Shakira woke up early the next morning, the weight of her responsibilities pulling her from sleep. She needed to get to the market; she wanted her grandmother to rest while she handled the grocery stall until her university classes finally began. Having recently completed her high school exams, Shakira was simply playing the waiting game—praying her results would pave the way for her dream of becoming an Obstetrician.
While her parents lived in a distant city to find work, Shakira had stayed behind in Bashasha under the care of Nana Zaara. Her grandmother was her entire world, her only guardian, and her greatest motivation. Every bag of flour she moved was for her.After hurriedly preparing breakfast and eating with Nana Zaara, Shakira stepped out of the house, only to be met with a wall of staring eyes. Every head turned. Every whisper seemed to follow her footsteps.
She had always hated being the center of attention, but today, she was the main attraction. Feeling the heat of the stares, she quickened her pace, accidentally rushing past a group of neighborhood women without her usual polite greeting.
"Is that not Shakira?" one woman hissed. "Could the rumors be true? It seems she's already becoming arrogant and disrespectful."
"It must be true," another chimed in, crossing her arms. "She used to be so respectful, always smiling. Now? Not even a 'good morning.' Let's go to her grandmother. We need to confirm this ourselves."
The "local gossip mongers," as the neighborhood called them, marched straight to Shakira's door.
Nana Zaara, good morning: they chirped when the door opened. Surprised by the sudden gathering on her doorstep, Nana Zaara invited them in and offered water, her heart beating with a strange rhythm of worry.
"We heard of Shakira's betrothal," one of the five women said, leaning in. "We came to congratulate you!"
Nana Zaara froze. "Betrothed? My granddaughter is not betrothed to any man. Where did you hear such a thing?"
"But the rumors are everywhere!" they replied. "Everyone says she is joining the Al-Baashi family—the most powerful family in all of Bashasha!"
At the mention of the Al-Baashi name, beads of sweat began to trickle down Nana Zaara's forehead. The gossip mongers watched her reaction closely. Realizing the shock on her face was genuine, they quickly excused themselves, scurrying away to spread the news that the grandmother was the last to know.
Across town, in a sleek, glass-walled office, Nazir was buried in documents. A sharp knock at the door preceded his assistant, Jalla, who entered holding a tablet. Nazir looked up, his face a mask of cold professionalism.
Jalla handed him the tablet. As Nazir watched the screen, his frown deepened into a dark scowl. His mischievous sister, Jannah, had managed to vanish, slipping past the house cameras and the street surveillance without leaving a single trace.
"Boss, we are still trying to pull the city's CCTV footage. We will find her," Jalla promised.
Nazir nodded curtly. "Hire people to ask around on the ground. Do not use the internet—our enemies will be monitoring it. We can't risk them finding her first and using her against us. Tell the search team to be quick. Jannah's life is at stake.
Back at the grocery stall, the day was a blur of chaos. The shop was bustling like never before. People who barely knew Shakira were handing her expensive gifts and congratulating her. She moved in a daze of confusion until a former schoolmate walked up.
"Kira, don't forget me when you marry your billionaire!" the girl teased with a wink.
Shakira stood perfectly still, the words ringing in her ears. A billionaire? Before she could demand an explanation, the girl disappeared into the crowd.
Stunned and exhausted, Shakira worked until the sun began to dip below the horizon. As she started pulling the last crates of groceries inside to close up, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Curled up in a dark corner of the shop, hidden behind the sacks of grain, was a teenage girl. She looked to be about nineteen—Shakira's own age—and she was fast asleep.
Shakira remained calm, though her heart hammered against her ribs. Reaching out, she gently tapped the girl's shoulder to wake her.