Kidnapped by the Arab

“The face your mother will make when she finds out I plan to get pregnant soon.”

“I was going to inform her, but it’s better to give her the news when you’re already pregnant, in case she comes up with one of her brilliant ideas against you.”

“I think I’m getting used to her contempt. Let’s wait and see what she comes up with next.”

“I’ll be traveling to the United States.”

“What will you do there?”

“In two days, it’s the anniversary of Lyna’s and my children’s death.”

“Can I accompany you?”

Ahmed remained silent for a few minutes. It was a very difficult day for him, and he usually locked himself in his son’s room. On that day, he couldn’t tolerate anyone’s company.

“Are you sure you want to be with me?”

“Yes, I want to be by your side.”

“Alright,” he replied, not very sure.

The next morning, they boarded the private jet. Ahmed didn’t talk during the entire flight; he was lost in his own thoughts. Aisha decided to respect those moments; she knew those days were very difficult for him.

When they arrived in New York, Cambell and Thara welcomed them at the airport. Although they hadn’t been apart for long, they greeted each other effusively. Aisha had to wear the hijab all the time to avoid exposing her identity to any curious reporters.

They stayed at their friends’ house, as Cambell insisted. Inside the house, Aisha could remove the hijab; as a precaution, Thara gave their household staff some days off so her friend wouldn’t risk exposure.

They had dinner harmoniously, and Aisha carried the baby while Ahmed remained silent. He still couldn’t control the pain he felt on these dates.

He excused himself, claiming to have a headache, and went to the bedroom.

“You have to understand that these days are very difficult for him. Years ago, on this date, it was the last time he had dinner with them. Tomorrow will be a terrible day for him.”

“I know. I can’t say I understand because I don’t know the intensity of the pain he’s feeling, though I can imagine. I hope I never go through something like that.”

They retired to sleep. As they entered the bedroom, Aisha noticed that Ahmed pretended to be asleep. She knew very well the rhythm of his breathing when he was sleeping, so she put on her pajamas and lay down beside him. When she hugged him, she felt him tense up, so she turned away, deciding not to disturb him.

She fell asleep thinking that she could never fight against Ahmed’s ghosts from the past. It hurt that he excluded her during these moments, but she had to respect it. She needed to accept that it would be like this every year.

The next morning, Aisha woke up and looked for Ahmed, but he wasn’t by her side. She quickly showered and went downstairs to find him.

She found Thara and Cambell waiting for her to have breakfast.

“Good morning. Have you seen Ahmed?”

“You won’t see him today,” Cambell replied. “At this time, he’ll be at the cemetery. The graves are symbolic; Lyna’s parents decided to bury them in Australia, in a family cemetery where Ahmed is, of course, forbidden to enter. They blame him for their deaths. Lyna spoke with her parents before boarding the plane, and she told them that she divorced Ahmed because she found him having relations with his secretary in his office. After the cemetery, he’ll go to the mansion where he lived with them; he locks himself in his son’s room every year and cries while hugging his favorite toy. He’s been doing the same thing every year. If I tell you this, it’s so you can try to understand him a bit. I know it must be hard for you to fight against his ghosts.”

“And it truly is difficult. I want to be with him, but I can’t if he doesn’t let me.”

“I saw him wanting to die from the moment he found out about the accident. Guilt was killing him. He neglected his family, and vice and pleasure won. Let’s stop with the sad stuff, my friend. Let’s have breakfast, and then you can join me; I’ll take the baby to the zoo.”

At the zoo, Thara noticed her friend’s absence.

“I know you, my friend. I know you can’t get Ahmed out of your head even for a moment.”

“Do you know where that mansion is?”

“My friend, I don’t think you should go. Ahmed doesn’t like anyone to see him, much less enter the mansion. It’s like a museum. Cambell told me everything is exactly how they left it. The children’s nanny takes care of it. That woman won’t let you in.”

“Please give me the address.”

“Alright, if you insist.”

Thara gave her the address, and Aisha took a taxi, heading to Upper West Side. She got off in front of a huge classical 5-story house and knocked on the door. A woman with a kind expression opened the door.

“May I help you?”

“Ahmed, I’m looking for Ahmed.”

The woman looked her up and down, and upon seeing her wearing the hijab, she immediately guessed who she was.

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“Yes, I need to see him.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. He’s in Abdel’s room, as he is every year.”

The woman lowered her head, genuinely upset.

“Please, let me in. I need to be with him right now.”

The woman stepped aside to let her pass. After closing the door, she guided Aisha to the room. Aisha noticed that everything was perfectly arranged.

The house was beautiful, with all the furniture and floors made of the same colored wood. She saw some toys in the living room, and there were pictures of Lyna and her children on the walls. One of them caught her attention, Ahmed smiled happily, embracing Lyna and their children. They truly had a beautiful family.

The woman stopped in front of a light blue door, and next to it was a pink one, followed by a huge double door, which she imagined was the master bedroom.

“I know he’ll be angry with me for letting you in, but he can’t continue like this. It’s been many years.”

“Thank you.”

The woman took out a key and slowly opened the door. As Aisha entered, she noticed that the room was dimly lit, and she heard sobs. When she turned, she saw Ahmed lying down, hugging a stuffed toy.

Ahmed was displeased when he noticed her presence. He felt that she was invading his privacy. What was she doing there?

“What are you doing here? Please, leave. This day is terrible for me; I need to be alone.”

“I want to be with you.”

“Please, go away, or I’ll have to remove you.”

“Do it if you want, because on my own, I won’t leave.”

Ahmed got up angrily, took her by the arm, and tried to pull her out of the room.

“Go away. You can’t be in this place; it’s Lyna’s house.”

Aisha felt like the world was crashing down upon her upon hearing those words. She remembered what Cambell had told her. She stood her ground, but Ahmed pulled her with such force that she couldn’t help but scream in pain.

He let her go when he realized he had hurt her and sat on the carpet, hugging his knees, and cried harder than ever.

“Forgive me. It’s not your fault.”

Aisha sat beside him, taking his face in her hands.

“Forgive me for invading your space, but I can’t stand the thought of you being here alone, suffering. Let me be with you; I’ll be quiet.”

Ahmed nodded with a slight movement of his head.

They stayed there all afternoon, and at night, they lay down on the bed. Ahmed hugged the toy while Aisha embraced him from behind.

In the morning, he woke up, seeing her sleeping beside him. He removed her hijab and kissed her lips, noticing large purple marks on her arms. He felt terrible-how could he have hurt her?

“Wake up, sleepyhead.”

“Hello,” she replied, opening her eyes and giving him a smile.

After freshening up a bit, Ahmed took her hand and led her outside the room.

“Wait for the hijab.”

“Put it on later. Nanny is someone I trust completely.”

He took her to the pink room, and she could see how lovingly he touched those things while showing them to her and talking about his 6-month-old daughter.

“Antara was very smart for her age.”

Aisha focused on a large painting where Ahmed was carrying his daughter. He was making a gesture, and the little girl was imitating him. That’s when she realized why having a child meant so much to him.

Instinctively, she touched her belly, and he noticed. He approached and embraced her. “When we have a child, I’ll love him just the same.”

Then he led her to the massive double doors and opened them. Inside, she saw a room decorated with great elegance. There was a silk robe on the bed, makeup and other items on the dresser, and a unique perfume’s scent in the air. Ahmed breathed in the scent and sighed. Aisha wanted to understand, but fighting against the memory of Lyna was painful for her.