The next day, Sunday, Salima was sitting with Salim, folding the clothes they had washed, when Ibrahim appeared suddenly, looking sharp in a short-sleeved shirt that showed off the slight roughness of his skin. They all stared at him for a moment before greeting, “Good afternoon, brother!” … but he ignored them and looked at Salim, saying, “You, get out of here.” Whispering, Salim left, and Ibrahim turned to Salima, staring at her. “You little shameless girl, I know what you did yesterday,” he said. Salima’s chest tightened, but she gathered courage and asked, “What did I do, brother?” Ibrahim laughed and replied, “You know what you did, no need for me to tell you. Now, if you resist me, I’ll reveal your secrets, and I swear it won’t just be Daddy who punishes you, but Mummy and I too.”
Salima’s heart pounded, and fear took over. “What will you do to me?” she whispered. He laughed like a mischievous older man and leaned closer, despite knowing she had nothing of value for him, yet he intended to take advantage. Straightening himself, he said, “Come to my room at ten o’clock; there’s something I need to tell you about what you’re going to do for me. If you don’t come, I swear the punishment will be severe.” With that, he left like the wind. Salima barely managed to sit by the bed, her mind restless, folding clothes nervously. Even after Maghrib prayer, she had no appetite for dinner, thinking only of the danger she would face if she stayed, so she decided she had to go.
At exactly ten, she adjusted her hijab, peeked at the sleeping Salim, and gently covered him with a blanket. She climbed the stairs quietly, the lights already off, and approached Ibrahim’s room. Steeling herself, she knocked on the door. Before she could finish, it opened, revealing him in a white towel around his waist. He moved aside to let her in and shut the door behind her. As soon as she entered, he stared at her and said, “Come, let’s go.” She hesitated, but he sat on the edge of his bed, saying, “Relax, you’re with me, and I’ll keep your secrets.” She tried to reason, saying she had to sleep because of school on Monday. He stood, teasing her for being hesitant, and drew her close. Panic rose in her as he forced himself on her, silencing her cries. The assault continued with him showing extreme cruelty. Salima tried to resist, using her strength to escape, but he overpowered her. She barely managed to grab a shisha bottle beside her, hitting him with it, making him fall. Seizing the opportunity, she grabbed her hijab, dressed quickly, and ran out, encountering Hilma along the way. She rushed past her into her father’s room.
The Aftermath and Family Shock
Her father was sitting, reading some papers. Hearing a knock and Hilma’s voice, he rose and saw Haj Labiba asleep nearby. As she opened the door, he called out anxiously, “What’s going on here?” Salima’s body trembled as she pointed toward Ibrahim’s room, saying, “Brother… brother, Yamutu tried to kill him!” Her father’s concern intensified, asking, “Who is Yamutu? Which brother?” Salima pulled him toward Ibrahim’s room. Seeing Ibrahim lying there, he rushed forward and began attending to him. Noticing his faint pulse, he instructed water to be brought immediately.
Salima dashed to fetch water, meeting Haj Labiba along the way. Labiba asked anxiously, “Where is your father? What happened?” Without stopping, Salima continued to the kitchen. Labiba followed and found her father holding Ibrahim on his lap, his grip strong. Upon seeing her, he asked loudly, “Where is Hilma? Where is the water?” Hilma quickly arrived with the water, dousing Ibrahim twice. After a long sigh of relief, he opened his eyes, looking at his family one by one. Their father finally asked calmly but firmly, “Ibrahim, what’s going on here? What happened?” Ibrahim remained silent.
Description
A Tense Sunday Morning
The next day, Sunday, Salima was sitting with Salim, folding the clothes they had washed, when Ibrahim appeared suddenly, looking sharp in a short-sleeved shirt that showed off the slight roughness of his skin. They all stared at him for a moment before greeting, “Good afternoon, brother!” … but he ignored them and looked at Salim, saying, “You, get out of here.” Whispering, Salim left, and Ibrahim turned to Salima, staring at her. “You little shameless girl, I know what you did yesterday,” he said. Salima’s chest tightened, but she gathered courage and asked, “What did I do, brother?” Ibrahim laughed and replied, “You know what you did, no need for me to tell you. Now, if you resist me, I’ll reveal your secrets, and I swear it won’t just be Daddy who punishes you, but Mummy and I too.”
Salima’s heart pounded, and fear took over. “What will you do to me?” she whispered. He laughed like a mischievous older man and leaned closer, despite knowing she had nothing of value for him, yet he intended to take advantage. Straightening himself, he said, “Come to my room at ten o’clock; there’s something I need to tell you about what you’re going to do for me. If you don’t come, I swear the punishment will be severe.” With that, he left like the wind. Salima barely managed to sit by the bed, her mind restless, folding clothes nervously. Even after Maghrib prayer, she had no appetite for dinner, thinking only of the danger she would face if she stayed, so she decided she had to go.
At exactly ten, she adjusted her hijab, peeked at the sleeping Salim, and gently covered him with a blanket. She climbed the stairs quietly, the lights already off, and approached Ibrahim’s room. Steeling herself, she knocked on the door. Before she could finish, it opened, revealing him in a white towel around his waist. He moved aside to let her in and shut the door behind her. As soon as she entered, he stared at her and said, “Come, let’s go.” She hesitated, but he sat on the edge of his bed, saying, “Relax, you’re with me, and I’ll keep your secrets.” She tried to reason, saying she had to sleep because of school on Monday. He stood, teasing her for being hesitant, and drew her close. Panic rose in her as he forced himself on her, silencing her cries. The assault continued with him showing extreme cruelty. Salima tried to resist, using her strength to escape, but he overpowered her. She barely managed to grab a shisha bottle beside her, hitting him with it, making him fall. Seizing the opportunity, she grabbed her hijab, dressed quickly, and ran out, encountering Hilma along the way. She rushed past her into her father’s room.
The Aftermath and Family Shock
Her father was sitting, reading some papers. Hearing a knock and Hilma’s voice, he rose and saw Haj Labiba asleep nearby. As she opened the door, he called out anxiously, “What’s going on here?” Salima’s body trembled as she pointed toward Ibrahim’s room, saying, “Brother… brother, Yamutu tried to kill him!” Her father’s concern intensified, asking, “Who is Yamutu? Which brother?” Salima pulled him toward Ibrahim’s room. Seeing Ibrahim lying there, he rushed forward and began attending to him. Noticing his faint pulse, he instructed water to be brought immediately.
Salima dashed to fetch water, meeting Haj Labiba along the way. Labiba asked anxiously, “Where is your father? What happened?” Without stopping, Salima continued to the kitchen. Labiba followed and found her father holding Ibrahim on his lap, his grip strong. Upon seeing her, he asked loudly, “Where is Hilma? Where is the water?” Hilma quickly arrived with the water, dousing Ibrahim twice. After a long sigh of relief, he opened his eyes, looking at his family one by one. Their father finally asked calmly but firmly, “Ibrahim, what’s going on here? What happened?” Ibrahim remained silent.