Right on cue, his phone began to buzz again. Taking a look at the caller ID, his brows furrowed, but he received nonetheless. "Yes, I couldn't pick because I wa- what did you say?" He sprung up, his demeanor contorted in extreme worry. "WHAT!" The cellphone slipped out of his hold.

"Habibi?" Maryam sprung up as well. "What happened? Who was on the phone?"

Sa'eed's brows furrowed tightly and his fingers balled into a fist. "Take Manal to her room right now." He ordered.

"Why? But she's still eati-"

"Just do as I say! Leave!" He snapped, but instantly regretted his action. "Please." He added, softly.

"Let's go, Manal." Maryam grabbed a hold of Manal's hand and walked away, before Sa'eed could be able to say anything.

Sa'eed ran an exasperated hand over his face and picked up his cellphone and called the previous number back. He would deal with Maryam later. "Hello." He said, immediately the person at the other side of the phone received the call. "How did this happen. How on earth did she escape?!"

"The police station caught fire and while trying to transfer the prisoners to another cell in the city, she managed to escape, together with her accomplice, Muktar and few other prisoners as well."

"How could you officers be so careless?" He asked through gritted teeth. "My daughter has just been released from their captivity barely two weeks ago and now this? What's going to happen now? There are definitely going to come after us."

"I understand your fear, but I'm sorry. it wasn't our fault either. The situation couldn't be handled. The building was on fire and everyone was running helter-skelter. If we had our way, no one would have been able to escape." He explained.

"When did this happen?" He questioned.

"Few hours ago. Approximately 4."

"And you're just deeming it fit to inform me. Interesting." He fumed.

"We had so many things on our plates and the first chance I got, I -"

For the umpteenth time, Sa'eed heaved a fatigued sigh. "I understand, but please do your best to get the both of them as soon as possible. They are dangerous people."

"We're trying our best to track them down." He replied.

"Be sure to inform me of any latest."

"We will."

"Thank you." Sa'eed remarked and ended the call.

Sauntering into Manal's room with the hopes of meeting his wife waiting there for him, he met her absence.

Manal was busy with her iPad. She barely even noticed her father's presence.

"Princess." He called, averting her gaze from the screen of her iPad to him.

Ambling closer to her, he sat on the edge of her bed and made her sit on his laps. "When I was not around, did anybody come around?... Did you see-" he quickly cut himself off, before he could mention Nafisa and traumatized the little girl again. He could not help, but recall how the past two weeks had been for them. Manal had never had a peaceful sleep, since the incident. She had constant nightmares and had developed the fear of darkness. The mere mention of Nafisa had her trembling. "Never mind." He smiled and placed a kiss on her head. "Wait here, I will be right back. I just need to speak to ummi about something important. Do not come to the room, until I call for you, okay?"

She nodded.

"That's my girl." He caressed her face with his thumb. "Wait for my call." He repeated. He was extra cautious, because he didn't want her to eavesdrop on the conversation he was planning to have with his wife, for it would only traumatize her more.

~~~~~~

Maryam was busy rearranging clothes in the closet, when Sa'eed walked in. Immediately her gaze met his, she averted her gaze elsewhere and became more engrossed in what she was doing.

"Habibtee." He called, softly.

Wordlessly, she raised her head and waited for him to speak up.

"You're mad at me, aren't you?" He questioned and when she didn't answer, he continued. "I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier, okay?" He apologized.

"I'm glad you realised what you did." She mumbled and continued with what she was doing.

"I just got bad news." He remarked, awaiting her response. He wanted her to listen attentively to what he had to say, but apparently, she wasn't ready to pay attention to him.

"Sorry." She commented, nonchalantly. "I have a migraine. If you don't mind, we can talk about it tomorrow. I'll just go and get Manal." She was about to walk pass him, when he grabbed her arm a little bit roughly.

"Drop the attitude already, will you? I have already apologized, haven't I?" He questioned, irritated.

"Sometimes, apologies just aren't enough to mend things. I was simply trying to be caring, but what I got in return was that? And in front of our daughter? Do you think she doesn't notice these small things?" She retorted, yanking her arm away.

"Fine. I shouldn't have snapped at you the way I did, but I have apologized, haven't I? Why do you always have to blow things out of proportion?" He questioned, furrowing his brows.

"Always?" She chuckled humorlessly. "Why do I always have to blow things out of proportion? Why do you make it seem like it's my hobby?"

Massaging his forehead with his hand, he spoke; "I honestly think it is becoming one of your favorite hobbies these days."

"What?" She exclaimed.

"Will you stop nagging and listen to what I have to say?" He asked.

"So now I'm a nag?" She asked, tears welling up in her eyes. "Just because I tried to be a good wife? If you're already tired of-"

"Enough!" Sa'eed cut her off. "Quit being childish, it doesn't suit you right now." He sighed. "I just got a call from the police officer and he informed me that Nafisa, as well as her accomplice escaped."

"How did that happen?" She gasped., covering her mouth with both her hands.

"The station got burnt down and in the process of transferring them, as well as their inmates, they escaped." He replied, exasperatedly.

"Ya Allah! What's going to happen to us now? How could they have allowed them escape. They are terrible people and would stop at nothing to hunt us." She panicked.

"Don't worry." Sa'eed assured. "They will be caught again in no time."

"How sure are you? We can't just sit back and wait for the police to catch them, before taking an action."

"Exactly." Sa'eed agreed. "That's why I have come to a decision; Manal is going to have to be away for some time."

"What do you mean?" Maryam inquired. She couldn't even imagine herself being separated from her daughter again. "Where will you take her."

"To Dubai." He replied. "She will stay with my brother's family, until the criminals are caught."

"How about her nightmares? How is she going to stay there without us. I didn't think this is a solution." She voiced.

"I thought about it as well and I think it would be better if she starts therapy over there and I think it would take her mind off things as well. The kids are there. She will feel at home there and forget all about her ordeal with Nafisa." He explained.

"But she's still too young for all these." She cried. "How is she going to take the news? Please let me go with her." She beseeched.

"I would have loved that, but unfortunately, you can't." He remarked.

"But why?" she whined.

Sa'eed puffed out air from his mouth and exhaled heavily. "Do I have to keep reminding you of your condition every single time? You're getting closer to your due date and we simply can't put both responsibilities on them all at once. Manal will be absolutely fine there. You have no reason at all to be worried. She will be well taken care of and besides, if Allah wills, they will be caught in few weeks and Manal will be back home with us."

Maryam knew he had a good point. She was worried about her daughter's safety as well, but she feared taking her away would only worsen their situation. She wasn't ready to be away from her, even for a day. From the day she was birthed, till date, she had never gone a day without seeing her face - it would be tough, but she would have to adjust. "I'm afraid this will only draw her farther away from me. I don't want that." She sulked.

"I also don't want that, but we have to think of her wellbeing first. And in a way, it might be good for your relationship. Once she goes a day or two without you, she would realise how important you are to her and misses you."

"I hope so." She remarked. "How about us? Wouldn't they want to come after us?"

"That's the reason we aren't fleeing." He replied. "The moment she tries to invade our territory, she will be shot on the spot. No matter how important, do. Not. Leave. The. House."

"But, habibi-"

"Just listen to me for once, will you? I'm doing this for us. Had it been up to me, I wouldn't have even suggested this."

"How soon is she leaving?"

"As early as tomorrow morning. We can't wait any longer." He replied.

"As early as tomorrow?" She repeated in disbelief. "But-"

"We need to be considerate and not think of ourselves alone." He deadpanned.

"I'm sorry." She apologized solemnly. "I'm being inconsiderate. I will just go and get Manal." She remarked and swiftly walked out of the room, before Sa'eed could be able to explain himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Noo!! Please stop. Abeee!! Stop. Please get away from me."

"Manal?" Sa'eed sprung up immediately he heard her whimpering in her sleep. Indubitably, she was having a nightmare, as usual. "Baby." He shook her awake.

"What's wrong?" Maryam's eyes fluttered open. "Is she having another nightmare?"

"I think so." He replied, his gaze never wavering from his little girl. "Baby." He called again. "No one is going to hurt you, not while I'm here. Wake up." He probed.

Opening her eyes, she scurried away from Maryam and wrapped her arms around Sa'eed's waist.

Pain and rejection washed over Maryam. She swallowed the painful lump that suddenly got stuck in her throat. In as much as she tried to pretend she wasn't bothered much, each rejection from her felt new and more painful. In that very moment, she hated herself for being the sole reason why this had to happen.

"Abee, please don't let her take me. She was here. I saw her. She wanted to kill me abee. She-"

"Shhh." He shushed her. "Abee is here. I'm here, alright? I won't let anyone take you again." He promised, kissing her forehead.

"Promise?"

"Of course. Now say bismillah and close your eyes. Go back to sleep, princess." He caressed her hair. "Tomorrow when you wake up in sha Allah, ummi will take you somewhere faraway. Somewhere the monsters won't be able to find and hurt you again.