"She's my girlfriend." Their brother's cold voice suddenly blurted out, and the three pair of eyes suddenly bulged out of their stockets.

What!

"Yaya?" His sister said in disbelief. "Your girlfriend? How?"

"Yes, my girlfriend." He reaffirmed, clenching his jaws. He stared directly at the girl, and she internally shuddered. She has seen those eyes before, but where?

A smiled bloomed on his sister's face as she rushed to the girl in excitement. ", I'm sorry about my behavior. I was just...shocked! My brother has never introduced anyone as his girlfriend before. Well after all there's a first time for everything." She giggled. "I'm Ayshah by the way. And you are?"

Zaheerah seemed to be in a daze as she looked at her. She still couldn't fathom what was happening. Why would he declare a complete stranger as his girlfriend? But she couldn't refute what he said because of the daggers he subtly kept throwing her way. She couldn't do anything but comply, and force a smile on her face. "I'm Zaheerah, nice to meet you too."

"I can see why my brother has never mentioned you before. You're indeed a rare beauty. Allahumma baarik."

"Ameen thank you." Zaheerah smiled shyly. She just wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. God!

"Well since tomorrow is Saturday, and my brother is off from work, I would like to invite you over for lunch. No excuses. Besides, I know that my brother would love that." Ayshah grinned. "I would like to know more about the girl that melted my bother's ice cold heart!"

Her brother forced a smile on his face, mentally face palming himself for the kind of of messy situation he landed himself in, all thanks to his sister who he didn't want the spark of happiness that lighted up in her eyes to dull out.
Saif cleared his throat, feeling awkward and a little irked. He was supposed to introduce Zaheerah to his brother as an interviewee, but it turns out that he was her boyfriend. How was this even possible. His brother of all people.

"I would go back to work now." He said. "Sai mun hadu a gida."

"Give me that necklace first." His brother said, stretching out his hand. Saif looked at him, then at Zaheerah who silently pleaded with him not to give the necklace to him. He hesitated a little before giving it to him and left whilst his brother safely tucked it into his pockets.

"I would also head back home now. Oh I can't wait to share this good news with Mama. I know that she'll be ecstatic as well. Don't forget about tomorrow Zaheerah. Sai anjima." She gave Zaheerah a brief hug before she left.

The man let out a sigh as he walked to his big mahogany table and pulled his chair back, the screeching sound interrupting the tense silence that filled his office. He leaned forward, his eyes ablaze with anger as he glared at the woman who had caused him so much trouble.

Saleem was a business tycoon who had made a fortune in the world of finance. He was a man who had worked tirelessly to get to where he was today, and he prided himself on being able to spot a gold digger from a mile away. So, seeing this girl with a man who called her his girlfriend, and now with his brother as he bought her that necklace that he has seized, he assumed the worst.

"Let me be straight with you, Zaheerah," he said, with a stern look on his face. "I saw you with your boyfriend in a car the other day, and now I see you with my brother. Are you one of those girls who sponges off men for money?"

She was taken aback by his accusation. "No, Mr, I'm not a gold digger," she protested. "I was just catching a ride with a friend. And as for your brother, I've only met him today. He's my friend's boyfriend. I'm not asking for anything from anyone."

Saleem was clearly not convinced. "Then what's with this necklace?" he asked, holding up the expensive-looking piece of jewelry.

Zaheerah's heart sank. She had received that necklace as a gift from her Father, and she had been wearing it ever since she could remember. Her Father strictly told her not to ever take it off

"It's mine," she said, her voice trembling. "It's like a family heirloom. My Father gave it to me."

Saleem stared at the necklace for a moment, and looked back at her with a mocking expression. "You really think that I'm going to believe you? Do you think that I'm a fool? How could someone like you afford this?"

Zaheerah silently shook her head, tears streaming down her face. She had never felt so humiliated in her life. "Wallahil Azeem it's mine. It's not as expensive as it looks. Please give it back to me. My Father... he..."

"I'm not giving it back to you. And now due to your little scandal, I have to keep pretending that you're my girlfriend until I come up with a plan on how to sort it out." He spat in disgust.

Zaheerah's heart hammered against her ribcage, not sure of what to do or say. Ya Allah! How did she ended up meeting this pompous and obnoxious man!

"Dan Allah ka rufa min asiri." She begged." I'm going through so much right now, you literally have no idea. Please give me this necklace. Dan Allah. " She suppressed her hiccup. This necklace means so much to her Father, who, at the moment was fighting for his life. But how could she even explain when this man is obviously not willing to listen.

"That one is your problem. Just because you fooled my brother doesn't mean you can fool me. And my sister has invited you over tomorrow so there's nothing I can do. But one thing I want you to keep at the back of your mind is to never disappoint my sister. I'll come pick you up tomorrow. And one more thing... " He assessed her from top to bottom. " Find something more presentable to wear. You can leave now. "

She flinched at the blatant insult. She has never been humiliated like this in her 23 years of living.

" You'll regret this. " She said, before opening the door and closing it with so much force that will cause it to bang loudly, but it didn't, due to her annoyance. The door was not designed to be slammed shut, rather it has been installed for a soft click closure.

The man let out a humorless chucke at her words, before he went back to his work.

As she walked out of the office, Zaheerah vowed to prove the man wrong. She wasn't a gold digger, and she wouldn't let anyone treat her like one.

***

Zaheerah went back home and freshened up. Mama was at the hospital watching over her Father, while her sister was at school. She called Mariam afterwards to update her, but the latter didn't pick up.

She quickly cooked the food to take to the hospital and soon headed there.

"Salaam alaikum. Ina wuni Aunty Maimuna." She greeted her aunt, who is Layal's mother, and also her Father's younger sister.

"Lafiya lau Zaheerah. How are you?"

"Alhamdulillah. Ina wuni Ma." She greeted her Mom, who didn't respond.

"Zaheerah." Layal motioned for her to come over and she did, glad that her mother has not spoken to her, because she was sure she has nothing to utter but hateful words.

"Are you okay. You cried ko?" Layal asked and Zaheerah rolled her eyes.

"Bana son gulma." She sassed. "And I'm perfectly okay. Thanks for asking. Just had a bad day."

"I know that you cried. Tell me what happened? How was it?" Layal pressed and she sighed.

"I'll tell you later okay? I don't feel like talking about it right now."

"Alright then. Khair in sha Allah."

She excused herself and headed to her father's ward room, entering with a soft Salam.

Her father was lying unconscious with tubes sticking out of his arms and machines beeping rhythmically beside him.

She sat there looking at her father for what felt like an eternity, holding his hand tightly, as tears streamed down her face. The reality of the situation was slowly hitting her as she thought about all the things that they had yet to do together. The thought that he might never open his eyes again was too much for her to handle.

As he lay there in the hospital bed, she shared with him her struggles and challenges. She told him how she had been fired from her job. She was the sole breadwinner in her family and she had no idea how she would be able to support her elderly father, her mother and her sister.

Zaheerah held her father's hand tightly as she spoke to him, her tears falling down on their intertwined hands. She prayed for him to wake up and reassure her that everything would be okay.

As she sat there, the door of the ward room opened, and in walked the doctor. She wiped her tears and sat up straight. The doctor approached the bed and informed her that her father's condition was still not stable and that they were doing everything they could to save him.

She felt a wave of fear wash over her. She pleaded with the doctor to do everything possible to save her father's life. She promised that she would do anything to help her father recover and lead a healthy life.

As the doctor left the room, Zaheerah sat back down beside her father's bed, clutching his hand tightly. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself, hoping and praying that her father would make it through this difficult time.

***

The next day

It was some minutes after Zuhur that she heard a knock on their door, she went to check who it was as she was the only one at home.

"You?" She asked, taken aback. She wasn't expecting him to show up at her house. No, she thought he was going to tell his siblings that it was a prank, and that she wasn't really his girlfriend. Her hand involuntary went to her neck, which was bare for the first time she could remember.

"Come let's go. And don't waste my time." He said in an icy voice, and turned to leave.

"Wait. How did you even get here?"

"Doesn't matter. And I repeat, don't waste my time."

She glared at his retreating back and hissed, before she went back to roll her veil over her head. She was dressed in a modest blue and purple atamfa that was sown into a gown. She quickly wore her shoes, closed the door, and headed to his car.

She wanted to ask him where his driver was, but she clamped her mouth shut. This man, was a bipolar person, and she knew that it wasn't a wise choice to push his buttons. Besides, she was cracking her brain on how to persuade him to give her back her necklace before someone notices that it was missing. His phone rang, pulling her from her ring of thoughts. He answered it and his sister's loud voice immediately filled the car.

"Yaya Saleem! I hope you're on your way with my darling sister in-law."

He tried to squeeze a smile on his face as he faced the girl that was the definition of trouble to him.

"Yes my love. We are together. We are almost there."

"Alright then. Sai kun iso."

He hanged up and turned to look at her for a millisecond before he focused his attention back on the road. "You better behave yourself when we arrive there. And I also need to find a way to end this... nonsense before it gets out of hand." He warned and she rolled her eyes.

" Yes Saleem. " She sassed.

They soon arrived at the house, which is more like a mansion, and she couldn't help but marvel at it. The place looks like it could house more than the people in her village.

He parked the car and told her to go ahead first that he has a phone call to make. She nodded and stepped out of the car and stood in front of the large, intimidating house. She couldn't help but wonder what the consequences of this visit would be. But she couldn't help feeling nervous as she approached the door, knowing that this could end in disaster.

As she rang the doorbell, she took a deep breath and tried to steady her nerves. Suddenly the door opened to reveal a young lady who seemed to be around her age, maybe a year or two years older.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" She asked, looking at her with suspicion and disgust.

"I... is Ayshah around? " She asked, trying to keep her voice steady and her composure intact.

"Zaheerah!" Ayshah squealed as she engulfed her in a warm hug. "Sannu da zuwa. Nour why would you keep her outside like that? I told you that Yaya's girlfriend is coming today." She turned to face Zaheerah with a cheerful expression marring her face. "Well  Zaheerah, meet Nour, our cousin."

"Nice to meet you." Zaheerah offered her a small smile, but received an ugly scowl in return. Nour looked at her from head to toe, before shaking her head in disbelief.

So this wretched girl was the one her Saleem chose ove her?!

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