For once, Hamza had no lawyer of his own standing beside him.
He left the apartment without saying goodbye.
Youssef followed, ashamed.
Nadia remained behind long enough to take her father’s hand.
“I’m sorry I stopped visiting,” she whispered.
Suleiman squeezed her fingers gently.
“Then visit tomorrow, too.”
Six months later, the apartment no longer felt like a place where everyone was waiting for something terrible to happen.
Malik’s small transport business had begun operating with one used delivery vehicle and a rented office. The first months were difficult. A customer delayed payment, a vehicle repair consumed much of their working capital, and Malik discovered that running a business demanded more patience than he had expected.
But he persevered.
He kept his accounts carefully and paid his driver before taking money for himself.
Suleiman helped him review the books every Sunday afternoon, offering advice without interfering in every decision.
Amina found part-time work at a local shop and contributed to the household expenses. She also made practical changes at home to help her father-in-law move safely, including installing a handrail near the bathroom and arranging a comfortable chair beside the window.
