TLDR;
This is a story about a woman named Sonia, who seeks revenge on her neighbor, Mahmoud, after he leads the charge to have her arrested for running a brothel. After serving a year in prison, Sonia returns and meticulously plots to destroy Mahmoud's life by ruining the reputations of his children, leading to a tragic and shocking conclusion.
- Sonia rents an apartment in Aleppo and is suspected of running a brothel.
- The neighbors, led by Mahmoud, report her to the authorities, leading to her arrest.
- After serving a year in prison, Sonia seeks revenge on Mahmoud by targeting his children.
- Sonia manipulates Mahmoud's son, Khairy, and sets a trap for his daughter, Foton, leading to a devastating outcome.
Introduction [0:00]
The story is about a woman whose actions are described as devilish and shocking. The narrator emphasizes the unbelievable nature of the events, attributing the story's credibility to the late lawyer, Mr. Hael Al-Yousfi. The story is set in Aleppo, Syria, approximately 20 years ago, and revolves around an apartment in an upscale neighborhood.
The Mysterious Madam Sonia [0:25]
A luxurious apartment is offered for rent, and a woman named Sonia expresses interest. The landlord is immediately captivated by Sonia's appearance and demeanor. Despite her age being estimated between 40 and 45, she presents herself as elegant and modern. Sonia quickly agrees to rent the apartment for a year, paying the full amount in advance, which surprises the landlord. During the contract signing, it's revealed that Sonia's ID bears the name Kulthum, which she dismisses as an old name, preferring to be called Sonia. The landlord also notices that she is older than he initially thought, likely over 50.
Suspicious Activities and Neighborly Concerns [3:29]
After moving in, Sonia maintains a distance from her neighbors, discouraging frequent visits. The neighbors note that Sonia's accent is not from Aleppo, leading to speculation about her origins, with some suggesting she might be Lebanese or of gypsy descent, possibly a former nightclub singer. Sonia lives alone, except for a foreign maid. The neighbors observe a constant stream of visitors, arriving in expensive cars and acting secretively. Suspicions arise that Sonia's apartment is being used for immoral activities, with beautiful girls visiting and men arriving in luxurious cars late at night.
The Building Council's Intervention [6:41]
Mahmoud, the head of the building council, calls a meeting to address the concerns about Sonia's activities. Residents express their worries about the impact on their children and the building's reputation. They decide to report the suspicious activities to the morals department of the police. The police agree to raid Sonia's apartment upon receiving a call when suspicious activity is observed.
Failed Raids and Growing Frustration [8:00]
The neighbors eagerly monitor Sonia's apartment and, after witnessing suspicious visitors, they call the morals police. The police raid the apartment but leave after half an hour, seemingly without making any arrests, much to the neighbors' shock. This scenario repeats itself more than ten times, with the police appearing to be on friendly terms with Sonia. Frustrated, the building council reconvenes to discuss further action.
Escalating the Complaint to Higher Authorities [10:31]
The building residents consider speaking to the apartment owner, but he is unwilling to intervene due to the high rent Sonia pays. They contemplate raising the issue with the governor but ultimately decide to take their complaint directly to the Minister of Interior in Damascus. They submit a petition detailing their concerns.
Arrest and Imprisonment [12:01]
The Minister of Interior takes the matter seriously, leading to a raid on Sonia's apartment where she and others are caught "red-handed." Sonia is tried and sentenced to one year in prison along with a fine. While in prison, Sonia learns that Mahmoud was the one who instigated the neighbors against her and orchestrated the petition to the Minister of Interior. She sends a message to Mahmoud, threatening revenge of the same kind, vowing that he will pay a heavy price for her imprisonment.
The Seeds of Revenge [13:33]
After serving her sentence, Sonia returns to her apartment and renews her lease, paying an even higher rent. Her goal is not to resume her previous activities but to exact revenge on Mahmoud. She begins to observe Mahmoud's household, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Targeting Mahmoud's Son [14:18]
Sonia notices that Mahmoud's son, Khairy, is home alone while his parents and sister are away. She uses a pretext to lure Khairy into her apartment, where she has a girl waiting for him. Khairy, who is naive and inexperienced, is easily manipulated by Sonia and the girl.
Khairy's Moral Corruption [16:02]
Khairy begins to visit Sonia's apartment frequently, and she gradually corrupts his morals, convincing him that people are free to do whatever they want in their own homes as long as they are not harming anyone. Khairy starts making excuses to his family to cover up his visits to Sonia's apartment.
Targeting Mahmoud's Daughter [17:30]
Sonia orchestrates a plan to ruin Mahmoud's daughter, Foton. She arranges for a woman to call Mahmoud's house, pretending to be a potential suitor's mother interested in Foton as a bride. A meeting is set up, and Foton is impressed by the suitor's mother and the description of her son.
The Fake Suitor [18:36]
The suitor, a well-dressed and seemingly successful man, arrives and further impresses Foton. However, after the initial visit, the suitor's family does not call back, leaving Foton disappointed. Later, the suitor approaches Foton and asks to speak with her privately, claiming there are important matters to discuss before his family proposes.
The Trap is Set [22:53]
The suitor suggests meeting at his aunt's house, who is revealed to be Sonia. Foton is hesitant but curious. The suitor gives her a specific time to arrive at Sonia's apartment, stating that if she doesn't come, he will assume she is not interested. Sonia assures the suitor that Foton will come, driven by curiosity and the allure of a good match.
The Tragic Confrontation [25:19]
Foton arrives at Sonia's apartment and is taken to a living room with a strange setup, including a bed. While Foton is talking with Sonia and the suitor, Khairy arrives, expecting to meet another girl. Sonia leads Khairy to believe that Foton is the "customer" he is waiting for. Khairy enters the room and, upon seeing his sister, assumes the worst. Overcome with rage, he attacks and kills her.
Aftermath and Justice [27:46]
The police and ambulance arrive, and Mahmoud witnesses his children being taken away. The forensics report confirms that Foton was a virgin. Sonia claims it was all a joke gone wrong, but eventually confesses to her plan. The fake suitor claims he was manipulated by Sonia. Khairy is sentenced to five years in prison. The story ends without revealing Sonia's fate, but emphasizes the devastating consequences of her revenge on Mahmoud, who lost both his daughter and his son.