He felt something coursing through his veins, and his heart was pounding so hard it seemed like it might burst from his chest. Surely, this was the face of the girl from his dreams standing right before him. In the midst of this shock, Some pushed open the office door, entering in a state of alarm. Her trembling voice asked fearfully,
“Why are you causing trouble? Maryama Hussein, why did you enter this office after I told you the boss doesn’t want to see you?”
“Sir, please forgive me. I didn’t realize when she came in,” he replied, lifting his reddened eyes to Some, whose voice and body were both shaking.
“Forgive me, sir, but this girl is stubborn. I told her you had no desire to see her. I’m very sorry, sir.”
“Madam, watch your words—they’re making me feel strange inside. Did I walk in here, or was I brought in?” His eyes shifted from Some to Maryama, and their gazes locked. A shiver ran through his body as he gave her a deep, soul-piercing look. She wondered in her heart, Why is he looking at me like he wants to consume me? She quickly broke eye contact, as her heart began to race.
Some grew suspicious of the way her boss was staring at Maryama—she had never seen him look at any woman like that before. Turning to Salim, who was standing nearby with a troubled expression, she tried to break the tension:
“Know this—Maryama is above humiliation and above working under heartless, disrespectful people like you.”
Her words struck ATA deeply; he stepped toward her, trembling but speechless. Inside, her defiance echoed in his mind: Maryama is above humiliation and above working under people like you.
Confrontation and Exit
Maryama lowered her eyes from ATA’s intense gaze. Gathering her courage, she asked, “This is the second time you’ve insulted me. What have I done to you? Is it that you can’t stand to see me in your life?” Tears welled up. “I don’t know why I allowed myself to come somewhere I’d only be disgraced.”
Subhanallah, ATA thought, fighting the urge to step forward and pull her into his chest.
Some tried to mediate: “What’s going on? Why are you saying this to the boss instead of apologizing so he might help you get the job?”
“Why should I apologize?” Maryama shot back. “What wrong have I done? What mistake should I fix? If this is a game, stop it—because I will not apologize just to work with you.”
ATA, breathing heavily, whispered, “Some.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Leave.”
“Okay, sir. I’m sorry.” She turned to go, with Maryama following closely. As she brushed past him, ATA felt a jolt like electricity. Salim stepped in front of her: “Please, Maryama, calm down. Whatever you need in this company, we’re ready to provide it—just give us a chance to talk to you.”
Her anger deepened. “I am a very patient woman. Don’t push me to do something I’ve never done to anyone in my life.”
When Salim blocked her again, she snapped—her palm landed sharply across his cheek. Shocked, he clutched his face. Turning to ATA, she commanded, “Tell him to leave my life and let me go my way.” ATA stood frozen, blood pounding in his veins. Finally, in a low, heated tone, he said, “Salim, let her go.” She stormed out, wiping her tears, her steps heavy with pain.
Outside by the gate, she waited for transport until Ammar’s car arrived. One look told him she was upset. “Maryama! Why are you here crying?” he asked with concern. She tried to explain but broke into tears. When he offered to take her inside to talk, she refused. “Never again will my feet enter that company.” She revealed that both ATA and another man had humiliated her. Ammar was shocked to hear ATA himself was involved, and as she walked away, he turned and hurried into the building.
The Aftermath and Revelations
ATA returned to his seat, restless, clutching a file without really seeing it. Inwardly, he wept—a cry with no outlet. Why is my life in chaos? Why her, of all people? Salim, watching him, was still smarting from the slap. ATA told him bluntly, “If you had known, you would have let her go.” Salim admitted it was the second slap he’d received from her that day.
Salim urged him, “Let’s go after her—you don’t know when you’ll see her again.” But ATA refused: “I love that girl deeply, but I won’t humiliate myself before her.” He revealed that he had once seen her in the company, veiled in niqab, and suspected it was her—but dismissed the thought because of the face covering.
Then Ammar entered, carrying documents. He confessed that he had also been searching for Maryama, hoping to unite her with ATA as a surprise, but ATA’s pride had kept them apart. “If you had told her your feelings back then, she would have accepted you,” Ammar said. “But now, she despises you.”
ATA’s voice was heavy: “You could have told me she was the girl from my dreams—you could have killed me before this day came.” Ammar, calm but firm, replied, “Your pride made you lose her. She’s a married woman now.” The words hit ATA like a blow; he struggled to breathe, while Salim trembled in shock. Ammar confirmed he knew everything about Maryama’s life, but it was too late—the woman who once could have been his was now beyond his reach.
Description
The Unsettling Meeting
He felt something coursing through his veins, and his heart was pounding so hard it seemed like it might burst from his chest. Surely, this was the face of the girl from his dreams standing right before him. In the midst of this shock, Some pushed open the office door, entering in a state of alarm. Her trembling voice asked fearfully,
“Why are you causing trouble? Maryama Hussein, why did you enter this office after I told you the boss doesn’t want to see you?”
“Sir, please forgive me. I didn’t realize when she came in,” he replied, lifting his reddened eyes to Some, whose voice and body were both shaking.
“Forgive me, sir, but this girl is stubborn. I told her you had no desire to see her. I’m very sorry, sir.”
“Madam, watch your words—they’re making me feel strange inside. Did I walk in here, or was I brought in?” His eyes shifted from Some to Maryama, and their gazes locked. A shiver ran through his body as he gave her a deep, soul-piercing look. She wondered in her heart, Why is he looking at me like he wants to consume me? She quickly broke eye contact, as her heart began to race.
Some grew suspicious of the way her boss was staring at Maryama—she had never seen him look at any woman like that before. Turning to Salim, who was standing nearby with a troubled expression, she tried to break the tension:
“Know this—Maryama is above humiliation and above working under heartless, disrespectful people like you.”
Her words struck ATA deeply; he stepped toward her, trembling but speechless. Inside, her defiance echoed in his mind: Maryama is above humiliation and above working under people like you.
Confrontation and Exit
Maryama lowered her eyes from ATA’s intense gaze. Gathering her courage, she asked, “This is the second time you’ve insulted me. What have I done to you? Is it that you can’t stand to see me in your life?” Tears welled up. “I don’t know why I allowed myself to come somewhere I’d only be disgraced.”
Subhanallah, ATA thought, fighting the urge to step forward and pull her into his chest.
Some tried to mediate: “What’s going on? Why are you saying this to the boss instead of apologizing so he might help you get the job?”
“Why should I apologize?” Maryama shot back. “What wrong have I done? What mistake should I fix? If this is a game, stop it—because I will not apologize just to work with you.”
ATA, breathing heavily, whispered, “Some.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Leave.”
“Okay, sir. I’m sorry.” She turned to go, with Maryama following closely. As she brushed past him, ATA felt a jolt like electricity. Salim stepped in front of her: “Please, Maryama, calm down. Whatever you need in this company, we’re ready to provide it—just give us a chance to talk to you.”
Her anger deepened. “I am a very patient woman. Don’t push me to do something I’ve never done to anyone in my life.”
When Salim blocked her again, she snapped—her palm landed sharply across his cheek. Shocked, he clutched his face. Turning to ATA, she commanded, “Tell him to leave my life and let me go my way.” ATA stood frozen, blood pounding in his veins. Finally, in a low, heated tone, he said, “Salim, let her go.” She stormed out, wiping her tears, her steps heavy with pain.
Outside by the gate, she waited for transport until Ammar’s car arrived. One look told him she was upset. “Maryama! Why are you here crying?” he asked with concern. She tried to explain but broke into tears. When he offered to take her inside to talk, she refused. “Never again will my feet enter that company.” She revealed that both ATA and another man had humiliated her. Ammar was shocked to hear ATA himself was involved, and as she walked away, he turned and hurried into the building.
The Aftermath and Revelations
ATA returned to his seat, restless, clutching a file without really seeing it. Inwardly, he wept—a cry with no outlet. Why is my life in chaos? Why her, of all people? Salim, watching him, was still smarting from the slap. ATA told him bluntly, “If you had known, you would have let her go.” Salim admitted it was the second slap he’d received from her that day.
Salim urged him, “Let’s go after her—you don’t know when you’ll see her again.” But ATA refused: “I love that girl deeply, but I won’t humiliate myself before her.” He revealed that he had once seen her in the company, veiled in niqab, and suspected it was her—but dismissed the thought because of the face covering.
Then Ammar entered, carrying documents. He confessed that he had also been searching for Maryama, hoping to unite her with ATA as a surprise, but ATA’s pride had kept them apart. “If you had told her your feelings back then, she would have accepted you,” Ammar said. “But now, she despises you.”
ATA’s voice was heavy: “You could have told me she was the girl from my dreams—you could have killed me before this day came.” Ammar, calm but firm, replied, “Your pride made you lose her. She’s a married woman now.” The words hit ATA like a blow; he struggled to breathe, while Salim trembled in shock. Ammar confirmed he knew everything about Maryama’s life, but it was too late—the woman who once could have been his was now beyond his reach.