Chapter 31

Rameen

"Who is the father?" He asked in a cold voice, his face was devoid of any emotion.

I was looking at him with disbelief, did he just ask me who the father of my unborn child was? When he fucking knew he was the only man I had ever slept with. Or did he think I have been sleeping with men other than him? What does he think I am, some bitch? Who didn't know who the father of their child is?

I have been through so much in the last month, from being away from him, from having to stay lonely dreading if he would ever come back to me? Being betrayed by someone I had thought was my friend.

To find out that I was pregnant with Waleed's child. I had not told anyone about my pregnancy, because I wanted to share it first with Waleed and then with everyone else.

Little did I know, instead of being overjoyed, he will ask me who was the father of my child? My temper soared and I snapped at that moment.

I didn't think about the consequence of my action and just slapped him hard on his face. Now it was his time to look at me in disbelief if he thought that I would plead or beg him to believe me that the child was his, he was in for a surprise.

"You are truly pathetic, and I am happy to know that you and Jeena deserve each other. You both are heartless monsters, who don't give a damn about other people's feelings.

I am glad that I have seen your true face now, and believe me, you are the last person that I want around me or my baby,"  I said enraged, my eyes were locked with his and I was observing the battle going on inside him.

"What does it have to do with Jeena?"

"Ohh really?" I taunted.

"Your precious Jeena is waiting for you to dump me and marry her, she was the one who killed red. She was the one who planned everything with Riyaan," I lashed out.

Waleed's face paled for a second, but he recovered soon. I am sure he would never have suspected Jeena could be behind all of this.

"When I came back home that night after you left for the US, Jeena told me you didn't want me in the house. She was foolish enough to think that I would give in to her threats. Let me tell you, Waleed Kamal, if you think you can get away with this it will prove to be your biggest mistake. I will make your and Jeena's life living hell. I am not someone you can trample and walk away," I was shaking with fury.

The audacity of this man to ask me who my child's father was? I had never faced such humiliation ever in my life. No one had ever dared to question my character and I wouldn't let Waleed get away with this.

"Why should I have your child? When you don't even want to acknowledge that it's yours. I don't think I am obliged to keep it inside me for nine months and bring it into this world risking my life.

I am going to abort it the first thing tomorrow, and please don't try to contact me, my lawyer will contact you very soon," I hissed and tried to walk past him but he grabbed my arm immediately.

"Mia, listen to me," He murmured with guilt covering his features.

"Waleed, leave my hand, nothing you say or do is going to compel me to stay with you,"  I said brushing his hand aside from my arm and walking out of the kitchen.

I grabbed my bag which I still hadn't unpacked along with my handbag and walked to the main door. Waleed was following me, pleading trying to tell me he was sorry and not thinking of aborting the child.

He even blabbered about how much he loved me and missed me, but whatever he said now was not going to make any difference. Though I was shocked at what made him change his mind, one minute he was accusing me of sleeping with some other guy and the other he was begging me to not abort the child.

I walked to the porch and thankfully the driver was still there, he opened the door of the backseat as soon as he saw me walk out with a bag. Waleed still followed me, but he fell silent in the presence of the driver.

I slid into the car and slammed the door on him, "I was not going to forgive him, I would drag him to court and shred his ego and reputation to pieces, " I thought to myself.

I asked the driver to drop me at Rania's apartment, I didn't want to go to my parent's place, because it would just create a scene. They knew Waleed was returning from the US today and if I go to their house tonight they will know that something was wrong.

I rang the bell to her apartment waiting for her to open the door, but when Asjad opened the door instead of her, I was a bit surprised.

"Mia," He exclaimed in surprise.

"I am sorry to have interrupted you, but I need a place to crash tonight,"  I shoved him aside and entered the apartment.

Rania was standing in the living room, she looked at me with her mouth wide open, I knew Asjad would be having the same expression on his face, but right now I just didn't care.

"I thought Wal came back tonight from the US," Asjad asked from behind me.

"Sorry to disappoint what came back is a dick and not your friend," I taunted.

"What?" They both looked shocked at the choice of my words.

I couldn't help it, that's what he deserved to be called, after the way he behaved with me.

Asjad's cell started ringing at that moment, he looked at the screen and excused himself, and walked to the bedroom.

"What happened Mia?" Rania asked gently keeping her hand on my shoulder.

I hugged her and broke down, I had been holding my tears for so long, I couldn't believe Waleed would think of me like that. I hadn't spent a single night away from him since we got married till the day he left for the US and he was suspecting me of adultery. Well, maybe he thought I did the deed in the daytime in my office, hours, what other explanation could there be other than this.

"He accused me of cheating on him, he thinks I slept with someone else behind his back,"  I said sobbing, my head still on her shoulders.

"Shhh, everything will be fine Mia, come here, we will sit and talk,"  Rania said rubbing my back, and guiding me towards the couch.

She sat beside me and poured me a glass of water, which I drank in a single breath. I still couldn't believe this was happening to me, I had been so happy, just a month ago. Everything had been so perfect between us, Waleed was an ideal husband till the time Jeena and Riyaan had walked back into our lives.

"You okay?" Rania asked wiping the tears on my face.

"I don't know," I replied honestly.

I had told Waleed that I was going to abort the baby, but I knew I would never be able to do that, we had been trying for the last few months and when it had finally happened, everything had changed. I had thought Waleed would be so happy after knowing about the baby that he will forget the little episode between us, but I was wrong, instead, he had accused me of infidelity.

Asjad walked back into the room, his eyes were fixed on me, he checked me out from head to toe, like he was searching for something, and then what he said startled everyone.

"You are pregnant?" He asked.

"Ohh my God,"  Rania exclaimed.

"How the fuck do you know that?" I asked Asjad shocked.

Rania was looking at me in disbelief and I was doing the same to Asjad.

"Waleed just called, apparently his driver told him that he dropped you off here and he wanted me to contact Rania, to ask her to convince you not to get an abortion,"  Asjad replied.

"What the fuck, you are getting an abortion?" Rania went into another shock.

Ohh my God, I just wanted to kill Waleed, if only two people knew about my pregnancy now they had doubled. The more people found out about it, the more difficult the decision will be for me.

"I don't know, I am considering the option, he asked me who the father is, and if he doesn't want to accept his child, then why should I be obliged to keep it and raise it by myself. I have equal right to reject it as Waleed,"  I replied in a firm voice.

I don't know, how, convinced they were with my answer but they didn't tell me anything further and I was grateful to them for it.

"Mia, did you have dinner?"

Rania asked me when she heard my stomach growl, I had eaten in the afternoon and now I was starving, I was craving for something sweet right now.

"No, I haven't eaten anything since lunch, I was waiting for him, to have dinner together. I even cooked dinner for him, but that asshole had to ruin everything,"  I started sobbing again.

I couldn't forget how exhausted I was after cooking and had drifted to sleep on the couch, and he didn't even had the etiquette to let me eat after all the hard work and then ask his fucking questions.

I had missed him so much and was so excited to see him again, to touch him, to feel his arms wrapped around me, I was pregnant for God's sake and my hormones were driving me crazy. I was even having wet dreams in the past week and he didn't even kiss me or took me in his arms, I hate him so much.

"Here, Mia, I didn't cook tonight, we both had dinner out, this is what I have got," Rania brought a tray filled with cupcakes, donuts, and croissants.

"Are you pregnant, too?" I asked her surprised, why did she have all this sweet food at home if she was not pregnant.

"God, Mia. Asjad has a sweet tooth, so I keep all these because he has a craving anytime during the night," She replied.

I didn't say anything but started eating, everything I could, they tasted so good, I had forgotten to stop until I cleared all the plates and then sat satisfied.

Little Mia inside me was happy, first I was calling it little Waleed, but now I don't think I will ever refer to it with Waleed's name no matter what.

And why the hell he didn't want me to get an abortion? So that he could have a DNA test? To find out if I cheated on him or not. That was the only reason I was able to think about right now. I don't know whether I would abort it or not, but I am not letting Waleed around it.

Walked

The moment I saw the expression on her face I knew that I did a mistake, I wanted to take back my words, but it was an impossible thing. The first few lessons that I have learned in my life was that you couldn't take back the words you have spoken once.

She raised her hand and slapped me, the impact was hard that I saw white spots in my vision. I know I deserved that slap, there were a thousand and nine ways to have framed the question to not make it offensive to her, but the choice of my words was the worst.

When she told me about Jeena I was shocked, did Jeena, really do such a thing? I knew she liked me maybe her feelings were more than liking. And it was not a  coincidence that she met a guy who had feelings for Mia, I should have been sensible enough to figure it out myself, but my judgment was clouded by my rage.

I hadn't recovered from the shock of Jeena and Mia dropped another bomb, that she was going to get an abortion. Ohh my Lord, how could I let her abort her pregnancy, what if it was my child?

"No, what if? You fucking idiot. The child is yours, that is why she won't want it because you have insulted her. You have doubted her character and you accused her of adultery and no woman with self-respect will ever forgive this,"  I cursed myself.

I tried to stop her, tell her how much I missed her, and how much I wanted her. I asked her to forgive me, but she did not budge and left.

I had gestured the driver to call me after he dropped her off, and as soon as he dropped her at Rania's place he called and told me that she was at Rania's apartment.

Without wasting any time I called Asjad and told him how I fucked up and what Mia intended to do. I asked him to request Rania to convince Mia not to abort her pregnancy.

Asjad told me that I should go fuck myself, because what I had done was unforgivable, and I knew that myself, he didn't need to point it out.

"Asjad please, for the sake of our friendship,  ask Rania to convince her not to abort the baby,"  I pleaded to him.

Asjad couldn't have imagined me, Waleed Kamal would plead to anyone in life ever. Seriously, the things I do for love.

"Okay, I will speak with Rania, but I can't assure you anything. It will be Mia's decision," He replied.

"Thanks, bro, I owe you one," I replied sighing.

I need to think about how I was going to get back to Mia if I know her, she will not forgive me ever again. Or who knows she might, after all, we made a baby together.

Yes, I know I fucked up, but I will make it up to her, I just need to give her time and make sure she doesn't get an abortion.

And there is one more thing I need to take care of first and that's Jeena, she and I need to have a conversation. I don't want any dark shadows lingering in our life when my baby comes into this world.

I booked a ticket for the morning to Jeena's town, it's been a long time since I visited her and return her favor.

My aunt was quite happy with my visit, I had told her that I had a meeting there and had thought to drop by to meet them.

I sat there chatting with my uncle and aunt for an hour and inquired about Jeena. Aunt Sarah told me, Jeena was not taking the cancellation of the publication of her book well. She was even seeing a therapist, for her anxiety and depression.

I knew the exact cause of Jeena's depression but I didn't want to hurt my aunt. Jeena was the one, supposed to tell her how she had fucked up my marriage and had nearly destroyed my life.

I went to Jeena's room, she was sitting on the couch, with what I recognized as my sweater. What the fuck? When had she sneaked that sweater from my closet? This girl was fucked up in more ways than I could have ever thought. The thought that I had considered marrying her once, made me sick to my stomach.

"Waleed," Her lips moved and I barely heard her voice.

She sprang up from the couch and ran and wrapped her arms around me. I couldn't hug her back, I couldn't make myself do it. I know she was sick and I felt pity for her, but I didn't want to give her any hope.

"I knew that you will come back to me, I knew you never loved that bitch. She doesn't deserve you, she is not good enough for you. Now we can get married, and live happily, and I will make you happy, I will take care of you," She was mumbling, her face was buried in my chest, and I differentiated the words with difficulty.

"Jeena, look at me, you need to listen to me carefully," I pulled her away from me and said looking into her eyes.

Those eyes didn't belong to any normal person, all I could see in them was madness and restlessness.

"Jeena, Mia is my wife, and I love her. We are going to have a baby together, she is pregnant with my child," It was hard, but I had to tell her the truth.

"Baby?" she asked with disbelief in her eyes.

"But she doesn't love you, she loves Riyaan," she said with spite.

"She loves me Jeena, and I love her," I said cupping her face in my hands.

I could only hope that Mia loved me. After what I did last night, she could only hate me. Still, I was not ready to give her up. I couldn't even imagine my life without her.

"No Waleed, I know you love me, you have always loved me. Waleed, when will you admit it?" Jeena shrieked hysterically.

Maybe this was a mistake, I did. I never should have come here, Jeena is not in a state to understand anything, she needs help. She needs to be in a facility.

"Waleed, I will love you, I will always love you. You just need to leave Mia, she is not worthy of you. She doesn't take care of you, she fights with you, she is not good Waleed. She threatened to kill me, she said if I ever try to take you away from her she will kill me like I killed her Red, stupid cat. Can you believe she brought a cat into your house knowing you detest them," She said, tilting her head.

She had lost it, she had truly lost her mind, why can't my aunt and uncle see this, why don't they take her to a good psychiatrist.

I need to tell them, I have to, she was my friend and cousin and I couldn't let her waste like this.

"Jeena, Waleed, come lunch is served," Aunt said as she came in.

She looked at Jeena than at me, I saw her expressions change within a second. I couldn't believe it, she knew it and was hiding it from me?

"Waleed," Aunt Sarah tried to say.

I raised my hand and gestured her to stop, there was no possible explanation for this, she had known Jeena's obsession and still, she had allowed Jeena to stay in my house for so many months and put mine and my wife's life in danger. What if Jeena tried to harm Mia, instead of Red.

"I can't believe that you allowed this, how could you, Aunt Sara?"  I asked heartbrokenly.

"Waleed I had no idea, till she returned from your home a month ago. She was broken and mentally sick, we took her to a psychiatrist and he is treating her. He is hopeful that she will be cured and would become normal again," My aunt said taking Jeena in her arms and rubbing her back.

"Mama, Waleed does not want me, he wants her, why Mama, Why doesn't he love me?" Jeena started crying in my aunt's arms.

Bile rose in my throat, I was still not able to sink this in my mind, looking at Jeena in this state must have been so difficult for her parents, how were they coping with it?

"I have to go," I said as I walked back towards the door.

"Stay at least for lunch Waleed,"  My aunt called after me.

I didn't stop to listen to what she said further. I just wanted to get out of that place and never get back ever again. I couldn't see Jeena in this condition, if I had not seen her in this condition with my own eyes, I could never have believed it.

I never knew when her liking for me turned into an obsession and now she was on a stage where she had lost her sanity. What would have happened if she had harmed Mia in my absence?

I had fucking left Mia alone in that house with her. I had known what had happened with Red, still, I hadn't thought of her for once in my jealousy and insecurity that the person that had harmed Red could try to harm Mia.

I could never have forgiven myself if something would have happened to Mia. My inner turmoil and guilt had only increased by this trip.

I returned home late at night and stayed late in bed the next morning for the first time in my life.

I was awakened by the ringing of my cell. I searched for my cell in sleep and found it on the bedside table. I took the cell in my hand and looked at the screen, it was the private investigator that I had hired.

Checking the time, it was showing 11:30 in the morning, I sat up with a jolt and received the call.

"Mr. Kamal, your wife, she is in a maternity clinic", The detective said.

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