39~Give us a chance #2
Nanny Ann squeezed it gently. "Just be happy."
"I'll try."
The words barely escaped her lips.
A few minutes later, the designer joined them.
"So this is our bride."
She smiled warmly.
"It's a pleasure meeting you."
"The pleasure is mine."
"I've already spoken with your mother in law."
She gestured toward the showroom.
"Come with me."
As they walked, she explained enthusiastically.
"We have customized bridal gowns in every style, colour, and length."
"Our stylists will also help match your gown with shoes, veils, jewelry, purses, headpieces... everything."
They entered an enormous showroom.
Rows upon rows of glittering wedding gowns stretched before them.
Any bride would have gasped in excitement.
Hanan simply looked around in silence.
One hour...
Then another...
Still she hasn't picked a single dress.
Finally, the designer approached her.
"Have you found something you like?"
"They're all beautiful." Hanan smiled politely. "So... any of them will do."
The designer blinked.
Any?
Most brides struggled because they loved too many dresses.
This was the first bride she met who looked completely indifferent.
She silently wondered if something was wrong with her designs.
Trying again, she selected another gown.
"I recommend this one."
She carefully handed it over.
"It's one of our most requested designs this season."
"It'll complement your complexion beautifully."
"Thank you. I'll try it on."
Inside the fitting room...
Nanny Ann's eyes sparkled.
"Hanan... You look gorgeous."
She slowly circled around her.
"It's perfect."
The gown hugged her figure flawlessly.
"You look exactly like a bride."
She smiled.
"Do you like it?"
Hanan stared at herself in the mirror.
White.
Elegant.
Sparkling.
Beautiful.
She felt... Nothing.
The dress reminded her too much of another white gown...
Her Cinderella look.
Her previous marriage.
That ended in heartbreak.
"You don't like it?" Nanny Ann asked quietly.
Hanan lowered her eyes. "None of them excite me."
She sighed. "Let's just buy this one and leave."
"What happened? You suddenly look sad." Nanny Ann's voice was filled with concern.
"I'm just exhausted." Hanan sighed.
Nanny Ann smiled thoughtfully. "The fever must still be affecting you."
"Maybe." Hanan whispered.
But both of them knew that wasn't the reason.
The truth is that she hated the dress because it looked painfully similar to the gown she wore years ago.
Those memories refused to let her breathe.
She stepped outside.
"I'll take this one, it fits perfectly."
Faruk's mother smiled. "I'm glad."
She handed over her ATM card.
While payment was being processed, Hanan approached her.
"Ma... I think I would like to go home."
"So soon? We still have quite a lot left."
"The wedding cake..."
"The hairstylist..."
"The makeup artist..."
"The henna artist..."
"Your pedicure..."
"You are the bride."
"You deserve to look perfect."
"I understand." Hanan smiled weakly.
"But honestly... Any cake will do."
"And I'll handle everything else tomorrow myself."
"I'm not feeling too well."
Faruk's mother looked toward Nanny Ann.
"It's true." Nanny Ann nodded.
"She had a terrible fever last night."
Concern immediately crossed her face.
"In that case... Your health comes first."
"But before you leave, let the stylist finish matching your accessories."
Hanan nodded.
Several more hours passed choosing shoes, jewelry, purse and veils.
By the time they finished...
The sky had turned orange.
5:30 pm.
When they finally arrived home, Faruk's mother smiled.
"Thank you for coming today, I will send Faruk and Hauwa tomorrow with the wedding gifts and suitcases."
"I'll be too busy to come personally."
She paused.
"And since you said any cake is fine... I'll get the best."
Hanan smiled politely. "Thank you, ma. It's very kind of you."
They exchanged their goodbyes before watching the car disappear down the street before getting into the house.
Nanny Ann released a long sigh. "What a day."
Hanan gave a tired smile. "A very long day."
"You must be starving." Nanny Ann sighed.
"I'll warm the food, I'm actually relieved nobody ate earlier. It saves me from cooking dinner."
"Okay." Hanan absentmindedly replied searching the living room.
"Samira... Has Abdul returned?"
"No."
Nanny Ann frowned. "He must still be at work. Call him."
"I will." Hanan nodded.
"After I freshen up."
She quietly climbed the stairs.
The moment she entered her room, she dropped onto the bed without changing.
She spread her arms across her bed and closed her eyes.
A long, exhausted breath escaped her lips.
Deep inside...
She wished time would stop.
Just... Stop.
Because every passing second carried her one step closer to Saturday.
Her wedding day.
And for the first time in her life... She dreaded becoming a bride.
Before she realized it, the sky had turned completely dark.
"Here is your dinner. Eat, then get some sleep." Nanny Ann said softly as she handed Hanan a plate of food.
"Okay. Thank you." Hanan accepted it with a faint smile, her eyes drifting over Nanny Ann's exhausted face.
"It wasn't easy walking around all day. Please go and rest, Nanny Ann. You look completely worn out."
Nanny Ann let out a tired laugh. "I am. My whole body aches."
"I'm sorry. Good night."
"Good night, dear."
She had barely taken two steps before suddenly remembering something.
"Oh... I almost forgot. I tried calling Abdul, but his phone is unreachable. Did you try calling him too?"
Hanan lowered her gaze to the food in her hands.
"No... I didn't."
Truthfully, she didn't wanted to.
Their argument earlier that day was still fresh in her mind, and she couldn't bring herself to reach out to him.
"He must still be busy with work like you said."
"Perhaps." Nanny Ann nodded. "Just finish your food and sleep early. You need the rest too."
"I will."
With that, Nanny Ann finally left the room.
Hanan quietly ate her dinner before clearing the tray away. After changing into her pajamas, she switched off the lights and slipped beneath the covers.
She shut her eyes.
Sleep refused to come.
She tossed from one side of the bed to the other.
Minutes turned into an hour.
Another hour passed.
No matter how tightly she closed her eyes, sleep remained stubbornly out of reach.
Her mind simply refused to be still.
Then...
A series of car horns echoed from outside.
Her eyes flew open.
She immediately reached for her bedside lamp, switching it on before glancing at the clock.
10:30 pm.
"So... he's finally home."
Without another thought, she threw off the blanket and hurried out of her room. Abdul often forgot his keys whenever he came home late, so instinctively, she rushed downstairs to unlock the front door.
But the moment she reached the staircase...
She stopped.
The front door was already open.
Abdul was inside.
And he wasn't alone.
Another man sat opposite him in the living room.
She couldn't make out his face because his back was turned toward her.
Curious, she leaned over the staircase railing.
Then she heard his voice.
Her entire body stiffened.
Najib.
"What is he doing here at this hour?" She whispered.
Instead of walking down, she quietly crouched behind the staircase, hidden from sight.
Her heart pounded as she listened.
"Thank you, bro." Najib said quietly. "While I'm away... promise me you will check on Grandma. Even if it's only twice a week."
"I will." Abdul replied. "Honestly, I wouldn't even mind if she moved in here, provided she's comfortable with it."
Najib smiled faintly before shaking his head.
"I don't think she would agree. Besides, Amina wouldn't like the idea."
He paused.
"Just... keep an eye on her."
"I don't know how long I'll be gone."
Abdul frowned.
"Is this trip really that urgent? Can't Mr Charles handle it?"
Najib lowered his gaze. "You know I have another reason for leaving."
"Because of Hanan?"
Najib didn't answer immediately.
Instead...
He slowly nodded.
"Last night..." He whispered.
"I almost drank myself unconscious."
His voice cracked.
"I swear yesterday was the hardest day of my life."
He laughed bitterly.
"If I couldn't bear seeing her get engaged to another man..."
"How do you think I'll survive watching her marry him?"
His fingers curled into fists.
"And not just any man... my own cousin... Faruk."
Silence settled between them.
Finally, Abdul sighed. "You should forget her."
Najib looked up.
"She's become too stubborn... too determined to suffer."
"She doesn't even care about her own happiness anymore."
"So stop wasting your life loving someone who refuses to love herself."
Najib gave a tired smile. "If only it were that easy."
"I don't know how to stop loving her."
"I don't know how to watch her belong to someone else."
"I simply can't."
Abdul shook his head before letting out a dry chuckle. "You two are unbelievable."
"When she was hopelessly in love with you... You were busy chasing Zaitun."
"And now that you're hopelessly in love with her... She's engaged to Faruk."
He rubbed his forehead.
"How does anyone's life become this complicated?"
Najib laughed quietly. "I wish I knew."
Abdul laughed too. "At this point, I could sell your story to Netflix and hit the jackpot."
That finally earned a genuine smile from Najib.
"So..."
Abdul leaned back.
"Do you still want to see her?"
Najib answered without hesitation.
"Yes. That's why I came."
"Alright." Abdul stood.
"She should be upstairs."
"If she's awake, I'll call her."
The moment he started walking toward the staircase...
His eyes caught a reflection.
Hanan.
Their gazes met.
Her heart skipped.
"Oh no."
Without thinking, she turned and ran upstairs as quietly as she could.
She rushed into her room, switched off the lights and threw herself beneath the blanket, squeezing her eyes shut as though she had been asleep all along.
Moments later...
The bedroom door creaked open.
"Hanan?"