The big shopping bags, each one brought by them, were left at Zainab’s place, where they found her and she had started fidgeting. The expensive purchases they made for her children made her heart swell with affection and gratitude toward him, and she prayed that God would grant him a good wife. That night, he informed her of his trip.
★ While Zainab was pretending to prepare breakfast, she heard a knock. It was Al-Hussain who got up and opened the door. Siya was standing there, her eyes red from crying and lack of sleep. It took Zainab ten minutes before she could gather herself and come to the house. When she got there, she looked at Zainab in a stern way that seemed to say, “come and see what I’ve brought to your house.” In a cold tone, she greeted her, then added, “Aunty, please forgive him; I couldn’t control my anger, but God willing, I won’t do it again.” Zainab held her hand, and they returned to the living room.
After they sat, Zainab said, “Siya, your anger isn’t yours alone; what you did yesterday was a big mistake. But if it happens again, forgive him and give him a chance. God willing, he will forgive you.” She squeezed her hand to encourage her.
She called Safeera, almost hanging up before she answered, but she didn’t respond to Safeera’s greeting. Instead, she said she was calling her uncle to prepare breakfast before he left. Before Safeera could even leave her room, they heard another knock. Zainab herself opened the door, not expecting any guest at that time. It was their guard holding car keys. Zainab frowned as she looked at the keys in his hand, wondering why. Politely, he explained, “The one who came to pick up Alhaji Ibrahim returned the car; he said to bring it to you, according to Alhaji.” He quickly retrieved the living room key Abu Zaid had given him and handed it over. She swallowed her surprise and took it, thanking him as she always did.
Zainab sat close to Siya. She knew he had greeted her the previous night, but she was upset that he left without seeing her. At times, it seemed he treated his orphaned children differently from hers, and unable to bear it, she sent him a short message. Siya looked at her, waiting for more information about what had been brought for her, which eventually calmed her. After confirming the message was sent, she put down her phone, trying to get up, but Siya grabbed her hand, asking, “Aunty, what happened?” She shook her head and replied, “Nothing, Siya. Bismillah,” showing her the lined-up food.
No matter how much Zainab tried to eat bravely, she failed and had to push the food aside. At that moment, Safeera came down in a soft voice, sounding like a small cat: “Mommy, Uncle is leaving? Maybe he’s gone since you greeted last night.” Siya coughed loudly, and Zainab quickly handed her some water. She started crying, her murmurs revealing her distress.
---
FA’IZ’S CHANGE
The change in Fa’iz didn’t bother Ummee much because she always prayed to God, as her mother had taught her. Since her father had bought her a phone, she used it to secretly call her aunt. On Safeera Zahra’s social media status, she memorized Abu Zaid’s car type and the video Safeera posted, revealing the amount her aunt had spent. Safeera’s life had no privacy; if money or gifts were involved, she posted everything on social media. Everyone knew about the cars, living rooms, and bedrooms of their house, except her mother’s.
Even though Zahra noticed Safeera’s posts, she prayed for her uncle’s safe return and focused more on how Safeera flaunted herself online, declaring her control over him. If it were possible, it had to happen at her birthday.
---
ABU ZAID
The day Abu Zaid returned, he read Zainab’s message, smiled, and replied to please her, reinforcing her importance in his life. In the following days, he lived his life as usual, though thoughts of Ummee lingered.
---
ZAHRA
She got dressed as if she were the birthday girl, performing rituals for success. Safeera had gathered her friends, all Instagram influencers, which irritated her mother. Zahra regretted letting Safeera post freely on social media, assuming she would misuse it. She checked every corner of the house and ensured that no one could interfere with her plans.
---
SULAIMAN
While waiting for Sulaiman’s siblings, Zainab comforted him as he cried, overwhelmed by the accumulated stress. She promised a solution but wasn’t satisfied with his decision to marry Ummee to the guard, feeling it was unfair. Their conversation was interrupted by a knock. Zainab adjusted herself, stood with her bag, and gave permission to enter. Bright light filled the room, allowing everyone to see each other: Zahra first, then Hudayya, then Innar Zara’u.
Hudayya’s presence shocked Zainab, making her feel the intensity of her life experiences. She greeted them cautiously, keeping her head low to avoid eye contact.
---
UMMEE & HUDAYYA
Zainab wondered if Hudayya truly sought God’s mercy. She pondered how someone could be so cruel, destroying her family and her children’s happiness. Hudayya’s presence brought back the past conflicts that Abu Zaid, Sulaiman, and others had endured. Zainab didn’t want to judge Ummee yet, wanting Abu Zaid to present a wife himself, knowing modern women are ambitious and fearful.
After Sulaiman prayed, he called Hudayya during prayer, who came immediately, crying and apologetic.
---
POST-BIRTHDAY SAFEERA
Since Safeera’s birthday, everything between Zahra and Innar Zara’u became strained. Safeera’s dominance on social media made her flaunt wealth and power, ignoring social boundaries. Hudayya intervened, trying to manage Ummee’s visit to the hospital, but Innar Zara’u resisted. Ummee cried, heartbroken over Innar Zara’u’s resistance.
---
ABU ZAID & SIYAA
Since Siya and Muhammad parted ways, Siya had no peace until he received clarity about Abu Zaid’s relationship with Siya. He still loved his wife, and despite her presence with Zayad, he remained determined. He secretly coordinated with Muhammad, planning for a future reunion.
---
ZAINAB’S WAITING
While waiting for Sulaiman’s family, Zainab sat with him, comforting him as he cried over the complicated situation. She did not approve of marrying Ummee to the guard because of social expectations. Their conversation was interrupted by a knock. Zainab adjusted her sitting, holding her bag, and gave permission to enter. Bright light illuminated the room, revealing everyone: Zahra, Hudayya, and Innar Zara’u. Zainab was shocked by Hudayya’s presence, feeling the intensity of her life experiences. She greeted them cautiously, keeping her head down to avoid eye contact.
---
HUDAYYA
Zainab wondered if Hudayya truly sought God’s mercy. How could someone so cruel destroy the harmony of a family? Hudayya reminded Zainab of the pain and conflicts Abu Zaid and Sulaiman had experienced. She didn’t want to judge Ummee yet, wanting Abu Zaid to personally choose a wife.
---
UMMEE
Her heart continued racing, confused about what would happen, and she wondered how Sulaiman knew Aunty Zainab. She felt a heavy mix of fear, anger, and curiosity as the events unfolded, realizing the chaos caused by Hudayya, Safeera, and others around them.
---
VIDEO CALL WITH ABU ZAID
Zainab received a video call from Abu Zaid, which she quickly answered. His eyes, slightly red, showed concern. She greeted him and explained briefly about the meeting with Hudayya and Sulaiman’s decision to marry Ummee to the guard, feeling it was unfair. He listened calmly, then asked, “You stopped looking for me a wife, didn’t you?” Confused, Zainab protested. He smiled, then asked why she hadn’t looked for a wife for his orphans. Zainab, laughing and crying, asked him to repeat it.
ZAINAB'S HOUSE
The big shopping bags, each one brought by them, were left at Zainab’s place, where they found her and she had started fidgeting. The expensive purchases they made for her children made her heart swell with affection and gratitude toward him, and she prayed that God would grant him a good wife. That night, he informed her of his trip.
★ While Zainab was pretending to prepare breakfast, she heard a knock. It was Al-Hussain who got up and opened the door. Siya was standing there, her eyes red from crying and lack of sleep. It took Zainab ten minutes before she could gather herself and come to the house. When she got there, she looked at Zainab in a stern way that seemed to say, “come and see what I’ve brought to your house.” In a cold tone, she greeted her, then added, “Aunty, please forgive him; I couldn’t control my anger, but God willing, I won’t do it again.” Zainab held her hand, and they returned to the living room.
After they sat, Zainab said, “Siya, your anger isn’t yours alone; what you did yesterday was a big mistake. But if it happens again, forgive him and give him a chance. God willing, he will forgive you.” She squeezed her hand to encourage her.
She called Safeera, almost hanging up before she answered, but she didn’t respond to Safeera’s greeting. Instead, she said she was calling her uncle to prepare breakfast before he left. Before Safeera could even leave her room, they heard another knock. Zainab herself opened the door, not expecting any guest at that time. It was their guard holding car keys. Zainab frowned as she looked at the keys in his hand, wondering why. Politely, he explained, “The one who came to pick up Alhaji Ibrahim returned the car; he said to bring it to you, according to Alhaji.” He quickly retrieved the living room key Abu Zaid had given him and handed it over. She swallowed her surprise and took it, thanking him as she always did.
Zainab sat close to Siya. She knew he had greeted her the previous night, but she was upset that he left without seeing her. At times, it seemed he treated his orphaned children differently from hers, and unable to bear it, she sent him a short message. Siya looked at her, waiting for more information about what had been brought for her, which eventually calmed her. After confirming the message was sent, she put down her phone, trying to get up, but Siya grabbed her hand, asking, “Aunty, what happened?” She shook her head and replied, “Nothing, Siya. Bismillah,” showing her the lined-up food.
No matter how much Zainab tried to eat bravely, she failed and had to push the food aside. At that moment, Safeera came down in a soft voice, sounding like a small cat: “Mommy, Uncle is leaving? Maybe he’s gone since you greeted last night.” Siya coughed loudly, and Zainab quickly handed her some water. She started crying, her murmurs revealing her distress.
---
FA’IZ’S CHANGE
The change in Fa’iz didn’t bother Ummee much because she always prayed to God, as her mother had taught her. Since her father had bought her a phone, she used it to secretly call her aunt. On Safeera Zahra’s social media status, she memorized Abu Zaid’s car type and the video Safeera posted, revealing the amount her aunt had spent. Safeera’s life had no privacy; if money or gifts were involved, she posted everything on social media. Everyone knew about the cars, living rooms, and bedrooms of their house, except her mother’s.
Even though Zahra noticed Safeera’s posts, she prayed for her uncle’s safe return and focused more on how Safeera flaunted herself online, declaring her control over him. If it were possible, it had to happen at her birthday.
---
ABU ZAID
The day Abu Zaid returned, he read Zainab’s message, smiled, and replied to please her, reinforcing her importance in his life. In the following days, he lived his life as usual, though thoughts of Ummee lingered.
---
ZAHRA
She got dressed as if she were the birthday girl, performing rituals for success. Safeera had gathered her friends, all Instagram influencers, which irritated her mother. Zahra regretted letting Safeera post freely on social media, assuming she would misuse it. She checked every corner of the house and ensured that no one could interfere with her plans.
---
SULAIMAN
While waiting for Sulaiman’s siblings, Zainab comforted him as he cried, overwhelmed by the accumulated stress. She promised a solution but wasn’t satisfied with his decision to marry Ummee to the guard, feeling it was unfair. Their conversation was interrupted by a knock. Zainab adjusted herself, stood with her bag, and gave permission to enter. Bright light filled the room, allowing everyone to see each other: Zahra first, then Hudayya, then Innar Zara’u.
Hudayya’s presence shocked Zainab, making her feel the intensity of her life experiences. She greeted them cautiously, keeping her head low to avoid eye contact.
---
UMMEE & HUDAYYA
Zainab wondered if Hudayya truly sought God’s mercy. She pondered how someone could be so cruel, destroying her family and her children’s happiness. Hudayya’s presence brought back the past conflicts that Abu Zaid, Sulaiman, and others had endured. Zainab didn’t want to judge Ummee yet, wanting Abu Zaid to present a wife himself, knowing modern women are ambitious and fearful.
After Sulaiman prayed, he called Hudayya during prayer, who came immediately, crying and apologetic.
---
POST-BIRTHDAY SAFEERA
Since Safeera’s birthday, everything between Zahra and Innar Zara’u became strained. Safeera’s dominance on social media made her flaunt wealth and power, ignoring social boundaries. Hudayya intervened, trying to manage Ummee’s visit to the hospital, but Innar Zara’u resisted. Ummee cried, heartbroken over Innar Zara’u’s resistance.
---
ABU ZAID & SIYAA
Since Siya and Muhammad parted ways, Siya had no peace until he received clarity about Abu Zaid’s relationship with Siya. He still loved his wife, and despite her presence with Zayad, he remained determined. He secretly coordinated with Muhammad, planning for a future reunion.
---
ZAINAB’S WAITING
While waiting for Sulaiman’s family, Zainab sat with him, comforting him as he cried over the complicated situation. She did not approve of marrying Ummee to the guard because of social expectations. Their conversation was interrupted by a knock. Zainab adjusted her sitting, holding her bag, and gave permission to enter. Bright light illuminated the room, revealing everyone: Zahra, Hudayya, and Innar Zara’u. Zainab was shocked by Hudayya’s presence, feeling the intensity of her life experiences. She greeted them cautiously, keeping her head down to avoid eye contact.
---
HUDAYYA
Zainab wondered if Hudayya truly sought God’s mercy. How could someone so cruel destroy the harmony of a family? Hudayya reminded Zainab of the pain and conflicts Abu Zaid and Sulaiman had experienced. She didn’t want to judge Ummee yet, wanting Abu Zaid to personally choose a wife.
---
UMMEE
Her heart continued racing, confused about what would happen, and she wondered how Sulaiman knew Aunty Zainab. She felt a heavy mix of fear, anger, and curiosity as the events unfolded, realizing the chaos caused by Hudayya, Safeera, and others around them.
---
VIDEO CALL WITH ABU ZAID
Zainab received a video call from Abu Zaid, which she quickly answered. His eyes, slightly red, showed concern. She greeted him and explained briefly about the meeting with Hudayya and Sulaiman’s decision to marry Ummee to the guard, feeling it was unfair. He listened calmly, then asked, “You stopped looking for me a wife, didn’t you?” Confused, Zainab protested. He smiled, then asked why she hadn’t looked for a wife for his orphans. Zainab, laughing and crying, asked him to repeat it.