Chapter 4

Upon arriving at home, Ummi was filled with anger. She knocked on the gate in a sluggish manner and patiently awaited the gate man to open it for her. After a short while, the gate man finally opened the door. Musa inquired, 'What happened?' to which Ummi replied, 'Nothing, sir.' Musa then asked if she was sure or if she was unwell. Ummi stated, 'I simply need to rest.' He proceeded to lock the gate and accompanied her inside, assisting her with her bag. To avoid any possible misunderstandings, he turned back at the sitting room. Later in the day, after awakening from her nap, Ummi reviewed her notes and then approached Musa outside. 'Hello,' she greeted, waving her hand. Musa noted, 'Now I can see that you are in a better mood than before.' Ummi affirmed, 'Yes, I was extremely tired today.' Musa playfully asked, 'Is that the reason why you wanted to beat me?' Ummi chuckled and replied, 'Come on, I couldn't possibly do that.' They both shared a laugh. Ummi retrieved a mat from the corridor next to the door and laid it on the floor for them to sit on. She then went inside to fetch some juice and cookies.

"May I inquire about any recent updates?" he inquired.

"Yes, certainly," she responded.

"I am all ears," he replied.

"Well, I am not acquainted with any information about your background," she stated.

"That is quite straightforward," he chuckled.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Musa, a father of three children, and I have been blessed with a wonderful wife who resides in my hometown with our children. Despite my fondness for education, financial constraints prevented me from continuing my studies, forcing me to drop out. I tirelessly sought employment but was unsuccessful, so I had to settle for the job I currently have. I have been working here for an extensive period of time," he explained.

"I must say, it is disheartening to hear that you have faced numerous challenges in life," she sadly replied.

"Might I inquire about your story?" he asked.

She narrated her entire journey to him, and he, too, felt a sense of sadness upon learning that she had never experienced the love of a father figure.

"Do not worry, starting today, I will be your father. Does that sound agreeable to you?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you for that. From today onwards, I will address you as Dad," she replied.

A profound silence enveloped them, and they remained lost in thought.

They kept gazing at each other, Ummi prepared for school the next morning. Despite not feeling inclined to attend, she knew that for the sake of her mother, she had to go in order to avoid excessive questioning. Upon arriving at school today, Ummi sensed that something was amiss and wondered what could be happening, but she dismissed the atmosphere and proceeded to her class. Upon entering, she noticed that everyone was fixated on her. Taking her seat, she focused on her tasks at hand. The teacher entered the classroom and greeted, 'Hello, class.' In response, they all reciprocated with a polite, 'Good morning, sir.' The class commenced with a calm ambiance until the teacher began to pose questions one after another, in order to assess student participation. Ummi couldn't help but laugh when Aliyah and Sahina failed to provide an answer, instead choosing to stare at the teacher, prompting the entire class to join in laughter at her expense. Consumed with anger and bewilderment, Ummi remained despondent until the end of class. A few minutes later, lunchtime arrived, and Ummi had no choice but to bring her own meal to school canteen.

She took her place on the front seat, setting down her flask before beginning to eat. After some time, the 5stars entered the room.

"Excuse me, but that happens to be my seat, you poor individual," Sahina asserted.

"Ah, so you dare to speak without shame," Ummi retorted.

"Are you directing your remarks towards me?" Sahina inquired.

"Indeed, I am, empty-headed one," Ummi replied stoically.

"Greetings, everyone. Can you fathom the pitiful state she was in? She had to walk home, appearing disheveled and scruffy," Aliya stated, gesturing with her hand.

Laughter erupted throughout the room.

Ummi, displaying grace, stood up, moved to another seat, placed her food on the table, and then proceeded to the front of the canteen.

"Thank you all for the amusing spectacle. But can you believe that this impoverished individual possesses more intelligence than the aforementioned rich, empty-headed child?" Ummi declared as she returned to her seat, leaving the others speechless.

They had no option but to vacate the canteen for her. The assembled students applauded, recognizing her confidence.

In the midst of the students, Omar watched the scene unfold, compelled to approach,due to an excessive amount of noise that he overheard. 

The 5stars returned to their designated area where they typically convene to discuss matters. Sahina, unable to tolerate the insult, instead chose to cry profusely and vowed to make her life unbearable. 

Her friends offered consolation and reassured her that they would surely take action, ensuring that the teacher responsible for the insult would face consequences. Ummi returned to the classroom, attracting the attention of everyone present, but she simply ignored it and focused on her tasks. 

Nasir approached her and politely asked, 'May I befriend you, Ummi?' 

'Certainly,' Ummi replied. 

'Thank you,' he responded as he extended his hand for a handshake. 

'You're welcome,' Ummi acknowledged. 

Ummi returned home feeling very content. She embraced Musa, expressing that her day had been pleasant despite her unexpected use of a certain word. He was taken aback by her actions and had never anticipated such a response. After freshening up, she joined him outside for further conversation. He was eager to hear all the details, and as usual, she had brought along some snacks out to keep their mouth busy.

As the night fall, they both separated by then she has finished preparing the night food.