Atom: (driving the car) Oh, no! The police!
Sekinat: (crying uncontrollably) What do you mean, the police?
Atom: (increasing the speed) How did the police find out about this? Damn it!
Sekinat: (confused by everything happening around her, but still focused on the surgery) You will be fine, Insha Allah.
************
Summayah: (worried) Why isn’t he picking up? What's going on? Why isn’t he back from work?
Shuaib: Mum… Why isn’t Dad home yet?
Summayah: Don’t worry, son. (She embraces him.) He is probably on his way home, maybe his car broke down.
Shuaib: But he has never come home this late before.
Summayah: That’s true, my boy. Days like this are bound to happen. Do you also remember the day I never even came home that night? Work can be very demanding sometimes. So, don’t worry. Go to bed, and by morning, he will be the one to come wake you up, okay? Now, go to your room.
Shuaib: Okay, Mum. Goodnight.
Summayah: Goodnight, my pumpkin. (Waves at him)
Shuaib: (Waves back and heads to his room)
Summayah: (Back to her worried scene) Now, where in the world can he be that he failed to pick up? Ahh! Suraj, better don’t play games with me. Don’t tell me you are also transforming into those men who cheat, huh? I better not catch you with any woman, or else... (she hits her phone on the floor and angrily falls on the couch) You will come here and meet me. (Gradually, she begins to feel dizzy) You... will... meet me here. (Yawning) You don’t know… tonight, you will see my true colors. (Dozing off)
The next morning, 5:45 am
Summayah: (Jumps out of bed with her heart pounding) Ahhhhh! I thought it was an earthquake. (She picks up the unknown caller) Hello, who is calling me this early in the morning? Yes, this is she. (Jumps off the couch instantly) What! (She screams out) What happened to him? (Falls to her knees instantly) Nooooo! (Her phone falls on the floor as she still can't believe what she just heard on the phone, tears gush out of her eyes) Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un… Noooooooo! (Her scream wakes Shuaib from his sleep)
Shuaib: Mum! What happened? Your screaming woke me.
Summayah: (Still in shock and unable to utter a word)
Shuaib: (Worried to see his mother in such a state) Mum, please talk to me. What happened?
Summayah: (Still in shock)
Shuaib: (Continuously tapping her) Mum, please say something.
Summayah: Ya Allah, noooooooo!!!
*********************************
The Empire’s community was filled with a crowd at the Hat Man’s mansion due to the rumors about his death. His subordinates appeared to pay their last respects, while the Empire and his wife angrily descended from the car. His guards made an announcement for his entrance, instructing the subordinates to clear the way and bow to him. The subordinates paid no attention, walking into the mansion angrily.
Empire: Where is he?
Subordinate: Right this way, sir.
Empire: (heart pounding heavily) This mission better be a successful one. (He enters the room to find Sekinat standing next to the Hat Man's lifeless body on the bed.) What are you doing here? You survived it, and he didn’t.
Sekinat: (ignores him and focuses on the Hat Man)
Empress: Are you deaf? He is talking to you.
Sekinat: (silently wipes her tears)
Empire: You have so much nerve now, huh? Guards!
Guards: Yes, sir.
Empire: Take her out of my sight.
Guards: (they move forward to touch her when she brings out a gun) Wooohh! We have a damn gun too. (As they were about to bring out their guns, Sekinat shoots one of them in the finger.) Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! No!
Sekinat: You think I'm joking?
Empire: (can't believe his eyes) Now you know how to use the damn gun, huh?
Sekinat: (points the gun at the Empire) Right now, I wish I had the strength to speak the damn truth to your thick skull, but you don’t even deserve my explanation. If you try to mess with me or the Hat Man’s body, I will blow your damn head off. Just try me. I’m not afraid to die anymore. But before I die, I will make sure I never miss that skull of yours.
Empress: (notices the situation is escalating) Wooh! Let's relax, okay? (She obstructs the gunpoint.) Listen to me, young lady. If you want to fight me, you're going to have to go through me first. This is a fight between women. You can't do anything other than making threats. So watch it and put the gun down.
Sekinat: (furiously uses one of her hands to push the Empress aside, causing her to hit her face on the wall, and then resumes pointing the gun at the Empire) No one should try to mess with me today, because now my only mission is to kill you. If you don’t leave the Hat Man alone, who has been serving at your feet since he was a child, don’t you have any pity for him? He has killed thousands for you, taken so many bullets for you, even until now. Due to your selfish interests, you send the lives of the innocent to face your wars while you're in your stupid palace tearing chicken legs... and enough is enough! Someone has to put an end to this bullshit. But I want to ask you a question. If this man right here happens to be your heir, will you send him to those dangerous places? Of course not! The Hat Man needs rest, and I’m not sure he is going to survive this. He is in a critical state because of you. He put his own happiness and dreams aside to achieve yours. Do you ever think of that? No! You deserve nothing but a brutal death. But even if I can't kill you, I will make sure I see blood over your body.
Empire: (bursts into laughter) You know, I do admire your confidence a lot, but you should know your limit. Guards, get her out of my sight.
Sekinat: (points the gun at the guards) You take one more step, and see how I will blow your head off too. You think I’m here to joke? I am not the same old naive girl you kidnapped the other day. You turned me into this monster that I am today, and I am not afraid to kill all of you, especially you, monster.
Empire: Do you know why I'm going to let this slide and spare your life? It's because we need you to keep him alive. If not, you wouldn't even be standing with that gun, but with a bullet in your heart. (He moves to the Hat Man’s bed, lying helplessly shirtless. He scans him for a few seconds.) Is he going to be okay? How is he feeling now? Because I am definitely sure he can't die like that. I have so much confidence in him because he isn’t an ordinary man like the rest. I know he will survive it. So, what's the result of his condition?
Sekinat: And why do you care?
Empire: Don’t mess with me, Sekinat. Your death day will be very brutal. Because you know nothing about us or the Mafia nation...so Watch how you talk to me. Answer my damn questions!
Sekinat: (scans him for a few minutes with her dangerous gaze) He is in a coma, and I'm not sure he is gonna make it.
Empress: (still by the wall) Coma!!! That can't be?
Sekinat: Why can't it be? Maybe I should test the bullet on you so it can be.
Empire: That's it! (She shoots her arm with a sleeping injection, and she falls down instantly, losing consciousness.) Take her away and deal with her!
Empress: No! Just kill her already!
Empire: (moves back to the Hat Man’s bed and begins to rub some liquid on him) You will be fine, my boy! Assuming you could bring the diamond with you, it would have made me happier. But your life matters the most for now. Get well soon.
Suddenly, the old woman barges in, in tears.
Empire: Oh, please! (He walks out of the room angrily, with his subjects and empress following him.)
********************
Summayah: In a state of critical distress, Summayah hastened to the hospital, only to find her husband's family already immersed in mourning for their departed son. The shock of the scene compelled her to collapse in disbelief, entertaining a fleeting hope that it might be an elaborate prank. The sight of a lifeless body before her shattered that hope, reducing her to a heart-wrenching display of grief. Uncontrollable tears streamed down her face as others in the room sought to console her. On the sidelines, Suraj's father sat in profound helplessness, mourning the loss of his son. The reality of the situation became undeniable when Summayah, struggling to her knees, uncovered her husband's lifeless form, revealing a fatal gunshot wound to his head. Her anguished cries resonated through the hospital, invoking a profound sense of sympathy from those present.
Shuaib: Rushing into the hospital, Shuaib discovered a room filled with grieving relatives, his mother's side conspicuously absent. A foreboding sense of fear overcame him as he pondered what might have transpired, given his mother's silence. His worst fears materialized when he caught sight of his mother on the floor, wracked with grief beside a covered corpse. Trembling with disbelief, he approached the scene, each step intensifying the collective sorrow in the room. The gravity of the situation overwhelmed him as he witnessed his mother's visceral reaction. Tears streamed down his face as he beheld the lifeless form of his father, a gunshot wound to the head laying bare the harsh reality. Distraught, he implored those around him for answers, his pleas met with attempts to console him. A group of relatives guided him away from the painful scene, his anguished cry echoing in the hospital corridors.
Shuaib: Please, let me go! Mummy!!!!
***************
5 hours later
Sekinat: (finally regains consciousness in a dimly lit room, finding herself in a bathtub. As she tries to get up, she discovers she's bound with chains.) What am I doing here? (Her confusion grows as she tries to recall what happened.) How did I pass out, and how did I get here? Am I dreaming, or is this a nightmare? Maybe I should scream for help! (She screams) Somebody help me, please!
(Suddenly, three men enter the room. The darkness obscures their faces, making it difficult for Sekinat to see them clearly. She realizes the gravity of her situation and tries to stay calm, swallowing her fear.)
Sekinat: I guess the Empire sent you guys to kill me, right? (One of them punches her in the face instantly.)
First Man: You have the guts to speak! You have no idea what we are here to do to you. Next time, control your filthy mouth and obey! (He puts a naked wire into the water, and Sekinat screams out in pain due to the electric shock.)
Third and Second Men: (They hit him.) Remove it! Do you want to kill her? Remember the instructions given to us.
First Man: (hurriedly withdraws the wire) Sorry, I forgot! You know I hate this girl so much for having that confidence to face a whole empire! She behaves like she is some sort of queen or a powerful person.
Sekinat: (helplessly bends her head without saying a word.)
Third Man: Wait! She isn’t responding again. (He tries to touch her, and immediately the current passes into his body, causing him to fall down in shock.)
First Man and Second Man: (startled) Oh my God! I think he is dead too!
Second Man: What have you done? I warned you not to use this method! Hhhahhh! You have killed us! (He turns on the room lights and realizes their companion isn't responding either. Fearing to touch him, they flee out of the room, screaming for help. Unbeknownst to them, Sekinat's head moves slightly as she remains unconscious.)
******************
Alhaji Sulaiman: (in his office working on a system when his personal assistant barges in) Can't you knock?
P.A.: So sorry, sir, but there is news I need to pass to you.
Alhaji Sulaiman: And what's the news about?
P.A.: There is good news and bad news, sir.
Alhaji Sulaiman: Just say it already! You're getting me worried now.
P.A.: Here, sir. (He passes his phone to him.) The police found some dead bodies in a forest last night and a hidden cave! They said it was some mafia’s hideout. Look at it. I guess there was an attack last night that led to these 60 corpses found there.
Alhaji Sulaiman: So what should I do about it? Look, I can see you are not serious with your job. (He throws his phone at him.)
P.A.: No, sir! I am not done with my explanation, sir. It turns out that your son-in-law was part of the corpses.
Alhaji Sulaiman: (jumps out of his chair) Are you alright? What kind of a silly joke is that? You know what, get out of my office before I sack you!
P.A.: Sir, please hear me out! I mean no pain, honestly speaking, sir. I am telling the truth. Your son-in-law, Mr. Suraj, passed away, and his corpse was found among the... (realizes he is in shock) Sorry about the news, sir. But the good news is the police and soldiers carried out their investigations in the cave last night and found many kidnapped victims from 12 to 20 years ago. They were able to rescue them. So, I was hoping that means your daughter isn’t dead either. If you can also carry out more investigations, it might be your daughter was also held captive. Please, sir, I am sorry for passing the news this way, but I don’t want to hide anything from you. (realizes he didn’t utter a word but stands still in shock) Sir, can you hear me?
Alhaji Sulaiman: (picks up his car keys immediately and leaves the office) Shut down the company until further notice! Everyone, go home!
P.A.: Sir!!!!! Please, I am sorry... please! (runs after him)
Alhaji Sulaiman: Just do as I told you, and we won't have any problems! (He enters his car and drives out of the company) Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un!!! Subhanallah, ya Allah! Summayah!!! This is all my fault! And I chased her away yesterday, not ready to listen to her. Ya Salam! This had better be a joke. Ya Allah, let this not be true. How will I pass the news to my wife? How will I ever face my daughter again? And on the other side, there is hope my daughter is still alive. Ya Allah, this is too much for my family to bear! But who are we to question You? You know what we know not! (He increases his car speed.)