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!"

Deceived; Chapter 31

"Ghaneya Al-*****, the nurse wants to see you right this instant." said my art teacher while I was in the middle of painting a portrait of some fruits sitting on a table in front of me.

It has been a week since the almost choking incident in my toilet.

I'm still mad at Munya, for interfering.

I haven't spoken to the rest of the girls either, they've been with Munya the whole time, I guess their mad at me too, for no apparent reason. Friends can be so naive and childish, sometimes, following the group's most popular by ignoring and hating on others, even though I was disconnected from Munya, only. Anyway, it still doesn't give them the right to stop talking to me, caused by a small argument between Munya and I.

I was confused about the call. I placed my index finger right in front of my eyes, to check my eye sight. I felt my forehead, to check if a fever ran over me. And I checked all the other parts of my revealing body to check if any small cut was bleeding. I was wearing my school uniform, after all.

Nothing was wrong with me, thankfully, yet my mind was still perplexed and everything seemed ever so, complicated.

"H-h-hi, you asked to see me?" I said hesitating as I knocked and entered our school's mini clinic.

"Hello, and you are?" asked the nurse.

"Ghaneya Al-*****" I answered.

"Al-*****, Ghaneya Al-*****" the nurse repeated while searching through the students' files, "Ah, yes, here we are, Ghaneya Al-*****"

I took a seat right beside her desk waiting for my presence's explanation.

"I've been meaning to talk to you, Ghaneya, which is why I called you down here..." her tone changed, which frightened me a little.

"O-o-o-k-ay..." I hesitated again.

"I've received a complaint from someone early today that you might be diagnosed with STD, which is a disease transmitted sexually." she replied.

I was shocked, this isn't happening, no way, it's impossible!

My heart began beating faster, afraid that I might actually have this disease, though I denied it to the school nurse.

"What, are you joking? There's no way I have that." I said trying to cover the fact that it may be true. I tried to make it seem obvious that I would never be diagnosed with STD.

"Well, I'm sure of that, however, this complaint came from an unexpected person, which is why I have to call your father and inform him, in order for a professional, hospital doctor to clear you up." the nurse said.

"We all know this isn't true, calling my father isn't needed, Ma'am." I said, trying to talk her out of calling my father.

What if I was diagnosed with STD, would I be grounded and punished forever? Or would I have my phone taken away from me forever? But worst of all, Fouad and I would never speak to one another again.

"I'm afraid I must, Mrs. Al-*****, this can be a very serious and dangerous observation." she answered.

I walked out of the clinic quietly yet extremely terrified of the consequences.

Beside the doctor's office, I saw her, with my own two eyes, staring at me all innocent like, but I knew, deep down, she meant it, she meant ever single bit of her evil and cruel actions.

I couldn't stand her. I walked away with a mean stare, implying that one day, she will re-pay me.

-

"Ghaneya?!" my father's loud voice was heard from my closed bedroom.

I placed my earphones on my bed, along with my iPod, and exited my room, skipped down the stairs, and listed to what my dear father had to say.

"How was school today?" he asked worriedly although applied a simple smile.

"It was fine, how was work today?" I asked back.

"It was fun, actually." he replied.

The room was filled with silence for 5 solid minutes.

"Listen, Ghaneya, you know you can trust me, right?" my father spoke, breaking the silence.

"Yeah sure, you're my father" I replied with no second thought.

"And you know you can tell me anything whatsoever, including your relationship issues with your friends, or... you know... boys...." he said.

I had no idea where he was going with this.

I nodded to everything he said, though, not releasing a single sound.

"Well, that's great, then. Hey, why don't you go on up, get dressed to some normal clothes and meet me in the car, will you?" he commanded.

I obeyed, and changed from my school uniform into some casual training pants and an ordinary top, and made my way to my father's car.

My eyes were attached to my phone, and without noticing, we have reached our destination.

I made sure I ate nothing before leaving after my father told me to get dressed, I expected a father-daughter bond tonight, watch a movie, eat junk food, laugh, but my hopes were raised up too high.

A hospital was the least expected.

"Um... What are we doing here?" I asked with emotions filled with anxiety.

"Your school's nurse informed me that you need to see a doctor, in your case, a professional one." he replied.

"For what reason?" I asked again, acting as if I had no clue what was going on.

My father ignored me, and suddenly, his mood swung, and automatically, he was filled with fury, and I had no idea why.

While we were waiting for our name to be called to enter the doctor's office, I placed my palm on my father's right, muscular arm.

"Ghaneya..." He spoke as he turned his head to face me.

Likewise, I faced him with my eyes filled with innocence.

"What happened while I was away?" he questioned.

"What do you mean?" I replied.

"While I was in Canada, I wasn't really aware of what was really going on in your life at that moment." he admitted.

"Not really, no." I said bluntly, with a tiny bit of fear.

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."

Deceived; Chapter 30

"Ghaneya?!"

A voice came from my bedroom.

"Ghaneya, where are you?!"

I finally recognized the audible voice; it was Lucy, my housemaid.

Her vocal sounds forced my hands to loosen around my neck.

I looked at myself at my nearby mirror, and noticed a thick, circular, red mark around my neck.

The palms of my hands squeezing it was the ultimate cause.

I exited the bathroom and listened to what Lucy had to say.

"Your father called, he changed his flight to tomorrow."

My mind ignored it. I didn't care.

Lucy insisted to bring me some snacks, but I turned the offer down.

I had no craving or desire.

My appetite vanished.

My heart was stolen.

It seems that everything was taken away from me.

My maidenhood, my chastity, my love, and my dear mother.

I'm in need of her, so badly.

At this very moment, I'm weak, delicate, vulnerable, and guilty.
If only I could run into her arms and sob, for as long as I want, as long as she would never leave me again.

My heart aches whenever my mind thinks back to the two people I loved dearly, leaving me stranded.

-

I opened the switch to my laptop's charger and lifted the top lid screen.

It's been quite a while ever since I entered the Internet universe.

While I surfed the web for a while, a random pop up page appeared.

The topic caught me eye.

"Young teenager saved by God"

I took a few moments to ponder the text.

A young girl, around my age, turned to God when she was in severe trouble. She was in an internal conflict with her self and mind. She rejected the need of education, the need of love, and the need of life.

For a while I thought, "This would never work, they're only coincidences."

But then I looked back at the last time I took some time to pray to God.

The last time I actually took my precious time to praise God was about 3 months ago, which is unbelievable because that's when Fouad and I began communicating.

I guess he took my mind off what really matters, my creator, my prophet, and his message.

I wanted my old life back.

I would do absolutely anything to bring back my old self.

The girl with a mother, the girl with a trustworthy relationship with her father, the girl with stable, cheerful moods, the girl that never went through depression, the girl who was loved by everyone, and most importantly, the young girl that never loved.

Now, that is the most essential to me, right now.

I thought it was too late to bring it all back, but you know what they say, "Don't wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect."

I rinsed the required places of my body parts, closed the sink tap and unfolded the cloth beside my bedside table, sitting in a wooden basket since forever.

Without even starting, I felt safe and protected.

I stood in my proper position, fixed the carpet and began reciting, "...بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم"

Deceived; Chapter 29

I looked up to her with a surprised face. My face asked "how do you know?" all by itself.

She bent down and spoke,"I saw you two together, that's why."

-

"What?" I questioned in absolute shock.

"I saw you walking with some man in the parking lot, I was on my way to the airport when I forgot to buy something, so I stopped by the mall and as I was exiting my car, there you two were, walking towards a black Porsche" she confessed, "so I figured he was Fouad since you talked to no other boy, or man."

I felt ashamed and embarrassed to admit that was true.

"But Ghaneya?", asked Munya as she placed the palm of her hand on my right shoulder, "he looks nothing like the picture you showed me."

"I know... I too was shocked." I replied in a dull tone.

"How old is he?" she asked.

I simply ignored.

"Ghaneya, where were you two headed in his car?" she asked again.

I ignored, again.

"Ghaneya, did you two-"

"You know what? Just knock it off, this doesn't concern you, so please just leave me alone!" I interrupted her rudely as I left the toilet running.

I ran off to a different private area and took out my phone and dialed my driver's number and had told him to come to school and pick me up immediately.

I couldn't go through this anymore.

I was frustrated, depressed, sad, and desperate.

School was my source of pressure now due to my current situation.

-

As I slammed our front door, I climbed up the stairs and slammed my room door as well.

I felt a shiver flow through my body suddenly, and a knock from the inside of my head indicating that a migraine was about to begin.

I grabbed 2 pain killer pills from my nearby cabinet and swallowed them along with a small amount of water.

I sat on my bathroom floor sobbing and crying while trying to dial Fouad's phone number again.

No reply.

I hated myself at that second, and everyone around me, as well. But Fouad, Fouad was exceptional.

I didn't care about anything or anyone except for the man I loved.

At that point, I felt my life was pointless.

That I was worthless, and so was the life I was living.

What was the point of loving someone you can't reach nor communicate with?

What happened to our bond and connection, Fouad? 

What happened to our promise to never leave one another?

I raised both of my palms and tightened them against my neck.

I saw no use in loving if I was loveless.

And no use in sobbing if it was endless.

And no use of breathing if I was hopeless.

Deceived; Chapter 28

Many days passed by ever since that particular day.

Today was the first day of school after our long holiday. Well, long for me, at least.

I have been crying myself to sleep for the passed few nights.

Fouad and I haven't spoken to each other.

He never replied to any of my calls, nor even cared to DM me.

I miss him.

My face lost it's flawless color, it was pale and dull.

My lips turned to a really light shade of peach, which was unusual.

My eyelashes didn't look healthy, neither did my hair. A handful of strands began falling every time I slightly brushed it with my fingers.

I was lazy, tired, and depressed.

I'm glad my father's not coming back for another week, I need to be alone.

My aunt comes every other day and stays for about 2 hours either watching television, reading magazines, or working.

She was unaware of everything that was going on with me, she didn't even realize my coldhearted tone.

I was off to school today with zero effort on how I looked.

A messy bun and sweatpants was not my usual look.

Both of my under eyes were filled with dark, black bags. It was so obvious I have been crying so much.

I felt my weight drop, since not enough food reached my stomach, although I never had the energy to go check and make sure on the scale.

I didn't care. I didn't care about anything. Wondering why Fouad hasn't spoken to me was the only thing my mind was trying to figure out.

I was drowning in a pool of sudden desperation.

My heart aches whenever I remember that day I spent with him.

I love him so much.

-

"Ghaneya!!" Munya screamed as she ran in for a hug.

I havent talked to her ever since. I didn't even have the chance to tell her goodbye when she left the country.

I hugged her back, with absolutely no expression on my face whatsoever, my heart was broken.

"I missed you so much! Where have you been?!" she asked with an enormous smile on her face.

I gave her a simple smile, avoiding her question.

Honestly, I did miss her a lot too, I was just too depressed to show it.

"Hey... what's wrong?" Munya's face expressions flipped all of a sudden from exhilaration to worry.

A deep cry and heavy tears were almost visible.

"Nothing, don't worry about it." I replied running to the nearest bathroom.

I pulled down the toilet seat and sat on it in one of the bathroom stalls.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Fouad's phone number.

"Please answer me, Fouad, please!!!" I said while a bunch of tears rolled down my face.

No answer.

I dialed his number again but instead cried even more this time.

No answer.

I managed to remain in the bathroom stall for 30 solid minutes. I missed half of first period.

I couldn't hear any voices in the bathroom. I thought it was my only chance to release all my anger out.

I let out almost all my anger by screaming. Good thing was that our bathroom walls were sound proof.

The sobbing was endless. Fouad was the only thing my mind was set on. Even if the school was on fire, I would rather sit still and watch myself burn. Our connection was so strong, our bond, we loved each other, did I do something wrong to tear us apart like this?

The crying went on till my first period ended.

I heard the bathroom door open with footsteps along with it.

"Ghaneya? Are you in here?"

I recognized my dear friend Munya's voice asking for me.

"Over here" I replied knocking on my stall door.

"Open up!" she commanded.

I unlocked the stall door and let her in.

"What happened to you?!" Munya asked in shock after she saw my wet, pale face.

I ignored, I was too ashamed to tell her Fouad was the reason behind this.

"Is it Fouad?" she questioned.

Wait, what? How did she know?

It was unbelievable the way she knew me too well.

I looked up to her with a surprised face. My face asked "how do you know?" all by itself.

She bent down and spoke,"I saw you two together, that's why."