Her Hope: Chapter 6

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog.

Are you from the previous entry, waiting for the next chapter? Well here goes...

Story title: Her Hope

Chapter 6: The Hearing

The first hearing came and got adjourned. Mr Chew arranged another date to see her again with all his findings to see if there are more information she could provide him to help fight this case and prove to court of her innocence.

"Hi Mr Lee, I am Chew from AC Law. I am here to ask a few questions regarding Ifa, one of your students. May I know if she shows any disinterest in her studies or anything of concern to you?"

"Ifa? She has failed my module before, but when she retook it last term, she scored a distinction for it. Attendance wise.. hmm her attendance has always been over 90%. She is on her final year and should be doing her final year internship, I remember she was posted to LTA. She have a lot of potential that girl. I think she also represented our school for the hockey team." Mr Lee spoke with no doubt at all.

"Thank you, Mr Lee. If Ifa needs you to stand as a character witness, would you be willing to do so?" responded Mr Chew.

"Huh? What happened to Ifa??" Mr Lee was clearly shocked.

Mr Chew explained the situation and had Mr Lee was dumbfounded. He expressed how it is impossible and definitely the work of a sabotage. This made Mr Chew more confident of a more positive outcome for the sentence. He made his way to visit Ifa, with all the paperwork that he would need to show Ifa to get her spirits up.

"I am going to show you only this part of his statement, I want you to take your time to read it, then tell me how hard I should fight for you."

"I am merely following the orders of my wife, Ifa. She determined how much to sell, who to sell to and where I should been the buyer. She is the mastermind of it all." She read in disbelief, speechless. She went silent for a good minute before her anger burst and she began to tell Mr Chew to fight hard and fight strong, the statement is clearly untrue and we can charge him for giving a false statement.

Mr Chew gave a thumbs up and began to share more things and how she stood a chance as he had spoken to a few lecturers and 2 of them were willing to take the stand and vouch for my good attendance, grades and attitude towards learning - which would not have been possible had I been under the influence.

"Your parents were also asking if you need anything, and if you would like them to visit." Mr Chew delivered the hardest thing she had to hear.

"No. Please no. Oh, my poor parents. Please no. Tell them you will fight hard and that I would be out soon. I will be fine..." Tears came uninvited. She sobbed so hard realizing that her husband wasn't all she had. She had so many loving her truly, her sister, her parents. She couldn't help but cry realizing how much she had disappointed them all. It was at this point that she decided she need to exit this marriage.

Six weeks came and left. It has been six long weeks since she's remanded here in the women's prison. Her next hearing is probably in the next one to two weeks. And hopefully that is all that is left for her to be in there. She prayed and she hoped. She saw new people coming in and some people left. There was a few others who were betrayed like her, there were some who knew what they did and knew what they were in for.

She was told that she wasn't required to attend the next few hearing and will only be informed of her sentencing in two to four weeks time. She was nervous but had high hopes to be pardoned. A few of the other mates had been sentenced already, some were deported back to their hometown, some transferred to another cell, and some got sentenced. Would she be freed or would she be found guilty?

//--- Please leave a comment if you want to read the next chapter. :)

Her Hope : Chapter 5

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog.

Are you from the previous entry, waiting for the next chapter? Well here goes...

Story title: Her Hope

Chapter 5: Prison

A set of prison top & bottom, blanket, a pair of slippers, spoon, mug, face towel, small bar of soap, toothbrush & a small tub of toothpaste. That was all she got after she was body checked and all her personal belongings taken. On her top is R/14250, her new identity. She followed behind the line, until she was told to stop and enter this cell. In it there were 4 other inmates, and she entered along with 2 others.

"14250, what are you in for?" asked one of the inmates.

She couldn't gather much to utter a word. Another one came by and asked, "first time?"

She could only nod. She wondered what would happen the next few days, wondered how long she would be in this cell before the lawyer she was promised would come visit. She wondered if these other inmates can be trusted, if she should tell the truth or pretend I am fine. She was beyond broken. She lost the capacity to identify who she could trust and who she shouldn't.

She refused to tell them her real name, so she gave herself a pseudonym. She told them her name is Ann. They believed her, and they started introducing themselves. She had to blend in and spoke like them, in a language and persona they understood. Somehow she managed to bond with some on the act, they began to call each other by nicknames and grew concern on each other's outcomes. Soon she got visitations, one with the lawyer.

"Hi, Ifa. My name is Chew. I am your lawyer who will defend you. I was engaged by this man called Jacob. I was only briefly told of your case, but I know there might be more to it, please share all that you know, everything, and anything at all that might help me help you out of this."

Just what would she know? Where should she even begin? So many things were running in her mind.

"Hi. I don't know where to start. I think it is my husband? I only know it is because of drugs, but I honestly have no ideas what drugs, or how my urine was positive of it, I really really have no idea at all on this." she replied.

"Okay, do you know what are your charges? Do you want to know what drugs, and what are the possible sentence?"

"Yes please. Also if you have any info on my husband. Was he caught as well? What about him, what are his charges?"

And so Mr Chew went to list them all. She was shocked to hear all of her charges. If she was found guilty, she could potential remain behind bars for two to five years! He had been caught and being remanded as well, and for his charges, he could potentially be behind bars for the same amount of time. She went on to explain all that she knows, where he went the last she saw him, with whom, and possibilities of moments he could have spiked her.

"Okay, thank you for being honest. I will get down to find out more, and have a word with your lecturers and cohort mates, I will also find out as much as I can on your husband, any statements he had given and will visit you again. Do you have any messages you want me to pass on to your parents, family members or Jacob?"

"Just tell them I am okay here. And please, help me. I am innocent... I really don't know what he did or how or why I am even here..."

"Alright, I will see you again before your next hearing and if I don't I will see you in court and appeal for an adjournment and see you after that."

How, how can her husband do this to her? And why is Jacob so adamant on helping her? What would the outcome be? Will she get out of here? It is clearly a heavy case. Drug, in Singapore? Doomed. Her future would be doomed, won't it?

//--- Please leave a comment if you want to read the next chapter. :)

Her Hope: Chapter 4

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog.

Are you from the previous entry, waiting for the next chapter? Well here goes...

Story title: Her Hope

Chapter 4: Change

Her friends, her family wanted her back. Noone could convince her until....

CNB turned up at her door, the house was ransacked. She was brought to station, completely clueless. Officers were asking questions she had no answer for. Heart pounding, future became such a blur. When given a chance to call someone to bail her out, the only number she remembered was her sisters.

She still couldn't bring herself to believe what happened. She was said to have meddled with drugs. Her husband was also wanted. She lost all hope, if she get charged, her future will be tarnished, her diploma.. she was on her final stretch... her FYP was just around the corner. She pretended everything was fine, she continue to turn up for all her classes. When she was actually on bail, she was supposed to return and attend hearing in court in a month's time. She didn't know what to do with this information.

She reached out to an outlet to just release herself. She turned to drinking, partying with her friends, or alone. It didn't seem to matter to her. Her future was bleak, tainted! She ended up trying everything new, going to every club, every pub, having fun, doing what she would never had done to risk her future. She felt like she won't have a future anymore with a possible heavy charge, thus she couldn't care much less of what would or could happen through her reckless decision to just enjoy herself.

One night, drunk with her hopelessness, she found a man to whom she ranted about what she were facing. Her hearing was the next morning. What have she got to lose anyway? The man, a Caucasian, here on a business trip. Why would he care for her? He could just took advantage of her and leave her be. Yet, he listened to all she had to rant on. He took notes even!

The next morning, he called to meet her at the library. She was clueless, yet she went ahead. She could barely remember this man, she only remembered he was a Caucasian. He was already on one of the computers when she arrived. He raised his hand to call her over.

"What's up?" she said, pretending it was all fine like as if it wasn't the day she had to turn up for the hearing.

"Look, you said you were still schooling, and that this was something you never knew about. So, may I know your past results, your attendance in school. If there is any lecturer who would vouch for you?" He went blabbering on and on asking for so many details.

She answered each one of his questions, as he took notes and googling for all the names, and the other details. Still clueless, she couldn't put all of these together, why is he asking so many questions about her? Whatever for?

"Okay, got it! I will engage a lawyer for you. Once they hold you back with no bail, just tell them you have a lawyer in hand who would reach to them. I got this for you. Don't worry about the cost. I wish you well, and I am confident you will get out of this mess. Just be positive. You are clearly innocent, DON'T blindly admit to anything!"

Why? Who is this man? Why is he so persistent to help? Is this even real? She wondered all through the hearing that she never realized she was back in the waiting cell, to be transported to the women's prison. Will she really be cleared of this mess? Would that man keep his word?

//--- Please leave a comment if you want to read the next chapter. :)

Her Hope: Chapter 3

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog.

Are you from the previous entry, waiting for the next chapter? Well here goes...

Story title: Her Hope

Chapter 3: The Abuse

The wound that was inside soon became visible on her body. Yet she still thought it was love. He still provided, she thought. Bruises couldn't lie. Her cohort mates were among the first to find herself badly bruised. Young they were just like her and didn't know any better who they could reach out to.

"What happened to you? What's that bruise on your face??!!" her friend screamed as she tried to pull down her hoodie.

"Nothing. I.. I just fell down the stairs!" she brushed off her friends' hands and managed to keep her hoodie on.

"NO! Look! THIS??? THIS is not a bruise from falling down the stairs! And this??" another friend came from behind and managed to pull out her hoodie exposing her badly bruised face and shoulders from the night before.

He had slapped her hard for forgetting to wash his cup of coffee before she headed out for class. The slap so hard, she lost her balance and fell to the ground. As she scrambled to stand up, he pulled her by her arm and pushed her to the wall and before she could gather what was happening, she was suddenly slumped against the other wall.

Yet, she couldn't bring herself to want a way out.. She truly believed it was her fault. Had she not made a mistake, he wouldn't had been mad and hurt her. She was so cautious of her every step. For awhile, he was nice to her. Praising her for being such a good wife. She was happy once again. Late night out for supper has returned. This made her believe that myth even more.

A year passed. She fell pregnant. She was happy, perhaps this news would make him this nice man he had shown to her. Surely he would love her more with this little one. She was beyond happy and couldn't wait to tell him.

"Whose baby is it? It's not mine!", that echoed back to her ears in disbelief. How... How could he say those words? He was all she had..

Everyday, new chore was added to her list. From just cooking, now he asked her to do laundry by hand. She had to squat in the toilet to brush and wash all of his clothes. From just working for herself, he know demands that she gives him a substantial amount for her as it was just a part time job.

More shouting, more grabbing. She had a miscarriage at 9 weeks. He met her at the hospital. Upon hearing the news, all he had to offer her was a cigarette. Not a hug, not consoling words, but a cigarette. That night he brought her out for a meal like it is something to celebrate. Still, she thought he loved her.

//--- Please leave a comment if you want to read the next chapter. :)

Her Hope: Chapter 2

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog.

Are you from the previous entry, waiting for the next chapter? Well here goes...

Story title: Her Hope

Chapter 2: The Marriage

She was just 17, and she was getting married. She was naive and hopeful. He seemed full of charm and portray himself as the protector. Now a wife. She thought she was free. He was now her provider, always there, always understanding. He often brings her out, paying for food she craved for. It was blissful, or was it?

"Here's $50. Buy what you need from the market, I want you to cook me meal for tomorrow", he said as he waved the $50 note before placing in on the table.

She was still schooling by the way, she had class that day from 9am till 4pm that day. Yet, she could only nod and took the money. She could always get some eggs and scrambled it along with some rice. That would suffice for a meal, won't it? She wasn't raised to cook a meal when she was still living with her parents. Her mother would do scrambled eggs on days she don't find time, and her father would accept it.

"Just eggs? When I say a meal, I expected 3 dishes", was all he could say when she served the meal that evening.

"I had classes, I didn't get to buy much with $50 anyway", she replied as honest as she could.

"Well, you would try harder if you want to. Cook me a meal tomorrow", was his cold reply.

No empathy, that man she thought was her prince charming was now just a customer in a restaurant and she was just the cook now. Who is this man she married?

A comment soon became a condescending curse. From "just this?" to "so simple, yet you can't even do it well?"

A request became a controlling order. From "Shall we eat out?" to "Cook or you starve".

Talking turned to arguments. Shouting soon turned into a common noise to her ears. Since what hurt her was not visible, she thought this was what love is. She took it in hopes that her obedience would win his love she once felt.

Months passed, those insults just continue on. She knew this wasn't quite right. Never once had she seen her father in the way he did. She knew deep inside that she needed to reach out, yet she felt shame. It was her who wanted this. She should face the music now. She brushed all those thoughts and convinced herself that this was love...

//--- Please leave a comment if you want to read the next chapter. :)

Welcome to a series of my short stories write-ups.

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog.

It has been a long while since I did any story write-ups. So I thought why not. This will be a work-in-progress entry where it will be updated as my chapters finish. I had always wanted to write about a story of how a woman can gather strength from what people thought would break her apart. 

And here is a synopsis of the story titled: Her Hope

This is the story of a woman who walked through heartbreak after heartbreak, found her peace and hope only to be faced with the unthinkable.

And her goes the first chapter..

Chapter 1: The thought

Back in 2001, her life was one with financial constraints and a pair of typical strict Asian parents. One in which she has a curfew set. She yearned for freedom like her other friends in her cohort of those who were free to spend the night over as long as they inform their parents.

She on the other hand, had to take up a part time job to somewhat enjoy simple pleasures like eating at a fast food restaurant. Simple, something that her friends may have taken it all for granted.

Through her part time, she was acquainted by this man in his late 20s. He looked cool, fun and free. They somehow ended up in love. First love.. her first boyfriend. The charming, the protective man.

Her dad got furious when he found out his little precious princess is out with a man 8 years older than her. He dared that man to marry her in hopes that he won't want to commit and leave his baby alone.

He was wrong. That man took the challenge. And she, she was impressed thinking he was committed. He must have been her prince charming in a shining armor saving her from the dungeon... Or so she thought...

//--- Please leave a comment if you want to read the next chapter. :)