The prayer at the mosque concluded, and Ikhlas once again pushed Iman into Abba’s room. At that moment, he was sitting there reading the Quran. Before he could finish, Ikhlas entered, using a different strategy.
"Abba," Ikhlas said, her voice filled with feigned tears and vulnerability, "we haven't eaten anything since this morning, and Yaya Sadik has forbidden us from eating the house food."
Abba looked at the children with pity, unaware of the mischief they were up to. He looked at the bag he had brought in, which contained sweets and food, and handed it to them. As soon as they took it, they bolted out as if they had been released from prison.
They sat in the entryway and started eating their food without a care in the world. Iman said, "Ikhlas, wallahi, I was so afraid Abba would realize we were lying."
Ikhlas looked at her with a fearless gaze. "You fool, this is what we are used to! As long as we are in this house, we must be clever."
15 Years Later (Back to the present)
Ikhlas sat in her living room, continuing to reflect on these events from the past. The photo in the frame kept reminding her of the time she and her sister (Iman) lived together.
Her crying did not stop. She felt as though she had failed the trust placed in her. "Sister, you told me to look after 'Baby,' to take the place of his mother, father, and siblings, but now he sees me as someone who doesn't love him. Am I really worthy of keeping this trust?"
Exhausted, she fell asleep in the living room.
The next morning, the house was quiet. Baby walked out of his room, looked at Ikhlas sleeping in the living room, and walked past her without saying a word. Ikhlas’s heart pained her.
She got up and went to the kitchen where Ameena was. "Ameena, did you see where Baby went?"
Ameena replied, "Aunty, he is getting ready for school, but he said he doesn't want you to take him; he said he is going with the school bus."
Ikhlas felt as if a knife had been plunged into her heart. All the strength and arrogance she usually carried began to fade. She realized that if she didn't change her lifestyle, she would lose this child forever.
She decided that from this day forward, she would stop letting any outside matters distract her from being with Baby. She took her phone and called Feenert and Beelert.
"Feenert, Beelert, we need to talk. Something happened at home that made me realize my life has drifted away from where it should be."
On the other end of the line, Feenert asked, "Cat-eyes, what happened? You sound so troubled."
Ikhlas was silent for a moment before saying, "I have failed my sister's trust. Baby has started showing me that I have stopped loving him. I cannot continue living this life."
Beelert replied, "Ikhlas, calm down. We are coming to your house right now."
Shortly after, they arrived. Ikhlas revealed everything to them—from Baby's crying to how she began to feel her life was falling apart.
Feenert looked at her. "Ikhlas, have you forgotten who you are? You are Ikhlas, the strong-willed one. If you let this child drift further from you, you will have regrets that will never go away."
Beelert added, "Do not let the mistakes you made in the past be the reason for the destruction of Baby's future. Find a way to bring him back close to you."
Ikhlas wiped her tears, her eyes now filled with a new sense of determination. She knew what she had to do.
She stood up, dressed in a simple outfit, and headed to Baby's school. She decided that, regardless of worldly wealth or fame, nothing was more precious than Baby.
As she reached the school gate, she saw Baby sitting alone on the sidelines, watching the other children playing with their parents.
Ikhlas walked slowly toward him. "Baby..." she called out with a soft voice that made the child feel, even before turning around, that something had changed.
He turned, his eyes full of tears. Ikhlas didn't wait; she knelt before him and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Baby, please forgive me. I made a mistake; I forgot the responsibility on my shoulders. From today on, I will be the mother you want; I will be your friend; I will be everything to you."
The boy remained silent for a long time before slowly placing his arms around her as well. "Baby, are you back?"
Ikhlas felt as if the world had returned to her hands. She knew that now was the time to begin building the life she truly wanted.