FreeFreeDescription
1. English Translation
Hidaya stepped out with the doctor and they walked to his office. Once seated, she explained Taj’s health history, noting that he had suffered from amnesia a year ago around 2022, and that she now suspected he had regained his senses. She claimed he was fully recovered, meticulously laying out his health records before demanding his immediate discharge. She did this to prevent the doctor from conducting any deep investigations. “I just want him discharged. He has his own consultants tracking his progress; they will take it from here.” “We will do that, ma’am, but only after we ensure he didn't sustain any injuries related to their accident, because he is our responsibility now.”
Seeing that the doctor was starting to argue in favor of a thorough health check, she cut in: “He doesn’t need any of that. If he even needs it, there is a neurology specialist managing his health; therefore, I want him discharged.”
Reluctantly, the doctor agreed, issued a referral, and discharged him.
Only then did her anxiety subside. She walked out and headed straight to the room where Taj had been admitted. Even then, he was still sitting down, holding his head, completely restless. The moment Sabeeha saw her, her heart skipped a beat; her only fear was that Hidaya had cooked up another wicked scheme. Hidaya walked up, stood right in front of them, and said, “Big baby! Let’s go home.”
Hearing Hidaya’s voice, Taj sat up straight despite his headache. With dignity and in his captivating, calm voice, he asked, “Where’s my car keys?” Hidaya fell silent, flustered as he fixed his intense gaze on her. “Let’s go in my car.” With Hidaya’s help, he stood up. Right at that moment, his eyes landed on Sabeeha, and their eyes locked. Seeing him stare at Sabeeha as if about to speak, Hidaya quickly cut him off: “Let’s go.” Hearing that, Sabeeha followed behind them to the parking lot where Hidaya had parked.
Hidaya opened the front passenger seat for him, and he got in. Sabeeha climbed into the back seat, while Hidaya took the driver's seat. She had no other choice; she was forced to tell Sabeeha to follow them because she knew he would surely ask who she was. Moreover, she had to act out the charade so he wouldn’t suspect a thing.
From the moment they left the hospital, dead silence filled the car. Hidaya couldn't wrap her head around things; panicking was a waste of time—she needed solutions. This had happened at a time she least expected, and she now deeply regretted ignoring Fadwa’s advice. Her only comfort was that he didn't seem to remember everything. Yet, her biggest worry was: What if he remembers the day of the accident that caused his one-year memory loss? No, she would never allow that! She had to do whatever it took to stop him from remembering. If he remembered, everything would fall apart. She wouldn't be able to mold him the way she always had, and on top of that, she would lose the trust he had given her for all those years. How could she ever let him find out she was behind all of this? No, never! She would never allow it. He had trusted her all his life; she was his everything, and he had never disobeyed her even once in his entire life. And right now, for the second time, that was what she was going to use.
Meanwhile, Sabeeha sat in the back with a whirlwind of thoughts in her head. Right then, thoughts of Mutalib crossed her mind. From what the attending doctor had mentioned, only two people had been brought into the hospital. She prayed to God that nothing terrible had happened to him.
Beyond that, she began to wonder: Why were they being chased and targeted for assassination? Who were those people? Could Hidaya be the one tracking Mutalib? Only Hidaya came to mind at that moment, and she knew Hidaya wanted him gone because Mutalib had told her so himself. She had thought they were going to die when she remembered the way that truck barreled toward them. Closing her eyes, she recalled how Taj had gripped her hand tightly and prayed, "Allahumma ajirni fi museebati." Surely, at that exact moment, he had started regaining his senses, because she had never heard him utter such a protective prayer or speak with such a sound mind.
She didn't know what to feel inside: joy at his recovery or dread of the unknown. Lost in these thoughts, she raised her head and looked at him. He was still the same Taj she knew, but now she felt like he was a completely different person. He had changed overnight; an overwhelming aura of majesty and dignity radiated from him. Until then, his eyes remained closed as he relaxed in the front seat all the way back home.
He stepped out of Hidaya’s car using his own legs. As he emerged, he surveyed the house with a sweeping gaze. Everything felt strange to him; it felt as though he hadn't stepped foot in the house for ages. Hidaya hurried around to his side and said, “Let’s go.” He walked ahead with Hidaya following closely behind, and Sabeeha trailing them as well.
Just as he lifted his foot to step inside, he suddenly stopped. Panic gripped Hidaya, whose nerves were on edge over every single movement of his. Seeing him freeze in his tracks, she urged, “Let’s go inside so you can rest.” She took his hand and they went inside. Upon entering, he began scanning the living room with his eyes. As they approached the main sitting room, they found Ammu, Tareeq, and Fadwa seated, bombarding Ammu with questions and listening to the shocking news of Taj’s sudden recovery.
Seeing them walk in, Ammu quickly stood up. Despite mourning the death of her husband, her heart overflowed with uncontainable joy. She rushed over to him and embraced him tightly as tears streamed down her face. “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar! All praise be to Allah. Oh my sweet boy, you’re back? Do you remember me? You remember me? My arrival truly brought blessings! Masha Allah, my mind can finally rest now,” she finished tearfully, her palms resting on his face, stroking him as if seeing him for the first time out of sheer joy.
He stared at her in astonishment, glancing over at Fadwa and Tareeq, who were watching him. All of them were deeply panicked, while Fadwa and Hidaya exchanged glances like a pair of hypocrites.
With great effort, he kept his composure despite feeling a burning turmoil inside and utter confusion. He slightly leaned down, pulled Ammu into a tight embrace, and patted her back. In a calm, captivating voice, he said, “How can I forget you, my fav aunt? I’m sorry for making you worried.” Ammu looked up at him, tears of joy sliding down her face, and asked, “Tell me, what’s bothering you now? How are you feeling? Are you okay? Is anything hurting you?” “I’m fine, Ammu.”
Fadwa, who had been frozen in place, didn't move until Tareeq nudged her. She forced a fake smile, looked at Taj, and said, “Alhamdulillah! How are you feeling now? We were so worried about you.” He looked up, his facial expression shifting instantly as if he couldn't stand the sight of her. In a cold tone, he said, “I’m okay now!” She averted her eyes, stung by the look he gave her. Now more than ever, she was certain he had fully recovered; whenever he spoke to anyone else, he treated them with absolute coldness, except for Hidaya. That was why they viewed him as arrogant and domineering, even though he was younger—his overwhelming presence commanded everyone's respect.
Tareeq didn't stay silent either, joining the chorus of people outwardly celebrating his recovery.
As for Taj, he just went along with it because, honestly, he had no idea what they were talking about; he simply played along while his head was bursting with unanswered questions.
Ammu looked at him again. She still couldn't get over how much he had improved compared to the last time she visited during Khaal’s death. Overnight, he had changed completely. Back then, he used to pace around laughing and acting like a child; suddenly, the real, mature Taj of years past had returned. Overcome with emotion, she burst into tears again, remembering how deeply Khaal cared for him. Almost every day before he died, Khaal would call her, talking endlessly about Taj. She was a living witness to how much Khaal loved Taj. Khaal had suffered deep depression when Taj lost his memory and forgot everything—even who he was. “How I wish Khaal were here with us; he would be so happy to see your recovery.” From the moment she started speaking, Taj watched her intently, failing to grasp where her words were leading. Sensing that Ammu was about to unravel everything unexpectedly, Hidaya quickly cut her off. “Let’s let him rest first; we can talk about this later.” “Go and rest,” Hidaya ordered him.
He headed toward the stairs with quiet, majestic composure, while they all watched him depart. As he reached the top, Ammu’s voice rang out, “Go and help him!” She looked at Sabeeha standing nearby, but Hidaya swiftly intervened, “Ammu, please, let’s leave him be. He’s having a tough time right now and needs his privacy. Besides, the doctor said he shouldn't be stressed.”
Ammu shot Hidaya a cold look, turned her head away, and walked off toward her private suite downstairs near Afiya’s quarters. She had deeply resented Hidaya ever since Khaal’s death—specifically for Hidaya’s refusal to protect Khaal’s family when his property was seized, her act of casting him out, and that infamous press conference. That incident had left a permanent scar on Ammu’s heart. This was one of the reasons Ammu sensed something was deeply wrong and that dark secrets were being kept in the house behind her back—things Khaal had never lived to tell her.
Once Ammu left, Fadwa and the others cleared out of the parlor, leaving only Sabeeha and Hidaya behind. Hidaya turned to Sabeeha, her expression turning venomous. “As for you, as you can see, he doesn't know who you are. He doesn't remember you because you are not important. Don't let me catch you anywhere near him, and not a single word from you!” Hidaya marched right up to Sabeeha, leaned in, and pierced her with a merciless glare. “It’s not like he’d ever be happy to have you as a wife anyway; you are nothing more than his caregiver. And don’t think I forgot how you sneaked into this house as a spy! Throwing you out on the street would be the easiest thing I could do. If you want me to let you stay in this house, you will do whatever I say. Otherwise, I will make your life a living hell. Let me give you a stern warning: not a single word from you! The moment I catch you anywhere near him, I will do my worst!”
Sabeeha remained silent, listening to her from start to finish. Despite her heart hammering furiously against her ribs, she steadied herself, lifted her chin, and looked straight into Hidaya’s eyes without a shred of fear or intimidation. “Are you afraid I’ll tell him about the life he lived in this house when he was out of his mind? Rest easy, I won't tell him anything. But I want you to know that Allah never sleeps; He sees everything happening. The way he regained his senses overnight when no one expected it—slowly but surely, he will remember everything. It’s just a matter of time. Every lie you feed him will crumble because falsehood has no foundation. I don’t care if he accepts me as his wife right now; all I know is that I am his wife, and no one can change that!”
With that, she turned her back on a stunned Hidaya and marched straight to the room she had once stayed in—the one Jamid had taken her to. She was done swallowing Hidaya’s insults. Out of nowhere, a surge of fierce confidence had taken over her. Previously, she kept quiet and tolerated threats because she feared what Hidaya might do to Taj. But ever since Mutalib revealed that Hidaya was the mastermind behind Taj’s accident and the one drugging him nearly to death, all her fear had evaporated. She vowed to protect him. Yielding to Hidaya’s intimidation would only give the tyrant free rein. Now that she knew Taj was mentally sound again, she was certain Hidaya wouldn't dare pull off her old stunts; a sane Taj would never tolerate such abuse, and Hidaya could no longer harm him openly.
From the moment Sabeeha started speaking until she walked away, Hidaya stood frozen, completely broken out of her usual arrogance. Shock paralyzed her entirely. She felt as though she had been struck over the head with a sledgehammer; she stood motionless, utterly unable to process that Sabeeha could talk back to her with such defiance.
Meanwhile, Taj walked into his private suite with a heavy heart, scanning every corner. Everything inside had changed, as if the entire place had been completely refurnished. Everything looked alien to him, and a severe, throbbing headache pounded against his temples. He didn't want to think, because the moment he tried, his head felt like it was splitting open.
One thing was clear to him: something catastrophic had happened to him. Whether he had lost his memory or fallen into a coma, he had definitely suffered trauma. There was no other explanation for waking up overnight and finding himself in 2023. How is that possible? As far as he could recall, he had just returned from London; he hadn't even been home for a week before whatever happened to him struck.
With immense effort, he dragged himself to his bedroom, feeling a deep, unexplainable heat burning in his chest. Stepping inside, he found that even his bedroom had been completely redecorated—none of his personal items were anywhere to be found.
His eyes landed on the bed. For a second, as if trying to grasp a fleeting memory, he paused, before shaking his head and letting out a heavy sigh of relief. His entire body ached; all he wanted was a hot shower. He walked straight to the bathroom door and pushed it open. As he surveyed the bathroom, his eyes caught two hanging towels—one yellow, one white. Turning around to step inside, his gaze locked onto women's underwear hanging neatly on a rack.
He froze in utter shock. Did someone use my suite? Or am I mistaken, and this isn't even my room? Or was the entire house rearranged? These were the endless questions spinning in his head.
Pushing the confusing thoughts aside, he began stripping off his clothes. His fair skin was fully exposed as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. He had lost a massive amount of weight; he felt so frail and light, almost as if he were looking at a stranger.
He spent a long time in the bathroom taking a shower before stepping out with a towel wrapped around his waist. He walked into the closet room and flung open the wardrobe doors. Not a single piece of his old clothing was there—only rows of fresh white men's garments alongside a neatly arranged row of fragrant women's clothes.
Still baffled, he let out a scoff, closed the wardrobe, and walked out into the bedroom to rest.
(Author’s Note/Explanatory Note on Amnesia): Amnesia (memory loss) can occur through various methods, one of which is physical head trauma from an accident that damages the brain's memory storage. This causes a person to forget events from their recent past. For some, it becomes permanent, forcing them to build a new life entirely. In cases like dissociative amnesia, individuals regress, forgetting their adult lives and reverting to a child-like state of relearning things. While some recover memories instantly all at once, others never recover the lost years, and some regain memories gradually over time. This was the exact medical condition Taj found himself trapped in. Having regained his sanity, he completely forgot the entire preceding year of his life. Sabeeha had entered his life precisely during this amnesiac phase, which explained why she was the one person from that period he had no memory of...
The next day was Saturday. Everyone experienced the previous night differently—some with joy, others with intense misery. Hidaya didn't sleep a wink, tossing and turning as anxiety threatened to drive her insane. Jamid hadn't even opened his eyes to look at her when she entered their room, though she noticed how restless she looked, driven mad by the nonstop notifications flooding her phone. Eventually, she fled the room entirely and spent the night in the study room, only returning at dawn when Taj’s nurse arrived.
Over in Fadwa’s quarters, the night was filled with panic. Fadwa had severely lashed out at Tareeq, reading him the riot act and forcing him back in line with a strict warning: if he ever repeated such a stunt or anything close to it, she would utterly ruin and discard him. Completely sobered up by the threat, Tareeq spent the night sweet-talking her. Meanwhile, Fadwa vented all her pent-up frustration and rage onto Tareeq, her mind refusing to settle because of Taj’s return. She could clearly see raw hatred burning in Taj’s eyes towards her—proof that he remembered everything she had done to him before his breakdown. Yet, despite his hatred, her toxic obsession with him remained unchanged.
Ammu also spent a sleepless night replaying the conversation she had accidentally overheard between Sabeeha and Hidaya. Convinced more than ever that dark secrets were buried beneath the surface, she resolved to investigate whatever was going on between Hidaya and Sabeeha to uncover the absolute truth. To be frank, Ammu wasn't particularly fond of Sabeeha—being Arab, family loyalty dictated keeping things within the culture rather than outsiders—even though Khaal had tried hard to convince her that Sabeeha was special and the best choice for Taj. Ammu had simply turned a blind eye back then, but now, she vowed to watch everyone closely.
By exactly 9:00 AM, everyone had gathered in the dining area. Fadwa and Tareeq arrived and took their seats first, waiting for Ammu to emerge. Out of respect, they stood up and offered standard greetings as the matriarch entered. As Ammu took her seat, the young boy Barad walked in. He had grown unusually quiet and withdrawn, weighed down by visible distress and stripped of his usual bubbly charm. He hadn't even realized Ammu had arrived until he spotted her. Instantly, his face lit up; he ran over and threw his arms around her. Ammu embraced him warmly, kissed him, pulled out the chair beside her, and made him sit, where he shyly greeted Aunt Fadwa and Tareeq.
Scarcely had they settled when Hidaya descended the stairs. Her eyes were red and puffy, with dark, bruised circles carved heavily underneath them...
2. Comprehensive Summary
- Discharge and Cover-up: Hidaya manipulates the attending doctor into discharging Taj immediately, bypassing thorough medical checks by claiming his personal neurology consultants will handle his recovery, thereby hiding her administration of illegal drugs.
- The Return Home & Tension: Taj returns home with Hidaya and Sabeeha. While Taj maintains a commanding, dignified presence that unnerves both Hidaya and Fadwa, Sabeeha remains silently resolute, vowing to protect him despite Hidaya's vicious threats.
- Family Reunions and Realizations: Ammu joyfully welcomes a lucid Taj back to sanity, though the interaction is cut short by Hidaya. Meanwhile, Ammu resolves to investigate the household's dark secrets after overhearing Sabeeha and Hidaya's confrontation.
- The Amnesia Context & Nightly Turmoil: Taj struggles with a fragmented memory of the past year in his newly refurnished suite, while Sabeeha resolves to protect him. Across the estate, Hidaya panics, Fadwa reprimands Tareeq, and tensions reach a boiling point ahead of a tense morning gathering.
3. Detailed Description
This chapter serves as a psychological crucible, exploring the immediate fallout of Taj’s recovery and the shifting power dynamics within the household.
- The Psychology of Control vs. Defiance: Hidaya’s frantic manipulation of the hospital discharge highlights her desperate need for control, contrasting sharply with Sabeeha’s newfound fearlessness. Sabeeha’s refusal to cower under Hidaya’s threats marks a major turning point, shifting her from a passive caregiver to an active protector.
- Taj’s Re-emergence: Taj’s character shifts overnight from a disoriented, childlike figure into a commanding, regal presence whose very silence strikes terror into his abusers. His confusion over his missing memories and altered living quarters underscores the artificial prison constructed around him.
- Atmospheric Tensions: The chapter utilizes domestic settings—from the sterile hospital room to the oppressive atmosphere of the Taheel residence—to amplify paranoia. Secret eavesdropping (Ammu overhearing the feud) and quiet sleepless nights (Hidaya’s insomnia, Taj’s late-night prayers) set the stage for an inevitable reckoning.
