HAANI

Episode 3

HAANI

Episode 3 — An Unwanted Partnership

The announcement came during the first lecture of the day.

Professor Williams stood at the front of the classroom, arranging a few papers on his desk while the students settled into their seats.

"Before we begin," he said, "I have an important update regarding your semester project."

Hania Malik opened her notebook.

Across the room, Eric Johnson leaned back in his chair, barely paying attention. Jack was whispering something to Chris, while Emma tried to silence a laugh.

Professor Williams cleared his throat.

"This project will focus on cultural understanding, belief systems, and the way our personal experiences shape our opinions. You will work in pairs, and each pair will present their findings at the end of the month."

A few students exchanged interested glances.

Hania carefully wrote down the topic.

It was exactly the kind of research she enjoyed.

"Your partners have already been assigned," the professor continued. "I expect everyone to cooperate professionally, even if you disagree with your partner's perspective."

Eric finally sat upright.

Professor Williams began reading the names.

"Emma and Leo. Sophie and Chris. Jack and Daniel..."

Hania waited quietly.

"Miss Malik and Mr. Johnson."

For a moment, the classroom seemed to fall silent.

Hania lifted her eyes from her notebook.

Eric's expression changed immediately.

"Excuse me, Professor?" he asked.

Professor Williams looked at him.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Johnson?"

Eric glanced towards Hania.

"Can we change partners?"

A few students turned around.

Hania remained still, her expression composed.

Professor Williams folded his arms.

"No. The assignments are final. I expect you to complete the project together."

Eric let out a quiet breath.

"Understood."

But his tone suggested otherwise.

Hania lowered her gaze to her notebook and continued writing.

She had no intention of making the situation more uncomfortable than it already was.

After the lecture, students began leaving the classroom.

Hania was placing her notebook into her bag when Eric approached her.

"We need to discuss the project."

She looked up.

"Of course."

"Let's make one thing clear," he said. "I don't want this to become some personal discussion about religion."

Hania adjusted the strap of her bag.

"It doesn't have to."

Eric studied her face, perhaps expecting an argument.

Instead, she continued calmly.

"We have an academic assignment. We should focus on that."

His jaw tightened slightly.

"Good. Then we won't have any problems."

"I hope so."

She began walking towards the corridor.

Eric followed.

"Have you already chosen a topic?"

Hania stopped near the notice board.

"I was thinking about how people's experiences influence their understanding of different faiths."

Eric gave a short, humourless laugh.

"That sounds rather convenient."

Hania turned towards him.

"What do you mean?"

"You're studying religion. Of course, you'll choose a topic that makes people question their opinions."

"Is questioning an opinion necessarily a bad thing?"

Eric's expression hardened.

"Not when there's a reason for it."

"Then perhaps we should find that reason through our research."

For a brief moment, he had no response.

He looked away.

"Send me your outline."

"I will."

"And don't expect me to agree with everything you write."

Hania nodded.

"I wouldn't expect that."

She walked away before the conversation could become another argument.

Eric remained near the notice board, watching her disappear into the crowd.

He disliked how calmly she responded to him.

It made it difficult to dismiss her as easily as he wanted.

That afternoon, Hania sat in the university library, reviewing her notes.

She had created a document outlining the project's main sections:

Personal experiences and beliefs.

The role of family and society.

Misunderstandings between different communities.

The importance of respectful dialogue.

She was adding references when her phone vibrated.

A message from an unknown number appeared on the screen.

Eric: Send me the outline.

Hania checked the number once before replying.

Hania: I've shared the document with your university email.

A few seconds passed.

Eric: I don't see it.

Hania: Please check your inbox again. I sent it a few minutes ago.

Another pause.

Eric: Found it.

Hania returned to her research.

Then another message arrived.

Eric: Your first section is too general.

She frowned slightly.

Hania: Which part do you think needs improvement?

Eric: The part about personal experiences. You can't assume everyone's experiences shape their beliefs in the same way.

Hania considered his point.

He was not entirely wrong.

Hania: That's true. We can include different perspectives and avoid generalisations.

For several minutes, no reply came.

Then:

Eric: Fine. I'll look for some sources.

Hania placed her phone beside her notebook.

It was a small step.

But at least they were discussing the project instead of arguing about each other's opinions.

The following day, the group met in the library.

Sophie, Emma, Jack, Leo, and Chris had gathered around a table near the windows. Hania arrived a few minutes later, carrying her laptop and a folder of research papers.

Eric was already there.

He glanced at her folder.

"More references?"

"Some of them," she replied.

Jack leaned forward.

"So, how's the partnership going?"

Eric gave him a warning look.

"Don't start."

Chris grinned.

"We're just curious. You two seem to have plenty to discuss."

Hania placed her folder on the table.

"We're working on the assignment."

"That's all?" Jack asked.

"That's all," Eric answered sharply.

Sophie noticed the tension and changed the subject.

"Have you decided how you're dividing the work?"

Hania opened her laptop.

"I can prepare the section on cultural understanding and respectful dialogue. Eric can research how personal experiences influence people's perceptions."

Eric looked at the document.

"That works."

Emma nodded.

"Good. We should make sure the presentation includes different viewpoints."

"Exactly," Hania said.

For the next hour, the discussion remained focused.

Eric challenged a few of Hania's points, and she questioned some of his sources. Neither agreed with everything the other said, but they began to identify areas where their research could complement each other.

At one point, Eric pushed a printed article across the table.

"This might be useful for your section."

Hania glanced at the title.

"Thank you. I'll read it."

He nodded and returned to his laptop.

Sophie exchanged a brief look with Emma.

Neither said anything.

Later that evening, Eric sat alone in his room.

The university assignment was open on his laptop, but he had stopped reading.

He had found an article discussing how childhood experiences could influence a person's understanding of religion.

One sentence caught his attention.

People often interpret unfamiliar beliefs through the lens of their own experiences.

Eric stared at the screen.

A memory surfaced.

An old photograph.

A familiar voice, filled with anger.

A room he had not thought about in years.

He closed the article.

His fingers rested against the edge of the laptop.

He didn't want to remember.

He didn't want to question what he had believed for so long.

And he certainly didn't want Hania Malik to become involved in something he had spent years keeping buried.

His phone vibrated.

A message from Hania appeared.

Hania: I reviewed the article you sent. It has some useful points. We should include it in our references.

Eric read the message twice.

Then he typed a reply.

Eric: Agreed.

He placed the phone face down.

For the first time, he wondered whether the project would be more difficult than he had expected.

Not because of the research.

But because it was beginning to challenge questions he had never allowed himself to ask.

Meanwhile, Hania sat at her desk, organising the final notes for their next meeting.

She knew Eric was not easy to work with.

She also knew that one conversation could not change years of resentment.

She had no intention of forcing him to see things her way.

All she wanted was to complete the project honestly.

But the more they worked together, the more she realised that Eric's hostility was not simply arrogance.

There was something behind it.

Something painful.

And until he was ready to speak about it, she would respect his silence.

Neither of them knew what the next meeting would reveal.

But one thing was certain.

Their partnership had begun.

And neither could walk away from it now.

To Be Continued...