41~His love won
"I'll go in with you."
"No." Hanan gently shook her head.
"Stay here and wait for me."
Najib frowned. "But what if..."
She smiled and cupped his face, gently patting his cheeks.
"Relax, Najib."
Her smile softened.
"I'm not going into a battle."
She chuckled.
"I'm only going to tell them the wedding is off."
He sighed, clearly unconvinced.
"Fine."
He reluctantly nodded.
"But remember..."
He pointed a finger at her.
"You have ten minutes."
"The moment those ten minutes are up, I'm coming to get you."
A smile spread across her face. "Deal."
She leaned over and squeezed his hand.
"See you in ten minutes."
She stepped out of the car, closing the door behind her.
For a few seconds, she simply stood there.
Her eyes remained fixed on the tall gates before her.
She inhaled deeply.
Then slowly exhaled.
You can do this.
Gathering every ounce of courage she had left, she walked inside.
As she made her way through the compound, her eyes wandered over the familiar surroundings.
The first time she visited this house with Faruk, she admired everything, the elegant architecture, the beautiful interior, the warmth of the family.
Back then...
Everything had filled her with excitement.
Today... These same walls made her feel suffocated.
A chill ran through her body.
Goosebumps spread across her arms as countless thoughts raced through her mind.
How do I tell them?
How do I break their hearts after being so kind to me?
She swallowed hard.
No matter how painful it would be...
She owed them the truth.
Soon, she reached the front door.
She paused.
Closing her eyes, she took one long breath...
Then another.
Only after calming herself did she press the doorbell.
Almost immediately, her palms became damp with sweat.
The door swung open.
"Hanan!"
Aunt Hauwa's face lit up with excitement.
"Look who's here!"
She beamed.
"Our beautiful bride... our soon to be daughter in law!"
She immediately stepped aside.
"Come in, come in!"
Hanan forced a smile but remained rooted to the spot.
Before she could respond, Faruk's mother appeared behind Aunt Hauwa.
"Hanan?"
A smile brightened her face.
"What a pleasant surprise."
"I was just about to send Hauwa over to your place with your wedding gifts."
"Yes, ma'am."
Hanan forced another smile.
"I actually came because... I have something important to tell you."
"Oh?"
Faruk's mother looked curious.
"Then come inside."
Hanan hesitated. "No, ma'am."
She shook her head politely.
"I'll just say it here."
"There won't be any need for me to come inside."
"Nonsense." Aunt Hauwa affectionately took her hand.
"How can our bride stand at the doorstep?"
She gently pulled her inside.
"Come in."
"We already have guests who came for the wedding."
"They've all been looking forward to meeting you."
Before Hanan could protest, she was led into the living room.
The moment they entered, every eye turned toward her.
Aunt Hauwa proudly introduced her to each guest one after another.
With every introduction...
The knot in Hanan's stomach tightened.
"She's absolutely beautiful."
One of the elderly women smiled warmly.
"Faruk is such a lucky man."
"I agree." Faruk's mother laughed happily. "I've truly been blessed."
She proudly looked at Hanan.
"I have the most beautiful daughter in law."
She chuckled.
"And, In Sha Allah, she'll bless me with the most beautiful grandchildren."
Laughter filled the room.
Hanan smiled politely.
But inside... Her anxiety grew heavier with every passing second.
Once everyone settled down, Aunt Hauwa looked at her expectantly.
"So..." She smiled. "What was this important thing you wanted to tell us?"
Every pair of eyes settled on Hanan.
Her throat suddenly felt dry.
She looked down at her trembling hands.
"I..."
Her voice caught.
"I came to..."
The words refused to come out.
She clenched her fingers together.
Why is this so difficult?
She lowered her head.
Just say it...
Just say it...
"Hanan?" Faruk's mother called gently. "What is it, dear?"
Noticing how badly Hanan's hands were shaking, she reached over and held them between her own.
"It's alright."
She smiled reassuringly.
"Whatever it is... You can tell us."
Her kindness made Hanan's chest tighten with guilt.
Yet somehow...
It also gave her the courage she desperately needed to finally speak.
"I... came to call off the wedding, ma."
The words hung heavily in the room.
Silence followed.
Hanan watched the warmth slowly drain from Faruk's mother's face until only disbelief remained.
Then she looked at Aunt Hauwa.
The fury blazing in her eyes was enough to make Hanan's stomach twist.
"I'm sorry... but I can't marry your son."
"Why?!" Aunt Hauwa demanded, rising to her feet.
"Why are you only telling us this now? The wedding is tomorrow! Is this some kind of joke?"
Hanan slowly shook her head. "No, Aunt Hauwa."
She removed Faruk's proposal ring from her finger and placed it gently on the center table.
"I'm serious."
"I came to return his ring."
"Heh..." Aunt Hauwa let out a bitter laugh before clapping slowly.
Each clap echoed through the silent room.
"Baban Faruk was right about you all along."
She laughed again, her voice trembling with rage.
"He warned us from the very beginning, but we refused to listen."
She pointed accusingly at Hanan.
"And now look at the disgrace you've brought upon this family."
"People have traveled from different parts of the country for this wedding."
"Some of them have already arrived."
"And now..."
She scoffed.
"You dare to cancel it?"
She turned to Faruk's mother.
"Maman Faruk, why are you so quiet?"
"Say something!"
Faruk's mother remained motionless.
After what felt like forever, she finally spoke.
"Where is my son?"
Her voice was so hollow that Hanan barely heard it.
"I... I don't know, ma."
"Does he know?"
Hanan lowered her gaze. "No."
A painful silence settled again.
"Why?"
"I..." She swallowed.
"I couldn't face him."
"My heart felt too heavy."
"So... I decided to return the ring to you instead."
Faruk's mother stared at her for a long moment.
Then quietly asked,
"Did my son offend you?"
"No."
"He did nothing wrong."
Her eyes glistened.
"So... My son's only mistake was loving you?"
The question pierced straight through Hanan's heart.
Guilt wrapped around her chest like chains.
Yet... She couldn't lie anymore.
"The truth is..."
She inhaled shakily.
"I don't love him."
"No matter how hard I tried... I couldn't."
"And if we get married... I know neither of us would ever find happiness."
"It's a shameless girl like you who will never find happiness!" Aunt Hauwa spat bitterly.
"You never gave me a good impression."
"The moment I met you yesterday, something about you felt wrong."
She folded her arms.
"You're still in love with your ex."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Najib... He's the man you truly love."
"Isn't he?"
Hanan closed her eyes briefly.
When she opened them...
There was no hesitation.
"Yes."
Her voice was calm.
"I love Najib."
"I won't deny it anymore."
"And I don't feel ashamed for loving him."
She looked around the room.
"What I am ashamed of is the pain I've caused Faruk."
She bowed her head.
"I'm deeply sorry."
"To all of you."
"For the embarrassment..."
"For the inconvenience..."
"For everything."
She picked up her handbag.
"I'll take my leave now."
Before she could take another step...
Aunt Hauwa roughly grabbed her arm and yanked her back.
"You're sorry?"
She laughed mockingly.
"I know exactly how to deal with girls like you."
She raised her hand to slap her.
Hanan instinctively caught her wrist.
Firmly.
Very firmly.
She met Aunt Hauwa's furious eyes.
"Aunt Hauwa..."
Her voice remained surprisingly calm.
"Wallahi, I respect you because you're older than me."
"And I understand you're angry."
"You have every right to be."
"But..." She slowly lowered the older woman's hand.
"You do not have the right to hit me."
"How dare you grab my hand?!"
Aunt Hauwa hissed, snatching it away.
"So now you're talking back?!"
She laughed coldly.
"My nephew loved you with everything he had."
"He even took a bullet for you."
"And what did you do?"
"You led him on."
"Only to destroy him."
"How heartless can you be?"
That accusation finally broke Hanan's patience.
"Faruk and I were never truly dating!"
She raised her voice for the first time.
"It wasn't even a real relationship."
"It was a week trial."
"He persuaded me into it."
"And..." She closed her eyes briefly. "I foolishly agreed because he kept begging and I didn't want to hurt him."
"I had already planned to end things... even before he proposed."
"Then why?!" Aunt Hauwa shouted.
"Why did you accept his proposal if you intended to leave him?"
"Why wait until the day before the wedding?!"
The question echoed through the room.
Hanan froze.
"Because..."
Her lips parted.
But nothing came out.
Her mind drifted back to that night.
The proposal.
The pressure.
The fear.
The confusion.
Every memory now felt like a mistake she wished she could erase.
"Speak!"
Aunt Hauwa barked.
Tears burned Hanan's eyes.
She clasped her hands together.
"Because I was foolish."
Her voice cracked.
"I'm sorry."
Without waiting for another word, she hurried toward the door.
Just as her hand reached the doorknob...
"Hanan."
Faruk's mother's voice stopped her.
She turned slowly.
The older woman stood with tears in her eyes.
"It is truly unfortunate that my son crossed paths with you."
Her expression hardened.
"But listen carefully."
"If anything happens to my son because of this betrayal..."
She pointed toward the door.
"I will never forgive you."
"Nor Najib."
"I will become both your nightmare."
"I promise you."
Her voice finally broke.
"Now get out!"
Hanan nodded silently.
She couldn't bring herself to say another word.