He said, “The surgery has been done, the baby was removed. It was Allah’s will that her life was spared; we are waiting for her to wake up.”

She stood up quickly, following Bilal as he headed to the hospital parking lot. As his car pulled out, she picked up her phone and called Junaid. When he answered, she said,

“Hurry, leave whatever you’re doing at the market and follow Bilal. He’s driving recklessly, his mind is unsettled.”

Junaid paused before replying, “Ammi, where exactly can I find Bilal now?”

She snapped back at him angrily,

“Good! Perfect! You keep repeating my words instead of acting. Junaid, if anything happens to Bilal you’ll be shocked.”

Bilal was driving madly, almost as if he wanted to leave the city. He felt as if, today, he would either spend his lifetime in prison or one of two things would happen: either Zameer would kill him, or he, Bilal, would kill Zameer—even if it meant the government would eventually execute him too.

Tears welled in Bilal’s eyes, betraying the turmoil in his heart, though swallowing his emotions had always been one of his habits. Nothing rattled him more than the word “ƴar tsala” that Ridayya had used.

Did she find nothing else in this world? She chose a husband over everything.

Skreeeeech! The loud screech of two cars colliding filled the air. One of the drivers clutched his own car’s hood tightly. Bilal looked up, intending to release the fire eating him alive since the road, but when he saw the face inside the other car, his mouth fell open in shock. Then he managed to mutter aloud:

“Bilal!”

Junaid had shouted his name in disbelief, unable to comprehend seeing Bilal in the middle of the road like that. He leaned out through the car window, shouting again,

“Bilal! Bilal!”

Bilal snapped out of his daze, slamming the brakes. Out loud he muttered shakily,

“Su… Subhanallah.”

The voice struck him by surprise; he hated it, hated any intrusion into his affairs. He calmed himself, refusing to look at Junaid.

“Bilal, I’m speaking to you. Don’t ignore me like trash.”

Bilal burst out,

“Junaid, I swear I’ll curse your father! If you ever dare mention even the letter B of the name Bilal again—stay away from me!”

The moment Junaid heard that insult, he knew things weren’t easy. He said quietly,

“You’re my elder, even if you curse me it’s not wrong. Calm down, pull over, let’s talk.”

Bilal fell silent; anger already had him in a chokehold.

“Don’t tell me this is all about Ridayya,” Junaid continued. “I never expected this from you. Of all people… Ridayya?”

As he finished speaking, Bilal revved the engine again. Junaid quickly followed behind. Seeing that Bilal wouldn’t stop, he finally trailed him all the way home.

When Bilal arrived, he got out of his car. Junaid also parked and came after him, pleading,

“Please, listen to me. Ammi sent me. You can’t even see your own state, let alone the judgment you’re about to make.”

Bilal turned to glare at him. His heart pounded painfully—he hated hearing anything connected to Ridayya.

“Junaid, are you my father? Did you breastfeed me? Then listen—before I smash your mouth, stay out of my way.”

He left for Baba Ƙarami’s quarters, while Junaid entered Ammi’s section, his head full of heavy thoughts about Ridayya’s life