IMPERFECT Best Friend

Three Years Earlier

  Prologue

Maryam

I stopped right in front of his room and took in a deep breath before placing my trembling hand on the door knob.

Earlier, I had seen him and his friends comes into this room, and that's why I'm bringing them this refreshment. I just hope he won't pour it to my face- well, I should be used to it by now. It's already been two weeks of our marriage.

As I was ready to face his wrath that will definitely comes my way, I slowly and gently open the door but what I saw next really crushed my heart.... That's a video of me and my husband making love.

"But ho... how?.... How did that...  How was he able to record that? An... and, why is he watching the video with his friends?." I asked my self with tears already flowing down my cheeks.

"Did you see guys! Didn't I tell you? She's inexperience!"

"She's a virgin. Can you all believe that?!" he told them laughing while the rest joined too.

"Wow! Man, this is so good." A guy sitting right beside him said, tapping his shoulder. As if, he's so proud of what he has done.

"Your wife moan as hell....... Can I borrow her for a day?." Another guy sitting across him asked.

"Innalillahi!" I inwardly exclaimed with my mouth agape. "He wants to give me out to his friend? Does that means- Subhanallah! He'll also sleep with me? A married woman? He will sleep with a married woman, his friend's wife?

"What's happening? What's happening to me? Why is this happening to me? Ya Allah, why are you testing me through this hard way? I haven't done anything wrong, so why can't I be happy for once?..... why are you testing me with so many difficulty? First, it was her and now him?" I silently thought crying.

"Believe me dude, I would want to" his face showing the sincerity of what he just said. "But you know Umma, she loves her like her real daughter, if she comes to know about this, I'll be dead"

"But guys, this is not fair. I mean, no matter what, she's still your wife, you should respect her for that. This lady is too innocent for all of this,she doesn't deserve all this treatment from you Kareem " one of them said, he sound pitiful-Well, the pity is for me. I need to thank him for standing up for me.

"I don't care! And how does that concern you? It's non of your business. I promised my self, that I'll make her life miserable! she'll have no choice but to leave this house,don't you get it man! I hate that lady! I don't love her! I love someone else!...but I can't even be with her, all thanks to that woman and Mom" he said in a cold tone.

He has changed. This is not the man I got married to, two weeks ago. Though, I know he doesn't like me but, he shouldn't have done this to me.

"But still, this isn't her fault! " the same guy yells. He sounds annoyed.

What are they talking about?

"I really don't care... Do I look like I care?!...she had the chance to talk to Mom, to decline what ever proposal Mom made to her! But no, she didn't!" He yells back at the same guy.

"C'mon guys, let watch this,its fun" he said laughing and the other fools join him.

"I'm out of here,I can't stand this" He hissed while standing up. " And you" he turned his head to look at him " You'll regret all of this that you're doing. I only hope, it won't be late when you realise all of your mistakes"

The more he move closer to where I was standing,the more my heart beat faster. He halts in front of me, his gaze fixed on my body making me feel uncomfortable under it. I finally summon the courage to look at him and there it was-the sympathy look. He gave me his weak smile and then, walk away.

"And you!" I heard my husband's hard voice. The sound of his voice only, could bring the whole building down.

I jerk and was shaking as he point his index finger at me. "What're you doing here?!" He roared.

"I...I...I'm... I'm here...to..give...I....I...I mean...I brought.... Some.... some drinks for...you...and...your.. your...friends" I replied stuttering.

"Oh! So you could finally kill me?! You wanted to kill me right?! Huh! So you could get all of my wealth to your self, is that not it?!" He ask in his usual cold tone.

Oh no! This anger of yours doesn't suit your handsome face!- snap of it Maryam,what are you doing?!

"No!" I quickly defended my self. "I would never do that...and.. this.. this is unfair...you can't...., I mean, you can't be playing this to your friends...its not proper...at least, I deserve some respect" I dare to say, looking down at my feet not daring to look into his eyes.

The next thing I felt was a slap across my face.

Slap slap

He slapped me so hard on my right cheek before doing the same thing to the left. "How dare you talk back to me? Slap You have the gut to talk back at me?! Slap Just because my Mom is always on your side doesn't give you the right to talk back at me slap....

I closed my eyes tightly not daring to open them. I allow the tears to flow down my cheeks....I'm the head here and you!- don't have any right to talk when I'm talking! Slap You don't!" he roared. He pushed me, I fell down hitting my butt hardly on the floor and at the same time, all the glasses of the drink shattered on the floor.

"Man, I think it's okay, you really need to calm down,she's still your wife after all" One of the idiot said. I wish, I have the power to scratch that stupid face of his with my fingers.

"She's not my wife! And she will never be!" He said glaring at all of them.

"Can you all please leave" it's a statement not a request.

They bid their good bye and left. He make his way to the door and locked it.

Now, I'm doom!

"And you! You have the nerves now, don't you?! Do you realise you just talk back to me in front of my friends?! "

"I'm... I'm sorry but I'm.... I just...I'm only trying to defend my self" I said crying.

"Really? Defend your self from what? Answer me, you slut!" he shout graping my hair tightly.

When did he pull off my hijab? I didn't realize it.

He was hurting me badly and I couldn't even utter a word but to cry.

"I'm sorry please...I'm sorry"

"You're sorry?! You are f**king sorry?! Fine! I'll forgive you but you must pay for what you just did"

"Now stand up! I said....stand...up!"he yells through gritted teeth.

I quickly get up so as not to provoke him any further.

"Move closer"he said.

I was about to follow the other side because of the broken glasses on the floor but he stopped me before I could.

"What do you think you're doing?!" He asked. A sly smile on his face.

"There's.... There's a broken glass...I want to follow the other side"

"No, you won't, because you're going to walk through this broken glass" he smirk.

"Please Kareem....please don't do this......please" I begged crying.

"Before the count of three, you better step on that f**king thing...else, I might do something we'll both regret" he warned.

I'm so scared right now. He looks scary,he looks like a father scolding his own daughter. I slowly step on the broken glass and winced in pain. Ya Allah, this is so painful!

"Good. Now jump on it" he ordered.

"What?! Please...please no. Please don... don't do this to me please, I beg you please, don't do this please...I promise, I won't do that again...I won't enter the room without your permission... I won't dare talk back at you...please don't do this, please Kareem"

"I said jump!" He yells. One look from him and I dare not go against him.

I jumped on it and he started counting. "One.....two.....three.....four....five" he keeps on counting. My blood could clearly be seen on the floor and it was really hurting, I can't take this anymore, I really can't.

"Kareem please, it's hurting please" I begged.

"Keep quiet! One more word from you and I'll do worst than this"

"Ka...Ka....Kareem" I said and fell down, then darkness took over me.

____PRESENT DAY____

Maryam's POV

"I was asked to give this note to you Miss Maryam".  Mrs Tania said as she smiled.

"Thank you".  

I can't believe this, he still write to me!

"Congratulations,I'm sure your benefactor will be very happy!".  I smiled again and she left.

It's already the end of the semester, I'm now a graduated of Harvard university in business administrative. It only took me two years to finish everything because I was a brilliant student and most of all, they all like me here. 

I was outside when Mrs Tania had hand over the letter to me. Then I decide to go in and sit so I'll be able to read the note well. 

Miss Maryam,

Do you know I'm so much proud of you?  You've finally made it to the last semester...I'm so so proud of you".

K. Olatunji.

Oh my God! This signature!

I don't know how he look like but I believe that someday I'll know him.

I was so stunned when I learn that he's going to sponsor me but later heard from the scholarship department that apart from me,he had other scholars he was helping too. He's such a generous man. I wonder how much money he has.

He was one of my inspiration in finishing my degree in business administrative. I wanted to be like him.

Still looking at the beautiful handwriting on the paper,I was smiling broadly. I remembered when I had started my university. I seemed like a lost soul at that time. I felt like everything seemed to have no more meaning.... Mom and Dad was so angry when they find out about everything that had happened, Maimuna especially, but I beseeched them. Then, Dad asked if I would want to go for a vacation but instead, I told him I would like to further my education in a very far place and he agreed,Mom was so adamant at first but later gave in....But however, everything change when the scholarship department told me that I was one of those that will be given scholarship. 

Then I decide to start my new life and try doing something good in my studies. I really do owe him a lot.

Still in my dreamy land, I heard his cheerful voice. "A letter from an admirer?"

I glance up and saw his handsome face MANSUR

"Hey!  good afternoon".  I smiled.  "It was a note from my sponsor".

"I was just kidding love".  I glared at him.

"Okay fine!  I was just kidding".  He chuckled.

Mansur is really a nice guy and one of the most richest guy in the world, he's handsome, caring, playful and most of all romantic. I bumped into him someday when I had started my university class and from then, we became friends,he asked me out so many times but I told him to give me some time,he knows about my past because I told him.

"Congratulation my love....you're now a degree holder,I can't imagine! Then, you were just in your first year and-"

"Oh cut the stupid story Mansur" I said hitting his arm lightly and he smirk.

"So wanna go eat lunch with me?"

"Of course, handsome".

"Great!" He winked before I quickly pick up my bag and we left.

*****Next day*****

"Come on Maryam, let's get going".  Mrs Abubakar said.

"Yes Ma'am". I smiled. I was so happy, it's my first day of my vacation for the past two years.

"I wonder if the kids are going to like these more than the last time" I looked at the cupcakes I personally bake and pack for the children at the Orphanage.

"You're the best baker I've ever known in the whole world..so don't worry they will love it"

For two years now, I've been working at her cake shop. Thanks to Mom and my love for cake that made me secure a job here. If she hadn't make me work hard then when I was a kid, I wouldn't have been able to secure a job here. 

Thinking about Mom, I missed her so much and even though we talked day before yesterday, it actually feels like eternity.

I bring out my phone and dial her number, she pick up at the first ring.

"My baby!" She exclaimed happily.

"Mom! As salamu Alaykum....good morning Ma"

"Wa alaykumu salam...morning my dear... How are you doing? Sorry, I was suppose to call you yesterday but I was too busy that's why"

"Mom, its fine seriously"

"So, when would my beautiful daughter finish her exams?".  

"Mom, don't get mad, okay?... Actually it was yesterday"

"What?! And you didn't bother to tell us and to congratulate you?!!"

"Mom, that's why I had said you shouldn't get mad"

"Subhanallah...so how was it? Do you enjoyed it? And how-"

"Hello princess"

"Dad!"

"Good...good morning Dad"

"Jawad! give me back my phone, I need to talk to my daughter!".

I heard mom voice and I chuckled.

"Calm down woman, she's also my daughter too". I heard Dad replied her.

"So my princess, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine daddy"

"So, you're through with your exam and you didn't bother to tell your parent?" He asked dangerously.

"Erm.....Erm daddy, I'm sorry... I....I wanted to-"

"Its okay my princess, I'm just so proud of you"

"Thank you daddy"

"So, when are you coming home?"

Silence