Page 3

Amaan couldn’t speak; Hamlat’s behavior had become frightening—she looked capable of attacking him.

She shouted, “Aren’t you going to talk, you son of a nobody?”

At that moment, Amaan’s eyes turned red and filled with tears, hurt by the insult to his parents.

His whole body trembled as he raised his hand to slap her.

As his hand reached her face, Hamlat froze and shut her eyes in fear.

But Amaan paused, thought of what mattered most in his life, and restrained himself.

He lowered his hand.

Hamlat opened her eyes, glared at him, and stormed out of the living room.

Amaan stood there, tears streaming down his face.

After some time, he went into his room, performed ablution, prayed, then picked up the Qur’an to read, hoping to calm his heart.

Meanwhile, Hamlat went to her room, picked up her phone, and called her friend involved with bad company.

The call connected.

Hamlat said, “Hello, sweet Maama! It’s been a while. You know that useless man has returned, and you didn’t give me lectures—that’s why I welcomed him without respect.”

Maama laughed and said, “Oh my friend, I thought I gave you freedom to do as you wish.”

Hamlat replied, “Please come—don’t you want money?”

Maama quickly answered, “I’m coming. I’ll bring the tools.”

Hamlat said, “Okay, my sweet Maama.”

---

The Next Morning

Early in the morning, Amaan prepared for the office, while Hamlat didn’t even wake up.

When Amaan passed by her room, a terrible stench hit him. Holding his nose, he muttered about her filth, wondering how she lived like that.

Entering her bedroom, he nearly vomited.

With difficulty, he said, “Hamlat, wake up. Today we have a meeting at 9.”

She only glared at him.

Amaan quickly left the room and vomited outside.

After cleaning up, he went straight to Layin Zana.

Upon arrival, he saw Ahlam coming out with her father, heading to school.

She demanded chocolate from Amaan.

Her father said, “My dear, I have no money today, and you won’t even walk—you insist on using the car.”

Ahlam started sulking and said, “Then I won’t go to school; you go alone.”

Amaan watched everything, smiling for reasons even he didn’t understand.

Ahlam pointed and said, “Daddy, look at that man smiling at me.”

Her father replied, “Ignore him. Let’s go.”

Every day, Ahlam delayed on her way to school, often spending over thirty minutes teasing people outside.

She ran toward Amaan and grabbed his ear, saying, “So you don’t listen? Instead of going to school, you’re teasing me and laughing!”

Amaan was shocked and laughed uncontrollably.

She shouted, “Daddy, look at this man!”

Her father apologized to Amaan, who said it was nothing, then headed to work, still laughing and thinking of Ahlam.

At school, Ahlam pretended to be sick to escape punishment.

Her teacher, Uncle Salim, told her to go to class since she was always absent anyway.

She immediately recovered and ran off, mocking everyone.