28~Im sorry #2
Her eyes desperately searched his face for even the slightest sign of deception.
Najib didn't look away.
"Musa."
His voice was calm.
"He did it."
"On Zaitun's order, Hajiya knew."
Silence.
Complete silence.
"W...what?"
Her voice barely came out.
"They're the ones responsible."
His words echoed inside her head.
Her fingers slowly loosened around his collar.
She stumbled backward before collapsing onto the floor.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
Shock.
Utter shock.
She had always known Zaitun despised her.
She knew Hajiya hated her.
But... Murdering her child?
Deliberately running her over?
How could they?
What did her innocent baby ever do to deserve such cruelty?
Hot tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.
The wounds she struggled to heal over the last three years suddenly split open again.
Every scar.
Every nightmare.
Every painful memory.
It all came rushing back.
Najib watched helplessly.
For the first time in years...
He didn't know what to say.
"I'm sorry..."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"I'm sorry for being ignorant."
"A few weeks ago, Nanny Ann and Abdul told me."
"I investigated everything."
"That investigation led me to Musa."
"He's currently in police custody."
"He confessed."
"He confessed to everything."
"How they framed me... And how they made me the perfect culprit."
Najib lowered his head.
"I don't deserve your forgiveness... But I'm still asking for it."
"I'm sorry, Habiba."
She slowly lifted her tear filled eyes.
"Really... Abdul knew?"
"He knew... and never told me?"
Najib nodded. "I begged him not to."
"At that point, I only had suspicions."
"If we came to you with words alone, you would never have believed us."
"I wanted proof."
"And now..."
He gestured toward the folder.
"...you have it."
"Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un..."
Habiba whispered brokenly.
"I need to see Hajiya."
"I need to see Zaitun."
"I need to ask them why."
"Why ruin my life even after getting what they wanted?"
"We divorced as they wanted."
"I left as they wished... So why?"
Her sobs became louder.
"Why wasn't that enough for them?"
Najib frowned.
"Divorced?"
She looked at him."Yes."
"That day... Hajiya and Zaitun forced me to confess to crimes I never committed."
"They manipulated everything until we got divorced."
She wiped another tear.
"And after destroying my marriage... they still murdered my unborn child."
Her voice cracked.
"I need answers."
She hurried toward the door.
"I have to confront them."
"Habiba."
She froze.
His next words rooted her to the spot.
"Zaitun is dead."
Her heartbeat stopped.
"Hajiya burned her alive."
Slowly...
Very slowly...
She turned around.
Her face looking very pale
"W... What?"
"You mean... Zaitun..."
"Was burned alive?"
Her knees almost gave way.
Najib quickly caught her before she could fall.
"Easy." He gently helped her onto a chair before kneeling in front of her.
"Habiba... I've taken care of everything."
"Meeting Hajiya now won't change anything."
"She'll answer for every crime she has committed."
"I promise."
She shook her head weakly.
"But I still don't understand."
"Why does she hate me this much?"
"What did I ever do to deserve this?"
"And why kill Zaitun?"
"It doesn't make sense."
"It does." Najib answered quietly.
"I don't know every detail yet."
"But one thing is certain."
"She destroyed countless lives."
"And tomorrow... She will finally answer for it."
He slowly reached up.
His fingers gently wiped away her tears.
"So please... Stop crying."
"I'll make sure justice is served."
His warm smile only made her cry harder.
These weren't ordinary tears anymore.
They carried grief.
Relief.
Regret.
Guilt.
The guilt became too much to bear.
She couldn't even look at him.
Throughout their conversation, she avoided his eyes.
Najib noticed.
Without saying a word, he sat beside her.
He gently took both her hands into his.
Giving them a soft squeeze before slowly lifting her chin.
Their eyes met.
Only for a second.
She immediately looked away.
"I'm sorry."
They spoke at the exact same time.
A sad smile escaped both of them.
She shook her head.
"No... I'm the one who should apologize."
Her gaze remained fixed on the floor.
"I accused you."
"I cursed you."
"I hated you."
"Every single day."
"But deep down... I always prayed it wasn't true."
"I kept wishing I would wake up one day and discover my baby's murderer wasn't his own father."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"And today... My prayer came true."
"But instead of finding relief, all I feel is guilt."
She finally looked at him.
"I don't even know how to apologize properly."
"So... Please forgive me too."
Najib's eyes softened.
"Habiba." He called out gently. "The day I survived that accident, I took it as a second chance..."
"Not just to live, but to become a better man."
"I stopped blaming you long before we separated."
He smiled bitterly.
"It was never your fault."
"I was the fool who got manipulated by Zaitun."
"I failed as your husband."
"I failed our child."
"And worst of all... I failed to notice the evil happening under my own roof."
He lowered his head.
"So If anyone should be asking for forgiveness..."
"It's me."
Silence settled between them.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
Then... Habiba slowly intertwined her fingers with his.
"I forgive you."
Najib closed his eyes.
A shaky breath escaped him.
For the first time in three long years...
The weight he carried finally disappeared.
Neither of them realized they were crying.
They simply sat there in silence...
Holding onto each other.
As two broken hearts finally began to heal.
.
.
.
***
A/N