<p> </p><p>—</p><p>The next day, Khadija, also known as Mero, returned to the room she had been trying to break into. Upon arrival, she heard the sound of someone crying from the direction of the room. To her surprise, she also heard someone comforting the crying person, who was saying, "She was the one I was supposed to marry, but now she's gone. She passed away and left me." Mero widened her eyes in shock and clutched her chest with both hands. She said to herself, “So he already had someone he wanted to marry? She passed away? Well, may God have mercy on her. As for us, when our time comes, may we die with faith.”</p><p>She continued, "So this is why he's crying like a woman because of love? Rich people are strange; just a small thing and they start crying, unable to bear hardship. Meanwhile, poor people are used to all kinds of adversity." She couldn’t hold back and shouted, “Did she burn in the fire?”</p><p>The people in his room thought it was a spirit speaking because, for as long as they had lived, they had never heard anyone’s voice from behind someone else's room, let alone a woman’s.</p><p>The young man answered, “Yes, she burned in the fire.”</p><p>Mero retorted, “Speak louder; I didn’t hear you!”</p><p>Frustrated, he raised his voice, “I said yes, she burned in the fire!”</p><p>Mero replied, “May God have mercy on her and grant her a martyr’s death.”</p><p>The men in the room, scared out of their minds, got up and left. They didn’t believe it was a human speaking.</p><p>Khadija continued speaking. "Are you done crying?" He ignored her, so she left him alone and returned to breaking the wall. Today, she finally succeeded. The crack was big enough for two fingers to fit through. She placed one eye against the crack to peek into the room.</p><p>Looking around, she thought to herself, "So this is what a VIP room looks like?" She scoffed, saying, “It’s not that different from a prison cell.”</p><p>Meanwhile, Maman Wahida, who was also in prison, had grown accustomed to the lifestyle. She kept to herself, taking care of her own affairs. Her family frequently visited her, and she had no problems. She was housed in the VIP section because wealthy people don’t face the same struggles as others. She avoided interacting with anyone outside the VIP section, considering them insignificant.</p><p>Mero didn’t know that Maman Wahida was Mima’s sister, but she had noticed a resemblance between her and Mummy. Today, curiosity got the best of her, and she approached Maman Wahida, who was resting. Mero greeted her, dressed in an old blouse and skirt that Azima, her cellmate, had given her.</p><p>"Ina yini (How are you)?" Mero asked.</p><p>Maman Wahida lazily raised her head and replied, “What is it? You’re lucky I even looked at you. How dare you greet me first?”</p><p>Mero responded, “I don’t care if you don’t want my greeting. How are you, though?”</p><p>She continued, “You look just like someone called Mummy Spark.”</p><p>Maman Wahida suddenly paid attention. “Where do you know them from? That’s my sister; we share the same mother and father.”</p><p>Mero replied, “I know Mima, Rafeeq, Misam—everyone in your family.”</p><p>Maman Wahida finally told her to sit down.</p><p>Mero added, “But don’t get it twisted; I’m not rich. I used to do house chores in Mummy Spark’s home, cleaning and washing dishes. One time, Spark even came to see me.”</p><p>Maman Wahida exclaimed, “Spark came to see you?!”</p><p>Mero replied, “Yes, he’s nice to me. He gives me money and other things, but he can’t even come to visit me here to say hello.”</p><p>Maman Wahida said, “Well, you probably offended him. You people are like that. You don’t know how to value relationships. Anyway, my sister will come here soon. You’ll meet her.”</p><p>Azima interrupted, calling Mero, “Khadija, are you not going to the weaving class today?”</p><p>Mero got up and left with Azima.</p><p>As they walked, Mero said, “Azima, I’m so slow in understanding this weaving thing. I’m just a blockhead. Religious studies are better for me. At least I recently learned how to perform the purification bath correctly. All this time, I’ve been doing it wrong.”</p><p>Azima laughed, “You’re really ignorant, Khadija.”</p><p>Mero sighed, “I have a beautiful name with so much meaning, but I’ve been dealt a bad hand in life. Now I’m learning things in prison that I should have known long ago. Life is ironic.”</p><p>Azima replied, “Well, at least you’re learning. You’ll become polished eventually. Don’t mind me; I’ve already embraced prison life. I don’t even want to leave anymore.”</p><p>The conversation shifted to gossip about people they knew, weaving lessons, and their dreams for the future.</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p> </p>
