The next few weeks before Khalid left for India, they spent every spare minute together. Cooking together, playing in the flower garden, going for shopping and all that. Up to the last second...

Hakimi drove Khalid and Zainab to Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport.

They walked with their fingers interlocked within each other. It's no doubt that both of them would miss each other. Walking halfway into the entrance, Zainab stopped. She looked at Khalid with water in her beautiful dark eyes and a cute smile across her lips.

She let out a soft sigh before she muttered something.

"Good bye."

"No, it's not like that Allie. Come on, I'll see you soon and you can come and visit. We're best friends right?"

"Okay, stop already Khalid. Don't say anything. I just want to know that you're studying hard and everything is going on well."

"You're so adorable Aliyah. I can't believe you're acting so cool about this. I know I'm going to miss you but I promise to call you ten times a day and make you smile every single day."

"Yes, let's do that." She replied him with a smile.

Staring into each other's eyes one last time looked as if the love they shared was stiring their soul as one. Zainab held her hands over his shoulder, cuddling him in a tight hug. Tears lingered down Zainab's eyes as she she held his perfect body. The felt the same too.
Khalid cupped her face into his hands, letting their foreheads to touch each other. He then placed a his on Zainab's forehead and wiped away her tears.

"Don't worry, Allie. I'll be back in two years. It's just two years." He hugged her, placing her head on his chest. She could feel his comfy chest and the throbbing doing of his heatbeats.

"Okay, it's enough now." She pulled away from him with a smile. Khalid joined her with a killer smile as he grabbed his bag over his shoulder and walked towards the stairs that lead to the scanning room.

Why am I like this? What does it feel to be so lonely without someone's presence? Is this what they call love? I don't know how my future with him would be but I hope he would be in my future with me. The thoughts flowed through her mind as she watched Khalid walked away to join the queue of travellers.
I know he was my best friend, worse enermy and brother but... Whatever it is, there's a part of me that's always going to belong to Khalid Maikuddi.

Hakimi took Zainab back home so, she either stayed with the Maikuddi's, or alone at their original house or maybe, visit Humaira at her husband's place to chat with Humaira during the weekends.

Well, Humaira and Zayn went to Jos and then Lagos for their honeymoon which lasted for two weeks. Humaira and Doctor Zayn are living a very happy and blessed married life, with happiness and joy blossoming their root relationship.

***

3 Days Later...

"So, how's school? Have you started receiving lecturers?"

"Not yet dearie. It's still empty. I feel like resuming school even before resumption date... It's as if time is going slower by the day."

"Awwwwn... Don't worry. It wont be like this for long. I'm sure lectures would fully start by next week, uh? Be patient."

"Okay Allie. How about you? When are you resuming?"

"The post jamb result isn't yet out. I guess it would be out by next week. So, I'll be preparing to go to Kano."

"Wow! That's great! Oh, my new roommate is coming! Good bye now."

"No... But I still want to chat with you!"

"Later in the evening love. Byeeee!"

***

3 Days Later

"Allie! Come online, I'm hungry!" Khalid cried in front of his laptop screen.

It was a video call on IMO.

Zainab went to bring her favorite Tuwon Chinkafa and Mian Kuka.

"So sorry dearie. I went to get drinking water." She explained to him as she joined the video conversation.
"Shall we eat?"

"Yes, sure." Khalid replied as he took a piece of hamburger in his plate.

He couldn't help but to stare at the delicious Nigerian delicacy in front of Zainab.

She washed her hands and started eating.

"Hmmm... Delicious." She muttered as she took the first swallow.

"Subhanallah! I miss tuwo!" He cried. "It looks delicious. Who coked it?"

"I made it!" She jerked excitedly over the laptop's screen. She knows how much he loves eating with her.

"Please feed me." He begged and opened his mouth to his laptop.

Humaira took a portion to feed him too but it was just impossible.

He chewed up his mouth as if he'd actually eaten it.

"Khalid. You're acting really wried over there." Zainab retorted.

"Yes Allie. I'm going crazy because I miss you. I can't believe there's still 23 months, three weeks and six days left before we can see each other."

"Awwwwn..." Both of them cried at themselves, hoping time would pass fast.

As it is, there are times when the both of them won't be able to communicate we because of the time difference. India is 4 hours 30 minutes ahead of Nigeria.

When Khalid is preparing for class around 7:00 a.m, he can't call Zainab because she's still sleeping and it's 2:30 a.m in Nigeria. Again, there are times when Khalid would be tired and just want to sleep. It's just 9:00 p.m in Nigeria and it's 12:30 a.m in India... So, they had to cope with hearing each other's snoring on the phone at times. It sounds really cute.

***

Weeks Later...

Zainab was shopping alone in the mall when Khalid's call came in.

"Aliyah! He sounded over the phone with a stuffy voice.

"Khalid! Didn't you sleep?"

"No... It's just." He let out three thunderous coughs.

"Why are you coughing? Is it winter already? Why did you expose yourself to do much cold? Have you taken any medication?"

"Come on Allie, it's not that bad. I would be fine by evening. I don't need drugs."

"Don't rush your life over laziness, Khalid! What if you don't get better by evening? Since you've been eating preserved food all these while and most times you work on an empty stomach. If you don't feel like cooking then at least, go to a restaurant. Or better still, eat a lot of fruits and veggies. Ugh! I wish I could take care of you..."

"Oh, really. It's nothing to worry your pretty head about."

"Even though the cough is not serious, make sure you take your medicine and go to bed early today, okay."

"Okay." He replied her with a submissive voice.

"Talk to you soon." She ends the call.

Later that evening, Zainab failed his number but it wasn't reachable. She sent him a message but he didn't reply as well. She couldn't imagine what might have happened to him. She was already packing up and getting ready for school.

"Maybe he's so tired." Zainab thought. "I'll continue again tomorrow."

But an electronic lady's voice sounded after the phone's beeping.

'The number you've dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later, thank you'.

"What's going on? He said it wasn't serious and now he is number not  reachable? I've asked mum and she said he'll be alright but it doesn't look alright to me." Zainab muttered, typing him a message on Instagram.

'I'll be going to Kano tomorrow. It would be my first day at school... To bad, Khalid wouldn't know about it. Or... Maybe everything is alright and I'm just worrying. He might have fallen asleep after taking some medicine.' She sighed softly and went to WhatsApp.

'How come you aren't replying my messages? Are you sleeping? Have you eaten? Or... Has your cough increased?' Zainab typed it vividly on her phone and sent it to him.

She checked her phone throughout the night but there was no reply. She slept off till... It was morning.

The early morning rain poured gently from the sky like a shower of blessing. The weather was slightly cold and Zainab was still asleep. She woke up to the brightness of the day as she flew out of bed, remembering it was her resumption date. She would have to leave early to take the first bus going to Kano. Checking her phone vividly, she saw that there wasn't any replied messages yet.
It's faustrating, why won't he pick my call either?!" She dialed his number again and it was...

'The number you've dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later, thank you'.

Zainab almost died of disappointment when she when to take her shower. She was still in the bathroom when she heard the doorbell ring. It rang severally and agressively, it's as if the rain was poring on the person.

"But... Isn't that strange? I'm not expecting anyone." She said to herself as she tied a white towel on her chest to check.

And there he was... Standing in front of her. Zainab didn't know what to do; whether to welcome him because she has missed him like crazy or to just send him back because of the thousand reasons she has to. Anyways, Zainab threw him a very big hug, forgetting if I was raining or if his clothes were dripping-wet.

"How are you?!" With happiness, Khalid almost jumped out of his shoes.

"Do you know how worried I was because of you?! I couldn't eat properly. I couldn't sleep properly... Why didn't you tell me you were coming today?! Fuck you, Khalid! You didn't even answer my calls. I was thinking all kinds of things!" She cried, pouring out all her complaints to him like the sky was pouring rain, towards the earth.

"Come on Allie, I just wanted to surprise you." He explained as he pulled to see the irresistible beauty he has fallen for.

She still looked beautiful in her towel. She as beautiful as ever.

That's all? I thought I was going to die from wanting to see you. I missed you, Aliyah!" He pulled away a bit. Finally, I'm home. Seeing you puts my heart at rest.

"Come in." She offered and quickly went into her room to put on her clothes.

"Aren't you missing classes already? How were you able to come all of a sudden?"

"Despite the fact that it's just a month I spent without you, I felt like starving even after eating. I felt like sleeping even after sleeping, Allie. Life was boring. And... with the way I was feeling, I thought I might die from being lovesick." He explained then he stared at her sarcastically.

"What's it, Khalid. Why the awkward stares?" A small frown appeared on her face.

"Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes... I'm going to school today but the rain is delaying me." She complained.

"What? You're going to Kano already? Please don't."

"What do you mean by that? I don't understand."

"I'll talk to mum and dad. I came to take the bigger part of me I left. I'll take you to study in India with me, Zainab. It's evident that I can't do without you."

"What? But I'm prepared for school!" She jerked off his hand.

"I came to take you along with me, Allie. Please come with me to India. You can study your medicine and surgery there. Uh?" He persuaded enticingly.

"Okay, if your mum agrees." She replied him.

Khalid called his mum and told her he's around. She sent Hakimi to pick both of them so, finally they were back home.

Meeting his parents, he explained why he came back. Making them see reasons why Aliyah has to follow him.

"Okay son, permission granted but..."

"But what, mum."

"You guys need to be careful. Especially you, Khalid. Make sure you don't hurt her in any way." Hajia Fati warned.

"Yes mother, sure. I wouldn't let a fly touch her." He promised.

"And no sex before marriage okay?" She warned again.

They both of them stared at each other, bursting out in laughter.

"I'm serious..."

"Come on mum, Aliyah is like a sister to me. How can I do such a thing?"

"I was just saying..." She wore a smirk.

Well, truth be told. Zainab and Khalid are very close friends. Apart from the kiss... Nothing intimate happened between then. Only the kisses.

Three days later, Humaira, Zayn, Hajia Fati and her husband based Zainab and Khalid goodbye at the airport. They gave them hugs, kisses and their deepest heartfelt wishes. Well, Zainab and khalid took off as the other couples returned to their happy homes.