Filled with joy, he started shaking the children's hands while clapping and saying, "Good children, you really did well."
Excitedly, Hameeda, who couldn't be more than seven years old, said, "Abba, will you buy us the gift you promised if we did well?"
With a smile on his face, the elder replied, "Of course, as soon as I leave here, I'll bring you your gifts."
Hadeeya, who was sitting next to him, said, "But Abba, I did better than them, right? So my gift should be better than theirs."
Hameeda glared at her and said, "Listen to this girl, you didn't even take the exam, you are just kids."
A beautiful young woman sitting nearby, watching them with a smile on her face, spoke in French, "Calmez-vous les enfants, votre Papa offrira a chacun le bon cadeau (Calm down children, your father will give each of you the appropriate gift)."
He looked at her with love and affection and said, "And you, what will you give them?"
She gave him a playful wink before saying, "Ce une secret entre eux et moi (It's a secret between them and me)."
The youngest among them, Hamdeeya, approached her mother with childish affection and said, "Momma, will you also buy me a gift?"
She lifted her and placed her on her lap, saying, "Of course, my little one, you come first before anyone else."
Amidst all the joy and celebration, Haleematu stood aside watching. Seeing that she wasn't mentioned, she moved closer to her father and said, "Abba, will you buy me one too?"
He gave her a stern look from head to toe before turning away and said, "With the poor results you brought, should I waste my money on you?"
She lowered her head and pleaded, "Please, Abba, even if it's a small one."
He looked at her sharply and said, "Move away and give me space, I won't buy it, Saleema."
Since she was named after his mother, they called her Saleema. She lifted her head, her eyes filled with tears, and said, "Abba, if I do well in the final term, will you buy me one?"
He glared at her again and then said, "Maybe."
She smiled and said, "I will, Abba."
She quickly moved to where her mother was sitting, who seemed as if she wasn't in the room, but she was watching everything that was happening. Despite her heartache, she had no choice but to be patient. Saleema sat next to her mother and handed her the report card. Her mother took it weakly and looked at the results, letting out a heavy sigh, seeing that Saleema hadn't done well at all, as she was only ahead of three students in her class.