Wound Healed by Love: Chapter Two
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Chapter 2
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Novel: A Wound Healed by Love
••[Chapter Two]••
A new morning in Mokhtar's apartment.
Rabab entered Rouh's room; she was still asleep.
Rabab in a loud voice: Are you still asleep, girl?
Rouh woke up and sat up quickly: What time is it?
Rabab: It's 9 o'clock, you lazy thing. Your uncle will wake up to go to work, and Riham has college. Get up now and prepare breakfast.
Rouh: Alright.
Rouh went to the bathroom quickly, came out, and prepared breakfast. She felt dizzy because she hadn't eaten anything since yesterday. She went into her room, prayed her obligatory prayer, and sat on the bed because she felt very tired and dizzy.
====================
In Upper Egypt, specifically at the Helaly family's iron factory, Othman and Younis were standing.
Othman: Is the iron shipment ready, my son?
Younis: Yes, Grandpa, and it will be delivered tomorrow, God willing.
Othman: May God give you strength, my son.
Younis: Thank you, Grandpa.
Othman: Come with me to the office.
Younis went with his grandfather, who sat on the office chair with Younis in front of him. Othman was looking at him intently.
Younis: Is everything alright, Grandpa?
Othman: I don't like the state you're in, my son.
Younis: I'm fine right in front of you, Grandpa.
Othman: I'm talking about you and your wife.
Younis, annoyed: You know, Grandpa, that...
Othman interrupted him: I know, my son, that you didn't want to marry your cousin Safa, and that I forced you, saying you might love her after marriage.
Younis: The heart of Younis Al-Helaly doesn't know the path of love, Grandpa.
Othman: And until when, my son? I want to see your children before I meet my Maker.
Younis: May God prolong your life, Grandpa.
Othman: I want to see your children and Ali's children too. Isn't my sorrow over Rahma enough?
Younis: Do you think I'm happy she's divorced?
Othman: You made a mistake, my son, when you listened to her and forced Tariq to divorce her.
Younis: Rahma heard a lot from Tariq's mother, Grandpa, and she was tired. I couldn't bear seeing her suffer like that.
Othman: May God put my heart at ease regarding you all, my son.
Younis: Amen, Grandpa. I'll go to the company; I have some work regarding the new deal.
Othman: Go, you son of my precious one.
======================
In Mokhtar's apartment, there's a knock on the door.
Rabab, sitting in front of the TV: Girl! Rouh, get up and open the door.
Rouh came out of her room and looked through the peephole. It was Shahd, so she opened the door for her.
Shahd: Soul of my heart, how are you?
Rouh: Thank God, Shahd. Come in.
Shahd whispering: Am I crazy to enter Lady Rabab's house? Come sit with me, my dad went out.
Rouh: Alright.
Rouh went to Rabab: I'm going to sit with Shahd for a bit.
Rabab: And who's going to make lunch?
Rouh: It's still early. I'll come back in an hour to make it.
Rabab: Go on.
Rouh went in, put on her prayer dress and niqab in case she ran into anyone from the building, and went out. She knocked on Shahd's door, who opened it for her: Come in, Rouh. I made a cake you'll lick your fingers after eating.
Rouh: I smelled it and knew you were the one making it.
Shahd: Come, I made some tea for us to drink with it.
The girls sat on the sofa.
Shahd: What's wrong, Rouh?
Rouh: Nothing.
Shahd: Did your uncle get you the medication?
Rouh: Yes, yes. He took the prescription and will get it on his way back.
Shahd: You don't know how to lie, Rouh.
Rouh sighed sadly: They are right. It's enough that they're feeding me.
Shahd: Are you an idiot, Rouh? He took all your mother's inheritance from you, and he even took the money from that guy named S—
Rouh: Don't bring him up, Shahd, I'm begging you. I can't even stand hearing his name.
Shahd: Okay, calm down, my dear, calm down. May God deal with him.
Rouh: Believe it or not, I wouldn't be sad if I lost the baby in my womb.
Shahd: What are you saying, Rouh? That's your child.
Rouh: But it's his child too, Shahd. His child.
Shahd got closer to her: Rouh, my dear, you've never told me what happened to you, but I can see the pain inside you. You're not the Rouh I know, who used to love life, laugh, and joke. You're sad all the time, not talking, and letting your uncle, his wife, and his daughter treat you so poorly, like you're their maid. Tell me, sweetheart.
Rouh closed her eyes and began to remember the nightmare she was living. Her tears fell, and her breathing became shallow.
Shahd got scared for her: Okay, calm down. I don't want to know anything, just calm down. I beg you, Rouh, catch your breath.
Rouh couldn't hear or see anything except the nightmare that constantly terrified her, and her breathing was fading.
Shahd rushed out and knocked on Mokhtar's apartment door. Rabab opened it: Why are you knocking like that, girl?
Shahd pushed past her, entered Rouh's room, opened the nightstand drawer, and grabbed her inhaler. The prescription was right next to it, so she took that too and hurried back to her apartment. She helped Rouh use the inhaler, and she started to calm down a little.
Shahd: Rouh, can you hear me?
Rouh nodded yes, and Rabab walked in on them: What's wrong with you, girl?
Shahd: She got a little tired.
Rabab: By God, sister, take care of yourself. We can't handle extra expenses.
Shahd: What kind of tone is that? And besides, is it in her hands?
Rabab: In her hands or not, whatever.
Rabab left and went back to her apartment. Rouh cried, and Shahd took her in her arms: I'm sorry, it's my fault. I'm the one who reminded you, sweetheart.
Rouh, exhausted: I'm fine, Shahd. I'll go now.
Shahd: Stay with me, you're tired.
Rouh: No, I feel better.
Rouh pulled down her niqab and went to her uncle's apartment.
Shahd called her father and told him she'd send him a picture of a prescription to get for her. She took a photo of the prescription and sent it to him.
============
Rouh changed and went to the kitchen to start preparing lunch. After a long time, she finished while feeling dizzy. They all sat down to eat together, and afterward, she went into her room. After eating, she felt a little better.
The room door opened, and it was Rabab: Your friend wants you outside.
Rouh went out and found Shahd standing there, holding a bag in her hand.
Rouh: What is it, Shahd?
Shahd: Here, Rouh, take your medication.
Rouh: How did you know it? The prescription is with me.
Shahd: I took it from the drawer. Come on, take your medication so you don't get tired again.
Rouh hugged her: I don't know what to tell you. May God keep you for me.
Shahd: And keep you for me, beautiful. Now go on inside.
Rouh went inside. Rabab had heard their conversation.
Rabab: Well, that saved us some money.
Rouh went to her room and took her medication.
==================
At night in the Helaly mansion, everyone was sitting in the reception area watching a movie.
Younis and Ali walked in.
Younis: Good evening.
Fatima: Good evening, my heart's beloveds. Go change your clothes while we prepare the food for you.
Ali: Please do, my beautiful Fatouma, because I'm dying of hunger.
Rahma: If Othman Bey Al-Helaly heard you speaking Cairene, he would have shot two bullets right into your head.
Ali: And what are you speaking right now, Lady Rahma?
Younis: Rahma can speak and say whatever she wants, she's her brother's darling.
Rahma got up and hugged Younis: You're your sister's heart.
Radia: May God protect you and keep you for each other, kids.
Ali kissed her head: Love of my heart, the sweetest Radia.
Ijlal sarcastically: You haven't said a single nice word to your mother. Is all the sweetness just for your aunt and your uncle's wife?
Safa: And since when does my brother Ali pay attention to us, Mother? He only cares about his uncle's wife and his aunt. May God have mercy on your soul, my brother Selim, he was the best brother.
Ali: That's because he was like you and thought the same way you do, but I'm not... I'm going up to my room.
Ali went up, and Younis did too. Safa followed behind him.
Younis entered his and Safa's room.
Safa approached him and took off his jacket. Younis was certain her behavior had an ulterior motive.
Younis: Cut to the chase, Safa. What do you want?
Safa: I want you to be well and fine, Younis.
Younis: Fine.
Safa was about to speak when Younis's phone rang, and he answered it.
Younis: Is there something, Ahmed? ... Alright ... Give him the money.
Younis hung up and looked at Safa angrily: You did what you had in mind anyway.
Safa: Well, I mean...
Younis furiously: Well what? By God, if you keep following your mother and disobey my orders again, it won't end well. I've warned you.
Safa: What will you do, my cousin?
Younis: I'll divorce you, Safa. I'll divorce you and rid myself of your nonsense.
Safa was shocked when he said that. Younis pushed past her, left the room, and went up to his suite to change. He and Ali went down, ate, and then everyone went up to their rooms.
=======================
Rouh was sitting in her room, leaning her back against the bed with her eyes closed, and started thinking about what happened to her exactly a year ago.
••Flashback••
Rouh crying: I beg you, Uncle, I don't want to get married.
Mokhtar: No, you will get married, Rouh. The man saw you and took a liking to you.
Rabab: How did he see her when she's always wearing a niqab?
Mokhtar: I don't know, but he saw her when he was here and asked me about her. And anyway, thank God he agreed to officially marry you.
Rabab: What do you mean he agreed to officially marry her?
Mokhtar: This is a very powerful man, and when he sees a girl he likes, he takes her, spends a couple of days with her, and leaves her. I talked him into officially marrying her.
Rouh in shock: What does this mean? He'll marry me for a couple of days and then divorce me?
Mokhtar: Well, it depends on how clever you are to make him spend two days, a month, or a year with you.
Rouh cried: This is unfair, Uncle. Is this my late mother's will to you?
Mokhtar: Girl, you'll come out of this with some money that will let us live like kings for the rest of our lives. Besides, I took a large sum of money from this man, and he made me sign a trust receipt. If he marries you, he said he won't ask me for anything.
Rabab: Really, Mokhtar? This is the man who made you sign the trust receipt?
Mokhtar: Yes, it's him.
Rabab looked at Rouh: Then you must agree, Rouh, for the sake of your uncle who took care of you after your mother died.
Rouh was crying and didn't know what to say.
Mokhtar: He'll come tomorrow, and he'll bring the marriage registrar.
Rouh: No, no! Please, Uncle, I don't want to get married. Please, it's a sin to do this to me just for money.
Mokhtar furiously: Let me tell you something, girl. I'm not asking for your opinion. You will marry him, meaning you will marry him.
Rouh yelled: It's unfair to you, I swear! I will never agree to this, and I won't stay here for another day, even if I have to sleep in the street.
Mokhtar approached her, grabbed her by the hair while Rouh screamed, dragged her into her room, threw her on the floor, took off his belt, and beat her severely until she fainted.
••End of Flashback••
Rouh was remembering with tears streaming down her cheeks. She recalled waking up in the middle of the night, her whole body aching from her uncle's beating. She called Shahd and told her they wanted to marry her off against her will. Shahd and her father came over to talk to her uncle, but Mokhtar kicked them out, saying this was a family matter and they had no right to interfere. Rouh kept crying until she fell asleep....
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The sun of a new day rose over the Helaly mansion.
Specifically in Younis's suite, who was getting dressed.
There was a knock on the door, and he went to open it; it was Safa.
Younis: Yes? What do you want?
Safa: Are we going to talk at the door like this?
Younis: You know that no one enters this suite except me.
Safa, annoyed: Why? Rahma enters it, and Ali too.
Younis sharply: Ah, you're going to start. Look, I've had enough of you since yesterday and I'm trying to forget what you did, so don't make things worse, my cousin. Just leave from here quietly; it's better for you.
Safa got scared: Alright, Younis. But remember that this is not God's justice, my cousin.
Safa went down, and Younis sighed in frustration: God's justice... as if my marriage to you was God's justice.
Younis snapped out of it at the sound of Rahma laughing, as she had heard his words.
Rahma approached him: You know, if she had heard you, there would be a council session in the 'Mandara' today to resolve the issue.
Younis laughed and put his arm around Rahma's shoulder: Forget about her. Morning of beauty, my sister's heart.
Rahma: Morning of jasmine, soul of your sister's heart.
Younis: How are you, sweetheart?
Rahma: I'm good, thank God.
Younis kissed her head: Let's go down.
Rahma: Let's go.
Younis stopped.
Rahma: What's wrong?
Younis: I forgot my things in the room. I'll get them and come.
Rahma: Go down and I'll get them for you.
Younis: My sister's heart.
Rahma laughed and went to Younis's suite. She took the wallet, glasses, and phone from the nightstand. Just as she was about to leave the suite, the phone rang with Tariq's name.
Rahma's heart skipped a beat; she just wished she could hear his voice. She walked out of the suite, where Younis was waiting for her.
Rahma: Your phone is ringing.
Younis took the things from Rahma, who walked away quickly. Younis saw tears in her eyes but understood the reason when he saw Tariq's name.
Younis answered: You scoundrel who never asks about us.
Tariq laughed: You know how my work is, man. How are you?
Younis: Thank God, my friend. How are you?
Tariq: Good.
Younis: What's wrong? Why are you saying it so half-heartedly?
Tariq: You know what's going on, Younis.
Younis: Forget it, my friend, and live your life.
Tariq: I can never live without her. I'm killing myself with work just to forget, but I can't.
Younis: And you're not planning to come back?
Tariq: No.
Younis: Your mother always calls me to convince you to come back.
Tariq: She wants me to come back so she can marry me off, right? Tell her to get that out of her head. I'm not getting married, and I'm not coming back.
Younis sighed: Whatever makes you comfortable, my friend.
Tariq: I have to hang up. I'll call you another time.
Younis: Alright, my friend.
Younis hung up and went downstairs.
===================
In Cairo, in Mokhtar's apartment.
Rabab and Riham were sitting in the reception area.
Riham whispering: Where is Lady Rouh?
Rabab: Preparing breakfast.
Riham: Which month is she in now?
Rabab: The fifth. Why?
Riham: And are we going to keep putting up with her for long or what? Tomorrow she'll give birth and want clothes, diapers, and medication for her child.
Rabab: I really don't know, my daughter. Her mother died and left her, and we bore her burden. When we said we'd marry her off and be done with her, the man died.
Riham: Well, why doesn't she go to his family? They'd surely be happy to know she's pregnant with their grandchild.
Rabab: The disaster is that he married her in secret.
Riham: She's a stupid girl anyway. Who leaves the apartment she was living in and comes to live here? She should have taken us to live with her.
Rabab: When your father and I found out he died and went to tell her, she couldn't believe she was getting out of his house. But to tell the truth, when your father and I went to get her, the girl was in a terrible state. Her face was full of bruises, she was in a state of sheer terror, and he had tied her to the bed. Your father is the one who untied her then.
Riham: Didn't she run away from him, Mom? He had to do that to her when he found her.
Rabab: Well, she wouldn't run away from the apartment for no reason. It seems he used to beat her, and God knows what else he did to her. Even when he found her and found out she was pregnant, he had no mercy on her.
Riham: You're right. Besides, since the day she came back from his apartment, she's been silent, always crying, and sad.
Rabab: Your father and I noticed that. And your father told me that this man used to torture girls in the worst ways, and many girls died while they were with him.
Riham: Oh my gosh, Mom! And I was the one who wanted to marry him instead of her.
Rabab: That's why I refused to let you marry him, girl. Do you think I'm willing to lose you?
Riham and Rabab heard the sound of something breaking in the kitchen. They quickly got up, went into the kitchen, and found broken plates on the floor.
Rabab: Your day is black! How did you break the plates, girl?
Rouh: I'm sorry, I swear. I was getting them to serve the food, and they slipped from my hands.
Rabab approached her and hit her on the shoulder: Where are we supposed to find the money? From your expenses and burdens, or from the things you keep breaking every now and then, girl?
Mokhtar came out of his room at the sound of Rabab's loud voice.
Mokhtar: What's going on? Why is your voice so loud first thing in the morning?
Rabab: Come see, my brother, the disaster your sister left behind when she died. See how your sister's daughter broke the plates.
Mokhtar: Didn't we tell you to be careful, girl?
Rouh was crying: I swear they slipped from my hands unintentionally, Uncle.
Rabab grabbed her by the hair: I'm sick of you, girl.
Riham was standing there, gloating over Rouh.
Mokhtar: That's enough, Rabab. Leave her alone before something happens to her or the baby in her womb and she brings us a disaster.
Rabab pushed her: Clean up this mess and prepare breakfast.
Rabab and Mokhtar left, and Riham was still gloating over Rouh.
Riham: Tsk tsk, what a pity. By God, I feel sorry for you.
Riham left, and Rouh started picking up the glass while crying.
She picked up all the glass, prepared breakfast, and placed it on the dining table. She made a small sandwich for herself, went into her room, and ate it while crying. She took her medication, rested her head against the back of the bed, closed her eyes, and began to remember the rest of the story.
••Flashback••
Rouh was sitting in her room crying. The door opened and her uncle Mokhtar entered: Come on, girl, get up and get dressed. The gentleman and the marriage registrar are on their way.
Rouh ran to her uncle and kissed his hand: I beg you, Uncle, please don't do this to me.
Mokhtar angrily: Girl, it seems yesterday's beating wasn't enough. Now move, or I swear I'll drag you out in front of them looking like this.
Mokhtar left, and Rouh put on a wide black dress and a white niqab.
After a while, she heard the sound of people outside and could hear the marriage registrar's voice while she cried over her state. Mokhtar entered carrying the registrar's ledger.
Mokhtar: Come on, girl, sign here.
Rouh signed with tears streaming down her face, and Mokhtar took her hand as she walked out with him.
Mokhtar: Greet your husband, Rouh: Selim Bey Al-Helaly.
(You know him, of course, Younis's cousin, and Safa and Ali's brother.)
Selim stood up, approached Rouh, reached out, took her gloved hand, and kissed it. Rouh's whole body was trembling; she didn't even raise her eyes or look at him.
Selim: Congratulations, bride.
Rouh didn't answer him.
Rabab laughed: She's definitely shy, Bey. May God bless you.
Selim had his eyes on Rouh and saw her eyes full of tears: Come on, say goodbye to your family so we can leave.
Riham, Rabab, and Mokhtar said goodbye to Rouh, obviously putting on an act in front of Selim.
Selim held her hand and led her out of the apartment. Shahd was standing at the door of her apartment across from Rouh's. She approached and hugged her. Rouh cried in her arms, and Shahd cried too. Mohamed, Shahd's father, greeted her.
Selim pulled her away from Shahd's embrace and went downstairs. Mokhtar was standing by the car; he opened the back door for them, and they got in. Mokhtar drove the car to a very luxurious building and they got out. Selim held Rouh's hand, they entered the building, and took the elevator. Rouh felt like she was literally going to die, her heart pounding terrifyingly. They went up to the fifth floor, Selim opened the door, and entered: Please come in, bride.
Rouh went in, her whole body trembling.
Selim approached her: Since the moment I saw your eyes, you enchanted me, and I've wanted to see what's under the niqab.
Selim lifted the niqab and got lost in Rouh's beauty; the redness of her face from crying only added to her beauty: In the name of God, as God wills. I expected you to be beautiful, but not to this extent.
Selim lifted her face so she could look at him. Rouh's heart pounded with fear when she saw him, because Selim's features were very sharp, and even his gaze was terrifying.
Rouh wanted to escape from him in any way possible: I want to change, please.
Selim maliciously: Why not, of course. Go change in this room, and I'll change in the other room, beautiful.
Rouh moved away from him quickly, entered the room, and thanked God when she found a key in the door. She locked herself in, completely terrified.
After a while, Selim knocked on the door: Are you done, bride?
Rouh was very scared and didn't answer him. Selim tried to open the door but found it locked.
Selim: Rouh, open the door... I'm telling you, open this door!
Selim got furious because he was talking to her and she wasn't answering. He started breaking everything in the apartment while Rouh was terrified. She heard the sound of the door slamming shut forcefully, and after a while, she heard the sound of a car. Approaching the window, she saw him drive away at a terrifying speed, indicating his anger. She thanked God that he left, lay down on the bed, and out of sheer exhaustion, fell into a deep sleep. She woke up the next day and approached the door to listen in case he had returned, but there was no sound.
She opened the door carefully and was shocked by the sight of the apartment, which was literally smashed to pieces. Rouh looked around the apartment for him, but he wasn't there. She ran to the door to open it, but found it locked. She kept crying and felt thirsty. She went into the kitchen, drank, took a bottle of water with her, and went back into the room, locking it again. She was afraid he would return at any moment.
••End of Flashback••
Rouh was remembering while crying and snapped out of it at the sound of Rabab's voice: Come on, Lady Rouh, to prepare lunch.
Rouh got up, went into the bathroom, washed her face, came out, and went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.......