<p>As she entered, she greeted the woman there and explained that she came to visit Sadiya but found the house locked. The woman informed her that they had been at the hospital since early morning. She invited her to sit and wait for their return, recognizing her as Sadiya’s grandmother from a previous visit when Inna Azumi had come to the house. The woman even offered to find someone, perhaps a boy, to help carry her bag.</p><p>Meanwhile, Imran was on his motorcycle, a young man in his mid-20s, around 26 years old. He was neat, stylish, and particular about cleanliness. As he rode, he occasionally dusted off his shirt, even though there was no visible dirt. Imran was not a fan of people invading his space; he valued his peace and disliked unnecessary interactions unless he found the person agreeable.</p><p>Imran was deeply in love with his wife, Sadiya, their marriage born out of love. This affection made him protective and possessive of her. He disliked anything that might disrupt his happiness with her, especially if it caused tension or kept them apart. He preferred to spend all his time at home with her when he wasn’t working. His passion for her was intense, and he couldn’t bear being denied her company or affection. Sadiya, understanding his needs, often went out of her way to keep him happy.</p><p>As he approached his house, he spotted a large black bag at the doorstep. He was puzzled, wondering why such a bag was left there. His curiosity piqued as he neared, almost losing his balance on the motorcycle in his haste to investigate.</p><p>Imran disliked strangers’ belongings near his home. He was reserved, kept to himself, and barely interacted with his neighbors beyond polite greetings. He preferred spending his free time with his wife or visiting his mother. As he parked his motorcycle, his eyes narrowed suspiciously at the dusty bag. He scanned the area, trying to figure out how and why it had been left there.</p><p>Before he could process it further, a voice called out, “Finally, I’m relieved. There’s my Imrana!”</p><p>Imran froze, shutting his eyes tightly in frustration. He hated that nickname, and only one person in the world dared to call him that—Inna Azumi, Sadiya’s grandmother. He could recognize her voice anywhere, even in his sleep.</p><p>He couldn’t understand why this woman enjoyed disrupting his peace. He disliked how she acted as if she had authority over him simply because he married her granddaughter. Even though he tried to set boundaries, she seemed determined to push them. Despite his reserved nature, he had once firmly told her that his name was Imran, not Imrana. The nickname made him feel like she was mocking him, but she never stopped using it.</p><p>“Turns out you’re here, and I was about to go knocking on the neighbors’ doors!” she said, walking toward him without waiting for a response.</p><p>Imran clenched his jaw, biting his lip in irritation. If it were anyone else causing this much trouble, he would have taken drastic measures, but he held back because she was an elderly woman.</p><p>“Hmm,” was all he managed to say, barely audible.</p><p>“Subhanallah, Imrana! You’re still the same with your unfriendly attitude. What kind of person refuses to engage in proper conversation? I’m your grandmother-in-law, not just some stranger!” she said, staring at his stern face, which looked like he was about to cry from frustration.</p><p>“I’m in a hurry,” he muttered, his voice low and gruff.</p><p>“Oh, Allah is my witness! You didn’t even greet me or ask if I had a safe journey. Instead, you’re talking to me like someone with a toothache. You can’t even look me in the eye!”</p><p>He ignored her, focusing on unlocking his door.</p><p>Inna Azumi frowned, realizing that if she insisted on her way, she might leave upset. Instead, she decided to be patient, as she had come seeking a good time.</p><p>“Has Sadiya delivered?” she asked, watching him remove the padlock.</p><p>He didn’t answer immediately, making her recall her mistake of calling Sadiya “Sa’adiyya.” Imran had once scolded her for mispronouncing his wife’s name, claiming it was disrespectful. Since then, she had tried to be more careful, though it was hard to break old habits.</p><p>“I meant to ask, has Halima delivered?” she corrected herself, eager for news about her granddaughter.</p><p>“She has,” he replied curtly, pushing the door open and stepping inside without another word. He didn’t wait for her to follow or invite her in.</p><p>Left standing there, Inna Azumi was stunned. He even slightly closed the door behind him, leaving her to process his dismissive behavior.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
