Deviant Fixation

by Valencia Carmelita

"Since when have your children not caused me any trouble?" The lady huffs in annoyance, placing her hands on her hips. "I also have my own family to go home to Miss Rachael, you should hire a separate nanny for the night hours!"

  "I'll make it upto you Martha, you can pick up a check for seven hundred extra dollars on your day off tomorrow, whenever you like." Rachael offers as she smiles sheepishly.

  "Thank you I will surely but just to let you know I quit !" Martha retorts, her brows crease in further vexation. "I'm not ever returning! Please hire someone tougher who can keep up with your children! Perhaps a body builder or world champion boxer or the likes!"

  "Oh no please don't quit !" Rachael pleads.

  But the woman shakes her head, refusing to listen as she quickly descends the stairs. "Your children have caused me to age quickly in the time I spent with them, I can not deal with them any longer! Jesus help them, oh no I can not. I'm done!" With that, downstairs the soft sound of the entrance door clicks shut.

  "There goes the third nanny I hired this month." Rachael heaves a defeated sigh "This one lasted a week and a half unlike the other two or those before them...there was hope with this one.." She trails off.

  I stare at her blankly. I have no clue what proper words to console her with.

  "Come on, I'll show you to your room." She mutters dejectedly, trudging ahead of me. I follow after her further into the hall.

  Opening a door, she switches on the lights. The room which connects to a bathroom is much bigger than the guest room in my last home.

  It's filled with elegant leathery decor, baring resemblance to the ones in Nielsen beauty Dept.

  "I hope you have a very good night dear, see you in the morning! And if you need anything, I'll be two doors down the hall." She leaves, closing the door behind her.

  My eyes are literally refusing to remain open, as I toss my duffel and shoes to the side. I don't even bother slipping off my hijab while I dive under the covers of the very comforting bed.

  In slumber I drift into a strange familiar nightmare. Shadowy figures looming closer around me again. I'm being suffocated unable to find any clearing.

  I scream and yell for help and just when I feel I can no longer breath, another figure emerges. It's shrouded in dark obscurity as it towers above the rest and instantly slays them with deadly force.

  It approaches me and I'm afraid of it yet I don't suffocate from its ever overbearing presence. In a flash it snatches me up into its arms. I catch a glimpse of beautiful ocean blue eyes.

  ◆◆◆

  .Glossary:

  'InshaAllah' is an Arabic term meaning God willing

  .'Dunya' Arabic term for World.

  Chapter 9

  A loud thud reverberates through out the room. I'm jolted awaken as I hear peals of lively laughter.

  Utterly miffed by the supposed ruckus emanating in from the corridor, I groan while shifting to find a more comfortable position in my bed-Wait! What?!

  Flashes of the events pertaining to last night, crash against me like a powerful tsunami wave.

  In a fraction of a second I spring up into a seated position.

  Eying my surroundings, I recognize I'm in Rachael's guest bedroom.

  My escape from Yasir and Hamdard!

  The gun fight and violence!

  It was all real! Not a fragment of my imagination!

  My eyes nervously flicker towards the bedside table clock-12:15pm!

  Oh my Allah!!

  I have missed my obligatory morning prayer. Another disappointed groan escapes my lips.

  I slide out of the comfy bed and plunge my aching feet into the soothing plush carpet.

  I can't help but wince from my soar muscles when I stand upright and lift a leg to walk.

  Exactly how much time did I spend running around last night?

  Oh man, if it was only an hour then I needed to get my lazy behind more active because this wasn't a good sign.

  Grabbing my oral hygiene equipment along with a towel and fresh set of clothes, I skid into the bathroom for a cleansing shower. After that it takes me half an hour to blow dry my hair and don another black hijab.

  I rummage further through my duffel and fish out my dark brown frayed leathery satchel. I pack it with my identification card and the money Mister Mirza had provided me with, then I sling it over my shoulder.

  The envelop he provided me, catches my brief attention. I pry my intrigued eyes away from it with difficulty.

  Just one week Sanam and you'll know what's in that envelope! Have patience! I remind and berate myself inwardly.

  Albeit, I wasn't the one to make promises easily but I never deliberately broke the ones I made.

  It went against my morals. Breaking promises was not Islamic. I try my best to adhere to Islamic principles.

  My stomach rumbles from the lack of food. A wave of dizziness washes over me as I pull open the door and emerge out into the corridor.

  Before I can register in my mind, I end up slipping on something and my world comes crashing down-literally!

  An alarmed yelp escapes my lips and within mere seconds my back collides with the hard floor.

  Ughhh!!! What just happened !!??

  Blinking a few times in a daze at the ceiling, I tilt my head lower to examine myself. But my eyes are drawn around to the mess of numerous candy particles I likely tripped on and dozens of expensive children's toys littering the corridor floor.

  Oh Rachael's children must be awake!

  No wonder there was so much of a loud racket early on. I hastily scramble back on to my feet as I brush off with my hands, the bits and pieces of candies sticking to my pants.

  What a mess!

  I stroll forward nearing the corner where the corridor gave way to the foyer. Yet I'm literally spun around when a flurry of a golden haired child dashes past me.

  "Woah! Watch where you're going little one!" I gasp as I bring a hand upto my chest. I distinguish the blonde boy as Charlie.

  He gives me a glimpse once from doe green eyes, then giggles and struts ahead while holding onto a barbie doll.

  "Charlie! Give me back my Elsa!!!"

  Whirling around at the direction of the voice, I spot an annoyed Arielle dashing up the foyer steps.

  But her anger replaces with a look of surprise as she sees me and then a brilliant smile graces her doll like face.

  "Princess Jassssmiiiiiine!!!" She squeals. Within seconds she's scrambling up the last step and winds her tiny pale arms around my legs.

  "Hey, Arielle!" I chuckle and reach down to haul her up in my arms. "How are you? Princess Arielle!"

  With her auburn hair and similar name-I hadn't realized it, but I guess she did remind me of the animated little mermaid from Disney.

  "I missed youuuuu!"

  "Aww I missed you too."

  "I trust you slept well, Sanam?" We both look down and see Rachael ascending the steps. She offers me a weary smile.

  "I slept fine, thank you." I respond. Abruptly, a rumbling sound emits from my empty stomach. In embarrassment, I lower Arielle back on to her feet.

  "What was that noise!?" Arielle gasps.

  A startled look dawns onto Rachael's face and she sheepishly offers "I'm sorry, I should have awakened you earlier for a breakfast but I figured you must be very tired from what you endured last night."

  "Oh it's alright." I descend a few steps and pause near her while continuing. "I can go fix myself something to eat, if you can just guide me to the kitchen?"

  "Don't go through the inconvenience, I'll have you lunch with us at a restaurant today!" Rachael declares elatedly as she places an assuring hand on my lower arm. "I'm off for today from university duties. Normally, I leave the children at the corporations day care center on Sunday's while head to work ."

  "Oh then I apologise for my disruption of your tedious schedule." I concede guiltily. Rachael shakes her head and gives me another gentle squeeze on my arm.

  "No no, we lunch out on Sunday's. You haven't
disrupted anything!" She starts guiding me down the steps as she continues. "The cook, and the nanny are given Sunday's off. I just pick up the kids during lunch break from the daycare and we eat at a restaurant! So how bout it?"

  "I..." My voice trails off undecidedly as I continue looking at Rachael's eager face.

  I wasn't sure if I could afford to spend the money that Mister Mirza had given me on a restaurant. Nor did I want to have Rachael waste her money on an extra mouth to feed.

  It would be rude of me to expect more out of her than what she's already done for me.

  "Come with us ! Princess Jasmiiiine!!" I hear Arielle chirps from behind like an animated bird.

  The next thing I know, I feel her collide against my back nearly toppling me down the stairs. I let out a shriek and grasp the banister railing.

  "Arielle!" Rachael's horrified expression replaces with solid fury as she reaches out for her and I. "Get down from her at once!"

  "No!" Arielle giggles, struggling she winds her arms around my neck from the back. This gesture almost pulls apart my hijab.

  "It's fine" I laugh sheepishly as I try to secure my hijab in place by one hand while I grasp Arielle's tiny arms with the other. "She can piggy back ride me, I don't mind."

  "Seeeee! So leave me alone!" Arielle snaps at her mother and she tightens her arms around my neck.

  Rachael narrows her eyes at her daughter. "Watch your mouth young lady!"

  "No!"

  I feel mildly awkward with this display between the two of them so I admonish Arielle gently "Princess Arielle, is that how princesses talk to their mommies?"

  "Why not!" Arielle's tone is a mixture of guilt and annoyance. A knowing smile tugs at my lips, sometimes having to make a child feel guilty indirectly for their wrong behaviour was the only way to get them to stop.

  "A princess's mommy is the Queen. One day you will become the queen, so would you like it when your little princess talks to you the way you talk to your mommy ?" I ask sweetly.

  Momentarily there is silence and then I hear her say glumly "No I don't want my princess to do that."

  "See you truly are princess Arielle!" I assure her, patting her tiny arms affectionately. "Princesses have the best manners and because of your best manners, I will allow you to ride my back"

  "Yayyyyy" she snuggles her face into my neck.

  "But first out of your best princess manners, you will have to say sorry to your mommy and promise to be nice as a princess with her." I encourage lightly.

  She immediately obliges. "Sorry mummy, I promise to be nice."

  Rachael seems mildly impressed at the current display between us. She offers me an appreciative smile. "Thank you."

  The momentary light mood is disrupted by a lingering smell of something burning.

  It swathes heavily down the steps in the air around us. We exchange looks of puzzlement.

  "What's that burning? Something in the kitchen?" I query.

  Suspiciously, Rachael sniffs the air along with me. Before I can pinpoint it, she gasps in alarm and starts dashing up the steps. "It's coming from upstairs! Where is Charlie !?"

  In utter confusion I can only do one thing, I race after her with Arielle clinging fast onto my back.

  "Miss Rachael ! Is everything alright? I smell smoke!"

  I turn to glance back at the owner of that voice. It's one of the security guards, alertly bounding up the steps after us.

  "Charlie !!?" Rachael shouts, sprinting ahead of us. She halts at an open doorway, throwing me a quick glance she's says "Stay put, with Arielle here!"

  So I arrive to a standstill.

  Her eyes widen in a mixture of fright and worry as she lets out another gasp. "Charlie !! Get away from the fire!"

  Then she immediately skids into the room.

  "Miss Rachael! What's going on ?!" Another guard rushes past me after her.

  Within seconds Rachael promptly exits the room, a giggling Charlie secured in her arms.

  "Harry, get the fire extinguisher!!" She orders one of the guards before addressing me. "Come on! Let's get outside at once till they have the situation under control!"

  "We're on it!" The guard named Harry affirms while already grappling a fire extinguisher from around the corner of the corridor. He scrambles back into the room.

  Rachael ushers us briskly down the steps and out of the main entrance. A beautiful cloudlessly sunny day greets us outside.

  "What was that all about ?" I whirl around to face her. My back was beginning to strain from carrying a defiant Arielle.

  "Fire set to the trash bin in my private study! Don't know what happened, but I'm glad I got there in time!" Rachael explains as she showers kisses on her son. "Are you okay Charlie ? My baby boy! Mummy was frightened! Oh thank God I found you in time!"

  "Thank God indeed!" I agree, astounded. It was definitely a scary thought of what could have occurred had Rachael not reached there in time.

  "I wanna see the fire ! I wanna see it !!!" Arielle whines from behind me, the heels of her shoes digging into my stomach.

  Charlie continues to giggle indifferently as if he just returned from having a fun time at a play ground.

  Kid is seriously not afraid!

  That thought was only affirmed when I caught a gleam of a shiny object poking out from a side pocket of the little boys pant's.

  Brows creasing in suspicion, I extend my hand and pull out whatever it is from his pockets. Rachael notices and raises a questioning brow.

  "What is it?" Rachael asks, concern lacing her voice.

  I purse my lips, stepping over to her "Cig-lighter!"

  Rachael's eyes widen in shock as she meets my gaze and then she asks. "Charlie, who gave this to you?"

  Silently, he continues sucking on his thumb while absentmindedly peering at her from under thick golden eyelashes.

  "Tell mummy, how you found this?"

  Silence.

  "Charlie did you start the fire ?"

  Silence, except the continuous suckling sounds of his lips enveloped around his thumb.

  Rachael lets out a frustrated groan over her sons refusal to answer. Her lips set into a thin line. She hands Charlie over to me while I slip the lighter into her palms.

  Spinning around, her back faced us as she gives the lighter a closer inspection. Immediately, her shoulders stiffen.

  "I know who this belongs to!" Irateness tinges her tone of voice.

  Abruptly the front door of the town house opens and the two guards strut forward towards us. "Miss Rachael, the situation is under control now, we've extinguished the fire!" The one named Harry states proudly.

  "I need a word with you George! In private at once!" Rachael snaps at the other who promptly looks surprised at her severe expression. She hands Harry her car keys. "Harry please escort miss Kashani and the children to my car and have them wait there till I return."