"Huda! Why are you so careless? Look how you've hurt yourself!" He exclaimed as he applied an ointment to her burned hand. "Who asked you to go to the kitchen?"
Huda's eyes glinted with tears, "I wanted to cook you a dinner tonight... I thought I'd surprise you and you'd be happy..." She explained herself amid her tears.
"Who told you that you need to do all that to make me happy? I am happy with you just the way you are..." He caressed her cheek as he wiped off her tears.
"I want to fulfill all my wifely duties for you. I don't want you to think that I am incapable as a wife." She pouted. Although she really meant what she said, still she expected him to appease her with his words.
"Let's do away with your worries as my wife... let's end this game now." He replied in a sinister tone. "I am already tired of putting on this act."
Suddenly she felt her heart ache in pain. "What... What do you mean? This isn't an act! We are married! We got our certificate! I... I wanted to surprise you tonight with news of our baby... how can this be an act?" She felt the air around her turn to gel, making it harder for her to breathe. The atmosphere around them turned gloomy.
"Married? Hahaha." He mocked her. "What proof do you have of us being married? This?" He held the certificate in her face and slowly tore it to piece in front of her eyes. "You have nothing left... no proof, no marriage, and no family!"
"Why? Why are you doing this?" She sobbed uncontrollably.
"Mommy... Mommy, wake up! Mommy!" A soft voice rose from her side. Suddenly she felt peaceful. Her heart, that had been panicking a moment ago, started to calm down. Slowly she opened her eyes and a small face came to her view.
"Mommy, you were again crying in your sleep." Hamza wiped her tears, just like the man in her dream had wiped. "Did you have a bad dream mommy? It's ok. I am here." The child pacified her with his warm smile.
"Hamza! Oh my Hamza! What would have Mommy done without you?" She wrapped her son in her arms and the last bit of anxiety left her heart. She kissed his face profusely.
"Mommy! Don't!" Hamza felt shy. "I am a big boy now! Don't do that please!" he pouted.
In response she could only smile. Her baby was really a big boy now. He was big enough to help his mother wake up from her nightmare. She let out a long sigh and turned to check the time on her cell. It was already 5 o'clock. She had to wake up in half an hour.
"Since Mommy and Hamza woke up early today, let's have something good for breakfast. What do you want? Mommy will make for Hamza." She asked as she ruffled the boy's hair.
"French toast!" The boy asked excitedly. However, his demand left a pang of hurt in his mother's heart. 'Not just in looks, Hamza, you resemble that man even in your food preferences.' But she did not let the young boy know about her thoughts. She climbed out of the bed and washed up before heading to the kitchen to make French toasts for her son.
After breakfast she helped Hamza get ready for his kindergarten and then got dressed for work.
"I'll drop you Aunt Mia today. She will take you to school. Be a good boy ok?" She reminded her son as they walked to her best friend's place.
"You've already told me that a couple of times Mommy." Hamza complained on her repetition. "I know that today your new boss is to visit your office and so you cannot drop me to school yourself... you don't need to repeat it again and again. I don't mind Aunt Mia's company." Hamza spoke like a little adult.
She looked at her son and wondered if it was a blessing or a curse that she had such a caring and understanding son. Her little man was way more mature than an average 4 year old. 'Is it because he is being raised by a single parent?' she asked herself. 'He robbed my child of his childhood... Hamza is forced to live a dysfunctional life because of him.' Her expressions turned painful as she thought of all these things. A car zoomed passed her closely.
"Mommy... pay attention to the road. Ms. Annie says that we should focus on one thing at a time." Hamza once again brought her back from her painful thoughts.
"This Ms. Annie of yours..." she feigned irritation.
"She is my fawite teacher!" Hamza interrupted before his mother would start bad mouthing his teacher. She could only smile. "Alright I won't say anything against your Ms. Annie! Now come on, let's go and see Aunt Mia now." Soon they were standing at Mia's doorstep.
"Hey! Look who is here! Hamza! Look at how handsome you are!" Mia hugged the boy excitedly. She was always overflowing with excitement when she met Hamza.
"Auntie! My clothes!" Hamza exclaimed his disdain to the tight hug. "Uncle Ali! Where are you? Help me!" he shouted for Mia's husband.
"Brat! Stop making a fuss! I am only showering my love on you." Mia made a hurt face. Then she looked at Huda and saw the eye bags and redness around her eyes.
"What happened to you? Didn't you catch a good night's sleep?" She asked her best friend.
"Mommy had that bad dream again. She was crying in her sleep. I woke her up to stop her." Hamza reported before Huda could reply Mia.
"Again? Same dream?" Mia knew the dream and the effect it had on Huda.
Huda nodded in response before changing the topic, "Anyways, thank you for taking care of Hamza today. I have to rush to the company now; need to arrange some things before the new Director's arrival." She bent down and cleaned the non-existential dust on Hamza's shoulder as she spoke to him, "Hamza, Mommy will leave now. Be a good boy in school ok? And don't trouble Auntie. Don't make a fuss for lunch."
Hamza hugged his mother on his own accord. "Alright Mommy. I'll make you proud!" he kissed her cheek.
***
When Huda reached her office, it was earlier than a regular office day, but the place was bubbling with people as if they were in the middle of a busy day.
"Huda... You are here! Thank God! I was just started to panic..." Gina saw Huda walking to her cabin and called for her. Gina Shaw was technically Huda's boss, but over the years the two women had developed a strong sense of friendship towards each other.
"Hello Gina. Good morning." Huda greeted as she entered Gina's cabin. It was a larger cabin then Huda's, suitable for the head of the department. Gina and Huda worked for the Project Management and Delivery
PMD
Department. Huda was a Project Manager, reporting to the Head of PMD.
Like Huda there were 3 other managers reporting to Gina, who directed reported to the Director of the company. With the change in management, Gina's immediate boss had changed leaving Gina anxious.
Huda was the youngest manager in PMD. Although she had joined the company only 3 three years ago, she had worked diligently and proved her worth before ascending to the position of a manager. Not just her boss, but her entire team relied on her and loved her. This was Huda's family after Hamza.
"Huda! I am so nervous. This new MD... I haven't really heard good things about him..." Gina started. "First... He is known for being rude and ruthless. It's pretty much evident with the way he bought the company. Second... he sort of hates women! I've heard he has fired female employees over slightest of errors."
Huda worked for Star Line Developers, which was recently bought out and renamed to be HH Planners and Developers, a subsidiary of the HH Group of companies. This group had risen to fame in recent years only and taken the business world like a storm, proving the aggressive approach of the new Managing Director.
"Gina... we'll be fine. Our reports are up to date and the numbers are good. Relax a bit please. I'll go and prepare for the meeting later. PMD is due to meet the new Director in the afternoon later. I have to make sure that my team's work is well presented in the meeting." Huda kept her calm in face of anxious Gina.
"Uh... yeah... right." Gina allowed her to leave. Just as Huda stepped out of the room Ahmed came to her. "Hey Huda... Have you heard of the new Director? I've heard he is super young and super-hot! Also... he is very much aggressive against you girls... do you think I stand a chance with him? Ahmed joked.