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Part 1 (No. 74)
They had traveled a long distance on the road. Zaid had completely exhausted Jalal with his endless talk about Zahida, prompting Jalal to lean his head against the car seat and close his eyes as if he were asleep. Ammar also put on his earphones and focused his attention on the road. As for Zaid, he just kept rambling on. Seeing that his chatter was being ignored, he too became annoyed and fell silent. After a long while of silence, Ammar glanced at Zaid through the car mirror. Seeing that Zaid was asleep, he removed his earphones, glanced briefly at Jalal, and asked, “Are you asleep?”
“Nope, I just have my eyes closed.”
Ammar took a deep breath and asked, “What do you plan to do now?”
With his eyes still closed, Jalal replied, “I am thinking of looking for a job in Kaduna. I want us to relocate there entirely. I don't feel like staying here in Abuja anymore.”
Ammar remained silent, which made Jalal lapse into silence as well. In the midst of that quietness, Jalal suddenly heard Ammar ask, “Because of Seemah?”
In surprise, Jalal opened his eyes and looked at Ammar, but he found himself unable to speak. Ammar turned his gaze back to the road and asked, “Is that how it is?”
Jalal sat up straight, looked at Ammar, and called, “Ammar.”
Ammar looked at him briefly, forced a smile, and said, “Jalal, what exactly is Seemah's status to you?”
Jalal looked at Ammar in absolute amazement and asked, “Ammar, why are you asking this?”
Ammar replied, “Jalal, I only asked you a question, but if you feel giving me an answer will be difficult, let's just drop the matter.”
Jalal leaned back, looked out the window, and said, “Ammar, do not forget that your wedding with Seemah is just around the corner, so do not begin to harbor such thoughts in your heart.”
Ammar pulled the car to the side of the road, parked, and turned his full attention to Jalal, saying, “Jalal, you cannot understand what I am feeling at this moment. I am only forcing myself to smile and eat, but you know my heart feels like I am useless. I have failed to do anything for Seemah, while you have sacrificed everything of yours for her. You won't understand what I am feeling.”
Jalal looked at him emotionally and said, “Oh Ammar, is that what you are thinking? In my own heart, I feel like the useless one. My father was the reason your father's life was ruined. Yet, despite all that, your father didn't hold a grudge; he raised Seemah like his own daughter. Do you think this little thing I did can compare to even a fraction of what your father did?”
Ammar turned his head and said, "Jalal, have you forgotten? You said *your father*, not me. I know Dad did everything for Seemah, but what about me?" He turned to look at Jalal, his eyes turning red, and asked, “Jalal, what about me?”
Jalal gave a sad smile and said, “Ammar, how can you say that? You are the one who has done everything for her. You know that ever since I met Seemah, her only topic of conversation has been 'Ya Ammar.' I am certain that if she had known from the very beginning that you aren't her biological brother, Seemah wouldn't have spared me a glance.”
Ammar just stared at Jalal. Jalal placed a hand on his shoulder and said, “I have thought long and hard after learning about what happened between our parents. Only one conclusion stayed with me, and I am certain of it: Ammar is the first person in this world who I feel can care for Seemah even better than I can. He will give her the proper care, and he will make her forget what happened to her mother.”
Ammar closed his eyes, looked toward the window, and said softly, "Jalal, I... I..." But he couldn't finish his sentence.
Jalal looked at him with understanding and said, “Ammar, I know how you feel in your heart because that was exactly how I felt when I discovered what my father did. However, I have resolved one thing in my mind: I will try my best to reduce the enmity and hatred between our parents. I feel that if I do this, it might bring our families back to how they used to be.”
Ammar smiled at him and said, “Jalal, thank you so much.”
Jalal smiled back and replied, “Ammar, there is no one more suited for Seemah than you. You will take care of her better than I ever could; I can testify to that.”
They smiled at each other. Ammar started the car, drove back onto the road, and said, “Jalal, thank you so much. But what about Seemah? I feel deep down as if...”
Jalal interrupted him, saying, “Ammar, trust in yourself. Seemah is still a young girl; she doesn't fully understand what love is yet. Furthermore, do not forget she is a woman. Mark my words and keep it in mind: before you even spend a year in marriage, you will see that Seemah has forgotten about me.”
Ammar glared at him playfully and said, “Did anyone tell you I want her to forget about you?”
Jalal laughed and asked, “Then what do you want?”
“How can she forget about you when our friendship still stands?”
Jalal laughed lightly again, pointed at Ammar teasingly, and said, “So now you acknowledge our friendship?”
Ammar smiled and said, “Jalal, I don't know why, but things I can't tell Junaid or Habib, I feel like I can tell you. I don't feel like I can hide anything from you.”
Jalal let out a breath and said, “Me too, Ammar. I feel as though we have been together for many years.”
They both laughed and drifted into a casual conversation about life.
When they arrived in Abuja, Jalal said, “Ammar, drop me off here.”
“Where are you going?”
Jalal replied, “I want to see Sagir regarding the house I asked him to find for me. I don't feel like staying here right now.”
Ammar gave him a look and said, “Jalal, please stay where you got a job. How can you refuse to stay here when you already have employment? Are you trying to tell me that once we get married, our family ties are gone?”
Jalal replied, “Ah, well, let me hear what Abba has to say first. But for now, just drop me off.”
Ammar found a place to park. As Jalal stepped out, he remarked, “Oh, look at this Zaid. How can a grown man just sleep excessively like this?”
Suddenly, Zaid spoke up, “My eyes are wide open. I just chose to leave you two alone so you could talk.”
Jalal and Ammar quickly exchanged looks. Jalal swallowed hard and said, “Ammar, we'll talk on the phone, alright?”
Ammar nodded, and Jalal stepped out. Zaid burst into laughter and said, “Oh, so you guys felt shy?”
Ammar started the car and drove off without saying a word. As they neared home, Jalal called him. Ammar answered, and Jalal said, “Ammar, I was just called from the police station. They have arrived with him here in Abuja. But do you think it is appropriate for Seemah to go?”
Ammar replied, "Let's wait for now. Let him look for her himself." Jalal nodded in agreement, and they said their goodbyes.
Upon reaching home, Ammar entered quickly. He checked the living room but didn't see Seemah. He saw Zahra coming out of a room and asked, “Zahra, where is she?”
Zahra replied, “She's in the kitchen making food.”
A gentle smile crossed his face, and he hurried to the kitchen. She was standing there, grating carrots. Ammar sneaked up behind her and covered her eyes. She smiled and said, “Ya Ammar, you're back?”
He released her, stepped in front of her, and said, “Oh, I thought you wouldn't recognize me.”
She smiled and said, "Yaya, I told you. How could I fail to recognize you?" She pushed a stool toward him and said, “Sit down, Yaya, and watch.”
Ammar looked at her and asked, “How can I sit down while you are working?”
She replied, “What? Are you going to help me?”
Ammar nodded in affirmation. She smiled, picked up an onion, a knife, and a bowl, and handed them to him, saying, “Alright, take this.”
He gave her a playful glare and said, “Hmm, trying to be clever, right? Do you think I don't know onions sting the eyes?”
She pouted slightly and said, "Fine, since you won't help me, hand it back so I can finish my things." She said this while reaching for the bowl.
He quickly kept the bowl away and said, “Did I say I wouldn't do it?”
She smiled as she left it for him. After a moment, she braced herself and asked, “Where did you guys go?”
He looked at her and said, “We went to Birnin Gwari briefly.”
She glanced at him and asked, “With Deen?”
He nodded, fixing his gaze on her. She smiled, quickly trying to deflect, and said, “Ah, Yaya, the onions aren't too strong, right?”
He composed himself and replied, “They are, but just a little.”
They looked at each other and shared a smile.
## Part 2 (No. 75)
Abdul sat looking at his senior wife in absolute astonishment and said, “Rabi, do you even know what you are saying? How can I divorce you while I am in this condition?”
She gave him a mocking laugh and said, "What? Do you think it was love that made me marry you?" She laughed again and added, “Are you naive or a fool? Do you really think all the people around you are there because they love you, or is it because of your money?”
Abdul looked at her in shock and said, “Rabi, when you came, I thought the first thing you would ask was what happened 20 years ago, and if it was true. Then I expected you to ask how I am faring in this prison, but...”
She interrupted him angrily, saying, “Do you expect me to sit here and listen to some nonsense you did in the past? Or did anyone tell you I care about your well-being? I need my divorce papers because I want to leave this country immediately before your crimes begin to taint me.”
Abdul looked at her in absolute disbelief and said, “What? What about our children? Have you forgotten we have children together?”
Rabi let out a bitter, spiteful laugh and said, “Children? Ah, so you really don't know, do you? But I wonder where your mind has been. You'll just have to accept it—the children are mine, you have nothing to do with them.”
Confused, Abdul asked, “What do you mean by that?”
She sneered and said, "Mister, divorce me if you want, and if you don't, keep your divorce. I am moving to Dubai with your friend Marfuz, who happens to be the biological father of my children. If you like, you can send the divorce papers over there." Having said her piece, she stood up to leave. In a fit of rage, he grabbed her hand and demanded, “Marfuz? My friend? What do you mean?”
She forcefully yanked her hand away and said, "That's your problem." With that, she walked out.
Abdul shook his head in despair. He remembered that he was the architect of Marfuz's wealth, and that Marfuz was the very friend who used to egg him on to do terrible things, including the assault on Fatima.
He let out a scream of pure anguish, clutching his aching, burning chest, and sank to the floor. Tears would have been a relief, but he found himself utterly unable to cry. His heart just burned with intense pain.
He looked at the guard by the door and gasped, "Please..." Before he could finish, his breath caught. The guard rushed over and rubbed his back until his breathing slowly stabilized. Abdul couldn't bring himself to eat anything; he just sat alone, buried in his misery.
Meanwhile, Jalal had become a celebrity in town. Everywhere you looked, his picture was in magazines and newspapers, labeled as the brave young hero who fears no authority, only the truth. Whenever he was scheduled to appear on a TV program, people eagerly gathered to see what this courageous youth would present.
The wedding was drawing close, but only Zahra was making preparations. Seemah did not involve herself at all. Whenever Zahra brought up wedding plans, Seemah would simply say "okay." She rarely went out, except to visit Ya Habib's house.
With only one week left until the wedding, the house began to fill up with guests. Consequently, Seemah packed her bags to move to her Dad's house, just as he had requested, since his wife had also arrived. While packing, she stumbled upon a wristwatch. She stared intently at it, and memories of her life with Jalal flooded back. Lost in thought, she kept staring at the watch.
Ammar, who was standing by the doorway, had hurried over to show her the dinner invitation cards he had just collected. Seeing her sitting and staring at the watch, he stopped. He leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed. Seemah didn't need to tell him; he knew exactly what that watch meant, as it was identical to the one Jalal always wore.
With a heavy heart, he turned to leave, but then changed his mind. He stepped into the room and said, “My sister, should I turn back?”
She looked up quickly, turned away to wipe her tears, stood up, and asked, “Yaya, when did you get here?”
Ammar frowned slightly and said, “I've been standing here for over two hours.”
In surprise, she looked at him and asked, “Really?”
He laughed and said, “How could you believe that?”
She teased him back, “Yaya, I've noticed you're never happy unless you're teasing me, right?”
He walked closer, knelt down, and picked up the watch she had quickly set down as she stood up. He looked at the watch and then handed it to her. She looked at him without taking it. He looked at her again and said, “Take it. I know it means a lot to you.”
Feeling uneasy, she said, “Yaya, it's not...”
He smiled at her and repeated, "Take it." She reluctantly accepted it. He then asked, “What? Do you want to say goodbye to him before the wedding?”
She looked at her in shock, quickly turned her back to him, and said, “It's not like that, Yaya. I just happened to see the watch.”
He stepped in front of her, looked at her, and said, “I know, Seemah. I know everything. That's why I don't want you hiding things from me. I am the one asking you; you didn't bring it up.”
Her eyes welled up with tears. She shook her head and asked, “How can I...?”
"I am okay!" he said, looking at her. She lowered her gaze. He added, "I don't want you to feel bad thinking you didn't bid him farewell." Seeing her head bowed, he turned and said, “If you don't want to, then forget it.”
As he turned to leave, he felt her grab his hand from behind. He stopped without turning around. Despite the jealousy gripping him, he didn't want to see her unhappy because of him.
Seemah said softly, “Yaya, can I?”
Without turning around, he nodded and forced himself to say, “Didn't I just suggest it?”
She wiped her tears with her other hand and said, “Yaya, I will say goodbye to him and put away everything left in my heart. I won't think of him again, let alone make you unhappy.”
Ammar braced himself, turned to look at her, and smiled. "Don't worry, my sister. My happiness is seeing you happy. Don't worry about me; my happiness is tied to yours." He sighed and added, “If you want to see me happy, then I will wait for you to be happy first.”
Seemah wiped her tears, her heart feeling incredibly heavy. She felt a deep sense of pity for Ammar. He gently pulled his hand away and said, “Go get ready so I can drop you off. If need be, he can bring you back.”
With that, he walked out. She watched him go with a gaze full of deep sympathy. She sat down, closed her eyes, and thought, *Seemah, what is wrong with you? How can you say you will go when you know that even if he agreed, it would hurt him?*
She sat there for a long time until Ammar called her, saying he was outside waiting for her.
Jalal was staying in the small apartment he had rented, having already bought a large house in Kaduna where Umma and his wife Zainab were living. As for Zahida, her health was improving significantly. Zaid visited almost every weekend. Initially reserved, Zahida was now beginning to open up, and she could even walk a little bit with the support of a cane.
Jalal finished reviewing some documents and stood up as hunger began to set in. He looked at the calendar on his wall, where a specific date was circled in red ink. He walked up to it and sighed, “Only 7 days left?”
He breathed heavily, then checked his phone as it buzzed with a text message. To his surprise, it was a text from the police station stating that Abdul was requesting to see him and asking if he could visit.
He let out a breath and murmured to himself, “May God help him straighten out his thoughts regarding his daughter.”
He pulled the window curtains aside and stared at the street. How long had it been since he last saw Seemah? He shook his head and sighed, “Ah...”
While Jalal was standing by the window, Ammar's call came through. Jalal answered, teasing him, “The groom himself calling?”
Ammar looked at Seemah, who was sitting silently beside him, and said, “Come outside, I am in front of your house.”
Jalal replied, “Okay, I'm coming out. In fact, I wanted us to go somewhere together.”
As Ammar hung up, he looked at the silent Seemah and asked, “How many minutes will you take?”
She looked at him, her expression shifting, and said, “I just want to give him the invitation card, say goodbye, thank him, and apologize...”
Ammar felt his heart aching. He looked at her, prompting her to turn her face away and add, “Just wait for me here. As soon as he comes out, I'll go. Even 10 minutes will be enough.”
Ammar said nothing. He turned his gaze toward the door where Jalal would emerge. Seemah also fell silent, wondering if she was being fair to Ya Ammar.
Looking in the direction Ammar was watching, she saw Jalal walk out from afar. He was wearing a white Jallabiya that suited him beautifully. She stared at him, feeling that he looked even handsomer now. Her heart began to race, and she couldn't take her eyes off him.
When Ammar turned around to speak to her and saw the way she was staring at Jalal, a wave of jealousy washed over him. He began to feel angry at himself. What was his reason for letting her see Jalal? Did he even know what he was doing?
As Jalal neared the car, Ammar composed himself and told her, “Get down and go. Remember, I told Dad we were going to collect your stitched clothes.”
Seemah looked at Ammar and said, “Yaya, let's just leave.”
Surprised, he asked, “Have you changed your mind about saying goodbye and apologizing?”
She looked at him, her eyes filling with tears, and said, “Yaya, I don't think I can...”
Before Ammar could respond, Jalal innocently opened the car door where Seemah was sitting, intending to sit there so they could drive to where he wanted. The car windows were tinted such that those inside could see out, but those outside couldn't see in. To his utter shock, he saw Seemah sitting there. He quickly pulled back, closed the door, and froze as his heart began to pound rapidly.
Instead of heading back inside, he just turned around and started walking away down the street. Ammar watched him with a look of pity and then asked, “Seemah, aren't you going?”
With a trembling heart, she opened the door. Ever since her eyes met Jalal's, she noticed his entire body had started shaking. She stepped out of the car, watching Jalal cross the street. Noticing that he was just walking away blindly, she didn't even say another word to Ammar or close the car door before rushing after him.
Her entire focus was on Jalal. She wanted to stop him, but she didn't know how. Ammar leaned against the car, watching her. As she went to cross the street, a motorcyclist came speeding toward her. Ammar screamed her name in terror, causing Jalal to spin around.
Jalal rushed toward her at full speed. Seemah, seeing Jalal running toward her, froze completely, entirely forgetting she was in the middle of the road.
Just as the motorcycle was about to hit her, Jalal pulled her out of the way, and they both fell heavily to the ground. Terrified, she looked up in a panic and began to shake Jalal, tears streaming down her face as she cried out, “Deen! Deen!”
Ammar, who had also run over, stopped short upon seeing Jalal on the ground. Seeing Seemah crying so hysterically brought him back to his senses. He stepped closer and called, “Jalal!”
Jalal opene
