I Am Worthy.

Chapter Four

As the feast proceeded, Minal continued to think of the best way to publicly disgrace Haniya without being seen as the person at fault.

Haniya on the other hand interacted with the guests while she served them. She would hardly greet someone without receiving a compliment about her looks.

This made her feel flattered and confident. She was not used to receiving sweet words. This was her first experience of exposure in her twenty-eight years of living.

Being around different people from different backgrounds who had different careers made her hopeful about life.

She found hope with one man especially who stuck to her. He talked to her with enthusiasm and big white eyes.

He had a prominent gapped tooth that Haniya could barely take her eyes off. In between his talks, he would refer to her as 'dear'.

It made her feel at ease. Sa'ad had called her 'dear' time and again on very rare occasions, but this man's own was different. He showed care about her life. Her studies. Her career.

He encouraged her to go back to school and explained all the good things she stood to gain as an educated woman.

Sa'ad noticed the both of them shortly after they commenced their talk and he kept a close eye on them.

He continued to move from one place to another trying to get a close look at how they interacted with each other.

In that process, he saw his mother, Minal. He noticed she also had eyes on Haniya. She had been watching Haniya's every move since the feast started.

She could not bear to see Haniya happy and she felt like snatching the happiness away if it were possible.

"Mother! What are you doing"?

"Nothing my son"! Minal gasped.

She lost composure as she heard her son's voice behind her but she tried to pretend.

"Why do you ask my son"?

"Because it looks like you are spying on Haniya".

"Oh no Sa'ad, why would I do that"?

"I do not know. That is why I asked".

"Well, that is not what I am doing. I am just trying to look out for Haniya. It seems like that man wants to harm her".

"Do not worry Mother. Please rest. I will keep an eye on her".

"Okay"! Minal said as she left the presence of her son downcast.                                       

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"Has anyone ever told you that you are beautiful"? the man asked Haniya.

His words pierced her heart like an arrow shot by Cupid. She immediately lowered her gaze out of shyness.

She found it hard to hide her smile so she made sure she kept her gaze lowered a bit longer.

"Don't be shy, tell me". He added with a seducing smile. Then he placed his right hand on Haniya's left arm.

This made her alarmed. She looked at his hand on her arm and looked at his face. All these, she did like the speed of light.

Her eyes became wider and a frown appeared on her face. The man continued to smile; a suspicious one. It was obvious that he had a dirty intention.

Haniya opened her mouth intending to scold him but got distracted by a voice.

"My love"! Someone said from a nearby distance. This made the man quickly put his hand away from Haniya.

Haniya recognized the voice, it was Sa'ad's. She only wondered to whom he was referring. She turned to see him smiling and this made her puzzled.