43~ I thought I lost you #2
Abdul grabbed him from behind.
"He will die if you keep hitting him!"
Even the officers struggled to pull him away.
It took four men before Najib finally stopped punching Faruk.
His chest rose and fell violently as he glared at the unconscious Faruk.
Then a scream echoed across the bridge.
"Faruk!"
His mother rushed forward, collapsing beside him.
"My son!"
She glared at Najib through tear filled eyes.
"What have you done to him?"
Najib wiped the blood from his knuckles.
"I did what your son deserves."
"You wicked boy!" She rushed to her feet and slapped him across the face.
The sharp sound silenced everyone.
"How dare you?!"
Najib slowly turned back to her.
His expression remained calm as he faced her. "Besides being an elderly, don't make me forget you're my uncle's wife."
His voice was frighteningly controlled. "Your son is a criminal..."
"He isn't! Don't you dare call him that!" Faruk's mother snapped.
Najib could only sigh to calm his angry nerves before responding.
"Your son kidnapped Habiba."
"He assaulted her."
"He threatened to murder her."
"He fired a gun at innocent people."
"He tried to kill her."
"So tell me..."
He took one step closer.
"What exactly should I do to a criminal like him?"
She froze.
Then her anger returned.
"It's all because of that wretched girl!"
Najib's eyes darkened. "Don't."
His voice dropped. "Don't ever call my wife that again."
He turned toward the officers.
"Officer..."
He pointed at Faruk.
"Arrest him."
The police officers handcuffed the unconscious Faruk immediately.
"No!"
His mother clung desperately to him as they carried him toward the police van.
"Baban Faruk!"
She ran to him crying uncontrollably as the van doors slammed shut.
Faruk disappeared behind the metal bars.
For the first time...
There was nothing she could do to save him.
She was helpless.
Faruk's father stood frozen, watching the heartbreaking scene unfold before him.
His only son...
Beaten until his face was unrecognizable.
Handcuffed.
Dragged into a police van.
Every step the officers took felt like a knife sinking deeper into his chest.
The moment he arrived and saw Najib raining punches on Faruk, regret seized him.
"If only I didn't call Najib..."
The thought refused to leave him.
If he had remained silent...
Would things have ended differently?
Or would something even worse have happened?
He didn't know.
All he knew was that his son was gone.
Not dead...
But lost.
A single tear escaped his eye.
"I'm sorry, my son..." He whispered.
"I failed you."
He had spent years believing that being a strict father would save Faruk.
He denied him affection.
He criticized him.
He compared him to Najib over and over, hoping it would push him to become a better man.
Instead... It only convinced Faruk that he would never be enough.
While he was busy withholding his love to make him a wiser man...
Faruk's mother drowned the boy in endless pampering, never correcting his mistakes.
One parent loved without discipline.
The other disciplined without love.
Somewhere between both extreme behaviors.... They lost their son.
"Baban Faruk!"
She grabbed his arm desperately.
"Why are you just standing there?! Our son is being taken away!"
She pointed toward the police van.
"Please... do something! Talk to your nephew. Tell him to stop this. Faruk is innocent!"
For a long moment, he remained silent.
Then he slowly turned to her.
"No..."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Our son isn't innocent."
She stared at him in disbelief. "What did you just say?"
"Our son is guilty."
The words nearly broke him.
"But he wasn't born this way."
His gaze remained fixed on the police van.
"We made him this way."
"You spoiled him until he believed the world owed him everything..."
He looked at himself with bitter disappointment.
"And I starved him of affection until he believed nothing he did would ever be enough."
He closed his eyes.
"We both failed him."
"No!" She cried out.
"You're choosing your nephew over your own son again!"
He slowly shook his head.
"I'm choosing the truth."
A painful silence settled between them.
"The only thing left for us to do... is let him face the consequences of what he's done."
"Ya Salam!" She burst into tears.
"It is so unfortunate that you became the father of my child."
A faint, sorrowful smile crossed his face.
"Perhaps."
He nodded.
"And it's equally unfortunate that you became his mother."
She froze.
"Our marriage ended because of the battles we fought over how to raise him."
He looked toward the police van one last time.
"But despite everything... we remained his parents."
His voice cracked.
"And today... we've both learned we were never the parents he truly deserved."
Without another word, he turned away.
Slowly...
He walked to his car.
Not once did he look back.
The engine started.
Moments later, the car disappeared into the distance.
Faruk's mother collapsed onto the pavement, sobbing uncontrollably.
A few meters away, Najib had witnessed everything that happened between his uncle Baban Faruk and his wife.
For the first time tonight...
His anger gave way to pity.
He pitied his uncle.
He pitied the broken family.
But not enough to change his mind.
Faruk had crossed every line imaginable.
And this time...
He won't spare him, justice had to take its course.
"Abdul, let's go to the station."
Together with Mr Charles, they headed to the police station to officially file the case against Faruk.
"What sentence is he likely to get?" Najib asked, looking between his lawyer and the investigating officer.
His lawyer adjusted the case file in his hands.
"Based on the evidence so far, he's looking at a lengthy prison sentence, possibly life imprisonment. Kidnapping, attempted murder, illegal possession of a gun, reckless endangerment... the charges are serious."
Najib nodded thoughtfully.
"Whatever happens, make sure he doesn't get the death sentence."
His lawyer looked at him in surprise.
"You don't want capital punishment?"
Najib shook his head.
"No. My uncle has already lost enough. I won't be the reason he loses his only son forever."
The investigating officer nodded.
"That won't be necessary. Since no one died, the death penalty isn't applicable in this case."
He flipped through the documents.
"We will still need the victim's official statement."
"Not today." Najib replied firmly.
"She's traumatized. Every officer here witnessed what happened. She was kidnapped, assaulted, and nearly murdered. Let her recover first."
"We understand."
"I'll personally bring her in when she's emotionally ready."
The officer nodded.
"We'll wait."
An hour later, Najib and Abdul arrived at the hospital.
The moment they entered the room, they found Nanny Ann gently helping Hanan drink a glass of water.
The second Hanan looked up and saw Najib standing at the doorway...
A smile crossed her face as relief washed over her.
But that smile was quickly replaced by anger.
She hurried toward him.
"You..."
She was about to scold him when her eyes landed on the bandage wrapped around his head.
Her expression instantly changed.
"Ya Allah..."
She cupped his face in panic.
"Your head... What happened?"
"It's nothing, Habibti." He smiled reassuringly. "Just a little scratch."
She frowned.
"A little scratch?"
"You call this a little scratch?"
Without another word, she grabbed his hand and guided him to the hospital bed.
"Sit."
Najib obeyed quietly, amused by how bossy she suddenly become.
She rushed outside and returned moments later with a nurse.
"Please have a look at him."
The nurse smiled.
"He already received emergency treatment."
"I know." Hanan insisted. "But check him again. Please."
The nurse chuckled softly. "Alright."
While the nurse examined the wound, Abdul walked over.
"How are you feeling?"
Hanan finally looked at him.
"I'm better."
She smiled weakly.
"And... thank you."
Abdul smiled.
"You don't have to thank me."
Before either of them could say another word, Nanny Ann sighed.
"Hanan. I think it's time we head home."
Hanan immediately shook her head.
"And leave him here?"
She glanced toward Najib.
"No."
"Habibti." Najib said gently. "I'll be fine. Abdul and Mr Charles are here."
"I'm still not leaving."
"But..." Nanny Ann tried to convince her when Abdul interrupted.
"Nanny Ann." He smiled. "Let's just leave her."
He looked at Hanan knowingly. "We both know she isn't going to listen."
Nanny Ann sighed in defeat before smiling.
"Alright."
She kissed Hanan's forehead.
"Call me if you need anything."
"I will."
"Good night."
"Good night."
After everyone left, silence settled over the room.
Hanan pulled a chair beside Najib's bed and sat down.
She intertwined her fingers with his.
"What about Faruk?"
Her voice was soft.
"Did you find him?"
.
.
.