iman | hakim ziyech

.4

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tw: description of assault.

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[1481 words]

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'i'm afraid this is a terrible scandal.' the family sat in the living room. manal and iman both leant against wall outside, listening to the conversation they were both subject to.

the man that had come to visit and discuss the issue at hand was acting as a spokesperson for the town, here to express his deepest concern over the situation like it had absolutely everything to do with them. like it was their business.

iman felt guilty to have cast a shade on her brother and best friends wedding. she looked at achraf who sat with a solemn expression wondering what exactly to say, while he uncle spoke words that she could not hear from where she was stood outside.

she looked at manal's hands that were still decorated with fresh henna, wondering if she made a mistake in not telling people before about fahed and his wicked ways.

her eyes drifted past achraf to land on the other man present in their house, one older than her brother. it was hakim.

she had tried so hard to avoid contact with him when giving him food or delivering things to the designated rooms upstairs. all her efforts were in vain as in the end he was the one to have carried her away from the comprising position fahed had left her in.

'i have full faith in iman, there must be some reason behind why she was giving this man money.' achraf's father tapped in.

'i don't doubt that mr hakimi, but i'm sure it could have been resolved without putting your entire family at disrepute amongst us.' the man's eyes drifted past mr hakimi to land on hakim ziyech.

'besides, there is no explanation as to why your guest was the one found with her.' hakim didn't look away, because he knew he had done nothing wrong. he didn't know why everyone was so hellbent on making him look bad for helping someone out.

'surely you must understand the implications.' iman took a sharp intake of breath. she couldn't believe the nerve of the man. he wasn't just disrespecting her, but accusing her and that too of a crime far worse than blackmail. manal let out a gasp.

laila, iman's mother, interrupted the man with a tone unrecognisable to the calm one achraf and hakim were used to.

'i would appreciate it if you didn't phrase it like that. a guest is the friend of Allah, and i will not have you disrespect him, especially when you are seated at my house.' she felt amina's encouraging nod and continued. 'and my daughter, i have full faith in her. i raised her well and i know of her character.'

outside, manal squeezed iman's hand in reassurance. iman's lips stretched in response before returning to the poker face she had adopted.

'it doesn't matter what your belief in her is, she was found with not one but apparently 2 boys in a shameful position!' the man was getting more and more riled up. iman almost started sobbing but kept herself mum so no one would hear her. manal sat her down on the chair outside and hugged her, to stop her from shaking.

'don't talk about her like that. and what shameful position? i found her unconscious, i saw someone hit her, and i couldn't reach achraf for help. i brought her back and then you and your group started spreading rumours about her. what part of that is not making sense?' hakim's eyes flashed with anger. he found that his arabic flowed much better when he was angry, and that meant what he was saying felt more forceful. both the women outside looked at each other with wide eyes.