<p>The clock in the room struck three in the dead of night when most people were sound asleep, yet Hajara couldn't bring herself to rest, her mouth watering at the thought of tasting blood.</p><p>Her eyes began to change before she pushed open the door to the room, fortunate it wasn’t locked. The room was dark, but her sharp vision easily spotted Safeenat, who lay on the bed, cradling her large belly while sleeping soundly.</p><p>Saliva dripped from Hajara’s mouth as she gazed at the unborn baby nestled in Safeenat’s womb. She took a step forward to approach, but suddenly a mysterious light engulfed Safeenat, its source unknown. Alarmed, Hajara recoiled, her fiery red eyes wide in astonishment, before storming out of the room—not because she had given up, but to devise a new plan.</p><p>“Hajara, why are you standing in the middle of the living room?” her husband, Dayyabu, called out, snapping her out of her thoughts. Startled, she quickly shut her eyes to avoid suspicion. Without responding to him, she hurried to her room, shut the door, and exhaled deeply before reopening her eyes.</p><p>She crouched under her bed and pulled out a clay pot. Apart from black smoke, the pot was empty. Uttering some incantations, she transformed into a small creature and crept along the walls until she reached Safeenat's room once again. The mysterious light still lingered, forcing her to climb onto the dressing table. There, she stuck out her tongue and began dripping her saliva into a jar of lotion Safeenat had left open. Once she was done, she crawled out of the room.</p><p>As she returned to her human form, her husband emerged from her room, evidently searching for her. She sighed in frustration and sat on her bed, her insatiable hunger for blood still tormenting her. It was a restless night for her, one devoid of proper sleep.</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p>The Next Morning</p><p>At dawn, Safeenat took her bath, applied lotion and perfume, and dressed in a long gown, as her advanced pregnancy left her with no other clothing options.</p><p>With her usual calm demeanor, she stepped into the living room, where the family was gathered around the table, eating breakfast.</p><p>“Good morning, Daddy,” she greeted her father.</p><p>“Good morning, Feenat. How are you feeling today?” he replied warmly.</p><p>“Alhamdulillah,” she answered before turning to Hajara. “Good morning, Auntie.”</p><p>Hajara scowled. “Why greet me now? Couldn’t you have come out earlier? Lazy girl! Your maid does all the work while you laze around only to emerge and reap the benefits. Don’t think I cook for your sake!”</p><p>Safeenat lowered her head, suppressing the sting of Hajara’s words. What pained her more was that her father remained silent. Hajara’s children, Munir and Munira, mocked her, but she ignored them, heading to the kitchen to find her own meal. Sitting cross-legged on the tiled floor, she began eating, her mind clouded with thoughts. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her swollen belly, drawing comfort from the thought of the unborn child, the only remnant of her late husband, Bashir.</p><p>“You think crying will bring your husband back?!” Hajara’s harsh voice interrupted her. “If you hadn’t ruined Bashir’s chances of marrying Murjanatu, he wouldn’t have died and left you like this. Meanwhile, Murjanatu is living a blissful life in Saudi Arabia, happily married!”</p><p>Hajara stomped her foot. “Get out of this kitchen so I can cook! Go back to your room and sulk there!”</p><p>Safeenat hurriedly moved aside, fresh tears streaming down her face.</p><p>From the doorway, Daddy's stern voice rang out. “Hajara, come to my room. I need to speak with you.”</p><p>Hajara shot Safeenat a venomous glare before reluctantly obeying. Entering the room, she found Daddy standing with his back to the door.</p><p>“I’m here, Daddy,” she said respectfully.</p><p>“Hajara, I’ve had enough of your behavior,” he began firmly. “Earlier, you insulted my daughter, and I stayed quiet to show Safeenat that she should have joined in doing house chores. But I won’t tolerate you humiliating her. This is my house, and she has the freedom to live as she pleases. She lost her husband—that alone is enough pain. Add to that her advanced pregnancy, and yet you choose to taunt her? From the day Safeenat married Bashir, you’ve hated her, forgetting that marriage is predestined by God. Murjanatu was never meant to marry him.”</p><p>Feigning tears, Hajara began to sob, even blowing her nose dramatically. Surprised, Daddy turned and pulled her into his arms. “Why are you crying now? You’re a mother—you should know better than to need constant reminders of what’s right. Every child deserves kindness; you never know who might come to your aid one day.”</p><p>“But Daddy,” Hajara sniffled, her voice dripping with pretense, “you know how much I’ve cared for Safeenat with a pure heart. But she destroyed our bond all because I wanted Murjanatu to marry Bashir…”</p><p> </p>
