveness. I made her leave the house, I won't be able to bare it if anything bad happens to her".  I said trying to leave but Khalid stopped me.

"Hey..hey man, wait!  You love her don't you?".

"I don't know okay? I'm not sure of my feeling yet".  I muttered frustratedly.

"Damn you Kareem! You could have listen to her!" He yelled.

"I know... I made a big mistake but it's not totally my fault too Khalid. Try to reason from my own point of view, she had same face as her, same voice and the cloth I had seen, I thought....I thought she was the one".

"Damn you Kareem, you allowed your anger to surpass you!".

"Look, first you need to call up her uncle and your parent to find out if she's with any of them".

"Her uncle?".  I asked, surprised.

"Wait, you don't know?".

"Know what?".

"That she isn't their real daughter. You mean, you agreed to get married to her without finding out about her?".

"Well, then I wasn't interested in her and I don't care about where she came from".

"Screw you Kareem.. Please call them to find out if she's with them".

I took out my phone from my pocket and dial her dad, I mean uncle's number.

"Hello?"

"As salamu alaikum.... good evening sir".

"Wa alaykumu salam.... evening".

"Erm, this is Kareem speaking"

"Kareem, wow! What a pleasant surprise...how are you doing?"

"I'm fine sir..."

"Hope everything is moving good over there?"

"Y..yes sir"

"Thank you so much Kareem, I came earlier to your house and was so happy to see my daughter glowing happily at your house.  Thank you for loving and taking care of her". He said happily.

"Yo....you're welcome sir".

"Thank you...is she there with you? Can I talk to her?"

"Erm.....actually, she told me she was tired and had went to bed already. She must be asleep already".

"Good, please take good care of her.  She's the only one I have left".

"I will....I will do Sir".  I said nervously.

"Okay bye".

"Ma salam sir".  I said before hanging up.

Khalid sighed out of frustration.  "What do we do now?"

"Call your Mom" he suggested. I nod as I dial her number.

"Hello mom"

"My handsome son, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine mom and you?"

"I'm perfectly fine"

"You mean, nothing is going on there?"

"What do you mean nothing is going on here?"

"Erm, nothing mom just wanted to know if you're all doing fine"

"Oh! I see...my beautiful daughter in-law has really changed you Kareem. Speaking of her, she called me this evening"

"She did?!"

"Hey calm down, will you? She called me and told me you've been treating her good which I must say, I'm very proud of you son.  I was so happy when she had told me. At least, you're starting to give her a chance.  That Safeenah girl can-"

"Mom, can I call you back? I think Maryam needs some help up in her room?"

"Yes of course son, please go up to her. And please, i want my grand kids soon".

"If only you knew" I thought.

"Okay mom".  I said and hang up.

"What do we do now?" I asked Khalid.

"We need to look for her ASAP" He said and we both left the house in search of her.