9:00 a.m.
Mumin stood ready. Clean clothes. Hair neatly combed. Determination in his eyes. Today he would meet the president—the mysterious head of Imolodia, whom no one truly sees, whom no one really knows.
General Crane came and stood beside him.
"Ready?"
Mumin nodded. "Yes."
The two of them got into the car. Soldiers surrounded them as guards. The car began moving toward the royal palace. On the way, Mumin looked outside the window. The streets of Imolodia. A gray city. Silent people. No smiles anywhere.
The general said, "Be careful when you meet the president. He is not an ordinary man. Whatever he says is final. Don't argue. Keep your head down and listen."
Mumin replied, "I didn't come to keep my head down. I came to speak."
The general paused. He said nothing.
The car stopped in front of the palace. A massive palace. Heavy security everywhere. Sentries, cameras, checkpoints—everything seemed doubled compared to before. Mumin stepped out and went inside. A long corridor. At the end, a huge door. Two soldiers stood on either side. They opened it.
Mumin entered.
The room was larger than before. Monitors covered the walls. Across the table sat President Morgan Cross. He wore simple clothes, but his eyes carried the mark of immense power. Behind him stood several high-ranking officials.
The president gestured.
"Sit down, Mumin."
Mumin sat. He looked directly into the president's eyes. No fear.
The president smiled.
"Do you know, no one has ever looked at me like that before?"
Mumin said, "I know. But I'm not like everyone else."
The president stopped smiling.
"That's true. You're crazy. And crazy people don't feel fear."
Mumin replied, "I'm not crazy. I'm Mumin. And a Mumin is someone who believes in Allah. Those who believe in Allah do not fear."
The officials were shocked. How could this boy say such things?
The president's eyes narrowed.
"Allah? Do you know there is no Allah in this country? Here, I am Allah."
Mumin calmly said, "You are not Allah. You are a human being. One day you will die. Your power will end. But Allah never dies. His power never ends."
A pin-drop silence filled the room. No one even dared to breathe. No one had ever spoken to the president like this.
The president stayed quiet for a moment. Then suddenly he laughed. A strange laugh.
"You are brave, boy. Brave and foolish. That combination is dangerous. But I like brave people. Come, I'll show you a place."
The president stood up. Mumin also stood. The officials tried to follow, but the president signaled them to stop. He walked out with only Mumin.
After crossing a long corridor, they reached a huge balcony. From the balcony stretched a bridge—a glass bridge. Transparent glass. A deep abyss below. On the other side stood another building.
The president said,
"This is called the Faith Bridge. A bridge of belief. Every day I walk across this bridge to my private office. But no one walks with me. Because you need faith here."
Mumin looked at the bridge. Through the clear glass he could see the deep void below. It felt as if one wrong step could send him falling. But he stepped forward without fear.
The president was surprised.
"You're not afraid?"
Mumin said, "If you trust Allah, fear disappears."
The two of them crossed the bridge. On the other side, another balcony. Standing there were Mahim, Rokeya Begum, and Zakia. Heavy security surrounded them. At least fifty armed soldiers. Snipers. Cameras. Everything.
Mumin was shocked.
"Zakia! You're here?"
Zakia tried to run toward Mumin, but a soldier stopped her. She almost cried.
"Uncle! Let me go!"
The president looked at Mumin and smiled—a cruel smile.
"You wanted to know who I am. Now I'll show you. I am the person who holds the lives of your loved ones in my hands. Now tell me—whose side are you on? Allah's side, or mine?"
A storm rose inside Mumin's mind. Soldiers everywhere. Weapons. Zakia crying. Mahim and Rokeya Begum standing silently. Their eyes held only one question—what would Mumin do?
The president said,
"I need your Musa. That power. If you agree to give Musa to us, I will release these three people. I'll send them safely back to their country. But if you refuse…"
He paused. In his hand was a remote. He showed it and said,
"There are explosives placed on this bridge. One button—and the bridge will explode. Your Zakia will fall into the abyss. Do you understand?"
Mumin's eyes flared. Inside him, Musa roared.
"Kill him! Kill everyone! Let me out!"
But Mumin stopped Musa. Not now. Now he needed wisdom.
Mumin looked straight into the president's eyes and calmly said,
"You're asking me to give you Musa. But Musa is not separate from me. Musa is me. We are the same being. Do you understand that?"
The president said, "What are you talking about?"
Mumin replied,
"I'm saying if you get me, you get Musa too. I agree. I will work with you. But I have one condition—release them. Right now."
Mahim shouted,
"No, Mumin! No! They will destroy you!"
Zakia was crying.
"Uncle! My uncle!"
Rokeya Begum wiped tears from her eyes. She could not speak.
The president stared at Mumin for a long time. Then suddenly he smiled.
"You surprised me, boy. You really are different."
He made a signal. The soldiers stepped back. Mahim, Rokeya Begum, and Zakia came forward. Zakia ran to Mumin and hugged him tightly.
"Uncle! I was scared!"
Mumin placed his hand on her head.
"Don't be afraid, Zakia. Allah is here."
The president said,
"I accept your condition. They will leave for their country today. Safely. But you will stay here. With us. With Musa."
Mumin looked at Mahim. Tears were in Mahim's eyes. He held Mumin's hand.
"May Allah bless you, son. We will pray for you."
Rokeya Begum said,
"What you did for us—we will never forget."
Zakia wrapped her arms around Mumin again.
"Uncle, will I see you again?"
Mumin wiped her tears and said,
"Insha'Allah, Zakia. If Allah wills, we will meet again. Pray for me."
Zakia nodded.
"I will pray for you every day, Uncle."
The soldiers took them away. Mumin stood alone on the bridge. The president stood beside him.
The president said,
"You sold yourself to save them. Do you know that's weakness?"
Mumin looked up at the sky.
"No. That is strength. The strength of love. Allah loves those who love others."
The president said nothing. He simply looked at this strange boy.
The sun was overhead. Beneath the bridge lay the deep abyss. But there was no fear in Mumin's heart. Because he knew—Allah exists. And when Allah is with someone, no one can harm them.
Mahim, Rokeya Begum, and Zakia might already be on their way. But Mumin was not alone now. Musa was with him. And so was Allah.
Standing on the bridge, Mumin whispered,
"O Allah, take this family safely home. And give me strength to fight these oppressors. Ameen."
The president said,
"Come, Mumin. Work must begin."
Mumin followed the president. But there was a new light in his eyes now—the same light that Pharaoh once saw in the eyes of Musa. The light that foretells the end of every tyrant.