Ihsan's POV

I stepped out of the car, my hands trembling as I grasped the door handle. My mind was racing with the revelation that had shaken me to the core. Why I'm I acting as if I had just found out abegg...A sister? Sabrina?

I had always thought I was an only child, the sole recipient of my dada's love and attention. The thought of sharing that with someone else, especially someone I had never known existed, was unbearable.

Yes I know I shouldn't be jealous but come on! I've been trying to deceive myself for the past few days but I can't anymore.

As I took a deep breath, the cool hospital air hit me like a slap in the face, snapping me back to reality. I had to calm down, had to think clearly.

Abba had told me to talk to dada, to hear it from his own lips. But I was scared. What if it was true? What if my whole life had been a lie? Well not my whole life oo half since I'm not the one who was abandoned by dada she's the main character I guess.

I smoothed out my clothes, trying to compose myself. I couldn't let my emotions get the better of me. I needed to be strong, to face whatever truth lay ahead.

I took another deep breath, feeling a sense of determination wash over me.

As I walked towards the hospital entrance, my heels clicking on the pavement, I felt like I was walking towards a precipice.

I stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the floor where maami was staying. I had visited her many times before, but today felt different.

As the doors opened, I stepped out, my eyes scanning the corridor for dada. Abba had told me he would be here, waiting for me. I spotted him sitting in a chair outside maami's room, his eyes fixed on me as I approached.

"Dada," I said, trying to sound calm.

He stood up, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and concern but twinkled with a bit of determination.

"Ihsan," he said, his voice low and gentle as always. "I'm glad you're here."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at him. Shit is about to go down.

I sat down next to Dada, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. He held my hand.

"Dada, what's going on?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Is it true? Is she really my sister?"

Dada took a deep breath,before he began to speak. "Ihsan, from the beginning...," he started, his voice cracking a bit.

Dada's eyes seemed to glaze over, and he was transported to a different time and place. "I was poor, Ihsan. Very poor. Your aunt, my twin sister, she got sick with heart disease. I didn't have the money to pay for her treatment."

I felt a pang of shock and disbelief. Poor? Dada? It was hard to imagine. I had always known a life of luxury, where every want and need was catered to. The thought of Dada struggling to make ends meet was unfathomable.

I've always known that twin din dada has a heart disease but dada being poor? It made me sweat behind the knees.

"No, Dada," I whispered, shaking my head. "This can't be true. You're...you're my rich dada. You've always given me everything I've ever wanted."

Dada's eyes filled with tears as he looked at me. "I know, Ihsan. I've given you the world. But I didn't always have the world. I had to fight for every scrap of food, every penny. And when your aunt got sick, I was desperate. I didn't know where to turn."

I felt a wave of sympathy wash over me as I looked at Dada. I had never seen him so vulnerable, so broken.

"That's when lukman, my best friend, suggested that I marry his sister," Dada continued, his voice barely above a whisper.

"They were wealthy, and I...I needed the money to save your aunt's life. I know it sounds wrong, Ihsan. But I was desperate. I did it for your aunt, for our family."

I felt a pang of sadness as I looked at Dada. He had married for money, but it wasn't just about the money. It was about saving his sister's life.

"But I loved Sabrina's mother, Ihsan," Dada said, his voice cracking. "I loved her with all my heart. She was kind and gentle, and she loved me for who I was, even though she knew I was dirt poor. We were happy, Ihsan. We were happy, and I thought we had a chance at a real life together."

I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes as I looked at Dada. He wasn't crying, but I could see the pain and the sorrow in his eyes.

"But then...," Dada's voice cracked again.

"Sabrina's mother, she...she died. People said it was depression, but it wasn't. It was me, Ihsan. I was so caught up in taking care of your aunt, in trying to make things right, that I didn't have anything left to give. I was ashamed, guilty...I felt like I had contributed to her death."

I felt my heart break for Dada, for the pain and the guilt he had been carrying all these years. I reached out and hugged him.

"It's okay, Dada," I whispered. "It's okay. You did what you thought was best. You did it for our family."

As we hugged, I felt a sense of understanding wash over me. I finally knew the truth, and it was both painful and liberating. I realized that Dada wasn't just my father; he was a complex and flawed human being who had made mistakes and sacrifices for the people he loved.

"I'm sorry, Dada," I whispered, holding him close. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all this. I'm sorry I didn't know."

"It's okay, Ihsan," he whispered. "I'm just glad you know the truth now. I'm glad you understand."

"Ihsan, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about Sabrina sooner. I'm ashamed of how I treated her, of how I abandoned her. I was so consumed by my own guilt and shame that I didn't know how to be a father to her."

I felt a wave of sorrow wash over me as I looked at Dada. I couldn't imagine how he must have felt, carrying around that kind of guilt and shame for so long.

"I didn't know how to face her, Ihsan," Dada continued. "I didn't know how to tell her that I was sorry, that I loved her. I was afraid of being rejected, of being hurt again. So I stayed away, and I let her grow up without a father."

I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes as I listened to Dada's words. I couldn't imagine how Sabrina must have felt.

"But it's not just that, Ihsan," Dada said, his voice cracking again. "I'm ashamed of what I did to Sabrina's mother. I'm ashamed of how I used her for her money, of how I didn't appreciate her until it was too late. I'm ashamed of being a part of her death, of not being able to save her."

I felt my heart ache with compassion for Dada, for the weight of guilt he had been carrying all these years.

"It's okay, Dada," I whispered. "It's not your fault that she died. It was fate, it was her time. As the Quran says, 'Every soul shall taste death.' You did what you thought was best, and you can't blame yourself for what happened."

Dada looked up at me, his eyes red-rimmed from crying. "I'm proud of the woman you've become, Ihsan. Your aunt was the only family I had left, they all died of heart disease." he said, his voice filled with emotion. "At least I have one daughter who knows the truth, and who can forgive me."

I smiled through my tears, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. "I love you, Dada," I said, hugging him tightly.

Just as Dada and I were hugging, I heard a faint voice calling out from the hospital room.

"Ihsan? Are you guys having a family time without me?"

I turned to see Maami standing in the doorway, a weak smile on her face. I rushed to her side, hugging her tightly.

"Mami!" I exclaimed, tears of joy streaming down my face. "I'm so glad to see you walking again!"

Dada followed close behind, wrapping his arms around both of us in a warm hug.

"Never, dear," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "We're just having a moment of truth and forgiveness. That's all."

Maami looked up at us, her eyes shining with tears. "I'm glad I didn't miss it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

My family was flawed, but we were together, and that's all that mattered.

And it wouldn't hurt to add a big sister.

"I love you, Maami," I said, holding her close.

"Silly girl" she replied, her voice weak but full of love.

Dada held us both close, his eyes closed in a moment of pure joy.

"I love you both," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "More than anything in this world."

Hello readers
I'm so sorry for the late update
But Alhamdulilah exams are over
And I've got my phone back
2 chapters left
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