<p>The lady, who was breathtakingly beautiful and fair-skinned, quickly apologized. “I was just joking! I didn’t mean to offend you.”</p><p>But he yelled at her. “Get lost! It’s obvious your parents didn’t train you well!”</p><p>The lady became furious. “Look here, mister, I have tolerated enough nonsense from you! Do you think I care about you? If we had gotten married, the only thing I would have gained from you is your disgusting teeth! I’d rather sleep on a bed of broken glass than kiss you!”</p><p>The young man, Kamalu, was stunned. “Did you just insult me?”</p><p>"Yes, I did!" the lady, Aamna, snapped. “It’s over between us!”</p><p>"Good! It’s over!" Kamalu retorted. “I don’t need you either!”</p><p>Aamna scoffed. "You think I care? You, of all people?" She stormed off, leaving him standing there speechless.</p><p>Later, Aamna sneaked into the kitchen at work, grabbed three slices of meat, and devoured them quickly before heading back inside. She spotted a half-eaten plate of fried rice that a customer had abandoned and wasted no time in finishing it off, even gulping down the untouched drink.</p><p>When the customer, an older man, returned and saw his food gone, he shouted, “Hey! Where is my food?”</p><p>Aamna smiled sweetly and lied, “Oh, sir, I thought you were done eating! I’ve already thrown it in the trash. I’m so sorry!”</p><p>The man sighed in frustration and gave her money to order a new meal. Aamna quickly rushed to the kitchen to prepare another dish for him, but in reality, she was just happy she had eaten for free.</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p>Elsewhere, an elderly man with a thick white beard rushed into his home, visibly angry. His house was a rundown rental apartment, a clear sign of poverty.</p><p>"Aishatu!" he called out. “What nonsense is this?”</p><p>His wife looked up at him lazily and asked, “What now?”</p><p>"You're wasting my money!" he shouted. “Since I left this morning, I’ve been seeing soap suds flowing out of the house into the street. Do you know how expensive detergent is? And you keep using it recklessly! Not to mention the endless burning of matches just to light the stove! I have had enough!”</p><p>Aishatu ignored him, continuing her chores.</p><p>"And where is Aamna?" he asked. “Has she found a husband yet?”</p><p>Aishatu remained silent.</p><p>"I’m tired of this nonsense," the old man continued. “If I had known, I would never have let Aamna complete her education! What’s the use of a woman’s education? A woman is meant for marriage and childbirth, not schooling!”</p><p>Aamna, overhearing the conversation, broke into tears. “Why me? Why am I the only one being treated like this?”</p><p>Her younger sister, Zuhra, tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry, sister. Your time will come.”</p><p>But Aamna shook her head. “I can’t marry someone I don’t love just to please our parents. That’s the problem with our people—they force marriages on their daughters without considering compatibility. That’s why many end up divorced or miserable.”</p><p>Just then, their mother barged in. “You, Aamna! Stop filling your sister’s head with nonsense! Marriages are not about love—they are about financial stability! Love won’t feed you! If you don’t stop being picky, you’ll end up alone!”</p><p>Their father added from the other room, “I never even saw your mother before we married! It was arranged, and we’ve been together ever since. If you don’t change, I will arrange a husband for you myself!”</p><p>Aamna sighed and continued eating her cold rice. After cleaning up, she took a warm bath and lay down to sleep while Zuhra kept chatting with her fiancé.</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p>A luxurious car pulled into a magnificent mansion, a house so grand it was breathtaking. The compound had at least eight expensive cars parked, all top-of-the-line models. The owner of this mansion was undoubtedly wealthy beyond imagination…</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
