“He said he has taken her back as his wife—and that she should return to his house. She hurried to tell me before he comes here to drag her away by force. That’s why she was weeping bitterly earlier when I went to her. Even I, seeing how Laweezi is tormenting Zainab, feel wounded in my heart.”

Hayatu fell silent, reflecting deeply on the words. Then he asked quietly, “Why didn’t you tell me all this from the beginning?”

“Besides, tell her to change her phone line often. If he wasn’t just a foolish boy, he should know marriage cannot be forced when the woman herself doesn’t want it.”

Maijiddah shook her head sadly. “Wallahi, you don’t know who Laweezi is—that’s why you can speak like this. Do you know this is the same man who caused the death of his wife’s parents? They said he never feared killing anyone. Such a man has nothing in this world that can stop him, Abban Jawaheer. Don’t underestimate him.”

Hayatu sighed, shaking his head. “But we’re still only accusing him—we don’t yet have proof that he truly killed them.” He paused. “Where is Zainab now?”

“She’s been in her room, crying, since earlier.”

Hayatu’s eyes widened in alarm. “For what reason is she crying? And you—did you just leave her alone like that, without even trying to comfort her?”

Maijiddah’s face crumpled, her voice trembling with fear and sorrow. “It’s because Laweezi called her, claiming he had taken her back. She despises him now—hates him completely. That’s why she was crying. I tried to console her, but she refused to stop weeping. I couldn’t bear watching her tears of sheer anguish anymore, so I left her alone.”

Hayatu exhaled heavily. “Ah, this world is full of pain and sorrow. But whatever has befallen her, dear, she brought it upon herself by disobeying her parents.”

“You are right,” Maijiddah agreed, lowering her voice. “Zainab has always been stubborn. While our parents were alive, Baba did everything to stop her from marrying Laweezi. But she blinded her own eyes and shut her ears, insisting she loved him. Uncle Rabilu even helped her because he had been bribed with heavy money.”

“It’s a pity,” Hayatu muttered. “Call her here at once.”

“Yes, dear.”

Maijiddah rose and went straight to Zainab’s room. She found her sitting with her head buried in her knees, sobbing bitterly as though she might faint from grief. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen from endless tears—Laweezi had become a snake coiled tightly around her life, refusing to enter or leave.

Maijiddah rushed to her side, heart pounding. “Are you still crying, Zee? Please stop torturing yourself. Don’t kill yourself with sorrow.”

At the sound of her aunt’s voice, Zainab lifted her bloodshot eyes and flung herself into her arms. She clung tightly, desperate for comfort, but deep inside she knew she would never stop regretting her marriage to Laweezi. He had destroyed her happiness, leaving only ruin. No one else had ever caused her such pain but him. New tears burned her cheeks as she stared into Maijiddah’s face.

Maijiddah stroked her back gently, her own heart aching for her only sister. She herself despised Laweezi for the havoc he had wreaked on Zainab’s life and mind. Fighting her own tears, she whispered, “Zee, please, enough tears. Don’t keep drowning yourself in sorrow. If I lose you, I will have nothing left in this world.”

Zainab trembled, breathing raggedly. “But Aunty, how can I stop? Laweezi will never let me live in peace. He wants to kill me. He wants me gone from this world.”

She pressed her fists against her chest. “I regret marrying him, Aunty. Every bit of suffering I face now is the burden of what I did to Ummi. I disobeyed her, and her curse is chasing me.”

Her sobs grew louder. “I followed my desires, let Satan blind me, and now my life is nothing but torment. If only time could turn back! If only I could undo this terrible mistake. Baba, Ummi, forgive me! Even though you forgave me before your deaths, the guilt still follows me.”

She collapsed further into Maijiddah’s arms. “Sometimes I wish I were dead. Better to die than to live in this endless misery.”

Maijiddah’s heart clenched. Her own tears streamed freely. “Don’t say that, Zee! If you die, who will I have left in this world? You are my only sister, my blood. Remember, what has happened to you is by Allah’s decree—it was written before you were even born.”

Zainab shook her head. “My chest is heavy, Aunty. My heart feels like it will split open.”

“Be patient, little sister. I’ll call Doctor Nazeer to examine you.”

“No!” Zainab cried stubbornly.

“Why not, Zee?”

“Because no doctor can heal the sickness Laweezi has planted in my heart. Only when he is dragged before a court and punished for what he has done will I find peace.”

Maijiddah took a deep breath, trying to steady her. “The truth will come out, Zee. No matter how long it takes, whoever killed Ummi and Baba will be exposed.”

Zainab nodded faintly. “I’ll try… I’ll try to lessen my sorrow.”

“That’s better, before heart disease consumes you.”

“Alright, Aunty,” she whispered.

“Good. Now wipe your tears—your brother-in-law wants to see you.”

Zainab stood silently and went to wash her face, applying powder to cover the swelling in her eyes. When she finished, she whispered, “I’m ready, Aunty.”

Hand in hand, they went to Hayatu’s room.

When they entered, Maijiddah sat beside her husband while Zainab lowered herself onto the carpet, head bowed, her heart raw with pain. Hayatu studied her for a long moment before exhaling heavily. “Zainab.”

“Yes, yaya Hayatu,” she answered weakly.

He fixed his gaze on her. “Laweezi called you?”

Zainab’s face tightened with fear. “Yes, he did, Abban Jawaheer.”

Hayatu gave a bitter smile. “So… does he always call you, or is this new?”

Her voice faltered. “He has always called me, since the beginning. At first I didn’t even know who it was. But later, I realized it was him. He never stops. He threatens me, saying if I don’t return to his house, he will kill Aunty Maijiddah—leave me with no one.”

She broke down again. “I tried to hide it, but Aunty caught me crying earlier. What do I do, yaya? Save me from this torment. I know Laweezi is capable of killing. His heart is dark.”

Tears streamed freely down her face.

Hayatu clenched his fists, swallowing hard. Finally he spoke firmly. “Listen, Zainab. As long as I live, Laweezi will never prevail over you. Be cautious, protect yourself. And whenever he calls—record his threats. I want strong evidence against him.”

Through her tears, Zainab nodded. “I will, yaya. Insha Allah.”

“Good girl.”

Beside them, Maijiddah sat frozen, shaken to her core by the words: ‘I’ll kill her.’ She knew too well that Laweezi was capable. From the beginning, he had used money and power to trap Zainab, destroying their family’s peace. Their parents had even died in grief because of him.

Hayatu noticed his wife’s silence and gently touched her cheek. “Jiddana, what are you thinking?”

She didn’t answer, lost in thought, until he shook her shoulder. She blinked back into the moment.

“Are you alright? You’ve been deep in thought.”

Maijiddah whispered, “How can I not think, when Zee just said Laweezi threatened to kill me? After divorcing her, now he claims to have taken her back. He only wants to torment her further. But what he desires will never happen.”

Hayatu clasped her hand. “Calm yourself, Jiddana. By Allah’s will, I won’t let him triumph. Just stay close to Zee and console her.”

Turning to Zainab, he said softly, “You may go back to your room now.”

“Yes, yaya,” she murmured, rising and leaving quietly.

Once she was gone, Hayatu looked at his wife. “Jiddana, this problem is far greater than it seems.”

Maijiddah’s eyes hardened. “Do you think Laweezi is a small criminal? No. He is the worst kind. Outwardly, he looks harmless, but those who know him well gave him the name Lahani.”

“Lahani?” Hayatu repeated in surprise. “What does that even