Deceived; Chapter 36

*A different point of view*

It's really hard for a father to go through such a painful phase.

Having a daughter sexually assaulted by a male at the age of fifteen hurts more than ever.

I warned her.

I warned her to stay away from strangers, ever since she was a toddler.

I figured she was old enough to make her own decisions.

Business trips.

I hate them. The only reason I do is because it grabs me away from my family. I blame myself for not having a strong relationship with the people I love most.

I get really bored in most of them, especially since all take about three to four weeks.

Actually, as a man of fifty-eight, boredom gets to me all the time.

This situation happened while I was away on one particular trip.

Rania and I never bond, nor communicate.

Although, I still understand her thoughts and emotions.

Girls love because they feel there's no connection between their father and themselves, therefore, they need a man.

I try so hard to please her desires.

Where did I go wrong?

The true story behind this rape charge is still unknown to me.

A friend of mine offered to help me discuss it, and speak of professional lawyers to help us capture this criminal.

I still recall every moment of that day.

And yet, my heart still aches me every time I remember the words of my wife.

I was on a business trip, a quite long one, actually, with my colleagues, happily working.

One afternoon, while my boss and I were having a quick sip of coffee at a nearby café, my mobile rang.

'My beautiful wife' was plastered on the screen.

It was absolutely normal for her to call me, in fact, we speak on the phone everyday for an average of two hours.

With a heart filled with excitement, I clicked on the 'Answer' button.

"Hello, my dearest Zeina"I spoke.

No voice replied, all I could hear were loud breathings.

"Zeina?" I spoke again.

"Talal?" she finally said.

"Zeina! Is everything okay?" I inquired.

"Is there any chance you can return home earlier? Like now?" she asked.

"Why? Why? What happened?!" I replied with a mind filled with confusion.

"I got a call from Shahad, she told me that Rania was sexually assaulted by this boy she barely even knew, please come home immediately! I'm worried, Talal!"

Shahad is my eldest daughter, she's three years older than Rania. My other elder sons are twins, they're off in college.

I didn't bother answering her, but instead, ended the call and stood up from my chair, spoke to my boss, and explained to him.

He insisted I leave the country right away in order to reach Bahrain in time.

I excused myself and was driven by a private driver to the airport.

-

I was told when I reached Bahrain that Shahad found out herself.

Rania's phone was casually sitting on her bed, and while she was admiring the new guest room, in our renovated home, Shahad decided to peek through it, since she wanted answers to her awkward behavior.

I tried to contact some of Rania's friends to find some answers myself.

Non of them actually knew what was going on.

Rania had many friends, however, I tried to investigate among her closest ones.

Abdulla Al-***** was one of my dearest friends in high school with me.

He happens to have a daughter Rania's age, which she never told me about, actually. Non of her friends visited our home.

As I obeyed the directions to Abdulla's residence, I exited my vehicle, rang the doorbell beside the wooden, mahogany door, and was terrified all of a sudden.

I was terrified for one reason.

The reason was unbelievable.

*Ghaneya's point of view*

No words could exit my lips.

After my father explained to me, a few days ago, exactly what happened to poor Rania, I was scandalized.

Extremely shocked.

Her dad is joining my father and I for lunch this afternoon.

They've been friends ever since, but only this situation brought them even closer, because I am her friend.

I was told to greet Rania's father by mine, when I heard the doorbell ring. My father told me to refer him as my uncle. 'Uncle' Talal.

I brushed my messy hair and tied it.

As I was walking slowly down the stairs , I could hear the two mens' conversation.

"Your home is so beautiful! I feel as though I've seen the outside of it. It's very familiar." complemented Uncle Talal.

"That's strange! But you know, many houses are common in looks, here in this neighborhood!" replied my father.

I walked through the hall that lead me to the sitting room with my eyes on the ground, watching my feet move.

However, as I extended my right foot and officially entered the room, my jaw dropped.

The man sitting beside my father looked extremely familiar to me.

He was the man I met up with.

He was the man I loved.

He was Fouad.

Deceived; Chapter 35

"I'm sorry"

"Please forgive me"

"Ghaneya"

"Please answer me!!!"

"How many times do I have to apologize?"

"I'm so sorry!!!"

"Forgive me, PLEASE"

My eyes, frozen on the iPhone screen, were unable to move.

My mind, incapable of thinking about anything else, was set on this particular conversation, providing me with all different types of replies.

My heart, incompetent of forgiving, began to race.

I didn't know what to do.

I wish it was that easy to accept apologies, but it's not.

What Munya did was unbelievable, and I just don't think she deserves my friendship anymore.

Although, sometimes, people learn from their mistakes, and if they're not forgiven, they grieve over them and refuse to move on.

Few minutes later, my incompetent heart transformed to a heart filled with determination.

"I'm willing to forget our past. Don't worry about it." I replied to her.

"Really?! Thank you so much, Ghaneya!!!" she answered instantly.

I was satisfied and happy, however, my mind swiftly laid on Fouad's situation, suddenly.

After that moment, when Hessa showed me the two numbers, I could have sworn I felt as if I was falling off an airplane.

I was completely startled.

But what really confused me was the resemblance between the two numbers, although they were assigned to different names.

Mine was saved as "Fouad".

Hers was saved as "Omar".

We were both deluded and played on by the same person, disguised as another.

No words could describe the hatred I have towards him.

How could I be so stupid, and not realize right from wrong?!

-

"Ghaneya, please come down stairs!" said my father.

"Coming!" I replied skipping down the stairs.

I don't know whether he's still mad at me, I'm too afraid to ask.

I decided to act like nothing's wrong.

"Do you know Rania Al-*****?" he questioned.

I was worried, why would he ask such a question?

"Uh-h.. Yeah..." I answered anxiously.

"Is she your friend? he questioned again.

"Yes" I replied.

I didn't want him to know that my friends and I split up, but I have a feeling, sooner or later, with Munya and I friends again, we'll make up.

"I know her relative, and her father, too, and-"

"What's going on?" I interrupted demanding to know why he's asking about her.

"Did she ever mention to you anything personal?" he continued.

"Like what?" I inquired.

"Was there any man in her life?"

"I don't know, but why are you asking?" the beats of my heart began increasing.

"Ghaneya.. Rania was-"

"O-oh m-my god-d.." I  hesitantly interrupted, "she was r-r-r-"

Deceived; Chapter 34

"Are you joking, Ghaneya?!" my father's eyes were filled with instant shock, "the man raped you!"

-

Ouch.

His words were like a strong slap in the face.

It felt as if a knife was being stabbed into my already broken heart.

I simply ignored, I was too surprised.

A few minutes later, I fell, automatically, on the rough carpet ground, sobbing heavily.

No words came out, just strong, loud moans.

I love Fouad, I really do.

I still don't see how he would play me when he loved me even more than I did.

-

Stares, stares, and even more dirty stares were on me as I was walking down the hallway of my school.

Shame was the only emotion I went through.

Being known as the girl who was deceived is not an accomplishment.

I lost my friends, because they were too embarrassed to be seen with me.

I lost my sister, because of my unbalanced moods.

I lost my father, because I made him realize that I wasn't the same old innocent daughter I was a year ago.

I was lost and lonely, because now I know the reason behind waiting for a phone call from a man that never even loved me.

He got what he wanted, and left, just like the sun deserting the sky at sunset.

I knew God was on my side, considering I regret every second of that day.

When it was lunch time, my heart dropped as I literally found each and everyone's eye on me, while walking through our wide cafeteria, feeling so disgraced attending the same school as I.

My school is filled with close-minded people, which is unfortunate, since they take every surprising news, and turn it into the latest, shocking headlines of Bahrain.

A huge part of me senses that not everyone knows the full story behind this.

They probably jumped to conclusions, just like any ordinary news.

I grabbed bite sized snacks from the food display counter, and walked around the large hall, looking for an empty spot to sit in.

My mind was having a hard time detecting an empty seat, until my eyes laid on the seat beside my old classmate, Hessa.

I still recall the day I overheard her screaming and complaining about a problem she had with someone that ruined her life, too.

I walked up to her, she was sitting with no one, after all.

"Hi Hessa!" I greeted with a grin.

"Hi Ghaneya!" she greeted back, ever so, kind, and I was grateful.

I sat beside her, and began munching on my finger food.

Awkwardness filled the space between us since we haven't started a real conversation ever since, forever!

"Listen, I know with all these stories going around about me-"

"You know, it's fine, I went through something similar, too, don't worry" Hessa interrupted showing full sympathy, "and I know how hard it is to go through such problems."

Thank god, someone understood.

My eyes felt a bit teary, it was frustration, that's all, I was frustrated with life.

I continued eating, until I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Hessa.

"Who was he, anyway?" she questioned.

I didn't quite know if I could confide in her or not, since I've been played with once, but since she went through the same, I spoke.

"His name was Fouad..." my voice sounded unhappy.

"I can give you advice, do you want to talk about it?" she asked.

"We were in love... and after we met up, he was gone, he left me..." I said.

I took out my phone and explained to her every single detail for A to Z.

I showed her the unreal photos he sent me of him, and the number he called me with, while he was in Qatar.

As I was clarifying to her our love, and how we used to stay on the phone all night, she took out her phone and grabbed mine at the same time.

Usually, I would grab my phone back if anyone snatched it away from me, but now, my finger bones didn't have the energy, I was weak.

"Hessa....?" I questioned as I saw her eyes move away from her phone to my phone, repeatedly.

Her jaw dropped.

"U-h-h... Hessa?" I inquired worriedly.

"This number... This number is familiar to me..." she spoke.

I felt my heart racing.

"That guy that deluded me, Ghaneya..."

She stopped for a second staring deeply into my iPhone.

"He called me from this same exact number..."

Deceived; Chapter 33

I was exhilarated! Thank God!

I began banging on the bathroom door to notify my father.

"COME ON! I NEED TO TELL YOU IMPORTANT NEWS!"

"What's all the fuss about, Ghaneya?!" my father replied exiting the bathroom quickly due to my noise.

"The doctor just called you and I picked up" I stopped and gave a silent pause, "she said I'm not diagnosed with any disease!"

"That's good, Ghaneya, now go back to your room." he bluntly replied.

"Aren't you happy?" I asked, trying to receive an answer out of his coldness.

"Of course I am, but that still doesn't make me any less angry with you, Ghaneya. You went behind my back, with a man I haven't even met, claiming he's around your age, when he's actually much older!" he spoke loudly, "and the fact that you actually WENT for it. Now that's just unacceptable, Ghaneya."

His voice caused an echo to fill our home. His room door was open.

"You have betrayed me! And most importantly, you betrayed your religion and forgot about what really matters!" he continued, his voice began to appear more angry.

I ran out without a second thought, to my room, in fear, scared I would receive a second slap.

This Fouad issue has become a situation I no longer can manipulate with.

-

"Ghaneya, please tell me how you feel about this position you are in." inquired the therapist.

"Depressed, angry, sad" I replied.

"Do you miss that particular day?" she asked.

"Not the day, really, but I miss him." I admitted.

My father was sitting on a chair at the far end of the office, just staring at me answer all these questions in worry.

"Do you love this man?" she questioned.

"Y-y-e-s-s" I mumbled.

"Does he know any location of yours?"

"U-h-h.. y-y-e-s-s" I mumbled again.

My father looked startled.

"Has he ever been in your home?"

"N-n-o" I answered.

"Has he ever seen your home?|

I remained quiet.

"Ghaneya, dear, you need to answer all these questions." she declared.

"Yes" I replied.

"When?" she inquired again, "how?"

"On that day, he dropped me home." I answered staring at the tiled floor.

I felt footsteps approaching me. It was my father.

"Where did you two come from?"

I felt both my father's and the therapist's eyes on me.

"Ghaneya.." his voice grew in more concern, "where were you two?"

"A-a-a h-h-o-t-t-e-l-l" I muttered quietly 5 seconds later.

"A what?!" he asked again, not being able to hear my answer.

"Now, now, Mr. *****, she must remain calm" the therapist said.

"A-a-a h-h-o-t-t-e-l-l" I hesitated even more, but louder, this time, in order for the two to hear the answer to their question.

As I lifted my head, full of shame, my father's mouth fell wide open.

He was shocked.

He was speechless.

He was furious.

"Let's move on, which hotel was it, Ghaneya?" the therapist continued, asking me.

"The new one, beside *****" I replied.

"Did you two stay in a room? Or-"

"Yes," I interrupted.

"Was it a suite, or just a regular, standard room?"

"It was a suite." I said.

"I have a few more questions to ask you, and then our session's over," stated the therapist, "do you recall how this man looked like?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Would you mind clarifying, dear?" she asked.

"He was tall, a bit fat, his face was wrinkly, he was hazel eyed, had dark black hair, with strands of white ones, and a mustache." I truthfully answered.

"And how old does this man appear?" she questioned worriedly.

"About 50 to 55 years old..." I quickly answered her question, terrified of my father's response.

As soon as few words wanted to swim out of the therapist's mouth, my father stood right in front of my eyes, and spoke with a furious tone.

"Ghaneya! Can't you tell?! Fouad is obviously playing you!" 

Tears, tears, and more tears filled my pale face.

I don't think he was playing me, he loved me, really, and still does!

"I bet he doesn't even love you!" he screamed louder in disgust.

"B-b-u-t-t, h-e, h-e d-o-e-s!" I murmured.

"Are you joking, Ghaneya?!" my father's eyes were filled with instant shock, "the man raped you!"

Deceived; Chapter 32

A moment later, my ears witnessed words that almost caused my heart to beat endlessly. My father's words could have been the reason to my life beginning to tear apart.

"Ghaneya, I know what you and Fouad did."

-

From that moment, regret spread over me. I should've refused to get to know Fouad.

If I haven't met him, I would be my normal self; happy, and innocent. Now I've turned into a bad, depressed, malicious young, 15 year old.

I stared into my father's eyes.

He held my hands, looked back into my eyes, and spoke, "How could you?"

I hated myself.

I shouldn't have never met up with Fouad.

Tears began rolling down my face.

I thought, since I began tearing, my father would go easy on me.

However, it hasn't made him any less mad, instead, fury filled his eyes.

A second later, I felt my cheek warm up. I felt my cheek filled with pain, it stung me. I was disoriented, and then I accepted the fact that my father had slapped me.

I felt it coming. A slap in the face was most expected, and I don't blame him. I deserved more, too.

"Please tell me, Ghaneya, what I've heard was not true!" my father's tone grew louder.

More tears were visible, I couldn't stop crying. 

"Answer me, Ghaneya!" many nurses and clients began staring as my father's talking voice turned into a screaming one.

"I'm sorry, I swear, I'm so sorry!" I cried harder.

"Mr. *****, the doctor would like to see you and your daughter, now." said the nurse approaching us.

My father got up and headed towards the doctor's office, without even looking at me.

"Hello, Mr. *****" said the doctor.

She was an average aged woman, with an almost blonde-looking hair, wore glasses, and wasn't that short nor thin.
A smile plastered her face as she saw me enter the room.

"Good evening." my father replied with a cold tone.

"So, what's Ghaneya's issue?" questioned the doctor.

"I think Ghaneya, here, would love to tell you herself exactly what's the issue." insisted my father.

I thought he wasn't serious for a while, until both, my father and the doctor stared at me.

Does he really think I can admit to a stranger that I might have "STD"? Which I'm positively sure I don't...

I remained silent, hoping someone would speak for me.

"It says here that your school nurse, Mrs. *****, thinks you might be diagnosed with STD, due to a worried complaint. Now, is that true?" the doctor broke the silence, asking me.

I nodded. I was too ashamed to speak.

The doctor's smile still plastered across her face, stood up and guided me to a laboratory.

She made me sit on an average looking chair, and wait for her to return.

Two minutes later, she entered the room with a metal bowl.

Her back faced me for a while, and when she turned around, I stared at what she was holding.

A needle.

"Now, Ghaneya, I'm just going to take a little blood, to make sure you're not infected," the doctor said as she brought the needle close to my elbow part, where my veins usually show, "this will only hurt a bit."

This was my first blood test, and I was scared.

My eyes were closed for a whole minute after the needle gave me a sudden prick.

When it was over, I could see dark red, almost maroon-like blood filled in the tube.

I don't think that much was necessary, and she said a little.

"Thank you so much, both of you, the results will arrive in a week's time." said the doctor to my father and I as we entered her office once again.

-

I stayed at home for a week, tired, pale, although did my very best to continue praying to God on time.

I felt as if I was connected to him, somehow, and the feeling was great.

Whenever the thought of Fouad and I's meeting day came to mind, and so did a tear appeared behind my eyes, I immediately turned to God, asking him to forgive me for what I've done.

I missed a week of school, too.

I've tried to speak to my father and apologize to him, but there was no use. He ignored, ignored, and ignored.

I threatened him, told him I wouldn't go to school if he ignored me one more time, and yet, he still ignored me.

My blood results are meant to come out tonight, and I'm sort of scared, too.

At first, I denied the idea of receiving an infection, but as I started thinking deeper, what if I was diagnosed with STD?

-

As I marched up the stairs on my way to my bedroom with a juice box in hand, I heard my father's ring tone coming from his room.

It's been going on for a few minutes, and I was surprised he hasn't picked it up, yet.

I was headed to my father's room and saw the bathroom lights and heard the shower on.

I clicked on the 'Answer' button and held it against my right ear. The number wasn't saved.

"Hello?" the person spoke. It was a lady.

"Hello? Who am I speaking with?" I replied.

"Hi, this is Doctor *****, I'm calling to inform you about Ghaneya's blood exam results." she said.

"Oh, hi! This is Ghaneya, my father's taking a shower." I answered.

"Oh, that's fine, I just wanted to inform you that your blood results-"

"How'd they turn out?!" I interrupted.

I was too anxious to know the answer.

"You're safe, nothing's wrong with you!"