Fickle

Chapter 28

Saddique sat quietly on the edge of his bed, Alia’s words replaying in his mind. The story Kulthum had shared with her weighed heavily on him. He stared out the window, his heart aching for his younger sister.

"I can’t believe she went through all of that alone," he murmured.

Alia, seated beside him, rested a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She didn’t want to burden you, Saddique. Especially with Abdullah being your closest friend. She thought it would put you in an impossible position."

He shook his head, his voice filled with frustration. "Impossible? I would’ve supported her, Alia. I would’ve stood by her no matter what. She’s my sister."

Alia nodded, her tone soothing. "She knows that now. But at the time, she was trying to protect you—and herself. What matters is that she finally opened up."

The next day, as he drove to work, Saddique’s mind drifted to memories of Kulthum. He remembered their childhood—her mischievous laughter, her fierce determination, and the way she had always been so protective of him despite being younger.

He thought about how she had blossomed into a brilliant surgeon and how proud he had been when she opened her own hospital. But then, he remembered the pain in her voice during those brief, surface-level phone calls over the years.

"Why didn’t I push harder to reach her?" he wondered aloud.

That evening, Saddique decided to call Abdullah. The line connected, and the familiar voice of his best friend greeted him.

"Saddique, it’s been a while. How are you?"

Saddique hesitated, unsure how to broach the subject. Finally, he said, "Abdullah, I heard from Kulthum. She told Alia everything."

There was a long pause on the other end. Then, Abdullah’s voice came, quieter this time. "Everything?"

"Yes. About the fabricated evidence, the separation, her struggles. I need to know—why didn’t you come to me when things started falling apart?" Saddique’s voice was tinged with both hurt and anger.

Abdullah sighed deeply. "Saddique, I was ashamed. At the time, I thought I was protecting you and the family by keeping it contained. I see now how wrong I was. If I had confided in you, maybe things wouldn’t have escalated the way they did."

Saddique’s tone softened, though his frustration remained. "You both mean so much to me, Abdullah. And to see how much pain you’ve both endured because of lies and misunderstandings… it’s heartbreaking."

"I’m trying to make it right," Abdullah said, his voice resolute. "With Kulthum, with the twins. I won’t stop until I earn back their trust."

Determined to support his sister, Saddique began brainstorming ways to rebuild their relationship. He reached out to Kulthum, proposing a family visit.

"Kulthum, I want to see you and the twins," he said during their call. "It’s been too long, and I need to make things right."

Kulthum hesitated but eventually agreed, her voice soft. "It would be good for the kids to meet you and Alia. And… I think I’d like to see you too, Saddique."

He smiled, a wave of relief washing over him. "We’ll come soon. And Kulthum, I’m here for you now. Always."

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Back in Nigeria, Saddique also began keeping a closer eye on the palace. Though he wasn’t directly involved in royal matters, he was aware of Abdullah’s challenges and Hanifah’s ambitions. He spoke with General Mustapha, expressing his concerns.