Her eyes were already filled with tears, her voice trembling as if she would burst into sobs.
She said, “I am different from them. Up till today, they refuse to accept my position in your family. They still look at me as a low-born housemaid. Nothing has changed.”
He understood she was truly afraid of them. His voice hardened as he said,
“You don’t sound like Sir Mubarak’s wife. You’ve embarrassed me. I swear, from today this is your last warning. If I ever see you shedding tears again or being afraid of any of them, I will deal with you.”
She almost burst into tears again from the way he spoke harshly to her.
He widened his eyes at her.
“I hope you understand me?”
Her voice shook as she replied,
“Yea…h.”
He held her hand inside his, gently pulled her along, and they walked toward the mansion’s grand living room. When they entered, the servants attending to duties were moving rapidly through the hall. Seeing Sir Mubarak, they quickly greeted him with deep respect. After returning their greetings, he asked where Princess Mujeedat was.
One of the servants replied,
“They are in the garden.”
He handed Turai’s hand to the servant; her body had already gone cold and weak.
In a firm voice, he said to the servant,
“She is my wife. I want you to take her to them. Please lead her gently.”
The servant smiled; she admired the way he respected his wife.
“In sha Allah, your Highness,” she said, then held Mom Turai’s hand and led her toward the garden exit. Turai kept turning to look at him, and he too watched her until she completely disappeared from sight. After that, he headed toward the Prime Minister’s room.
Sir Mubarak’s arrival made the man on the bed open his eyes and look at him.
Sir Mubarak sat at the edge of the bed and said,
“My brother, are you tired from the journey?”
Hateem sat up slowly with visible exhaustion.
“The trip was tiring, my brother. You too must be exhausted.”
Sir Mubarak teased,
“Me? I’m a soldier. That journey is not enough to tire me.”
Hateem smiled faintly.
With concern, Sir Mubarak asked,
“What’s bothering you? I’ve noticed your mood has changed. Are you unwell?”
Softly, Hateem replied,
“I’m fine,” trying to hide his feelings.
Sir Mubarak said,
“I am your brother, Hateem. You cannot hide your worries from me. Please tell me, or I won’t be at peace. I noticed since you returned to this country, you’re completely different.”
Hateem held Sir Mubarak’s hand tightly and lowered his voice:
“I don’t know what to do about this love I have for that boy living with Owais. He is the reason for everything I am feeling. I even dream about him.”
He lowered his tone further.
“Allah has tested me with love for him. I have no blood relation with him, yet I feel like I am the one who gave birth to him. I’m telling you because you’re one of the few who understands me.”
Sir Mubarak watched him with pity. He knew exactly what was troubling him—his deep longing for a son of his own. That was why Hateem became emotionally attached to the boy Owais was raising.
Hateem continued,
“I’ve never seen him, but because of you, In sha Allah, I’ll go to Owais’ house tomorrow so I can see the boy.”
Hateem added,
“He looks like me, like my photocopy. Only his complexion is different—he’s very fair, like Nazli. That is why I am in this state. I don’t want to leave this country without seeing some improvement in his condition. I really want to meet him, but I’ve lost every opportunity I had. Father forbade me from going near him, and they’ve banned me from entering Owais’ house because of him. I have no choice but to endure.”
His voice cracked as he exhaled heavily.
Sir Mubarak was stunned and confused. This kind of love felt unusual to him—almost like something mystical.
He began comforting Hateem, calming him down until he became more relaxed. Then they continued their discussion.
---
Garden Scene
When Hajiya Turai entered the garden with the servant who brought her, even before she reached Princess Mujeedat and the others, Hajiya Laurat exclaimed loudly:
“Who am I seeing? Isn’t this Harriet, Baba Obie’s housemaid?”
She called her by her real name. They all turned to look at her.
The servant who brought Turai quietly left, returning to the house.
Turai walked toward them slowly, her steps heavy and timid.
Hajiya Laurat and Hajiya Saratu were already shooting her harsh, degrading looks.
Turai felt her blood run cold.
Hajiya Laurat pointed at her and said,
“You! What brought you here? Do you think you’re anywhere near our level?”
Description
Her eyes were already filled with tears, her voice trembling as if she would burst into sobs.
She said, “I am different from them. Up till today, they refuse to accept my position in your family. They still look at me as a low-born housemaid. Nothing has changed.”
He understood she was truly afraid of them. His voice hardened as he said,
“You don’t sound like Sir Mubarak’s wife. You’ve embarrassed me. I swear, from today this is your last warning. If I ever see you shedding tears again or being afraid of any of them, I will deal with you.”
She almost burst into tears again from the way he spoke harshly to her.
He widened his eyes at her.
“I hope you understand me?”
Her voice shook as she replied,
“Yea…h.”
He held her hand inside his, gently pulled her along, and they walked toward the mansion’s grand living room. When they entered, the servants attending to duties were moving rapidly through the hall. Seeing Sir Mubarak, they quickly greeted him with deep respect. After returning their greetings, he asked where Princess Mujeedat was.
One of the servants replied,
“They are in the garden.”
He handed Turai’s hand to the servant; her body had already gone cold and weak.
In a firm voice, he said to the servant,
“She is my wife. I want you to take her to them. Please lead her gently.”
The servant smiled; she admired the way he respected his wife.
“In sha Allah, your Highness,” she said, then held Mom Turai’s hand and led her toward the garden exit. Turai kept turning to look at him, and he too watched her until she completely disappeared from sight. After that, he headed toward the Prime Minister’s room.
Sir Mubarak’s arrival made the man on the bed open his eyes and look at him.
Sir Mubarak sat at the edge of the bed and said,
“My brother, are you tired from the journey?”
Hateem sat up slowly with visible exhaustion.
“The trip was tiring, my brother. You too must be exhausted.”
Sir Mubarak teased,
“Me? I’m a soldier. That journey is not enough to tire me.”
Hateem smiled faintly.
With concern, Sir Mubarak asked,
“What’s bothering you? I’ve noticed your mood has changed. Are you unwell?”
Softly, Hateem replied,
“I’m fine,” trying to hide his feelings.
Sir Mubarak said,
“I am your brother, Hateem. You cannot hide your worries from me. Please tell me, or I won’t be at peace. I noticed since you returned to this country, you’re completely different.”
Hateem held Sir Mubarak’s hand tightly and lowered his voice:
“I don’t know what to do about this love I have for that boy living with Owais. He is the reason for everything I am feeling. I even dream about him.”
He lowered his tone further.
“Allah has tested me with love for him. I have no blood relation with him, yet I feel like I am the one who gave birth to him. I’m telling you because you’re one of the few who understands me.”
Sir Mubarak watched him with pity. He knew exactly what was troubling him—his deep longing for a son of his own. That was why Hateem became emotionally attached to the boy Owais was raising.
Hateem continued,
“I’ve never seen him, but because of you, In sha Allah, I’ll go to Owais’ house tomorrow so I can see the boy.”
Hateem added,
“He looks like me, like my photocopy. Only his complexion is different—he’s very fair, like Nazli. That is why I am in this state. I don’t want to leave this country without seeing some improvement in his condition. I really want to meet him, but I’ve lost every opportunity I had. Father forbade me from going near him, and they’ve banned me from entering Owais’ house because of him. I have no choice but to endure.”
His voice cracked as he exhaled heavily.
Sir Mubarak was stunned and confused. This kind of love felt unusual to him—almost like something mystical.
He began comforting Hateem, calming him down until he became more relaxed. Then they continued their discussion.
---
Garden Scene
When Hajiya Turai entered the garden with the servant who brought her, even before she reached Princess Mujeedat and the others, Hajiya Laurat exclaimed loudly:
“Who am I seeing? Isn’t this Harriet, Baba Obie’s housemaid?”
She called her by her real name. They all turned to look at her.
The servant who brought Turai quietly left, returning to the house.
Turai walked toward them slowly, her steps heavy and timid.
Hajiya Laurat and Hajiya Saratu were already shooting her harsh, degrading looks.
Turai felt her blood run cold.
Hajiya Laurat pointed at her and said,
“You! What brought you here? Do you think you’re anywhere near our level?”