The Untainted
Chapter 83: What the Heart Conceals
Basit stood outside Faridat's room.
A muffled sob reached his ears.
His stern expression softened.
Without knocking, he pushed the door open and stepped inside before closing it gently behind him.
Faridat sat on the edge of the bed, her shoulders shaking as she cried into her palms.
The moment she sensed his presence, she hurriedly wiped her tears.
Basit sighed.
"Tell me," he began quietly. "Why would you pull a stunt like that?"
Faridat lowered her head.
"Tell me why you would lower your dignity for a man."
Her head snapped up.
"You've never shown him this side of you after reaching maturity. I remember clearly."
His voice remained calm, but there was disappointment beneath it.
"Why would you flaunt your beauty before a non-mahram?"
"What changed, sis?"
He looked at her carefully.
"Why are you like this?"
Faridat couldn't bring herself to answer.
Basit rubbed his face tiredly.
"Don't think I don't know."
Her eyes widened.
"I know you have feelings for him."
The air left her lungs.
"I realised it recently," he continued. "After seeing the two of you these past few days."
He shook his head.
"I started connecting the dots."
"What has come over you?"
His voice softened.
"What if you and Ridwan never end up together?"
"What if you aren't written for each other?"
"What if you later meet the man Allah has destined for you after you've already shown another man parts of yourself you should have guarded?"
"Won't you regret it?"
"Won't you feel guilty?"
Faridat's heart lurched painfully.
He knew.
Basit knew.
Did their parents know too?
And what did he mean by observing the two of them these past few days?
Then another thought struck her.
Not ending up together?
Could she survive that?
After years of waiting?
Years of prayers whispered into the darkness of the night?
But above all...
she felt ashamed.
Her tears returned.
"I'm sorry..." she sobbed.
"I'm so sorry, Basit."
Her shoulders shook violently.
Basit's heart tightened.
He moved closer and gently patted her back.
"What happened to you, sis?" he asked sadly.
"Why are you doing this?"
He waited.
Then asked softly,
"Tell me..."
"Since when have you liked him?"
Faridat looked dazed.
As though years of secrets were finally forcing their way out.
She lowered her gaze.
"...Ever since I knew what liking someone meant."
Basit's eyes widened.
"I'm not sure exactly when," she admitted softly. "But I know I always wanted to be around him."
"Since my junior years in secondary school."
"I called it admiration back then."
A small, embarrassed smile appeared through her tears.
"But in my senior years... I realised it wasn't just admiration."
"It was deeper."
"And it only became stronger as time passed."
Basit blinked.
Faridat continued before she lost her courage.
"I hated seeing female classmates around him."
"They'd approach him under the guise of asking for homework."
"But I knew they wanted to be close to him."
"So I stayed glued to him."
She looked away sheepishly.
"I never gave them the chance to confess."
Basit's jaw dropped.
"Some girls even got the wrong impression about us."
"I didn't exactly correct them."
"...I chased them away."
"What?!" Basit exclaimed.
He stared at her in utter disbelief.
"Don't tell me it's been this long!"
Faridat nodded shyly.
"It has."
"Ya Allah..." Basit breathed.
Then he looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell any of us?"
She immediately shot back,
"Would you have allowed me to spend time with him the way I used to?"
Basit didn't even hesitate.
"Absolutely not!"
Despite everything, Faridat laughed weakly through her tears.
"Exactly."
Her expression dimmed.
"And I'm sure he doesn't have feelings for me."
"So I kept quiet."
She twisted the edge of her pillow.
"What if our parents pressure him into marrying me?"
"What if he agrees out of obligation?"
"I don't want a loveless marriage, Basit."
"It's complicated."
"I tried to stop these feelings."
"I really tried."
"But my heart insists."
"What can I do?"
She broke down again.
"And the last time we visited his house..." she whispered.
"Aunty mentioned that he'd soon start meeting ladies they handpicked for him."
"They want grandchildren soon."
"He's their only child."
Fear clouded her eyes.
"What should I do?"
"I'm afraid..."
"Afraid my wait will be for noth—"
"Don't say that."
Basit interrupted firmly.
"You won't wait for nothing."
He squeezed her shoulder.
What she's saying sounded to him like a plan. As if giving Ridwan a push to accept his feelings ur decide.
"Believe in Allah."
"If he's written for you, everything will fall into place."
"And don't conclude things you're not certain about."
A smirk appeared on his lips.
"What if he likes you too?"
"Huh?"
Faridat stared at him as though questioning his sanity.
"What if," Basit repeated calmly, "he has feelings for you?"
"What if he's holding himself back for reasons you don't understand?"
"What if he's confused?"
"What if he's trying to figure himself out?"
Faridat rolled her eyes.
"Impossible."
"He won't even look at me anymore."
"He acts like I'm a plague."
"Or poison."
"And here you are talking about feelings."
Basit chuckled.
"What if you're both right and wrong?"
She frowned.
"How?"
He shook his head.
"No."
He refused to give away more.
If Allah willed it, Ridwan and Faridat would find their way through this maze themselves.
"You might have loved him for years," Basit said.
"But you still don't understand how feelings work."
"And neither do you know what goes on in Ridwan's heart."
"Take your time."
"You're still young."
Faridat nodded slowly.
"Thank you, brother."
Basit raised an eyebrow.
"So you can call me 'brother' now?"
"I thought it was always Basit."
"Oni ìbàjẹ́."
"Spoilt brat."
"You used to tease me about Rihannat."
"Look at you now."
"Had I allowed you to go after Rihannat, is this how you'd have behaved?"
He grinned mischievously.
"Inexperienced person trying to act like a professional?"
"You!"
Faridat threw a pillow at him.
"What if I'm inexperienced?"
"It's because it's Ridwan!"
"That's why I'm acting like this!"
Basit laughed.
"That's how love is."
"When you're inside it, you're like a novice."
"Only those watching from the outside can see clearly."
He stood up.
"Pray."
"And keep your eyes open."
"So you'll see things as they truly are."
Faridat narrowed her eyes.
"Are my eyes closed?"
She picked up another pillow.
"Get out!"
Basit laughed.
"Fine."
"I'll go. Lover girl." He teased.
He had almost reached the door when her hesitant voice stopped him.
"Wait."
He turned around.
"Do Dad and Mum know?"
Nervousness filled her face.
Basit paused.
"I can't answer that."
"You'll have to ask them yourself."
He opened the door.
"Thank you, brother."
He looked back.
Her eyes were sincere.
"Thank you so much." She repeated.
His smile softened.
"You're welcome, princess."
"You know I'll always be there for you, Honeypie."
Then he left.
Inside Ridwan's apartment.
His two-bedroom apartment, identical to Basit's, felt suffocating.
He leaned heavily against the front door after entering.
Breathing hard.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
As though the air had been stolen from his lungs.
"What is wrong with me?"
"SubhanAllah..."
He pressed his palms against his face.
"I was trying to push her out of my mind."
"And then this happened."
He groaned.
"Ah..."
He paced the living room endlessly.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
The image refused to disappear.
Damp hair.
Lowered eyes.
Tear-filled gaze.
Then-
Her trembling voice.
Astaghfirullah.
He sought refuge in Allah repeatedly.
Finally, unable to bear the turmoil any longer, he headed toward the bathroom.
He turned the shower knob.
Cold water poured over him.
He desperately needed it.
Maybe it would calm the fire beneath his skin.
Maybe it would silence the chaos in his chest.
Maybe.
As the icy water ran down his face, Ridwan shut his eyes.
He already knew how the night would unfold.
Another sleepless night awaited him.
Another night of fighting thoughts he didn't understand.
Another night of asking Allah for guidance.
And somewhere deep within his exhausted heart...
he wondered how much longer he could keep pretending that Faridat meant nothing to him.
When, in truth...
she had already become everything he was trying so desperately to forget.
@OlukoyaZainab