A day called Life

Part 5

The next day, Raesha sat anxiously in the living room, her heart heavy with worry for Ansiya. Her brothers, Ifan, Rahan, and Iman, were tense, their faces set with determination. They had barely slept, the weight of the previous day's events hanging over them like a dark cloud.

Around mid-morning, the doorbell rang, echoing ominously through the house. Raesha's heart skipped a beat, knowing exactly who was on the other side of the door. Iman, the youngest, got up to answer, his jaw clenched in anticipation.

As the door swung open, Hashim walked in, his expression hard and unyielding. Behind him were his parents, their faces stern—his father, a man of few words but heavy presence, and his mother, her cold eyes scanning the room with disdain. Hashim's sister and her husband followed, their children hanging back, clearly sensing the tension in the air.

The two families gathered in the living room, the atmosphere thick with unresolved anger. Hashim's father, Abdul Rahman, was the first to speak, his voice carrying a heavy, almost commanding tone.

"We are here to resolve this matter," Abdul Rahman began, looking pointedly at Raesha. "You have no right to take Ansiya away from her father. She belongs with us, and you must understand that."

Raesha, her heart pounding, looked to her brothers for support. Ifan, the eldest, stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Ansiya didn't choose to be with you. Hashim took her by force. We're here to get her back."

Hashim's mother, Amina, spoke next, her voice icy. "Ansiya is with her family now, where she should be. This nonsense of taking her away is what's wrong. You've already embarrassed us enough."

Rahan, the middle brother, could no longer hold back his anger. "Embarrassed you? Hashim has been abusing Raesha for years, and you expect us to stay silent? Ansiya doesn't deserve to be in a house where violence is considered normal."

Amina's face twisted in anger, but before she could respond, Hashim's sister, Farah, spoke up, her tone slightly more conciliatory. "Rahan, we all want what's best for Ansiya. But taking her away from her father is not the answer."

Raesha, her voice trembling with emotion, finally spoke up. "I'm her mother, and I know what's best for her. She needs to be with me, where she can feel safe and loved. I won't let her grow up in fear like I did."

Abdul Rahman's expression hardened. "A child needs both parents, Raesha. You're being selfish, trying to keep her from Hashim."

Ifan, his patience wearing thin, interjected. "This isn't about selfishness. This is about protecting Ansiya. Hashim's actions have shown he's not fit to be around her. We're willing to go to court if we have to, but Ansiya belongs with her mother."

There was a heavy silence in the room, the tension between the two families palpable. Hashim, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, his voice low and menacing. "Ansiya is my daughter. She belongs with me. If you try to take her, you'll regret it."

Iman, usually the most easygoing of the brothers, couldn't hold back any longer. "You think you can just take her by force and everything will be fine? You've already lost Raesha because of your behavior. Don't make it worse by dragging Ansiya into this mess."

Hashim's mother, Amina, stood up, her eyes narrowing at Iman. "You will not speak to us like this. We are her family, and we will decide what's best for Ansiya."

Just as the argument seemed to be reaching a boiling point, the sound of small footsteps echoed in the hallway. Ansiya, hearing the raised voices, had wandered into the room, her wide eyes taking in the scene before her. She looked confused, her gaze shifting from her father to her mother, sensing the anger but not fully understanding it.