34~Dirty thoughts #2
Hanan remained silent.
Instead, Najib answered for her.
"She took care of me."
He smiled in Hanan's direction.
"It's thanks to her."
Amina's eyes widened.
"Really?"
She looked between them curiously.
"What exactly did she do?"
Hanan avoided her gaze.
"I..."
She picked up her handbag.
"I think I should head home."
"So soon?" Amina frowned.
"But you were supposed to spend the night."
"I need to get home."
Without waiting for another question, Hanan hurried out of the room.
Amina frowned in confusion.
"I'm going after her."
Before she could move, Najib gently caught her wrist.
"Let her go."
"But why?" Amina looked from the door back to him.
"She suddenly wants to leave. Did something happen?"
Najib smiled to himself.
"She's probably exhausted."
"I don't believe you."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You definitely said something to her."
"I didn't."
He raised both hands innocently.
"I swear."
"Then why did she run away looking like that?"
Najib only smiled.
"Please... Just let her go for tonight."
After studying his face for a moment, Amina sighed.
"Fine."
She helped him sit upright before placing the tray of food on his lap.
"Eat first, the doctor said you need to eat healthy."
"You've become so responsible." Najib smiled proudly.
"Look at you taking care of your big brother."
As she watched him begin eating, guilt slowly crept across Amina's face.
"Ya Najib..."
He looked up.
"I'm sorry."
She lowered her eyes.
"For everything I said to you at the office."
"My words were cruel."
She swallowed.
"And... I'm sorry for everything Mom did."
Her voice broke.
"If not for her..."
"You would've been a father by now."
"And maybe..."
She glanced at him sadly.
"...you and Habiba would still be together."
Najib went silent for a moment.
"Maybe I would've been a father."
He smiled faintly.
"But whether we would still be married..."
He shook his head.
"I honestly don't know."
"There were already too many cracks between us."
He sighed softly.
"What matters now is that the truth is finally out."
He looked at her reassuringly.
"So stop blaming yourself."
"I understand why you acted the way you did."
Tears gathered in Amina's eyes. "Thank you."
After a brief silence, curiosity got the better of her.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?"
She smiled knowingly. "Do you still want Habiba back?"
Before he could answer, she laughed.
"Forget I asked."
"The answer is obvious."
She looked around the room.
"Her pictures are everywhere..."
"In your office, and your room."
"You even named properties after her."
She folded her arms playfully.
"You're not exactly hiding your feelings."
Najib chuckled.
Instead of answering, he asked,
"What about her? Do you think she still has feelings for me?"
"I do." Amina answered without hesitation.
"I've seen that look before."
"She tried so hard to hide it today."
"But when you collapsed..."
"She was terrified."
"And during the prayers..."
"She never stopped looking at you."
A small smile spread across her face.
"She may deny it with her words..."
"But her eyes don't."
Najib smiled to himself. "I thought so too."
His expression slowly turned determined.
"And that's why... I'm going to win her back."
"No matter how long it takes."
Amina laughed. "It won't be easy."
"Habiba isn't the same woman anymore."
"She's wiser... And much more stubborn."
She pointed at him.
"So you better prepare yourself."
He grinned. "With you on my side... I think I'll survive."
"You definitely have my support."
She smiled warmly.
"We'll get our Habiba back."
"Thanks Mimi." Najib chuckled.
"Now eat before your food gets cold." She smiled.
"Don't think about it."
Hanan groaned, throwing a few helpless punches into the air.
"Don't you dare think about it again."
She buried her face in her hands, squeezing her eyes shut.
No matter how hard she tried, the memories refused to leave.
Najib's teasing smile...
His voice...
The embarrassment.
She let out a frustrated sigh.
"I should never have stayed alone with him."
She groaned.
"I could've saved myself from all that embarrassment."
She covered her face again.
"And why on earth did I even think those weird things?"
She shook her head vigorously.
"No."
"The only solution is to stay away from him."
She nodded to herself.
"Yes."
"I'll avoid him completely."
"Problem solved."
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her phone.
She quickly answered it.
"Hello, Nanny Ann?"
"Aren't you coming home tonight?"
"I'm already on my way."
"Good."
There was a brief pause.
"You have a visitor."
"A visitor?"
"Yes."
"Faruk's mother. She's been waiting for you in the sitting room."
Hanan sat upright.
"Really? What happened?"
"I don't know."
"But she seems rather tense."
"Come home quickly."
"I'll be there soon."
After hanging up, Hanan leaned forward.
"Driver."
"Please, could you drive a little faster?"
"Yes, ma."
As the car sped through the road, countless thoughts crowded her mind.
Why would she suddenly come to see me?
Did something happen to Faruk?
The memory of their encounter at the hospital resurfaced.
Her heart tightened.
"I just hope everything is alright."
A few minutes later...
Hanan hurried into the house.
She found Abdul, Nanny Ann and Faruk's mother seated in the living room.
"Good evening, ma."
She smiled politely.
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."
"It's alright." Faruk's mother returned the smile.
"I should've called before coming."
"I honestly thought I would find you at home."
"I was told you went to Najib's house."
"Yes."
Hanan nodded.
"He lost his father, so I went to pay my condolences."
"I heard."
The older woman smiled.
"I'm sure that's all you went there for."
There was something unusual about that smile.
It looked warm...
Yet somehow forced.
"Yes, ma."
Hanan replied carefully. "How is Faruk?"
"He is much better."
"We thank God."
She paused.
"If you don't mind..."
"I would like to speak with you privately."
"Of course."
Abdul rose immediately.
"We'll excuse ourselves."
Within moments, him and Nanny Ann left the sitting room.
Silence settled between them.
Faruk's mother slowly reached across and held Hanan's hands.
Her grip tightened.
To Hanan's surprise...
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Ma?"
She moved closer.
"Why are you crying?"
"Did something happen?"
The older woman wiped her eyes.
"I came because of Faruk."
"Please... Listen to me until I'm done."
"I'm listening." She nodded.
"First... I owe you an apology."
"My words at the hospital were too harsh."
"I was angry."
"I was terrified."
"I'm sorry."
Hanan smiled gently. "You don't have to apologize."
"I understand."
"Any mother would've reacted the same way."
She squeezed her hands reassuringly.
"I'm just glad Faruk is getting better."
Faruk's mother nodded.
"He is."
"But... He'll only continue getting better if you help me."
Hanan frowned slightly.
"Me?"
"Yes."
She took a shaky breath.
"The first thing my son asked after waking up..."
"Was about you."
"Even after surgery."
"Even while he was in pain."
"He was worried about whether you were safe."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"He loves you so much."
"More than he loves himself."
"And as his mother... that scares me."
Hanan lowered her eyes.
"I..."
Faruk's mother gently interrupted.
"Please."
"Let me finish."
"I've lived long enough to recognize certain things."
"I can see that my son loves you with all his heart."
"But..."
She hesitated.
"I don't see the same love in your eyes."
Hanan's lips parted, but no words came out.
"I may be wrong."
"I truly hope I am."
"But a mother's heart rarely lies."
She tightened her grip on Hanan's hands.
"So today... I'm here to ask something of you."
"What is it, ma?"