Ties

~Chapter 32

THIRD PERSON'S POV
IBRAHIM HOUSEHOLD
22:00

True to the earlier statement, Jannah's encounters with her father never ended in her favour. Today's wasn't any different. The extent to which the conversation went south was not expected at all! She knew he was going to use something cruel to test her, but she didn't expect that. Anything but that. Ever since she left his chamber, his request had been replaying in her head like a broken cassette. She still remembers it vividly. She was bound to because she had been reliving the moment, being sucked away from reality over and over again by the cruel request.

Staring at the ceiling, she reminisced about their conversation.

Disbelief masked Jannah's face due to how absurd his test was. "You want me to do what!?"

Her father, on the other hand, chuckled as if what he had just asked of her was not going to ruin countless people's lives. "You heard me right, Firdaus. I want you to steal the property papers of the Hamza company. You are Khalil's wife, after all. I'm sure it won't be hard. He's the oldest, so he's probably with the papers. Even if he's not, you'll figure out a way to do it. Won't you, Firdaus? You want to make me proud, right? Do this, and I promise to give you the world, my love, care, and everything you've ever wanted. You have my word."  The way he spoke so nonchalantly left Jannah not only speechless but also made her want to run for her dear life. But since when has she been the one to shy away from a challenge?

"And if I get caught before the papers get to you?"

"Don't get caught." The look in his eyes was all she needed to know that if she was caught before he got the papers, he'd make her life a living hell.

She thought staying in her mother's room - where she currently was - would take her mind off it, but who was she kidding? She knew nothing could take her mind off that, not even her late mother's room.

Jannah sat up, covering her face with her palms, "I can't do this to Khalil, to the family, when all they've shown me is nothing but love. But doing this would bring an end to the mess in my life. Everything I've ever wanted has been offered to me, I can't stake this. I'm sure he'd do the same thing if he were in my place. Besides, they're rich enough to sustain themselves even without the company, right? Ughhh! These thoughts are making me go crazy." She groaned, rubbing her eyes.

The faint sound of her phone ringing diverted her attention from her current predicament. She was really hoping that it would be a call from Khalil, but much to her dismay, it wasn't. It was a call from Tanya. She still answered, though.

"Hey, Tanya."

"Good evening, ma'am; how're you doing?"

"I'm okay, Tanya. How're you doing?" That was a lie. She was anything but okay. But it wasn't like she was going to admit it.

"I'm good, ma'am; I just called to let you know that a family emergency came up. I have to leave for Boston tonight."

"It's okay, Tanya, I understand. And you can drop the formalities. Just call me Firdaus." To say Tanya wasn't taken aback would be a huge lie because she truly was. In all her years of being with the woman, she never for once made such a statement. Something must have changed, she thought.

"Okay ma' - Firdaus, thank you. How's mom doing?"

Jannah went silent for some passing seconds before replying, "Umm.. mom passed yesterday, Tanya."

Tanya couldn't hold back her gasp and shock, "I'm so sorry for your loss. May her soul rest in peace."

A feeling of warmth surged through Jannah upon hearing those words. Her mom really left a good legacy. She was proud to be called her daughter.