ABOUT THIS BOOK
Description
Emotional Breakdown and Warning
Her eyes instantly filled with tears, and with a trembling voice that sounded like she would burst into sobs, she said,
"I am different from them. Up till today, they still refuse to forget my status in your house. They look at me like a low-class maid. Nothing has changed."
He understood she was truly frightened, and in a sharp tone he said,
"You don’t sound like Sir Mubarak’s wife. You have embarrassed me. I swear, from today this is your last warning. If I ever see you crying again because of fear of any of them, I will be very angry with you."
She almost burst into tears again from the harshness of his words.
He widened his eyes at her.
"I hope you understand me?"
With her voice shaking she whispered, "Yes."
He held her hand gently and led her towards the grand sitting room. When they walked in, the workers inside began stepping aside respectfully. On seeing Sir Mubarak, they quickly greeted. After replying, he asked, “Where is Princess Mujeedat?”
One of the maids answered, “They’re in the garden.”
He handed Turai’s hand to the maid. Turai’s body had already gone weak.
He told the maid,
"She’s my wife. I want you to take her there, walk slowly with her."
The maid smiled; she admired how much he respected his wife.
"Insha Allah, sir," she said, holding Mom Turai’s hand and guiding her out. Turai kept looking back at him, and he kept watching her until she disappeared from sight. Then he headed toward the Prime Minister’s room.
Hateem’s Confession and Mubarak’s Concern
Hateem opened his eyes when Sir Mubarak entered.
Sir Mubarak sat at the edge of the bed.
"My brother, are you tired from the journey?"
Hateem sat up weakly.
"It was exhausting, my brother. You must be tired too."
Sir Mubarak teased, "I’m a soldier. That small journey cannot tire me."
Hateem smiled.
With concern, Mubarak asked,
"What is bothering you? Your mood has changed. Are you okay?"
Softly he replied, "I’m fine," trying to hide his worries.
"I am your brother, Hateem. You cannot hide your problems from me. Please tell me. I won’t have peace unless you do. I noticed you’ve changed since you arrived in this country."
Hateem held Mubarak’s hand tightly and spoke in a low voice:
"I don’t know what to do about my love for that child of Owais. He is the reason for everything I’m going through. I even dream about him. Allah has tested me with love for him. I have no relation with him, but I feel like I’m the one who gave birth to him."
Mubarak watched him with sympathy. He knew the root of this problem was Hateem’s lack of a son of his own, which made him emotionally attached to Owais’ child.
"I’ve never seen him before, but because of you, Insha Allah I will go to Owais’ house tomorrow to see the boy."
Hateem continued,
"He looks like me—like a photocopy of my face. Only our skin color differs. His is fair like Nazli. I don’t want to leave this country without knowing if he has recovered from his illness. I truly want to meet him. But I lost the chance because father banned me from going near him. I can’t even enter Owais’ house. I have no choice but to endure."
Sir Mubarak was confused and troubled by Hateem’s deep attachment. It felt almost supernatural.
He comforted him until he slowly became calm, and they continued talking.
Garden Confrontation and Turai’s Humiliation
When Hajiya Turai entered the garden with the maid, even before she reached Princess Mujeedat and the others, Hajiya Laurat exclaimed loudly,
"Is that not Harriet, Baba Obie’s former housemaid?"
Everyone turned to look at her. The maid quietly walked back to the house. Turai walked toward them nervously.
Hajiya Laurat and Hajiya Saratu gave her disdainful, humiliating looks.
Hajiya Laurat pointed at her:
"You! What are you doing here? Who allowed you to step into this place?"
Turai kept quiet.
Saratu laughed mockingly:
"Typical intrusion from a poor girl. Were you sent here to serve us?"
Her Excellency Muhibbat added with sarcasm:
"Leave her. She looks like someone who undervalues herself. I don’t even know what Mubarak saw in her to marry her. Maybe it's just her skin color and her hair. A woman without height, without weight — as if her body is used for cooking soup every day."
They all burst into laughter.
Some women—Princess Mujeedat, Hajiya Malikat, and Hajiya Madina—remained silent. The rest mocked her.
Hajiya Jamila said,
"I swear their marriage is nonsense. Maybe she even did charms on him. Mubarak is far above her level. Thank God she never had a child with him."
Turai’s heart broke. Tears flowed down her cheeks.
Hajiya Laurat was pleased.
Saratu added mercilessly,
"I still believe her child is illegitimate. She came here from England with that boy as a maid. She's a wicked pretender. Only Allah knows her evil plans."
Turai’s eyes widened with shock and pain. She couldn’t speak.
Laurat threatened,
"If I see you at Hateem’s dinner tomorrow, I will pour this orange juice on your face in front of everyone!"
Saratu added,
"And you and that other witch—what’s her name?"
"Hajjaty," Saratu supplied quickly.
"Yes, both of you will eventually be sent out of this family," Laurat said with a wicked smile.
Turai broke down crying. Her legs could barely carry her.
Princess Malikat cleared her throat.
"This is disrespectful. You have embarrassed me. I see no benefit in insulting her. Show some decency."
Princess Mujeedat then gently called Turai.
"Come, sit beside me."
Laurat and Muhibbat stood up angrily.
"We cannot sit beside her! If she sits here, we’re leaving!"
Turai cried,
"I cannot sit, Aunty Mujeedat. I don’t want to cause division among you. I will leave. Mubarak only asked me to greet you and welcome you back. I will go now."
She turned and hurried away.
Princess Mujeedat’s heart tightened. She stood up angrily and told them she was going inside, then left with Hajiya Malikat.
After they left, Hajiya Laurat hissed:
"That evil woman ruined our happiness."
Saratu added,
"I know how to deal with her at the dinner tomorrow. She will regret coming."
Later, Turai sat in Mubarak’s car crying deeply, regretting visiting the Prime Minister’s house. The insults burned her soul, especially being called a witch and accused of having an illegitimate child. She promised herself not to tell Mubarak, because if he heard it, he would destroy all of them.
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