Salam Alikum, Eid Mubarak guys!!! Hope you guys like this chapter.

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~*What you seek is seeking you*~ Rumi



"Bismillah! Ya Shouq what is the matter?" Raghad ascended the stairs and watched as Shouq sat by a cot in the small courtyard upstairs, with her palm pressed against her forehead.

"Wallahi Raghad, I do not know. My head aches and I have a sore throat." she dropped her shawl on her shoulders and sighed.

Raghad frowned at her words then removed Shouq's hand and placed her palm against her forehead then hissed. "Allahu Akbar, you have caught a terrible fever. You are burning."

Shouq groaned. "Ya Rab. I have so much to do and my body will not permit me to move."

"Ya bint al halal, you must rest."

"Then what about the repast?"

"Do not fret, I wil cook what is required. You must rest. I will, Insha'Allah send some honey for your throat."

Raghad aided Shouq on the cot then desended the stairs. To prepare dinner in her husband's house, the very first time, alone, without Shouq's assistance seemed rather arduous. Indeed they were people she never desired to cook for, however, she did not posses another alternative. Raghad tightened the scarf around her head and entered the cookery, her eyes took in the ingredients she needed to handle.

"Oh Lord! It is merely a dinner, I can manage it with no bother." She huffed, rolled her seelves twice and commenced with the cooking. Half an hour tip toed around her, it glanced in the wok, grinned then sedated. The bride provided her best, but she could not comprehend why it held such significance that her cooking was palatable? Why did it mattered that her cooking should satisfy that savage of a man?

"Salam alikum," greeted a familiar voice.

The bride lifted her head from the rice she rinsed. Fahd ventered in the cookery with a bright smile. He looked at Raghad then at the chimey and nodded. Fahd was abundantly dissimilar from his siblings, Faris was someone she could not look at for more than mere moments, and everytime she glanced at him, her blood simmered. Nasser looted every ounce of audacity in her. Whereas, this young boy, he reminded her of Badr. Her tranquil, dearest brother.

"Wa alikum as salam,"

"Oho! Raghad is preparing our repast today, Masha'Allah. Masha'Allah!" Fahd raised both his eyebrows at her and she beamed.

"Shouq is unwell and I could not allow her to cook," at this his brows frowned.

"What has happened?"

"Your sister has a cold, nothing to distress yourself about."

He chortled. "Shouq has a fever in every season."

"Haraam alaik ya Fahd. You must pray she gets well soon."

Fahd placed his hand on the mud shelve nearby. "Where is my beloved sister?"

"In her chamber, deep in slumber." Raghad responded and tilted the crock in the small caludren to pour the rice.

"Where on earth is Batool then?"

"By her absence I shall state that Faris is present?" Raghad glanced at him.

Fahd chuckled. "She does not struggle with work when her precious brother is here. Wallahi, Faris coddles Batool unconditonally."

She gave him a nod and swallowed, knowing that Faris was here and awaited for the repast, her heart began to drum rather rapidly and sweat beaded her forehead. So engrossed in her contemplation she did not perceive that Fahd, her brother-in-law had collapsed on the space in front of her, seized a knife and began to slice onions.

"What on earth are you doing?" Raghad squealed when water stung in her eyes.

"I am assisting my sister-in-law," the boy shrugged a shoulder and the hair that fall on his shoulder bounced with the movement.

"No ya Fahd. It is fine, I can prepare the repast."

"What will Badr say when he will witness your chapped hands?" Raghad opened her mouth to respond but halted when Fahd shook his head. "I desire to aid you, now permit me to slice them. Is this size adequate?" Fahd retreated the knife.

Raghad peered at him, he looked at his handiwork than up at her and hoisted his brows. She laughed and gave a nod. They worked in quietude for a while, but soon she discerned how little Fahd glanced at her now and then.

"What is the matter?"

"Nay nothing,"

"You must inform me, what is the matter, Fahd?"

He bit his lip, let go of the knife and looked at her. "I apologized for what has happened," her big brown eyes widended at his words. No one has ever apologized to her when it came to this matter, not with such integrity. "We, Borkans are not feindish brutes," his voice was barely a whisper.

"I am aware of that," she uttered the words.

Fahd shook his head. "No, you are not. I can wittness it in your eyes Raghad. You abhore us. You despise Faris and I do not like that notion."

"You cannot condemn me, ya Fahd," she looked away from him towards the chimey.

"Yes I cannot and no one in this tribe is permitted to do so. This union was for the sake of shielding our tribes and bury your contentment."

Ragahd exhaled at his words, her chest constricted and she knew there were words that she yearned to verbalize. "What has occurred, has occurred, it cannot be undone."

A moment of silence drifted along with smoke into the chimney, meanwhile, Raghad placed the tortillas in a sufra, and poured water in a copper ewer. "He is not a monster." She turned to face Fahd, ewer in hand.

"I can scarcely believe that. I have not had the privallage to see a human in your brother," she rotated around to proceed with her work.

"Well Faris can commit that. However, you must know he does that to protect what is valued,"

"And what might that be?" Raghad propped the ewer slightly on her hip and tightened her hand around the sufra.

"Faris values his religion above all, than his family and his tribe. In order to sheild them he can commit any action,"

"Pair with the daughter of his enemy against her will, for instance?"

"Indeed."

"What is it that you wish to pronounce ya Fahd, for I have failed to apprehend you?"

"I yearn to see my brother content and I believe you can do that," she narrowed her eyes at him, hardly convinced. "Just be forbearing with him and all will be well."

Raghad smiled at the boy. "Insha'Allah all will be will."

Not unless your beloved brother does not keep his distance.

Fahd aided his sister-in-law place the surfa in the main chamber, and decorate it with laban in another ewer, saloona and a silver tray with a bed of rice. Raghad nodded at her work then asked Jazee to call her family for the repast.

In a trice, her heart began to beat when the Borkans gathered around the sufra. Gratefully, Sheikh Mubarak and Nasser were absent. Faris sat alongside his mother who sat next to Fahd and Batool. The bride sat in between Shouq and Jazee and observed with perturbed eyes as they commenced to nosh. Her appetite perished from the horrendous feeling in the pit of her stomach, to make it intolerable Fahd spoke the words she dreaded.

"Yalla, apprise me how is the repast?"

"Why, what is so exceptional about it?" Batool inquired as she chewed on a mouthful of rice.

"Ya Salam! Batool cannot you distinguish between the tastes?"

"La ya Fahd?" the girl shook her head.

Raghad hearkened them but her eyes remained on her spouse, who noshed wordlessly without paying any heed to the conversation his brother had. Her eyes took in his black kandoora with his black headdress. His hair fell on his broad shoulders, and eyes on his food. He was unescorted by his glorious sword and his louring countenance in the presence of his family.

"Indeed the taste is surely different." Batool stated and Jazee giggled.

"Shouq did not prepare our repast." Fahd declared.

"Wallahi? Then who did?" Batool interrogated eyeing her mother with a smile.

Raghad's eyes remained on Faris, that very moment, she could barely believe her eyes that it occured. Those glacial, lethal eyes looked up for the first time and clashed with hers for a split second and a scowl welcomed its way on his face. When he averted his gaze something imploded in her insides and Raghad bit her lip that threathened to wobble.

"Raghad." Instantly their experssions transformed to what seemed to be aversion. Not only did she cook for people she did not desire to cook, she provided her utmost in order for the food to taste marvelous and they do not accept it! "My sister-in-law has prepared this sublime repast for us, Ya Batool." Fahd boasted.

"Teslameen binty." Umm Faris gave her a nod which she answered with a sad smile.

"Masha'Allah, Raghad the food tastes heavenly." Shouq nugged Raghad in the ribs slightly.

She murmured her reply and swallowed down the food.

"The food does taste different," Fahd sat straight, he looked at Shouq and smirked. "It tastes better than what Shouq prepares."

Others laughed when Shouq glared at Fahd, all but the bride and groom. She did not know how time elapsed, there was a foul throb in her head by the time Raghad cleaned the cookery and decided to retire for the day. When she passed the threshold of her chamber it was vacant, Raghad sat on the mattress and glared in the space.

The scowl he had displayed confirmed the food was distasteful. Oh, how she wished she did not commit this act. Residing with the Borkans was unendurable, seeing Faris tormented her bones. What occured at the sufra terminated any desire to attempt and live like a being in this tribe. Raghad's throat tingled as she attempted to halt her tears, but soon they betrayed her and a few tears trickled down her big brown eyes.

The bride crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the drugged with teary eyes. When a woman is given to a man she does not fancy, all she can do is endeavour to veil her terror like how clouds curtain the moon. She can provide him an opportunity to outstretch his hand towards her. Being married to a man in order to protect not only her life, but her tribe was as if she lived with the hounds of hell.

Suddenly, the door of the chamber creaked open and in walked Faris, the beast. Raghad wiped her tears but was not quick enough for the action to be unnoticed. She watched with a loathsome glare as her man took off his black turban and placed it on the shelve, then shrugged off his black robe and faced the Qibla to perform his prayer.

Her glared softened when Faris prostrated, that tall, dark, menacing form litreally quivered in front of his Lord, his Maker. She observed entranced as he prayed and sat there on his knees to do tasbeeh on his fingers. When after a while Raghad sniffed that was what broke his concentration.

"Allahu Akbar." Faris rose to his height and her glare returned.

She was prepared to open her mouth and vocalize the words that blazed in her bosom. To her absolute astonishment Faris sauntered up to her gradually, Raghad retreated and her heart began to beat like a parched drum. He bent down so that they were face-to-face, his dark inky eyes stared in her wide brown ones. She kept her glare whereas his eyes, those pitch black oceans were serene and she knew it was caused by the recitation of the Quran. The bride gasped out loud when he blew on her face tenderly. Her eyes fluttered and lips parted at his action and yet another wave of wrath ascended in her chest.

Faris stood there, a few inches away from the woman and surveyed her eyes. Her long thick lashes were wet and he knew she had been weeping. Faris knew it would have vexed her to shed tears in front of him, and was glad the imprudent woman attempted to uncurtain her courage when facing him and denied to show him her tears.

He exhaled and stood straight, blew off the lantern then made his way to his cot. Faris lowered himself on the cot and gave his back to his woman, aware how she peered at him. He recalled her face at the repast and scowled. What was she trying to commit? He heard her sniff again and something deep inside the beast that resided in his heart twitched.

"If you shed more tears, by Allah you will sleep by the door." Faris threatened in a stern voice.

"Of course, that is what is left for you to do." Raghad snapped.

"You wish for me to commanded you now, ya bint-ash-Sheikh?"

The knight of knights waited for a reply but it did not arrive. He turned to his side and his brows rose. Raghad was fast asleep. He smirked when the lids of her eyes moved and knew his bride pretended to be asleep.

"Do not add too much salt in your food, ya sheikha. It was unable to swallow." He remarked and turned to face the wall once again and smirked. The food was heavenly, however he would never divulge that to Raghad, not now, not ever.

*

*

Before the call of prayer could be heard and announce the beginging of another day, there was a sharp knock at the door. Instantly, both Faris and Raghad woke up, she looked at him as he sat up on the cot, rubbed his hands over his face, stood up and went to unlatch the door.

"What is the matter?" his irked voice reached her ears and she winced.

"Yalla ya Faris, prepare yourself, we must depart now." It was Batool.

"Why?"

"Yaddati has returned from Umrah."

"Masha'Allah," her head snapped towards the door when a new emotion erupted in his husky voice. "This is a wonderful news ya Batool. Give me a moment I shall join you." He closed the door and rushed back. Raghad rolled her lip and gazed with puzzled eyes. He grabbed his black turban, his black robe and sword. When Faris was by the door he halted as if the man recollected that he had a spouse, then shook his head.

"Be at your best behavior today woman. If I catch a sniff of your foolish behavior," his rotated his head a little for her to see his narrowed eyes. "The consequences will be grave." with that he departed from the chamber leaving an astounded Raghad behind.

Morning light had not penetrated the sky when Raghad along with her husband's large family stood outside Shiekh Mubarak's house and waited for his mother to make an apperance. She had been away for five moons. Umm Mubarak, Faris's grandmother along with two of her sons, few of her grandchildren had journeyed to perform Umrah. Raghad had been curious to see them, but when she saw all those women, children wait outside Sheikh Mubarak's house a peculiar feeling took over her form.

"There!" Someone hollered. "I see her, mother, I see her." It was Marwa, one of Shouq's younger cousins, she pointed towards where sand particles created a small cloud.

Cheers and greetings rang in the air as a small crowd made their way towards them. A shiver travelled down Raghad's form and she wrapped her robe around her shoulders. She glanced down at Jazee who jumped on her feet enthusiastically. The crowd stopped a few feet away from them and it was then she took note of Nasser holding another elderly woman's hand, so tenderly it baffaled her. She blinked at the giant of a man, it was as if a wolf held a flower.

"Salam alikum ya awladi." the elderly woman greeted and a chore of replies drifted up with the morning sun.

Raghad stepped back when the family gathered around the woman and her companions. She watched with desolated eyes as people took hold of Umm Mubarak's hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles or her shoulder. That moment her family haunted her memories and she clenched her jaw. The gleeful chatter, greetings caused a vile throb to erupt in her midriff.

"Raghad come, come here." it was Shouq, the only person who remembered her.

The bride swallowed the lump in her thraot and squinted her eyes a little when sun rays bit in them. Raghad took a slow step and stood alongside Shouq to see Nasser's face transform frigid. He glanced at his mother than back at Raghad and exhaled silently.

"Taqabal Allah." Raghad greeted.

The elderly woman turned to face the bride at her voice, she regarded Raghad with those sagacious eyes. "Who is this child, ya Nasser?" she demanded in a tranquil tone, but there was supremacy behind it.

That moment Raghad discerned that the crowd had went silent, nothing could be heard other than the birds that chirped and the eager wind that swirled around them. Even the ascending sun gazed at them with sheer curiosity. Raghad looked at the elderly woman then permitted her gaze to move to the girl who stood next to the elderly woman. There stood a woman exceedingly beautiful, her hazel eyes gleamed like gems when the rays of the sun cascaded on her face. Those alluring hazel eyes regarded Raghad with extreme caution. Her creamy skin glowed and when she blinked those dark lashes caressed her cheeks.

Who was she?

"Yaddati," Nasser ran his tongue over his lips and cleared his throat. "This is Raghad Faisal Bin Saleh, Faris's spouse." and revealed.

Raghad made to turn and look at Umm Mubarak but could not. The moment when words escaped Nasser's lips an immensely appalled look materalized on the girl's face. Her hazel eyes turned dark as if darkness caved in upon them, and jaw clenched in acute bewilderment.

"What do you mean she is my grandson's spouse?" Umm Mubarak interrogated muddled.

Nasser the giant of a man exhaled. "I shall apprise you everything. You must go inside and rest, Yaddati." He beamed and stepped ahead with Umm Mubrark's hand in his large one.

Raghad stepped back and watched as the Borkan family sauntered in Sheikh Mubarak's house. She stood there rooted to the ground and watched as they chatted, their voices rang in the courtyard along with the birds that sang their greetings. A foul feeling in her heart opened its eyes, it clawed at the walls of her poor heart and tugged at the core. Raghad shook her head and followed behind Jazee with a dry throat and heavy shoulders.



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I won't explain why I posted this chapter so late. With Ramadan and a near death experience am sure there is no need to ask for an apology as well. Let me know what you think of this chapter in your comments and don't forget to VOTE!



PS: Please don't bring Islam or Prophet Muhammad in my story. This is a story a mere story be mature enough to keep such pure topics from this story. Thank you.



Yaddati= Grandmother

Taqabal Allah= May Allah accept it (The Umrah)

Ya awladi= My kids.

Teslameen binty= Thank you my daughter

La ya Fahd= No Fahd

Ya bint al halal= Daughter of the good one

Haaram alik ya Fahd= I don't know how to translate this :/

Words like Umrah, Masha'Allah, Allahu Akbar Google them if you guys are unaware of the meanings.