Chapter Nineteen: The Impossible
882 Words
That evening, Fatima decided to help her son Mahmoud get closer to Tehani and resolve the misunderstanding caused by Badria's scheme. She called out loudly for Hanaa.
Fatima: "Hanaa!"
Hanaa: "Yes, Mom, I’m in the kitchen."
Fatima: "Leave what you’re doing and come here quickly!"
Hanaa entered her mother’s room, drying her hands with a cloth.
Hanaa: "Yes, Mom, what do you need?"
Fatima: "Go and get your phone. Call Tehani and ask her to come over immediately!"
Hanaa (surprised): "What do you want from her at this hour?"
Fatima: "I want her to stop being afraid and feel comfortable visiting us anytime."
Hanaa: "And what will we say to Mahmoud if he sees her here? He’ll definitely be upset and embarrass us in front of her!"
Fatima (shocked): "Upset? How can you think that? Aren’t you supposed to be the closest to him and understand what he wants?"
Hanaa: "What do you mean?"
Fatima: "I was disappointed in you for attacking Mahmoud instead of trying to help him and understanding what he’s looking for!"
Hanaa: "Help him? Do you mean I should side with him against Tehani?"
Fatima (panicking): "Oh my God! Do you want to make things worse? On the contrary, your brother wants you to help him get closer to Tehani, but you jumped to conclusions before understanding his intentions!"
Hanaa tried to process Fatima’s strange words but burst into laughter moments later.
Hanaa: "Hahaha! What you’re suggesting is impossible! Hahaha!"
Fatima (firmly): "Hanaa, stop laughing. I’m telling you the truth about Mahmoud’s feelings, which you’ve failed to understand. Your brother is kind and has feelings for Tehani, and she’s also kind and deserves a man who loves her like your brother does."
Hanaa: "He loves her? Alright, let’s say I believe you. What if I invite Tehani over, and when Mahmoud sees her, he embarrasses her in front of us? What will you do then? And how will she ever forgive us for putting her in that position?"
Fatima: "All you need to do is call her and invite her over. Then you’ll see for yourself if I’m right. And if Mahmoud gets upset about her visit, he won’t dare say a word in front of me. Now go get your phone quickly!"
---
At the same time, Tehani was relaxing in front of the screen, watching an old romantic black-and-white movie. She heard her phone ring and saw Hanaa’s name, fearing she might ask her to come over.
Tehani (nervously): "Hello, Hanaa!"
Fatima: "It’s not Hanaa; it’s her mother. How are you, dear?"
Tehani: "Thank God, I’m fine. How are you, Auntie?"
Fatima: "Thank God. What are you doing?"
Tehani: "I’m watching an old movie on TV."
Fatima: "Good. Could you pause it and come over? I need to see you urgently."
Tehani froze, scared of the invitation.
Tehani (to herself): "This is exactly what I feared!"
Fatima sensed her hesitation through her silence.
Fatima: "Please, don’t refuse my request!"
Tehani (fearfully): "Your request is on my head, Auntie, but I don’t want to be insulted or humiliated again. What your son and sister-in-law did to me was enough. I’m sorry, Auntie, I can’t meet them."
Fatima: "It’ll only take ten minutes, and then you can go back to your movie. Please!"
Tehani (reluctantly): "Alright, Auntie, I’m coming."
Tehani went to her bedroom, changed her clothes, and felt like crying.
Tehani: "Come on, Tehani, get ready for humiliation. It seems it’s your fate!"
---
Tehani entered Hanaa’s apartment, her heart pounding like a giant drum. She greeted Hanaa and Ahmed in the living room, then headed to Fatima’s room.
Fatima (smiling): "Welcome, my dear. Come sit beside me."
Tehani sat nervously next to Fatima on the bed, worried that Badria might show up and see her.
Fatima: "Listen, my dear. I called you here because I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable around us or consider leaving."
Tehani: "And where would I go, Auntie? You’ve become like family to me. But as the saying goes—and it’s true—‘Stay away from trouble and sing to it!’"
Fatima (laughing): "Haha! There’s no trouble here. I promise I won’t let anyone bother or hurt you."
Tehani: "Thank you, Auntie."
Fatima: "Alright, Hanaa, bring dinner. Tehani will eat with us."
Fatima held Tehani’s hand before she could leave.
Fatima: "Don’t worry. I’ll be here if anyone tries to approach or bother you."
Tehani sat silently, resigned to her fate.
Tehani (to herself): "Oh Lord, have mercy!"
---
Hanaa brought dinner to Fatima’s room. Tehani saw the delicious food and smelled its aroma.
Tehani (to herself): "Now I understand how a prisoner feels when they’re served their last meal before execution. I don’t even want to eat. Every minute that passes, my stomach hurts more. I’m terrified Badria will show up... or worse, the executioner!"
Hanaa leaned close to her mother’s ear and whispered.
Hanaa: "Mom, I feel guilty if anything happens to Tehani because of us!"
Fatima: "Be quiet! Don’t scare me more. I’ll regret this if what I’m thinking isn’t true!"
Tehani noticed the quiet whispers between Hanaa and Fatima.
Tehani (to herself): "What’s going on? Why do they look scared and speak so softly? Are they planning to hand me over to the gallows?"
ــــــــــ
- Writer
