The Betrayal of Friendship: A True Crime Story

Have you ever had a friend? Have you ever loved someone deeply? Have you ever allowed someone into your life, never suspecting they would be the one to end it? Have you ever questioned whether your friends truly love you?

In this story, we see how kindness and compassion can sometimes be weaknesses in the face of demons. They leave the devil alive, while the angel lies dead. The true loser is us. An angel has departed, and a devil remains.

Even if we captured the devil, there would still be fewer angels.

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Wolf in sheep clothing

Najlaa, a name ironically enough means something that is wide and open, was a woman admired by all. A dedicated secretary at a local clinic, she wasn't just known for her efficiency but also for her boundless generosity. Her earnings were routinely directed towards good deeds, leaving a trail of positive impact wherever she went. Friendships came easily to Najlaa, her genuine warmth radiating outwards, attracting a loyal circle around her.

Then came a twist of fate, a serpent slithering into her paradise. A new friend named Norehan entered Najlaa's life, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Norehan cultivated a facade of camaraderie, mirroring Najlaa's kindness and feigning the qualities of a loyal confidante. Najlaa, ever trusting, readily embraced this newfound friendship, welcoming Norehan into her inner circle.

However, whispers began to ripple through Najlaa's social circle. Unease settled over them as they observed Norehan's behavior. A gnawing suspicion arose – was Norehan truly the friend she appeared to be? Despite these concerns, Najlaa, blinded by her inherent trust, dismissed these warnings. Norehan's performance as a caring friend remained flawlessly convincing.

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Final straw

Norehan's insidious plan to isolate Najlaa unfolded subtly, like a venomous serpent slithering into the unsuspecting's path. With calculated moves, she began to subtly undermine Najlaa's friendships, casting a shadow of doubt and suspicion among her closest companions. Najlaa, blinded by her inherent trust and kindness, misconstrued Norehan's actions as acts of genuine concern, believing that her newfound friend had her best interests at heart.

Little did Najlaa know that she was harboring a wolf in sheep's clothing. Norehan's envy festered, fueled by a deep-seated resentment towards Najlaa's genuine warmth and popularity. This jealousy reached a boiling point on the day of Najlaa's engagement party. Despite extending invitations to all her acquaintances, only Najlaa graced the occasion with her presence.

The contrast between the attendance at Najlaa's engagement and the outpouring of support during her subsequent illness further fueled Norehan's bitterness. As Najlaa lay battling an unexpected ailment, the very friends who had been absent from her engagement party flocked to her bedside. Norehan's heart burned with resentment, her anger morphing into a consuming desire for revenge.

Norehan's thirst for vengeance would soon set in motion a chain of events that would shatter the tranquility of Najlaa's life, leaving an indelible mark of betrayal and tragedy.

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The crime

Norehan decided to kill Najlaa. She could no longer tolerate Najlaa seeing all her flaws, failures, and hatred. Norehan went to one of her relatives, her cousin Mohammed. She tried to convince him to commit the murder, knowing that he was a failure who indulged in drugs and would do anything for money. She didn't tell him that she wanted to kill Najlaa out of spite; her pride was too high for that. Instead, she told him it was for the money and that Najlaa wore precious jewelry, and her women's bag always contained a significant amount of money, either Najlaa's own or the funds she collected for charity.

Initially, Mohammed refused, fearing that things wouldn't go as planned. However, Norehan knew how to manipulate a young man like him, barely 16 years old, sexually curious and with almost no sexual experience. She promised him that she would sleep with him in addition to the money he would receive for helping her commit the murder. Mohammed couldn't say no to Norehan's beauty.

Mohammed came up with a plan. One of his friends owned a small minibus that they would use to transport Norehan after drugging her. They would then kill her and dispose of her body in the sea, making it appear as a regular robbery. That was the initial plan, but after a short while, Mohammed's friend changed his mind and backed out.

Norehan wasn't happy with that, but Mohammed was determined to secure the grand prize. He decided to improvise and approached another friend named Ashraf, telling him about the plan. Ashraf agreed to help.

The new plan was as follows: Norehan would go up to Najlaa's clinic and offer her a drugged juice. Afterward, the two young men would enter and drive her away, eventually killing her. Norehan went up to Najlaa with a smile on her face, the smile of innocence. Najlaa stood up to welcome her, surprised by her unexpected visit, but Norehan dismissed it, saying she missed Najlaa and wanted to catch up. They sat down and started talking.

Later, Norehan insisted on offering Najlaa the drugged juice, but Najlaa refused, stating that she had just consumed a hot beverage. This created a dilemma for Norehan, but the devil doesn't abandon the wicked. She pretended to have a stomach ache and convinced Najlaa to accompany her to the bathroom. As Najlaa entered, it would be the last place she would enter with her own two feet.

The two young men came from behind and snatched away Najlaa's hijab, the religious symbol. However, demons don't respect sanctities. They strangled her with the hijab until she died. They quickly rushed out of the building, leaving her lifeless body behind.

Justice served

The vibrant chaos of the city was silenced by a single, chilling act - the murder of Najlaa, a beloved figure known for her kindness and expertise. A woman who dedicated her life to helping others, Najlaa was found lifeless in her own clinic, the victim of a ruthless crime that defied understanding.

News of the tragedy spread like wildfire, leaving a community in mourning. The question that gnawed at everyone's hearts was agonizing - who could have targeted such a selfless soul?

The police, determined to bring the perpetrator to justice, embarked on a relentless investigation. Following leads and sifting through alibis, they stumbled upon a truth that shook them to their core: the prime suspect was Norehan, Najlaa's closest friend.

The idea that Norehan, a woman seemingly synonymous with loyalty and support, could be involved was met with utter disbelief. But as investigators meticulously combed through the evidence, a horrifying picture emerged. Nourhan, consumed by a dark envy fueled by Najlaa's success, had orchestrated the murder with the help of a distant relative, Mohammed.

The motive, unearthed with painstaking detail, was as shocking as the crime itself. Nourhan, harboring a festering jealousy of Najlaa's achievements and popularity, had become fixated on eliminating her friend. This warped perception twisted her mind into believing that Najlaa's absence would pave the way for her own rise.

The revelation of Norehan 's betrayal shattered the illusion of their friendship and plunged those who knew them into despair. Najlaa's loved ones grappled with the incomprehensible reality that the person they had trusted the most had turned on them in such a cold-blooded manner.

Justice, however, would not be swayed. Faced with the overwhelming evidence, Norehan and Mohammed were apprehended and brought to trial. The courtroom became a battleground, as the prosecution laid bare the details of their calculated scheme, exposing the depths of their malice.

In the end, the scales of justice tipped decisively. Norehan and Mohammed were found guilty of Najla's murder and sentenced accordingly. Their conviction brought a semblance of closure to the grieving community, but the scars of their betrayal would forever remain.

The story of Najlaa's murder serves as a chilling reminder that darkness can lurk in the most unexpected places. It highlights the destructive potential of envy and the dangers of letting resentment fester. Najlaa's legacy, however, would not be defined by the actions of her betrayers. Her memory would live on in the hearts of those she touched, an enduring testament to the power of human kindness and the importance of genuine friendship.