Nafeesa's arrival was met with a storm of emotions, despite knowing Mama's ability to handle such situations, she hesitated before bursting into the room, exclaiming, 'Mama, who said he wants to marry me without even consulting you first...!' Tears welled up in Nafeesa's eyes as she stood at Mama's door, her heart pounding in anticipation of Mama's response.

The young man followed closely behind, his face etched with concern as he observed the tense atmosphere. He was familiar with Nafeesa's demeanor and knew that her sudden outburst was a sign of distress. Mama's face softened at the sight of him, her eyes betraying the worry that had plagued her since his departure.

"Please, calm down. You mustn't rush into anything before I speak to him about this matter of marriage. Your father and I will handle it together; rest assured, no harm will come to you. I understand your concerns, but rushing into things will only lead to regret..." Despite Mama's reassurances, Nafeesa remained adamant, refusing to back down from her decision to confront Mama about her worries.

Mama's expression hardened, as if steeling herself for what was to come. "You insolent child, how dare you question my authority? Get rid of those trinkets you've adorned yourself with, you insolent beggar! Throw them away and humble yourself before me. If you don't, I swear by the heavens above that I will make sure you regret it. Your arrogance knows no bounds, but mark my words, I will teach you a lesson you won't soon forget." With that, Mama turned on her heel and stormed off, leaving Nafeesa standing there, her eyes brimming with tears.

As Nafeesa watched her mother's retreating figure, a sense of resignation washed over her. She knew there was no point in arguing further; her fate had been sealed. With a heavy heart, she made her way back to the house, her mind reeling with thoughts of what was to come.

As she entered the house, Nafeesa collapsed onto the floor, her body racked with sobs. Her sister, Umaimah, rushed to her side, offering words of comfort as she dialed Zainab's number on her phone. Without saying goodbye, Nafeesa handed the phone to her mother, saying, "Mama, it's Ahmad. He's insisting on coming over today."

Mama took the phone, her expression unreadable. "Tell him I'm not home," she replied curtly.

Zainab's voice crackled over the line. "Mama, the trouble that has befallen us knows no bounds. It's like we're living in a world of chaos, where even the simplest tasks become insurmountable challenges. Just the other day, a group of men tried to attack Ahmad on his way home from work. They accused him of theft and threatened to kill him if he didn't hand over his belongings. Thankfully, he managed to escape unharmed, but I fear for his safety. I don't know how much longer we can endure this suffering."