Chapter 9:

Difficulties and adversities viciously force all their might on us and cause us to fall apart, but they are necessary elements of individual growth and reveal our true potential.

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My heart raced as I heard the voice, abruptly drawing me back to the grim reality of the situation. It was him, my father, unleashing his anger and disappointment at me with his hurtful words. In his hand, he held the menacing metal bar that had caused me so much fear.

Instinctively, I took a few steps back, afraid that he would strike me. His presence alone filled me with terror as I anticipated his next move. I desperately looked to the stranger who had come to my aid, silently pleading with him to intervene. His eyes darted between my father and me, assessing the danger that loomed over us.

Suddenly, the realization hit him. He recognized the man standing before us as the person I had been hiding from. Without hesitation, he positioned himself in front of me, shielding me from my father's wrath. Witnessing this act of selflessness, I felt a surge of gratitude and admiration for this stranger who had become my protector.

In that moment, I couldn't help but reflect on the true essence of Islam and the compassion it advocates for. It was as if Allah had sent me an angel to safeguard me from my father's rage. I took solace in my faith, knowing that I could rely on Allah's guidance and protection.

The stranger confronted my father with a mixture of menace and composure, demanding to know his identity and implicating him in the harm that had befallen an innocent girl – me. My father scoffed at his words, dismissing his authority and asserting his right to control his daughter's life.

"Father? How can you treat your own daughter this way?" the stranger retorted, his voice filled with indignation. "You have no right to come between her and her freedom, regardless of your relation to her. I warn you, you don't want to test my limits."

My father's eyes narrowed, his hostility plain for all to see. In a chilling twist, I remembered the metal bar he had been holding, realizing the danger it posed to the stranger who had risked everything to protect me. Panic surged through me, and I hurriedly moved closer to the stranger, gently touching his arm, shaking my head to dissuade him from confronting my father any further.

He glanced at me, reassuring me with a touch of his left hand over mine. His unspoken message conveyed his resolve: "I've got this." But I couldn't bear the thought of him taking a blow for me. With determination, I stepped towards my father, forcibly removing the metal bar from his grasp and throwing it away.

"Leave him alone, Father," I mustered the courage to speak, my voice tremulous. "I will go with you, and I will agree to marry the man you choose for me." Deep down, I knew it meant surrendering my autonomy, making a sacrifice that felt like selling my soul. But in that moment, I felt powerless, lacking the strength to defy my father's will.

"NO!!" The stranger's voice reverberated through the building, his tone filled with outrage. "You are not going near this psychopath. Can't you see? He was pursuing you with a metal bar!"

Frustrated and exasperated, the stranger uttered, "You know what? Screw it."

Screw what?

In a sudden and daring move, the stranger scooped me up, carrying me on his shoulder as I flailed and pleaded for him to put me down. Together, we rushed towards an awaiting car. He swiftly opened the passenger door, secured me inside, and darted to the driver's seat before speeding away into the midnight darkness, with me holding onto a glimmer of trust amidst the uncertainty.

As the car raced away, my anxiety began to subside, gradually replaced by a renewed sense of trust in the stranger by my side. While acknowledging the potential risks of placing my faith in him, I found solace in the fact that, at the very least, I had escaped my father's clutches and the torment that awaited me.