In one of the distant neighborhoods of the city, Rahaf sat in a corner of a small café, seeking refuge in a quiet corner away from the crowd. She gazed through the glass at the passersby without focus. Fatigue was evident on her face, and her eyes could not hide the deep sadness that dwelled within them.
She took her phone out of her bag, opened the photo gallery, and paused at a picture of her and Karma. They were laughing, as if nothing in the world could separate them. She gave a slight sarcastic smile, then closed the screen and whispered: "Will you forgive me? Or will you think I betrayed you?"
A moment of silence passed, then she looked at the calendar on her phone and read the date. Today is… Karma and Yazan's wedding day.
She covered her eyes with her palm for a few moments, feeling a heaviness in her chest that she couldn't tell whether it was jealousy, pain, or pure longing. But she didn't regret leaving… She knew that staying would have broken her even more.
She closed the phone again and stood up. A part of her was still hanging back there… in a small village, now preparing for a grand celebration… Unaware that Rahaf would not be the only one absent… And that the celebration would be everything but happy.
After a few moments, Rahaf decided she would not leave her friend alone on this day, even if miles separated them…
The morning in the village was entirely different from any morning before. Karma stood in front of the mirror, arranging strands of her hair with rapid breaths and a heart pounding hard. She couldn't believe that the day had finally come. Despite the loss, despite the pain, here she was hours away from starting a new life with the one her heart had chosen.
Karma's phone rang. Her eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the caller's name. It was Rahaf. She quickly answered:
Karma: "Rahaf?"
Rahaf: "Hi Karma… how are you?"
Karma: "I'm fine… I miss you so much."
Rahaf: "And I miss you more, believe me."
Rahaf: "I heard the wedding is
tomorrow… I just wanted to say congratulations from the bottom of my heart."
Karma: "I wish you were here with me."
Rahaf: "Me too. But… sometimes being away is kinder than a painful presence."
Karma: "I'll miss you."
Rahaf: "Stay strong. You deserve happiness."
The call ended, and Karma turned toward the white dress hanging in the corner. A strange feeling washed over her a mix of joy and fear as if something unfinished was waiting to be revealed.
Elsewhere in the village, Yazan stood in the wedding venue courtyard, putting the final touches on the arrangements with some of his friends. His father stood at a distance, silent, not participating, not smiling but he didn't leave either.
The hours passed quickly, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. But… in another place, far from the decorations and laughter, Anas stood silently, going over the final details of his plan.
He kept checking the time every few minutes, a wicked smile forming on his face. He pulled out his phone and made a quick call:
Anas: "Everything ready?… Perfect. Just make sure to leave the bag where we agreed… and don't forget the gloves."
He ended the call, opened his car trunk, and took out a small black bag. He wiped it with a clean tissue, then placed it inside a paper bag and sealed it tightly.
Someone slipped toward the back entrance of the hall, where market bags were usually placed, and hid the bag among Yazan's belongings, then quickly left without being seen.
Inside the bag… were forged documents, a large sum of money, and papers showing suspicious money transfers under the name Yazan Tariq.
The hall was crowded, decorations hanging from the ceiling, and everyone's hearts beat joyfully, waiting for the wedding ceremony to begin.
Karma sat beside her father, nervous, holding a small bouquet of white flowers, while Yazan stood near the officiant, counting the witnesses and flashing a trembling smile at her from time to time.
The officiant opened his book and was about to begin, but… before he could utter a word, the door of the hall suddenly burst open!
Police officers entered, led by a stern-looking officer. The entire hall fell silent, shock visible on every face.
The officer walked directly to Yazan, pulled out an official paper, and said in a clear voice: "Yazan Tariq… You are accused of forgery and money laundering. We have a warrant for your arrest."
Karma gasped audibly and her father stood up quickly, while Yazan froze in place. He looked at the officer in disbelief, then at Karma… whose eyes were now flooded with silent tears.
He tried to say something anything but the officer interrupted him: "Sorry, what you say will be part of the investigation."
Then he handcuffed him in front of everyone and signaled another officer to bring the black bag, which contained the documents, money, and transfer records.
Yazan said quickly: "But this bag isn't mine!"
The officer replied firmly: "We had a search warrant, and we found it among your things."
The officiant looked at Karma's father, then calmly closed his book without writing anything. The marriage was not completed.
And as Yazan was led out of the hall amidst everyone's shock, Karma realized that the white dress she was wearing… would not immortalize a moment of joy, but would instead bear witness to a moment of heartbreak.
And in a far-off corner, Anas stood watching the scene from behind a pillar, his hand in his pocket, eyes following the officers as they escorted Yazan out amid whispers and stunned faces.
He smiled a small, almost invisible smile, then muttered in a low voice no one could hear: "This had to happen… now the game has only just begun."
To be continued...