1 Zulema Zahir

A young Arabian girl was sitting on a rock near the water all alone, wondering and groping the water with a small box beside her. She opened it and took out a scorpion and started petting it while slowly singing her Arab song. "Mh… mmhh.. yallah tanaam… yallah tanaam… yallah yallah habibi.. yallah yallah tanaam"

"Zulema….!!!" A woman showed up looking for Zulema she found her on the stone while playing with a scorpion.

"Zulema you have to go now hurry, a man who's going to marry you will be here soon, you have look neat"

"Come one sister, what if I don't want to get marry am still young am only fourteen 14"

"You don't have to question your tradition Zulema, the tradition says you shall obey your parent's desires"

"Customs, traditions are all nothing sister this is early marriage, what am I gonna do with an old man?"

"Don't say that Zulema someone might hear you"

"Oh come on sister we are the only ones here"

"Yes and don't forget the fact that there are eyes everywhere, come on let's hurry home" Zulema left with her sister and returned back home. That day evening Zulema was inside her room she looks preety with a make up on her face as her family was getting ready to welcome her future husband, Zulema was told to awaits in her room all by herself. A guest welcomed in the house It was an old man with beard and had two bodyguards he was a very rich Arab Man.

"Welcome Maalik welcome have a seat please" Maalik was welcomed inside the sitting room by Zulema's parents. Maalik was wondering and staring the house

"Zaiyna please get our guest what we prepared please"

"Okay Father" Zaiyna went to prepare a hot cup of coffee with Halwa on the table Maalik started his converstaion smoothly while eating what he was prepared.

"So Where is my Beautiful bride to be?"

"Zaiyna go and call your sister will you?" Zaiyna left she went to Zulema's room and find her playing with her scorpion.

"Zulema put that away will you? Father is calling for you now"

"Fine whatever" Zulema putted her scorpion inside her box and walked outside the living room she found an old beard Arab man sitting down waiting for her.

"There she is my new bride" Zulema went to hug her mother

"Mother please, I don't want to get married please" Her father went to unhold her, her mother didn't say a word about that she was just staring, her sister was shedding tears.

"This is wrong father, I don't want to get married to an old man please" Her father was holding her left hand while moving her to Maalik. Zulema was trying to fight her way to get off. Maalik stood up and held her hand and slapped her in front of her family.

"You will learn how to behave, and you will learn how treat your husband" Zulema pushed him away.

"I will not marry an old man who beats me up, am not a donkey" Maalik stood up and went to her Zulema had a knife hidden in her gawn she took it out and stabbed him on the neck. All of them were shocked

"Sub-hanallah, Maalik Maalik!!" Maalik was bleeding he was dying Zulema's mother hurried closed the doors and the windows. Zulema was holding the knife while staring at her sister, she ran away upstairs.

"Zulemaa!!! Zulemaa!! come back here" Zulema went inside her room she was packing her bags Zaiyna showed up.

"What have I done? sister"

"If those man outside find out that you killed Maalik they will come after you"

"What can I do? I didn't want to kill him, he was coming at me"

"You have to run away use the back door now, pack whatever you can" Zulema took her box with her.

"What are you gonna do with a scorpion?"

"I don't know but i take him wherever I go" Zaiyna helped her at the back door and opened the door.

"Stay low, I will come find you once everything is settle" Zulema ran away very fast with her gawn.

(Door knocked) "Zulema have you forgotten that it's your shift cleaning the compound today. Zulema woke up.

"I get it Miranda" Zulema stood up and opened her cell, she was an inmate in Cruz del Sur women prison in Spain she was older around 35 years.