fated hearts

chapter 30

Asiya's fingers clenched tightly around the steering wheel, her pulse racing as she tried to catch up to Ibrahim. Her heart thudded in her chest, a knot of anxiety twisting in her stomach as she recognized where he was heading. She slowed down, her breath catching in her throat as she whispered under her breath, "*Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un.*" With trembling hands, she dialed Baba's number, her voice shaky as she told him where they were. The dread in her voice was unmistakable.

By the time she reached Muhsin's gate, the damage had already been done. Ibrahim had stormed into the house, ignoring the gateman's desperate attempts to stop him. Asiya walked in behind him, her face pale and her heart hammering in her chest. Idris greeted her with a worried look, but she barely acknowledged him, her focus locked entirely on the scene unfolding before her.

Ibrahim stood in the center of the house, his shoulders heaving with barely contained rage, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Asiya approached him cautiously, her voice soft but urgent as she reached out to gently hold his hand.

"Aşkim," she whispered, her heart aching at the sight of his anger. "What are you doing here? Muhsin is not worth all of this. Please, for Muhammad's sake, let's not fight him. Let's go back home."

Ibrahim's gaze flickered down to her, his eyes blazing with fury. His voice was rough and strained, barely controlled. "He abused you," he spat. "He hurt you in ways I couldn't even fathom. I had no right to interfere before because you were still his wife. yesterday... he grabbed your arm, and I let it go-for Muhammad. But today? No. No one is going to touch your reputation, your honor, and walk away without facing consequences. He's going to pay for every single thing he's done."

Asiya's chest tightened as she heard the pain and rage in his voice. She could feel his anger coursing through him, threatening to overwhelm them both. "Aşkim," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. "Please, don't do this. What exactly did he do?" She searched his eyes, desperately trying to understand.

"Baby! Go home," Ibrahim demanded, his voice thick with frustration. "Da izinin wa kika fito?" he asked, his voice growing harsher as he turned toward the main door.

Asiya's brows furrowed in confusion and fear. "Wai, what's wrong with you?" she asked, trying to reason with him. "Even the law won't be on your side if you take matters into your own hands. You barged into his house-this could end badly for us, Aşkım."

Ibrahim stopped in his tracks, his gaze settling on her as if he were seeing her for the first time in this madness. His voice was filled with a burning sense of injustice. "He dared to call you a prostitute," he said, his words dripping with venom. "You. The mother of his child. Who does that?"

Asiya froze, her breath hitching as the gravity of Muhsin's words sank in. She had never imagined he could stoop so low, even in their darkest moments. Her eyes filled with tears as the realization hit her. How could he do this to her? How could he speak of her like that, after all she is still the mother of his child.

Tears slipped down her cheeks, and she could barely hold herself together. "Let's go home," she said, her voice trembling, her body shaking so much that Ibrahim immediately regretted saying anything. He hadn't meant for her to find out like this. He had wanted to protect her from it all.

"Sia'm... baby," Ibrahim whispered, his anger dissolving into pure worry. He stepped toward her, his hands reaching out to steady her as she swayed unsteadily. "Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

Before he could reach her, the piercing sound of sirens filled the air, and Asiya's condition worsened. Her breathing grew shallow, her legs weak beneath her as she struggled to stay upright. Just then, Muhsin stepped out from his patio, a smug grin plastered across his face. He stood there like a man victorious, watching with amusement as the scene unfolded before him.

"I knew you'd come," Muhsin taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "Your jealousy will be the death of you, Ibrahim. You're about to be arrested for trespassing, and no one's going to save you now. Let's see how far your righteous anger takes you."

Asiya's vision blurred, her body on the verge of collapse. She tried to speak, to beg them to stop, but her voice barely came out as a whisper. Her condition was deteriorating rapidly, and Ibrahim's panic was visible as the police officers advanced on him.

Muhsin's cruel words lingered in the air like poison, and as one of the officers grabbed Ibrahim's arm, something in Asiya snapped. Her breathing grew more erratic, her body shaking uncontrollably as she fought to stay conscious.

Just then, Baba arrived, his expression a mixture of anger and fear as he rushed toward the scene. He raised his hand, signaling for the officers to hold off. "Stop! Stop this madness!" he ordered, his voice authoritative. He quickly made his way toward Asiya, gently lowering her onto a nearby chair, his eyes scanning her pale face.

Muhsin, seeing Baba's arrival, couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire. "Ah, Baba, finally here to clean up your son-in-law's mess, I see?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Let's not pretend like you can do anything now. Your son-in-law barged into my house. The law's on my side. It's time for him to face the consequences of his foolishness."

Baba's eyes flashed with anger, his jaw tightening as he straightened to his full height. "How dare you speak that way about my family?" he said, his voice shaking with barely controlled fury. "Do you have no shame left, Muhsin? To say such vile things about the mother of your child? You've lost every shred of decency."

Muhsin shrugged, unfazed by Baba's words. "Truth hurts, doesn't it? Maybe you should teach your daughter to respect herself if you don't want the world to speak ill of her."

The officer, sensing the tension, moved to grab Ibrahim more forcefully. Ibrahim resisted, his gaze fixed on Asiya, who was now struggling to stay conscious. "Wait, please!" he called out, his voice breaking. "I'll go with you, but just-please. Call my father," he begged Baba, his voice choked with emotion. "Take care of her. Take her to the hospital. Please."

Baba nodded, his expression grim as he watched the officers drag Ibrahim away. He carefully lifted Asiya into his arms, her limp body resting against him as he whispered reassurances to her. Muhammad, wide-eyed and frightened, clung to Baba's leg, his tiny hands gripping tightly to the fabric of his trousers.

Baba quickly made his way to the car, placing Asiya inside before gently pulling Muhammad in next to her. As he started the engine, his hands shook slightly, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He dialed Mama's number as they sped toward the hospital, his voice filled with urgency. "Get to the hospital," he told her. "Asiya's not well, and Ibrahim... Ibrahim's been arrested."

Mama's gasp echoed through the phone, but Baba didn't have time to comfort her. His thoughts were racing. As soon as the call ended, he dialed Alhaji Na Allah's number, his voice filled with a barely contained rage as he explained what had happened. "Ibrahim has been arrested," Baba said, his voice tight with anger. "And Asiya is in the hospital. Ibrahim needs your help, Alhaji. This matter is beyond me now."

Alhaji Na Allah's voice was hard, the quiet fury palpable even through the phone. "No one touches my son and gets away with it," he said coldly. "Muhsin will regret this. I'll deal with him myself. I'll be there as soon as I can."

As Baba hung up the phone, his mind swirled with the events of the day. He glanced at Asiya, her pale face haunting him. The girl who had brought so much light into their lives was now suffering, and its his fault. His grip tightened on the steering wheel. He would ensure that justice was served-for Asiya, for Ibrahim, and for the entire family.