unknown fate

Chapter Five, Episode Six

Amam entered the villa quietly, his steps measured and deliberate, as if the world outside had already ceased to exist.** He moved directly toward the door of his office, opening it with a subtle creak, then stepped inside. Sitting behind his massive wooden desk, he lit a cigarette, the smoke curling lazily toward the ceiling, marking the silence with its ephemeral presence. Outside, the rest of the family continued to enter the villa, their voices and footsteps fading into a background hum.

Suddenly, the phone on the desk rang, startling him slightly. His eyes flicked toward the device—it was Rabea. Amam stared at it, almost as if the repeated calls and persistent requests had become a physical irritation pressing against his skull. For a long moment, he simply watched the phone ring, unwilling to lift it. Finally, with a slow exhale of smoke, he picked it up and placed it to his ear.

**Amam:** Hello…

There was a brief pause, then Rabea’s voice flowed into the quiet room:

**Rabea:** How are you, Amam? I spoke with Asmahan, and she agreed.

Amam’s laugh erupted suddenly, harsh and guttural, a sound that carried both revulsion and disbelief. It was a laugh that seemed to echo from the depths of his chest, unsettling the very air in the office. Perhaps it was amusement… or perhaps the laughter of a man who felt the world conspiring against him.

**Rabea (continuing without pause, in his relentless tone):** I knew you would agree too. I want the wedding soon—Lamar’s arrival is near.

Amam fell silent, the cigarette burning down slowly between his fingers. Finally, he spoke, his voice measured, almost detached:

**Amam:** Set the date that suits you, Rabea… with Asmahan.

The wedding of Rabea and Asmahan unfolded at Ghali’s house, a grand event filled with both families, renowned dancers, and celebrated singers. Joy and laughter swept through the expansive garden of the villa, yet amidst the celebration, Amam remained apart. He stood alone, eyes fixed on the couple, yet seeing nothing of the revelry around him. His mind transported him back—back to the day of his own wedding, to the moment when Jadd’s father had died. The memory pierced him like a cold blade, and tears escaped unbidden from his eyes.

He rested his hand at his side, fingers brushing the grip of the g*n tucked in his holster. For a moment, the temptation to reach for it surged, then he recoiled, letting it rest. His gaze returned to Rabea, to the joyous oblivion of the wedding, when suddenly Ghali’s voice broke the silence:

**Ghali:** Hey, Amam… who cries on a day like this?

Amam’s lips curved into a subtle, almost knowing smile. He looked at Ghali, voice calm, almost casual:

**Amam:** These are tears of joy, Hajj Ghali. Asmahan is a little above her siblings… you know I am the one left for them after Jadd’s death, may he rest in peace.

**Ghali (nodding, a small grin forming):** Of course, Amam. You took care of your share, naturally. By the way… how’s the merchandise?

**Amam (with quiet satisfaction):** All gone, sold in the same day. Didn’t even make it to the warehouses.

As the celebration concluded, the newlyweds retreated to the villa, and the guests departed, laughter and music fading into the night.

In the stillness of his room, Amam lay on the bed, eyes wide open, lost in thought. Asrar slept quietly beside him, her presence a gentle contrast to the storm in his mind. His thoughts, ever restless, drifted now to a matter far more pressing: the daughters of Abdulrahman. Where were they now? How could he gather them? Scattered since childhood, now young women, were they alive—or had fate already claimed them? Perhaps they had been exploited, or worse… yet he knew he had failed them.

A mother’s words echoed in his mind—Zeinab had said he could not bring her along until he found his sisters. Amam’s thoughts circled endlessly, weaving through possibilities, plans, and fears. Gradually, the weight of sleep overcame him, and he dozed off on the bed, mind still tangled in the labyrinth of his responsibilities, while the young bride beside him remained lost in peaceful dreams at the beginning of their shared life.