"Where is my daughter?" Maryam lurched towards Nafisa who was still gasping like a fish deprived of water. "Please have mercy on her. She is just a kid. Punish me instead, please."

"After... After what... Your husband attempted to do to me, you expect me to-" she wrapped a hand around her neck and cleared her throat with difficulty. "Expect me to have mercy on your daughter? You're pathetic! Do you know that?"

"What do you want?" Maryam questioned. "Mention it and it will be yours."

"Really?" She smirked. "To be honest, I'm not really interested in money or material things, because right now, I have enough of that. What I want is something you can't give."

Maryam shook her head vigorously. "Just tell me what it is that you want in exchange for my daughter. I swear, I'm going to give it to you."

Sa'eed looked at Maryam in astonishment.

"Alright, okay, since you want to hear it so desperately, I will tell you." She heaved a deep sigh before proceeding. "You see, ever since I step a foot into your house and saw the kind of relationship you share with your husband, I have been jealous and wanted that same type of relationship for myself."

Sa'eed gnashed his teeth. He was just a few seconds away from losing his temper and attacking her again - to kill her for real this time.

Maryam's chest fell. "What are you insinuating."

She rolled her eyes. "I thought you were smart. You should be able to figure it out, but since you can't, I won't beat about the bush anymore." She breathed. "I want you to convince your husband to get married to me."

That was the last straw Maryam could take. Her brows furrowed and her lips twitched. "You're sick if you think that's ever going to happen!"

Sa'eed gazed at her in absolute disgust. He had never looked down on a person before, but Nafisa had made that change. He certainly was irritated by her and to think she wanted him to marry her. How blasphemous and uncalled for!

"You're not ready to save your daughter then." She yawned exaggeratedly. "Mukthar! Cut the rope!"

To Sa'eed and Maryam's horror, the rope which was used to hang the sack to the ceiling was loosened, making it descend and land on the floor with a loud thud.

"Manal!!!" Maryam rushed towards the sack, screaming at the top of her lungs.

Sa'eed was glued to his spot. He couldn't move, despite wanting to do so - obviously, he was in shock.

"Manal! No!" Immediately she hugged the sack to her body, her eyes widened as she felt it wasn't a human inside. Without wasting any more time, she opened the bag and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw the contents - it wasn't Manal, but some tubers of yam and potatoes.

Relief washed over Sa'eed's demeanor and he muttered alhamdulillah underneath his breath.

"I gave you both quite a shock, huh?" Nafisa laughed, viciously. "Let the real fun begin."

Just as soon as she said that, Mukthar walked in with a motionless Manal in his arms.

Sa'eed felt a pang in his heart. He never imagined this was the state he was going to see his daughter in - she looked lifeless, her arms were bruised and her face too. She did not look anything like his daughter. His blood boil as he continued to stare at his daughter's bruised skin. His daughter whom he had not even once, raised a hand against. His baby. Slowly, he began to take few steps towards them. He couldn't even imagine what he would do to Muktar the moment he gets his hands on him.

Before Sa'eed could get any closer, Muktar pulled out his gun from his back pocket and aimed it directly against Manal's temple. "One more step from you and I won't hesitate to blow her brains out."

Sa'eed halt in his tracks. "Before things get worse, I'd advise you to hand my child over to me, right now."

"Or what?" Muktar narrowed his eyes at him.

"Please don't harm our child." Maryam cried. "Take me instead. I'm the guilty one. She hasn't done anything to Nafisa or to YOU!"

"Hold on." Nafisa interjected. "Point of correction - she has. As a matter of fact, I hate her even more than I hate you and I will stop at nothing to make sure she ends up being as miserable as I was while growing-"

"Hey! This is the last time I'm going to say this to you; tell this hooligan to release her, before he regrets it." Sa'eed threatened, making Muktar burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"What did you just say?" He asked. "It seems you don't know, so I'm telling you bright now; I have practically been involved in this kind of business since I was just a kid." He smirked, proudly. "My point is, neither you or anyone else can defeat me and for the threat you made, I will make sure I kill your daughter right before your eyes. I will like to see you try making me regret getting my hands on her." He vowed. His demeanor held nothing, but seriousness. Just who was Sa'eed to threaten him the way he did! He was hellbent on transferring his aggression on his beloved daughter, but before then, he decided to teach him a lesson first. "Here, take her." He passed Manal to one of his thugs and sauntered towards Sa'eed.

Stopping right in front of him, he balled his palm into a tight fist and before Maryam or Sa'eed could comprehend what he was about to do, he had already thrown an aggressive punch at Sa'eed's jaw, making his face swing to the side. "Hey, you two." He motioned the other two thugs standing across the room. "I think this man needs a good beating. Come hold him." He ordered.

Maryam's eyes widened. "What do you think you're doing?" She cried. "Please stop hurting my family. You've done enough already! Please let him go."

Ignoring her cries of pleas, he yelled at the men; "Hurry up!"

In what seemed like a split second, the men were already by his side, each holding his arm in a tight grip.

Horrifically, Maryam rushed towards her husband in an attempt to save him. She had no idea what she was supposed to do, but she could not stay back and watch him being humiliated and beaten in that way. "Let him go, please." She pleaded, earnestly.

"Move aside." Muktar growled, shoving her aside aggressively.

Nafisa watched with a huge smile on her face. She was enjoying each and every bit of the drama unfolding right before her eyes. In spite of wanting Maryam to be in Sa'eed's shoes instead, she was still contented - at least that will teach Sa'eed a lesson to stop being so outspoken and rude.

"Don't come any closer, habibty." He ordered. "Stay right where you are. This will be over soon." He mutterer the last sentence underneath his breath.

Rolling his eyes, Muktar threw another punch at his face - this time, making blood gush out of his broken lips. "This will teach you a lesson not to mess with me anymore and this-" he banged his head on a nearby wall. "Will make you believe we are not here to play or joke around. After I'm done with you, I will kill your daughter right in front of your eyes. She's very annoying and a spoilt little brat. I can see why Nafisa hates her so much. I do too."

"Enough, please!!" Maryam cried. The sight of her husband all bloodied and weak had her weak as well. She could do nothing, but scream and cover her face with the palms of her hands.

Sa'eed's felt lightheaded. He felt like fainting due to the pain in his head. With each and every passing second, the dizziness was getting worst. "Don't you dare touch h-"

"Or what?" Muktar smirked. "What the hell can a helpless man like you do?" He sighed. "You really do have some nerves. After what I did to you, you still aren't satisfied, right? Do I need to repeat."

"No, please." Maryam interjected. "He is sor-"

"You can do whatever you want, but bear in mind, you won't get away with this. Both of you - this I promise."

"Uhm, Nafisa?" Muktar called.

"Yes?" She replied almost immediately he called.

"Don't you think it would be nice of us to torture the girl some more before finally killing her?" He inquired.

"That's a nice idea, boo." She smirked. "I think we should."

"Please don't." Maryam continued to beg, but all her efforts were futile. She was ignored as if she wasn't even there.

"Is that all you can do? If you think torturing a little child will bring peace to your heart, then by all means, continue." Sa'eed remarked. His voice laced with pain for his little baby who had to suffer and was still suffering all because of the mistake they made. He was not helpless and hopeless for her knew Allah was going to intervene soon - Call to me and I shall respond. He did not stop making supplications in his mind to Allah, the all hearer. "Allaahumma munzilal-kitaabi, saree'al-hisaabi, ihzimil-'ahzaaba, Allaahumma ihzimhum wa zalzilhum. (O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Swift to account, defeat the groups (of evil doers/disbelievers) O Allah, defeat them and shake them.)" He muttered the supplication under his breath repeatedly.

"What are you saying?" Maryam yelled at him, before turning to Muktar. "Please don't listen to him."

"Too late." Nafisa replied and held a knife against Manal's neck. "If I kill her right now, she isn't going to feel the pain too much as she is already unconscious. What do you think? Should I?"

"No! No! Please don't." Maryam fell on her knees. "Don't do it please."

Not able to watch the scene, Sa'eed shut his eyes. He could only pray for Allah to intervene at that moment.

"Then how about here?" She placed the sharp tip of the knife on her cheek. "I can give her a nupe tribal mark if you want." She chuckled. "I bet it would look nice on her." Nafisa traced the tip of the knife down her neck, collarbone to her shoulder and pressed it a little harder, making blood ooze out of the fresh cut.

At the sight Maryam screamed out in horror. She couldn't believe Nafisa was actually serious about killing her child, but what bothered her more, was that Manal was still unconscious in spite of the cut. Was she perhaps dead? - she took a sudden intake of breath. "No!!" She voiced.

Sa'eed's eyes which were still closed feared the worst had happened as he heard Maryam's sudden scream. He was a tad but relief when he saw it was just a little cut on the shoulder.

"Stop wasting time and kill her or do I have to do it." Muktar boomed.

"No." She replied. "I'd like to have the pleasure of killing her myself."

"Then do it!" He ordered. "I'm already bored of all these. After you kill her, we will think of what to do with these two." He pointed a finger to Sa'eed and Maryam.

Tearfully, Maryam collapsed on the floor in defeat. She could not even scream anymore. Her throat felt sore and her voice suddenly disappeared. Was this the end? - she asked herself.

Sa'eed's breathing suddenly stopped. He was also becoming very scared for his baby, but held on to the little hope he still had.

Heaving a deep, dramatic sigh, Nafisa placed the knife on Manal's neck and was about to slay, when
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They heard the siren of a police car and then followed by several gunshot in the air.

Due to the loud, unfamiliar noise, Nafisa let go of Manal and with closed eyes, covered her ears with both of her hands.

"Don't let go of the child." Muktar yelled, but it was too late, Maryam already had her in her arms. "Why did you let her go? How are we going to escape now?" He boomed and brought out his gun from his pocket to shoot Manal, but before he could, police officers had already surrounded them.

"Drop your weapon and your hands above your head." One of the officers commanded. "NOW!" He raised his voice when Muktar began to hesitate. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do, will be used against you in the court of law."

Hesitatingly, he dropped his gun on the floor and immediately, his hands were bound by a set of handcuffs.

Fearfully, Nafisa was about to flee the scene, but was caught by a female officer. "Hands above your head." She ordered, pointing a gun at her.

Trembling, Nafisa did as she was told. Two officers walked towards her and handcuffed her as well.

Not able to control herself anymore, Maryam set a still unconscious Manal aside. She lunged towards Nafisa in fury and slapped her, then again and again and again and yet, she was still not satisfied. At that moment, she wished she could make Nafisa feel the pain they had to go through just because of her. She wished she could be able to make her feel even a tad bit of what she made them go through. "Why did you do this, Nafisa? I treated you like a sister, you ingrate! Why? All for what!"

"Please control yourself." An officer said to Maryam who was sobbing and hitting Nafisa at the same time.

Nafisa's head was hung low. She could not look Maryam in the eyes after all she did to degrade her. She knew for a fact, she had lost the fight now, but not for too long - she smirked.

"I had started thinking you people wouldn't be able to make it on time. Thank you for coming." Sa'eed shook the chief constable's hand.

"You're welcome." He smiled. "And sorry for the delay. A problem came up at the station."

"It's alright. I'm just so thankful you stepped in at the right moment, otherwise..." He trailed off. "Thanks again."

"Thank you very much, sir." Maryam cried. "Thanks for saving my daughter from those criminals."

"Manal." Sa'eed suddenly called. In the heat of the moment, they had forgotten all about the little girl who was still unconscious. He rushed towards her and took her in the warmth of his arms. "Someone should please call an ambulance. Please!!"

"An ambulance is already outside." An officer replied.

Without wasting a second more, Sa'eed maneuvered towards the exit of the room with Manal lying motionlessly against his chest.

~~~~~~~~~~

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