Veils of Silence

Sawar woke up to the sound of the Fajr call to prayer. She performed her ablutions and prayed, remaining on her prayer rug to supplicate to God and read her daily Quranic response. It has been two years since she missed an obligatory prayer or a reading, ever since God guided her and she began wearing the hijab.

She finished her prayer, ate breakfast, and began preparing for work. Sawar is a teacher at a large school in Egypt, and everyone testifies to her respectability and precise work. She opened her phone to her father’s chat, but the messages remained as they were—unopened. She set the phone aside and quickly began preparing the food she would cook upon her return.

Six o’clock arrived, and she began dressing, taking one last look in the mirror and smiling, satisfied with her appearance.

Sawar is a twenty-six-year-old girl, short with a well-proportioned body. She has wide hazel eyes, large rosy cheeks, and full lips with a natural pink tint. Her hair is thick, black, and long, reaching the small of her back. She has a delicate voice and appearance, and is very elegant in both her clothing and her speech.

She arrived at work to be greeted by her manager, Ibrahim.

Ibrahim: "Good morning, Miss Sawar."
Sawar: "Good morning, Mr. Ibrahim."
Ibrahim: "Have you thought about what I said, or not yet?"
Sawar: "Give me more time, sir, and I will give you an answer... Excuse me."

Sawar fled quickly before he could say anything else. He had asked for her hand in marriage, and she was no longer able to deal with him spontaneously as before; she was constantly tense and anxious, not knowing who she could talk to or consult.

In the middle of the day, Sawar’s phone rang; it was her mother calling.

Radwa: "How are you, Sawar?"
Sawar: "Fine, Mom. Are you okay?"
Radwa: "Yes, honey, I’m fine."
Sawar: "Do you need anything?"
Radwa: "Your sister called a little while ago and needs money. Can you give her some?"
Sawar: "Certainly, Mom. Anything else?"
Radwa: "Yes, today is the appointment for the session. Don't forget."
Sawar: "I might forget everything except the session, don't worry."

Sawar hung up the phone, not knowing what to do. Her sister never stops spending and does not appreciate their situation, and the chemotherapy sessions take a lot of time and money. She must be with her mother during the session. Sawar took a breath, went to pray two rak'ahs, and decided to leave it to God to resolve.

Not long after, Sawar returned home, finished cooking, and made sure her mother was full because she wouldn't be able to eat after the session. She went to the hospital to wait for four hours, occasionally sending messages to her father’s chat in the hope that he might respond one day.

"Dad, today is the ninth day of Mom's chemotherapy session. I know you didn't love me, but at least come see her. Every time I ask Mom why you don't come, she always tells me it's because of you. I don't know what I did to make you stay away because of me, but Mom needs you. Please come, and I promise you won't see me, just come."

She closed the chat and wiped her tears, hoping he would open it once and see her messages, only to be surprised by a young man offering her a tissue with a smile.

Sawar: "Thank you."
Mohamed: "My name is Mohamed, and I am a doctor here."
Sawar: "Oh, nice to meet you, Doctor Mohamed. I am Sawar."
Mohamed: "Don't worry, your mother will come out safely."
Sawar: "God willing... Excuse me."

Sawar went outside the hospital, wondering who he was and how he knew she was waiting for her mother, but her thoughts were interrupted by her sister calling.

Sally: "How are you, Sawar?"
Sawar: "How are you, Sally?"
Sally: "You haven't sent the money yet! Didn't Mom tell you I needed it or what?"
Sawar: "She told me, Sally, but I am with Mom at the session and haven't had time to transfer it to you."
Sally: "And I’m supposed to sit without money in my displacement just because you didn't have time?"
Sawar: "Sally, please, I’ve had enough. I’ll transfer it when I’m free."
Sally: "What do you mean when you're free? I need the money now, I’ve been waiting since morning."
Sawar: "Fine, Sally, I’ll transfer it."

---

Sally is Sawar’s younger half-sister. Her father died of a heart stroke and left her entire burden on Sawar. Sally’s only concerns are food, drink, outings, and her boyfriend from university whom she goes out with. No one knows anything about her under the pretext of her living away for university; she always asks for money and doesn't care about household matters.

Sally is a twenty-one-year-old girl in her second year of university, older than her classmates because she fails every year. She is short and thin with a beautiful body. Her black hair reaches her shoulders and is dyed with blonde streaks. She has wide brown eyes and thin lips with a natural pink hue. She is a girl of striking beauty but is chaotic, living her life to the fullest without caring about anyone.

Sally: "I can't believe this Sawar. I've wanted money since morning and she says she’s busy. What am I supposed to do?"
Omar: "Calm down, baby. She doesn't say no when you ask. Wait for her a little."
Sally: "She thinks because she stays with Mom and has the household allowance that she controls everything. No, I’m not a little child to be fooled with a few words."
Omar: "Sally, calm down. I don't like this. Please, I’m leaving."
Sally: "So this is my reward for getting money so we can go out?"
Omar: "Yes, but not like this. That’s enough, please."

Sally fell silent, looking at Sawar’s number with resentment. She hates Sawar and hates her idealism; it makes her feel the amount of aimlessness she lives in. Sawar managed to succeed in her studies and her work, working in the best school in Egypt, while Sally doesn't know how to succeed. Everything is in Sawar's hands while Sally still stretches out her hand to her to take her allowance.

Omar: "Sally, let's watch a movie to change this mood."
Sally (coquettishly): "Let's go."

---

At 7:00 PM, Sawar was praying Maghrib in the nearest mosque and returned to the hospital to take her mother home.

Dr. Walid: "Sawar, the condition is worsening."
Sawar: "Then what is the solution, Doctor? Tell me."
Dr. Walid: "There is nothing in our hands but prayer."
Sawar: "I don't understand, Doctor. What does that mean?"
Dr. Walid: "The tumor has spread very rapidly, and the chemotherapy sessions will do nothing but break down your mother's immunity."
Sawar: "I don't understand. What is required? That I keep her at home until she dies?"
Dr. Walid: "There is no solution but surgery, but this is a dangerous operation. It is not easy to perform, especially in your mother's case."
Sawar: "Doctor, please don't make it impossible for me, God bless you. What is the right thing to do?"
Dr. Walid: "There is a famous Saudi doctor coming to Egypt in two days. I can talk to him to take the time to do the surgery for her. He is the one capable of healing your mother."
Sawar: "The Healer is God, Doctor; we are merely means... So, when is he coming?"
Dr. Walid: "He will arrive here within two days. I will call him and let you know."

Sawar left the hospital with a troubled face, not knowing what to do or what to tell her mother. She transferred the money to Sally and returned home. She put her mother to sleep, prayed Isha, and began to cry a cry she had been holding back for a long time, and all that was on her tongue was: "O Lord."




Ibrahim: "Miss Sawar."
Sawar: "Yes, sir."
Ibrahim: "I believe you've had your time!"
Sawar: "Yes... Look, sir, my mother is undergoing surgery and I cannot think about anything else right now."
Ibrahim: "Fine, but at least let me know if you agree or not."
Sawar: "You are a respectable person, sir, but I am not currently ready for marriage... God willing, you will find someone who suits you. Excuse me."

Sawar walked away from him, feeling tense; she finally managed to get rid of his nagging. She had no time to think about anything now except her mother's operation, especially after Dr. Walid called her and informed her that the Saudi doctor would be able to see her mother within a week to schedule the surgery. Her mother was her only concern now.

Hend: "Sawar, are you okay?"
Sawar: "Yes, I'm fine."
Hend: "Are you tired or something?"
Sawar: "Not at all... I'm just thinking about a few things at home."
Hend: "How is your mother?"
Sawar: "Praise be to God, we are waiting for the surgery date."
Hend: "Hopefully, all will be well."
Sawar: "God willing... Excuse me."
Hend: "Sawar, take care of yourself."
Sawar: "I will."

Sawar left, feeling surprised; it was the first time her colleague Hend had given her advice or even spoken to her kindly. The people around her had been acting unusual for a while.

Sawar finished work and returned home to practice her normal routine of laundry and hanging clothes, but she was interrupted by Radwa’s voice calling her.

Sawar: "Yes, Mom, do you need something?"
Radwa: "Sawar, I need to talk to you for a bit."
Sawar: "Go ahead, Mom."
Radwa: "I want you to forgive me."

Sawar fell silent and looked at her.

Radwa: "I know I was harsh with you... but you were better than me, and you embarrassed me with your love for me."
Sawar: "What is the point of this talk now, Mom? Just rest."
Radwa: "No, Sawar, it’s important... I don't know how much longer I will live."
Sawar: "Mom, seek refuge in God and calm down, sweetheart. Get these devilish thoughts out of your head."
Radwa: "Don't you want to know why your father left us?"

Sawar’s heart tightened, and her heartbeat accelerated.

Sawar: "Mom, I don't need to hear every time that he left us because of me."
Radwa: "I was pinning my mistakes on you, Sawar... Your father left us because of me, not because of you... It took me twenty years to admit it was because of me."
Sawar: "I don't understand, Mom."
Radwa: "Turn off the stove and come, let me tell you—for the first time—the true story of your father and me."

.
Flashback
.

A twenty-one-year-old girl was walking along the Alexandria Corniche with her friends. They were laughing loudly, and it was obvious they hadn't seen each other in a long time. They passed a small family consisting of a father, a mother, and a fourteen-year-old youth. She stepped out from among the girls and said with total flirtatiousness:

Radwa: "Dad, I want a Freska."
Said: "Next time, Radwa."
Radwa: "It's 'next time' every single time. Is there never a 'yes'?"
Said: "That’s enough, Radwa. Go with your friends now and we will talk later."
Radwa: "All my friends have their allowance except me—and I wish I even received one."
Samah: "That’s enough, Radwa, we will talk at home. Stop it, we are in the street."

Radwa walked away, unable to stand herself, and went to her friends pretending to be fine until she saw a group of young men sitting by the sea. Among them was a young man who looked strange, clearly not from here. As she walked, looking at him, she bumped into a lamppost, which made a loud noise that caught everyone's attention, including that young man. She stood there holding her nose while her friends gathered around her. She opened her eyes to find the young men looking, but none of them moved or were even slightly stirred. She felt extremely embarrassed and decided to return to her father to let out the emotions she couldn't show in front of anyone, until she found a voice stopping her.

Abdullah: "Sister, are you okay?"
Radwa: "Yes, praise be to God."
Abdullah: "If something is wrong, we will take you to the hospital."
Radwa: "No, thank you, I'm fine."

Abdullah reached out to give her the bag she had dropped while smiling. He pulled a piece of paper from his hand, placed it in her bag, and she walked away.

Radwa walked with her friends as they all envied her for him stopping to talk to her. Radwa laughed when she remembered the situation, went to her father, and returned home.

Sameh: "What was that you just did, my boy? Right in plain sight like that."
Abdullah: "Didn't you notice how she was looking at me?"
Sameh: "That doesn't mean she likes you."
Abdullah: "Well, we’ll see. She has my number. We’ll see if she calls or not."

Sameh and Abdullah are university friends. Abdullah studied Business Administration at Alexandria University so he could take over and expand his father’s company. He is tan and tall, with black eyes and thick eyebrows. He began to feel arrogant after traveling to Egypt when people started looking at him as if he were a walking pile of money, a role he enjoyed as he began to act bossy.

Sameh: "Abdullah, the girl seems naive. Don't take that approach; you don't know Egyptians."
Abdullah: "I didn't force her hand. If she wants to talk, she’ll call, and if she doesn't, I’ll look for someone else."
Sameh: "Abdullah, you haven't been right for a while."
Abdullah: "By God, please, don't you start being like my mother."
Sameh: "Anyway, it’s up to you, but be careful—you aren't the only one who understands the world."

Radwa returned home, flying with joy, looking at the paper every now and then, laughing and thinking about what she could do to make this pile of money fall in love with her and marry her. She found no way but to actually call him, but she would do it on her terms, not his. She made a vow to herself to get out of the swamp of poverty into the luxury of the rich. She picked up the landline, dialed his number, and began waiting for an answer.

Abdullah: "Hello, Peace be upon you."
Radwa: "And upon you be peace."
Abdullah: "Hello, who is this, sister?"
Radwa: "I’m the girl you gave the paper to this morning."

A look of victory was drawn on Abdullah’s face. He signaled to Sameh that she was calling and struck a triumphant pose.

Abdullah: "Oh, hello, but I don't remember you."

Radwa was shocked and felt a sense of turmoil, thinking of how to provoke him.

Radwa: "Oh, I know. I was only calling to tell you that my father saw you when you gave me the paper and he has dark intentions for you. So don't talk to me or even contact me. You, poor thing, are certainly alone and have no one here, so you shouldn't get dragged through the mud in a country you don't know."






Gemini said
Abdullah’s features shifted into shock, and he began thinking of a way to prove to her that he did not need anyone to lean on.

Abdullah: "Look, sister, I can come to you and clarify matters to your father. I am not a child to go into hiding."
Radwa: "This is for your own benefit... Anyway, I've said what I have to say. Goodbye."

Abdullah looked on with a lack of understanding, not knowing if she wanted him or not, and whether he should actually go to prove to her that he wasn't a kid and didn't need anyone, or if he should just ignore it. On the other side, Radwa was worried that he might have slipped through her fingers, but she decided to wait.

Two days later, Abdullah called Radwa again, took her home address, and went to prove to himself—before proving it to her—that he didn't need to hide or be afraid. The meeting went naturally; in fact, Said respected Abdullah very much. Radwa took advantage of Said’s apparent approval and began to play her parts to ensnare him. Indeed, Abdullah managed to fall in love with her and challenged his family to marry her.

Radwa married Abdullah and lived in a large apartment in Alexandria. She began to feel that life was finally smiling upon her, but human nature does not change.

Abdullah: "It has become necessary for me to see my family. I haven't visited them in a year."
Radwa: "There’s no need to travel now."
Abdullah: "Then when shall I travel?"
Radwa: "I need you beside me, Abdo."
Abdullah: "And I need you."
Radwa: "Let me tell you a surprise."
Abdullah: "Go ahead."
Radwa: "I am pregnant."

Abdullah’s features changed radically, and a wide smile was drawn on his face. He actually postponed his trip until Radwa gave birth. In Saudi Arabia, prosperity filled their villa, and everyone was happy with their new grandchild, but the joy halted due to accusations that Radwa had deceived Abdullah and that she would raise the child with morals unlike theirs.

The nine months of pregnancy ended, and Abdullah held his daughter in his arms for the first time. For the first time since their marriage, the whole family came down to see their daughter, Sawar. But as usual, Radwa could not stop her habit of turning the tables.

Hafsa: "My son, may God protect her."
Abdullah: "May she live a long life in your presence, Mother."
Mohamed: "If it were a boy, he would have looked like me, but she is a girl."
Abdullah: "It is all a blessing, Father."
Radwa: "I don't see a difference between a boy and a girl. Or is it because your brother had a boy that you wanted a boy?"
Hafsa: "No, my daughter, what are you saying? Everything is a blessing."
Radwa: "I don't feel like it’s a blessing, Auntie. You haven't even thought of doing anything for my daughter—neither a gift nor an Aqiqah sacrifice."
Abdullah: "Radwa, how can you speak like that?"
Radwa: "No, this is the truth. Because she is a girl, no one did anything for her. If she were a boy, you would have carried me high above the ground."
Mohamed: "I seek forgiveness from God. Abdullah, see what your wife is babbling about."

Radwa took Sawar and entered the room in silence.

Abdullah: "Forgive her, Father. You know her family has left her and she is alone. Her nerves are a bit frayed."
Hafsa: "Don't talk back to me, my son. I told you, she is not one of us."
Abdullah: "It will be fine, Mother."
Mohamed: "We are leaving now. Tomorrow we fly back to Saudi Arabia."
Abdullah: "No, Father, that cannot be."
Mohamed: "It will be... go settle your affairs with your wife, and God willing, come to me in Saudi Arabia. Neither I nor your mother will come to Egypt ever again."

Abdullah stood in confusion between his family and his wife and daughter. All he did was go to argue with Radwa, but she was able, for the second time, to control his mind and plant doubt within him toward his father and mother. He cut ties with them for five years, until the news of his mother’s illness came. He traveled to her for six months, but Radwa refused to travel under the pretext of her objection to his family’s ways. During this period, life between Radwa and Abdullah grew worse. It reached a breaking point when Radwa began demanding staggering amounts of money under the guise of Sawar’s expenses, and in a short time, she managed to amass a very large sum to secure her life. She managed to drain Abdullah in her own way. After a while, Abdullah returned to Egypt after his mother regained her health, only to be surprised that Radwa had changed the location of the house, moved to another home, and filed a child support lawsuit against him—otherwise, he would be imprisoned. He didn't understand why this was happening.

Abdullah: "Why are you doing this? Whenever you asked for something, I never refused."
Radwa: "I must secure my daughter’s future. Your mother surely filled your head with lies about me, and I won't leave my daughter without a backbone like this."
Abdullah: "And who told you I would leave my daughter? Why assume this?"
Radwa: "This is what I have, Abdullah, and I don't trust your family."
Abdullah: "Seek God's guidance, Radwa, and I forgive you. Let’s drop the lawsuits."
Radwa: "The lawsuit will remain active even if I am with you in the same house."
Abdullah: "Radwa, I am a man. No woman on the face of the earth does this to me."
Radwa: "It is all for your daughter."
Abdullah: "Radwa, you are divorced."

Radwa was shocked and remained for a moment unable to comprehend, then she looked at her daughter.

Radwa: "And Sawar?"
Abdullah: "This is my daughter. I will take her, but not now."
Radwa: "You mean you’ll take her? She is my daughter!"
Abdullah: "All that connects me to you is Sawar. I will send her expenses monthly, and your tongue shall never address mine again."

Radwa stood frozen, not knowing what to do or how to speak. She made a vow to herself that she would take revenge on him through his daughter, but she did not know what the future had in store for her.