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Chapter 2

Hi before you read this chapter i want clarify a point, which is that the word 'abih' is said for the older brother by many years, and the word 'ablah' is similar but for the sister, and children in the novel call Khalid, who is the oldest among them, by the word abih, so he is abih Khalid, i wish this this clarification helps you understand this point so that it won't be strange to you as you read.
Thanks.

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Sixteen children

Sally spent the rest of her day in her beautiful room, with Miss Zakiya bringing her lunch and dinner at their respective times. Time passed as she emptied her suitcase and organized her wardrobe, making slight changes to the layout of her room to suit her better. More importantly, she sat rearranging her thoughts, imagining her meeting with the children and the magnitude of responsibility that now rested on her shoulders. With sixteen children, the situation would certainly not be easy.

She tossed and turned on her new, comfortable bed, whispering thoughtfully:

"Sixteen children, that's really a large number."

She was actually astonished by the sudden twists of fate. Just two weeks ago, she had settled her affairs after resigning, planned what her new life would look like, and envisioned it in a way she had always imagined. She had many dreams that she pursued and sought to achieve. When she took the first step on her path, she received this fateful call from the hospital director, Dr. Noufal, who strongly opposed her resignation and schemed to prevent her from making this decision, and it seems he indeed succeeded. Sally recalled his words:

"Sally, you are a distinguished student and more importantly, a dear daughter. I am trying to prevent you from straying off the path. You are the future of an excellent doctor. It doesn't matter if you walk slowly or stumble, but without losing your way, and it's my duty as your chief to guide you and help you in such matters and spare you such reckless decisions."

In fact, she never saw her resignation as a reckless decision. On the contrary, she saw it as the most important and suitable decision she had made in her life and was very excited about it. But now the situation has changed. She does not know how things will go with her or what her future will be, especially since she had not strayed far from the professional path she had confidently decided to leave. However, she cannot deny that she felt some hope deep inside, especially in a different work environment. Perhaps that was what she needed, a change of environment, or practicing her profession in a different way than she was used to. A new opportunity appeared on the horizon that she would venture into; if she liked it, she would continue, and if not, she would leave simply. Just a month and everything would become clear. But unfortunately, fear was still present, tension remained as it was, and she wished to rid herself of insomnia. Her life had changed, and she was still stuck with those negative feelings as a mouse sticks to a trap. She shook off her thoughts and turned over on the bed with a sigh, picking up her phone to call her mother. Not two seconds passed, and she heard the eager voice. It was her mother, the person who encouraged her to accept Dr. Noufal's offer:

"Sally, how are you? I called you several times. How are things going, tell me!"

Sally smiled at the enthusiasm bursting from the phone:

"I apologize, Mama, I didn't notice the phone. Things are fine."

"How is the place with you?"

Sally looked around her room and said:

"The place is a little different from what I imagined, but it's good. The lady of the house is very nice."

She heard a relieved breath on the other end:

"That's good."

There was silence, broken by her mother: