Chapter Nine

"Zuwairah, take this" Zulaiha said as she pass a small bottle which contains black leaves inside to her friend.

'Wh....what...what's this again Zulaiha?" She stuttered as she stare blankly at the bottle in her hand without making an attempt to accept it.

"Just take it you idiot!" She whispered softly to her,she doesn't want people to know what they are doing.

Today is the big day, Zuwairah's wedding and she's not happy about it. She was scared that she had to tell her friend that she doesn't wish to get married to Rasheed but Zulaiha was so good in convincing her. Now, they are in her room with some other relatives and guest dressing up.

"Take" she then accept it with a shaky hands.

"What do I do with this?"

"This will make your husband loves you so much Zuwairah,he'll love you more than his first wife..I know you love him,you can never hate him and it's all written on your face. That's why I want to help you fight for your right"

"But-"

"Try it and you'll gladly thank me afterwards"

"But what about his family? Even before today, when ever I went to their house for a visit, they always eat and drink together. How am I suppose to put this in his meal!" She yelled but more like a whisper.

"And I told you, I don't want to marry him " she added.

"You have to! That way my dreams can come true!" She glared at her.

"Your dreams?! " Zuwairah ask confused.

"I..I mean my dreams of seeing you happy " she nervously smile at her 

"By giving your husband this,he will come to love you with all of his heart. Don't worry, you don't have to get him eat this immediately after your marriage.. Wait for like a month or two then I'll tell you what to do"

"But-"

"Shut up! This all for your sake"

"O...Okay" she said finally agreeing with her friend.

_Three Month After The Wedding_

"I really can't believe I'm married to a liar" Zuwairah thought as she heave down a heavy sigh. It been three month already but she can't bring herself to trust her husband,she used to see him as her hero but not anymore. She wish she's not married to him yet.

She was about to get up from her bed when realisation hit her. It been three month that she had been married to Rasheed,he had been nothing but sweet and caring towards her,he leaves home late and comes back early. She had never find him suspicious, no woman has been calling his phone or probably disturbing her for marrying her husband. 

No woman in this world will take that. Even if there's, it's rare.

"Or could it be a misunderstanding? Could Zulaiha misunderstood him?" She thought.

"No! He's a pretender! His wife might not even know that I'm married to her husband. I've made up my mind,I'll make sure I use this thing Zulaiha gave me"

Earlier, Zulaiha called her up, she told her to do the work as they've planned it. She also make it clear to her to make it fast as soon as possible.

She slowly got up from her bed to get the love portion.

She open her wardrobe, brought it out as she intently fixed her face on it, she kept thinking of how to go with the plan.

"Bingo!" She exclaim happily as what she's going to do came into her mind.

She immediately went back to her bed and lie down, she coveref her self up with a blanket.

•

Rasheed's parents, Rasheed and his siblings are all at the dinning waiting patiently for the maid to dish out their food for them. 

"And your wife,where is she?" His mom asked with a raise brow.

"She should be down in few minute,I guess she's freshing up" he lied to his Mom.

Ever since they were both married,his wife had been acting strange which is so unusual of her,the Zuwairah he used to know is very lively and friendly. But the Zuwairah he came to know for the past three month is now different from the old Zuwairah. She doesn't talk much like wise has she accepted for her husband to make love to her. He knows there must be something bothering her or probably a reason for her change but he won't pressurise her,he will wait for the day she's going to open up to him.

"I can wait" he promise himself.

With all this thought roaming in his head,he hadn't realise that the food is serve already.

"Rasheed" his Mom called again.

"Yes Mom"

"Go and call your wife,it's time for dinner" she said.

It just like a ritual in their family, they must all eat together. Even if that person is sick, he or she must join the dinning and eat with them and not just only that,they also eat each other's food which Zuwairah finds annoying due to the goal she wanted to achieve and because of that, Zuwairah was not able to carry out her plan.

•

Knock! knock! knock!

Zuwairah heard the sound then she thought; this is the best time to start the acting. She covered her self with the duvet whilst pretending to be shivering on the bed. The maid tried knocking so many times ans when she heard no response, she decide to go in. She open the door slowly and make her self in.

What lays in front of her got her scared. The small madam was shivering badly on the bed. She ran to her with fear in her "Madam! Madam what's wrong with you?" She ask in a concern and worried tone.

"I'm...I'm..ha...having..fe..fe..fever" she replied with shivering voice.

"What?"

"Please call my husband for me" she beseech.

"Yes ma" she said as she ran out of the room.

"Oga..Oga" she called as she ran to them,she glance at everyone and their food was still untouched.

"Where's she..I hope she knows she's the one we are waiting for?" The father in-law asked in a firm tone.

"Oga..your wife is not feeling fine,she's shivering "

"What?! " Rasheed ask as he quickly got up to his feet,he ran to their room and saw his wife shivering.

"Love! Love, what happened to you? Why are you like this?"

"I'm...I'm..ha...having..fe..fe..fever" she told him the same thing she told the maid.

"Let get you to the hospital then" he said in a worried tone.

"No!"she exclaimed. She fears her secret might leaked.

"What if he finds out? " she thought.

"I mean, I...i took my dr...drugs already,I ju...just need to rrrr....rest" she said.

I hope he buy my lies

"But when?"

"Yes...yesterday"

"But-"

"Please Rasheed, just bring your food here and eat with me...I might feel better after that"

"O..okay...I'll be back..love you" he said as he kissed her forehead and head out.

"How is she?" They all chorused. He shook his head before he takes a deep sigh.

"She's not feeling too good" he answered as he receive an 'Oh' response from his family.

"What?" He muttered with a glare.

"We think we know the reason for the sickness,go meet your wife okay..and tell her, when we're done with the food, we will come check up on her..hurry" his mom encourage 

"But Mom-" Rasheed's junior sister wanted to protest.

"Yes I know,for the first time we're breaking the rules.. It's fine and you know why" she wink at Mardiyya and she nod in understanding.

They all thought Zuwairah is pregnant not knowing that all this is a plan from her.

"I will head up to my room" he said. He pick up his plate of food and walk away.

"Alright son..I'm so proud of you" his Mom said with a grin.

"I wonder what's wrong with Mom" he thought.

Rasheed kept the food beside Zuwairah and told her he'll be back in the next three minutes.

"Where are you going to?"

"I need to use the restroom, I'll be back" He said and she nod her head.

Just as Rasheed was out of her sight she sit up straight and quickly pour the portion into the food, immediately she was done, she quickly lie down back to her pretending of a sickness thing.

•

"Mom this food is really delicious " Mardiyya said as her immediate sister beat her to it.

"Of course it will be delicious when you're not good at it"

"Will you shut up!" She spat angrily at her.

"Don't open eye for my child ooo...don't go and learn how to cook,do you think if you get married, it's your husband that will be cooking for you?"

"But Mom-"

"Mom is right Habiba" her twin brother interfere.

"Come on shut up!  aren't you suppose to support your twin, Habib?" She asked in an angry voice.

"But I'm just-"

"Wayyo!!" They heard someone screamed.

"Wayyo!! I'm dead!!" They heard the voice again and that was when they realise its coming from Zuwairah's room.

"Please help!! Help!!!" She screamed as everyone ran up to the room.

Immediately the door was open, they saw Rasheed lying lifelessly on the bed.

"Ra...Rasheed? What happened to my Rasheed? " his Mom asked.

"I..I.. I-" she was still stuttering not finding the right word to say.

Rasheed's Dad brought out his phone to invites their family doctor over.

"I..I think brother is dead father,I can't feel his breathe anyone" Habib said looking straight into his mother's eyes.

"What?!!" His father muttered in shock and fear as the phone fell from his hand.