FARHA

chapter 7

Mrs Ali went back home quickly and dialed her husband's number informing him to come back home as soon as possible.

Mrs. Ali's hands trembled as she recounted every detail to her husband. "She has the same burn scar, the same birthmark...it's unmistakable. I'm convinced she's our Khairiyya."

Mr. Ali listened intently, his expression a mix of hope and caution. "Calm down, my dear. We'll find out if this is indeed our daughter. Can you take me to the place where you saw her?"

The next day, they went to the location, but Farha was nowhere to be found. They returned every day for a month, scouring the streets, asking around, but to no avail.

Mrs. Ali's hope began to dwindle. "What if I imagined it all? What if she's not our Khairiyya after all?"

Mr. Ali reassured her. "We'll keep looking. We'll find her. I promise."

ONE MONTH LATER

As Mr. and Mrs. Ali drove through the familiar streets, Mrs. Ali's eyes scanned the crowds, searching for a glimpse of the young woman she'd seen a month ago, though she had started to loose hope. Suddenly, she spotted Farha walking with her friends. "Wait!!!" Mrs. Ali exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement.

Mr. Ali turned to his wife, his eyes questioning. "What is it, my dear?"

Mrs. Ali's gaze was fixed on Farha. "That's her...our daughter. That's her!"

Mr. Ali's eyes followed his wife's gaze, and he too saw the resemblance. "Are you sure?"

Mrs. Ali nodded fervently. "Yes, I'm positive. Let's go."

Mr. Ali instructed the driver to stop, and they quickly got out of the car. They trailed behind Farha and her friends, calling out to them. "Stop! Please, wait!"

Farha and her friends stopped and turned, confused by the couple's sudden interest. Farha's eyes met Mrs. Ali's, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

"What's going on?" Farha asked warily, noticing the intensity in Mrs. Ali's gaze.

But before Mrs. Ali could respond, Farha's instincts kicked in. She turned to her friends. "Guys, one!! two!! go!!! ruunnnnn I don't know what's going on."

Without hesitation, Farha and her friends took off, running through the crowded streets. Mr. and Mrs. Ali followed closely behind, their hearts pounding with excitement and determination.

"Khairiyya! Wait! We're not going to hurt you," Mrs. Ali called out, her voice filled with emotion.

Farha glanced back, seeing the couple's desperate faces. She picked up speed, her friends following suit. The chase was on, with Mr. and Mrs. Ali determined to catch up to the young woman they believed was their long-lost daughter.

As Farha and her friends ran, they finally stopped to catch their breath in a quiet alleyway. Farha turned to her friends, her eyes wide with concern. "Guys, I need to tell you something. That woman, she's been following me."

Mariam's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Farha recounted her first encounter with Mrs. Ali. "I was walking, and this car almost hit me. The woman got out, and she started crying, saying I'm her daughter. She mentioned a burn scar and a birthmark."

Kulthum's eyes widened. "That's crazy! What did you tell her?"

Farha shook her head. "I told her I didn't know her. I don't have any family, guys. I'm alone."

Aisha's expression turned thoughtful. "Do you think she's telling the truth? Maybe there's something she's not telling you."

Farha's expression hardened. "I don't care. I don't need anyone. I've been on my own this long, i had lost hope on seeing my family long time ago and I'll keep going."

The friends nodded in support, knowing Farha's tough exterior hid a complex and vulnerable person. They stood by her, ready to face whatever came next together.

🌉🌉🌉

As Mr. and Mrs. Ali finally caught up to Farha and her friends, they were met with a mix of surprise and curiosity. Mrs. Ali's eyes locked onto Farha, and she took a step forward, her voice trembling.

"Khairiyya, is that you?" she asked, her eyes brimming with tears.

Farha's friends parted ways, allowing Mr. and Mrs. Ali to approach Farha. Mr. Ali began to explain, his voice choked with emotion.

"We've been searching for you for so long, Khairiyya. You were separated from us when you were just three years old. We thought we'd lost you forever."

Mrs. Ali took over, her voice cracking. "You have a birthmark on your left shoulder, and a burn scar above your right hand. We've been looking for you everywhere, and finally, we've found you."

Farha's eyes widened in shock. "How did I...how did I get separated from you?"

Mr. Ali's eyes clouded over. "It was a chaotic situation. We were in a crowded family get together, and you wandered off. We searched everywhere, but you were gone. We've been looking for you ever since."

Mrs. Ali stepped forward, her eyes locked onto Farha's face. "We've never given up hope, Khairiyya. We've always believed that you were alive, and that we would find you one day."

Farha's eyes filled with tears as she listened to their story. She felt a mix of emotions - shock, wonder, and a deep sense of connection.

"I'm so sorry," Farha said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't know...I didn't know I had a family."

Mrs. Ali's face crumpled, and she reached out to Farha. "You're our daughter, Khairiyya. We've loved you every step of the way, even when we didn't know where you were."

Without a word, Farha opened her arms, and Mrs. Ali rushed into them, holding her tightly. Mr. Ali joined in, wrapping his arms around both of them.

"I've got you now, Khairiyya," Mrs. Ali whispered, her voice shaking with emotion. "I'll never let you go again."

Farha felt a sense of belonging she had never known before. She felt like she was home, surrounded by people who loved her unconditionally.

As they hugged, Farha's friends watched, tears in their own eyes. They smiled, happy to see their friend reunited with her family after so many years.

"We're so happy for you, Farha," Layla said, her voice filled with emotion.

Farha smiled, her eyes shining with tears. "Thank you, guys. I'm...I'm still in shock, but I'm happy too."

Mrs. Ali pulled back, her eyes locked onto Farha's face. "We'll take care of you now, Khairiyya. We'll make up for lost time. You'll never be alone again."

Farha nodded, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that she had found her family, and that they would love and support her every step of the way.