𝘙𝘢𝘺𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘢

15 hours, and 26 seconds. 

That's how long it takes for Hamza to pack his bags, and leave the family. 

News trucks are everywhere, all of them pestering both me and Atif. 

My phone lies next to me, with tears all over the screen. 

I wait more than 15 hours and 26 seconds. 

I wait days

months

years 

to hear my son again. 

And then finally, I do. 

He's changed a lot, instead of becoming chief of police, he has instead settled down with a wife. 

It was a surprise to see my son after 2 years, looking older, smarter, and holding the hand of some girl. 

Atif wasn't happy at all with his decision because this girl wasn't a famous actress, or famous in any way. 

Atif and Hamza sit down in some other room to discuss while I sit with my sons new wife.

Her name is Laila, and she risked everything she had to join Hamza as his wife. She doesn't specify what she was, or who she was so I instead show her around the main entrance and then show her a room where she and Hamza could stay in. 

I sit in my room afterwards wondering what punishment both I and Hamza will face, and when theres a knock at my door I expect Maria but instead It's my son. 

To say I was surprised would be be describing  a false statement. I felt more than surprised to see my son in my room. 

"Hello Mother,"  He said sitting in an armchair across from me. I clear my throat and sit up straight "Hello Hamza," We both sit there in silence before I look up at my son. 

My son that I couldn't be more proud of. 

He did things that I would have never done, things that I wish I had done a long time ago. 

"Where did you go?" Hamza looked up at me suddenly, as if forgetting I was here. "After you left." He sighed and looked away "No where." Was all he muttered. 

Atif hadn't put in a good word for me for Hamza, so it was expected that he hated me and wouldn't tell me anything. So instead, I reach over and grasp his hand lightly. I ignore the way he flinches when I touch him and instead say In a soft tone "You can tell me anything you know." 

Hamza scoffs and takes his hand away "Oh so now you want to play the mother role?" I try not to let his words hurt me as I say "What do you mean?" 

He glares at me, a look in his eyes I couldn't describe. "What I mean is that you abandoned me, I almost had no mother figure. Father was around me 24/7 while you ignored me!" 

I cant help but smile "Is that what your father told you?" Hamza made a face "Yes, he is. And he's not wrong. I've asked around and everyone has told me of the horrible things you have done to me!" He starts listing off things that are very familiar. 

The list contains of stuff that Atif used to do to us. 

Emotional Blackmail

Abuse

Anger Issues

and so forth. 

As Hamza went on, my smile grew wider until I felt like a creepy doll. Hamza's breath was ragged from the amount of anger he was feeling "And now you're fucking smiling?" I snort and instead come clean and tell him everything from the beginning.

My journey into the industry

My journey throughout the industry

The hardships I faced while being number 1 actress. 

And most importantly, I told him about Ali. 

His face dripped of emotion every time I mentioned something new. 

"So....father lied to me?" I wanted to lie to him and tell him that his dear father that he admires so much didn't, but what good would that do? Plus, he's a grown man now. 

Hamza looks away from me, tears briming his eyes. Until he gets up and lays his head on my lap. His sobs are heard all around the room and soon my sobs follow. I would describe that moment as peaceful, delicate, and a moment that will never leave my mind. 

The day my son found me again

The day my son started loving me again 

And the day my son started calling me Mother without the disdain in his voice. 

"Laila she's....she was a whore." I was taken aback for a second but instead willed myself to listen to him. 

"I went to my friends house, all he did was drink and go to whore houses. One day he dragged me along and...I saw Laila being attacked by a older man. I don't know what happened, but next thing I knew I was helping her." 

It reminded me of the time I was used for Atif's promotion. The roughness, the way I tried to leave. 

How empty and alone I felt. 

"Time went on and I found myself going back every day, just to see her, talk to her. I felt jealous every time a man would approach her but I stayed back because I don't know what she's been through, I don't know what she's comfortable with. One day, she approached me and asked me why I was always here but never with a girl and I...came clean and told her I liked her." 

He gave a soft chuckle "I will always remember the way she laughed at me and told me that of course I loved her, because she spread herself open in front of me. She said that whenever a girl opened herself to a man, and I love you always follows. But I assured her that we hadn't done anything yet and....now we're here. Together." 

The story was wholesome, and I loved it. 

I fell more In love with my son that day, and after he departed Maria came in to give me my cup of tea. 

"She was a whore?" Maria explains in surprise. I shush her "Not so loud! And yes she was." I sip my tea as Maria says "Wow...Atif isn't going to like that.." 

I gently put my cup down "No, he isn't..." And then I look out the window like I always did. Imagining me, Hamza and now Laila out there in the real world with no worries. "Why did you say it like that?" 

Maria said with an edge in her voice. I scoffed and got up from my chair slowly walking towards the window.

Call It deja vu, call it Karma. call it whatever you want. 

Because while my son was happy with his wife, he unknowingly brought back a golden ticket for me. 

This was perfect, a way for me to get my revenge on Atif and what he did to me. 

I looked at the birds flying towards the home, while the sun set behind them. 

This time while I stared at them, I felt a new hope. 

Because this time, I was closer to freedom.