<p> </p><p> </p><p>—</p><p>As soon as Neesa saw them, she started crying falsely.</p><p>Shaking, Umma rushed to where they were and asked, “Baby, what happened?” Before Neesa could answer, Beela spoke up, “Umma, he wanted to kill her! He strangled her, saying he would teach her a lesson since she separated him from the room he wanted. Now, he says he will separate her from her life!” Beela finished speaking, sobbing.</p><p>Neesa continued her fake crying, pretending to cough as if she had been choked.</p><p>Umma said, “Sudais, attempted murder? You’ve really gone too far.”</p><p>Abbu said, “So, I have no authority over you, is that it? Alright, I swear on Aneesa’s matter, we will stand toe-to-toe.”</p><p>When Neesa saw that things weren’t going in her favor as she wanted, she cried harder and said, “Abbu, please let me go back to where I came from. He swore he would take revenge!” She moved closer and held Alhaji’s hands. “Alhaji, I might as well leave. I grew up in an orphanage; I have no one.”</p><p>Alhaji said, “Keep quiet, my dear, you’re not going anywhere! I swear if you touch her again, Sudais, you will regret it.”</p><p>Sudais stood frozen, his eyes turning red with anger. He couldn't even respond because no one gave him a chance to speak.</p><p>Ummi spoke up, “Come on, you’re all ganging up against him! Let him defend himself. And why is she even here?”</p><p>Neesa cried even louder. “I know you don’t like me, even though you’re my mother’s co-wife. I didn’t provoke him. I just came to return the things he forgot and clean the room because I knew the boys’ quarters would be dusty. But he started insulting me, calling me a prostitute just because I don’t wear a hijab. He said he hates me. But of course, no one in this family likes me.”</p><p>Ummi said, “I don’t believe this.”</p><p>Umma replied, “Hajiya, don’t argue. If it were Sudais, I’ve told him many times to stop this kind of behavior.”</p><p>Abbu said, “Let me warn you, Sudais. If you touch her again, you will regret it. Foolish boy! Now get out of my sight!”</p><p>With great difficulty, Sudais dragged his feet inside.</p><p>Umma said, “Baby, let’s go so you can rest.”</p><p>Neesa said, “You go ahead, I’ll come soon. He forgot his belongings, so I want to take them to him.”</p><p>Umma said, “Leave them here. If he wants them, he can come and get them. Don’t go and let him hurt you again.”</p><p>Neesa replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll take them to him. He’s my brother; I can’t let his things get neglected.”</p><p>Umma said, “God bless you.”</p><p>She responded, “Amen.”</p><p>Everyone left. Abbu and the others went to the mosque for the Maghrib prayer.</p><p>Umma and Ummi went inside, leaving Neesa and Beela behind.</p><p>They laughed together. Beela said, “Bestie, you’re really wicked! The way you acted like it was real!”</p><p> </p><p> </p>
