*

We plunged into sins and then tell ourselves it's alright ,everything is okay, we are not really doing a bad thing forgetting that what is haraam from the onset will never ever become halaal, no matter how hard we try , no matter how many people are in support of it.

Money is like Satan on a piece of notes,which can sometimes turn the good to bad, the honest to dishonest and the humble to arrogant .We are so used to the idea that money is power , without it we are powerless. It might be true that money brings us power to command maids, to have an array of cars in our lot, to buy the things we want without a headache and what not .But will that money by any chance take us to the one place that really matters?

We are allowed to have money lots of them there is nothing bad in that because Allah created us not equal but that doesn't give us the green light to do whatever we wanted for the sole reason that Allah favored us more than others in this temporary world, being rich is a special way of having the  resources to please Allah more yet we  tend to forget. Aiming high to get to the peak and losing ourselves to the world till it became too late and we're only left with temporary enjoyment which will go down the drain the moment we close our eyes forever ,then what ? A torment of grave and that of jahannam. May Allah forgive us all and cleanse our hearts Ameen .

These were the things Kaybee was thinking about all day at work since morning through lunch and now back in the evening to his empty apartment which has no homely feeling to it . Daddy has visited him on his way to New York for an official assignment and he was so happy and relaxed but the prospect the old man brought rattled him .He was given and ultimatum to choose a spouse for himself before coming back or daddy will marry him off to any lady of his choice and he gave no room for argument .

How can he say no to daddy ? How can he tell him that to him all women are the same and he has no intention of marrying ever again . He knows that he has Afreen to think of but what will marrying again benefit her with ? What if his wife is like all those evil step mothers that will break your child beyond repair ? What If she will break him too ? He had loved once at it didn't end well and you can call him a coward or whatever but he has given up on love .

His phone brought him out of reverie and his gaze fell on his now cold dinner which he had been twirling with a fork .

" Assalamu alaikum Mommy good evening " He greeted an over cheerful mommy .

" Waalaikassalam dear, how have you been  My baby boy ,have you eaten ?"

He rolled his eyes and gritted his teeth " For Allah's sake stop calling me baby boy  mommy. I am a grown man with a baby "

Mommy laughed heartily from the other end and he wondered what made his mom so happy ,he has not seen her this happy for a long time .

" I will agree that am your baby boy if only you let me into the reason why you're so happy ?"

" Can't an old woman be happy ? Life is short you know ? Don't be sad. Smile it's sunnah, don't worry be happy " .

" I know mommy, but there must be a reason no matter how minute. Please tell me please please "

" you stubborn rat, it's something I've been praying over for almost a four years now and Finally Allah has accepted my prayers which makes me so happy "

" Urghhh mommy!!! From a baby boy I've now become a rat like seriously ? Am so happy you're happy darling mama and Alhamdulillah for an answered prayer even though you're too secretive about it " He pouted .

" Did you just pout K ? Like frigging pouted the way Afreen does ?"

" No I did not ! Absolutely no " He felt like the ground should open up and swallow him whole and mommy teased him to her fill before they finally end the call .

Her mood totally light up his mood. He  got up and warmed his cold food and dug in , smiling to himself at interval and thanking Allah for blessing him with such a wonderful woman as a mother, he knows that she is hurting and he made a resolve that he will accept any girl they want him to marry again. He cannot date ever again .It will be a marriage of convenience and nothing more .

Relaxing on a couch and fishing out his phone from his pocket he logged into WhatsApp to chat with whoever decides to text him .

Assalamu alaikum bro , how are you and how is life treating you there? I hope everything is fine, just wanted to check up on you and wish you the best .- unknown

Bro ? Who can it be ? He mused and replied the text asking who it was and luckily the sender is online  and he almost smash his phone in frustration before D told him she was the one .

You naughty little thing, where is your husband and why are you chatting this late ? -K

He travelled and the twins are still awake - D

Can't wait to see them and tell them I love them so much already -K

They know but I will remind them - D

Send me their picture please  -K

Pay before service sir - D

You will be a terrific robber this Kid just send before I use my elder bro tone on you - K

Hahha you're still bossy now am afraid for my dear life - D

She sent the pictures and he commented , they kept chatting for a while longer him asking after everyone that he knows .

D it's late and you're a married woman, stop staying late no matter what the reason is goodnight Sis - K

Okay thanks and goodnight to you too big bro come home soon - D

I  will in shaa Allah bye - K .

What's up with his family ? Everyone is telling him to come home soon and he missed them too especially his princess . With that he retired to bed with a tired sigh and a beautiful smile and he  dreamt of beautiful horses and a beautiful garden.

**

Three months into her iddah period Khadijah had gained some weight and her face is once more radiant as before she got married to Ahmad, the twins are growing into a spit image of their mother and it gladdens the hearts of everyone that they didn't take after their father except for the complexion and some body parts but their facial features are same as their mother's and body build .

Whenever her thoughts wandered to the red zone she will immediately find a way to distract herself. They are not struggling as before mashaa Allah due to a construction contract Baba's friend made him an overseer to  and Alhamdulillah Baba is earning a lot more than they have ever dreamt of from the work .

Her business is thriving and she personally took it upon herself to pay for the electricity  bills for fear of their light being cut off which will hinder her business . Zee is busy with school but they chat everyday and make calls sometimes.

A few weeks after the divorce Zee's mom visited and she assured Khadijah that the divorce is khair and in shaa Allah she will find a man more deserving of her who will take care of her and the twins wholeheartedly. Khadijah had scoffed inwardly, marveling at how optimistic about her remarriage they all are not knowing she do not plan on getting married ever again .

Her goals for the rest of her life are to study hard and be able to provide for her parents and kids to the extent that they won't feel the need for a father in their lives .

She heard Ummie on phone laughing and saying Congratulations. She smiled and continue sieving the maize flour for dinner , listening to Maher Zain on her  phone and humming to the lyrics. Ummie came out and gave Khadijah a warm hug .

" Alhamdulillah Deejan the day I've been praying for ever since is here and I can't tell you how happy I am "

" Toh ! What is this beautiful thing you've been praying for that made you so happy ma ?" Khadijah asked with a smile .

" Your Baba has been employed in a company, his friend that gave him that contract employed  him in his company and we are moving out of this house to the company's estate " Ummie added still looking ecstatic .

" Alhamdulillah am so happy.  Allah sarki Babana I can't imagine how happy he must be right now ,may Allah bless his friend that change our lives to a better one , this calls for a celebration Ummie" Khadijah leapt up in joy, the maize flour long forgotten and they sat there showering prayers and blessings on Baba's friend not believing their luck .

Baba was educated up to the university level, it was just that life had been hard on him and he couldn't secure a good job which made him resort to petty business .

They were patient and now they are reaping the fruits in a way they have never imagined .

Ummie called Mommy and informed her of the good news, she was so happy also .

" The timing is perfect then ! Daddy and I are going for umrah next month in shaa Allah and Afreen wanted to come and stay with her Aunty D .I will bring her here and see the new house " mommy said with so much excitement.

That day they didn't cook dinner for the first time in forever  not because there is nothing to cook as they usually go hungry many nights in the past but because  Baba brought take outs for dinner and they had a very hearty meal filled with happiness, joy and gratitude to Allah .

" Alhaji Sani have done everything for me in this life , I pray that I will never betray him  and that Allah will grant him with a home in jannah he is indeed a very good friend " Baba said after he finished his plate .

" That's true, please call him I want to personally thank him for everything " Ummie said still smiling ever since she received the good news, she couldn't just stop smiling .

" Alhamdulillah for everything. I am proud of you Baba ,I know that you're a honest man and you'll never contemplate of betraying Alhaji Sani's trust. May Allah continue to guide you in everything you do " D said packing the used plates outside.

Zee came to visit a week after the good news and she hugged D fiercely " Woah! What's wrong with you sweetheart? Koh an sa ranan bikin kine kike murna haka ?" D teased and Zee burst into tears clinging to D more .

" Yahsalam now you're freaking me out babe , please calm down and tell me what's going on with you "

Sniffling with a heavy sigh Zee said " am so happy for you D and everything but you'll be far away from me.  Who am I going to when I am lost and need directions? Who should I go  to visit and tell about my day at school , my fears, my feelings and everything? Am So used to you being around and close by that it breaks my heart now that  you're moving out "

" Awwwn come here Aminiyita. Even if I'm moving to the edge of the world am always  close habibty, you can always call me and I'll be at your door steps with my weapons to kill whatever is bothering my Besty. Besides it's not far from here just not a walking distance. Believe me when I tell you that I need you more than you need me my super woman, now cheer up and let's make the best of the time we have left "

" You see what I was talking about huh ? How can I not cry ??" Zee  pouted stomping her legs . D smiled and wiped Zee's tears ,hugging her by the side she led her to  her room.

She opened one of her boxes and fished out two beautifully designed Ankara .

" Here, take these to your tailor I will pay for it when he's done " D said passing the clothes to her friend .

" Nah I won't accept it, it's too much " Zee declined

" Ai wallahi baki isa bah " D gave her the stern look she knows not to argue .

" I will accept them on one condition "

" Uhm am all ears ,state your condition ma'am "

" I will take them to the tailor and he will sew for the two of us, we are not that big so it will be enough to sew gowns and he can design them with chiffon or whatever "

" If that's the case I concur "

They nattered away for a while packing things here and there .

" Ehem D you haven't yet told me the secret fah " Zee said out of the blue which made D stopped what she was doing.

" Ohh that, it's nothing much , you remember that time Taheer came here ? " Zee nodded

" He told me some unbelievable things about Hauwa which Ahmad is oblivious of ,very dark secrets he uncovered ."

" Toh ! it doesn't matter since you're not together " Zee tried hard to hide her interest in the story but failed because D knows her better than that .

" Hauwa is a suspected human trafficker and narcotics dealer and a cult member ,Ahmad has no idea of and  the worst news is that she has infected him with HIV but the dumb money hungry son of a bachelor is not aware of that too. Just following her blindly. Taheer told me all those to be careful and never take anything from Ahmad nor  let him touch me .He said I am not infected because he has done a test after I gave birth to the twins and it was after that he tested Ahmad too "

" Subhanallah, tab ! That guy is in trouble, You won't be there to witness how it's going to end though .May Allah guide him dai since he's a Muslim brother to me but nemesis must catch up with him , stop hiding unnecessary things abeg and Alhamdulillah you're not infected "

" You mean what I just told you isn't secret worthy ? "

" Ehen now , what's there to hide ?"

" You're so unbelievable "

" And you're too childish to be called a mother of two "

" What are you trying to insinuate? "

" Nada " Zee gave D an innocent smile and D threw a pillow at her which hits her square on the face .

" Sometimes I use to wonder why am friends with you savage girl " Zee whined

" You can ask google I'm sure you'll get a million search results " D retorted with a smirk

" Iyye for your mind you know how to surf the net huh ?"

" Thanks to the person that corrupts me in the first place "

" Hey ! Am not corrupt and I definitely did not corrupt you !" Zee disagreed

" I didn't mention any names did I ?" D cocked a brow

" Yah Allah ! I hate you when you get all cocky and sarcastic D "

" I love you too idiot "

Just then ummie came in and interrupted their banter with a plate of danwake which the two friends gobbled down in three minutes .

" You guys don't have table manners at all , kunyi  bismillah ma kuwa ?" Ummie asked with a small laugh .

" Nidai nayi maybe it's D that didn't say the basmalah before eating " Zee said

" Yeye pikin , shey it's not you that ate with Satan ?" D asked rolling her eyes .

Ummie watch the two friends as they kept arguing with a smile , thanking Allah that Deejan is happy and not sad over her life, she admired her daughter's strength and tawakkul and proud of Zee for being a very good friend ,she is going to miss Zee too when they relocate but the bound the two ladies shared can't be weakened by a mere distance only death can break them apart .

" It's past asr salah time, it will be better if you stop arguing and pray " With that being said Ummie left them arguing again because of the kettle .

" I pity Taheer "

" Why is that ?"

" He's in love with an immature person like you ,I sincerely hope you're not treating him the way you treat me "

"You know he's so special I can't compare him with nobodies "

" hehehe I will murder somebody today In this house "

" Are you guys going to pray or do  I have to use a whip on you ? " Ummie shouted from her room which sobered them up .

After they finished praying, the twins woke up after taking a long nap and Zee played with them totally ignoring D's existence.

" Uhm mmm hmmm mmm" D kept humming gibberish seeking for Zee's attention .

" My eyes are closed , ears gone deaf heart filled with Ilhsan and Ilham's love only , I see no one hear no one and love no one but them you can try as much as you can but my heart and attention are taken, never take me for granted " Zee said in a sing song voice which annoyed D more .She huffed in annoyance and left to the kitchen to help Ummie with dinner .

" Baba is so busy this days he don't even have time for us " D complained .

" He can't do anything about it besides he loves his new job so much, don't you notice how happy he looks this days  ?"

" Yeah, he is happy and we all are happy, I pray that this happiness lasts forever and I am sorry for breaking your hearts and burdening you with my problems and kids " D sounded sad .

" Yahsalam Khadijah ! Don't you ever think you're a burden to us dear, we are your parents and you're the only child Allah blessed us with , it was destined to happen and we would rather have you here at home than with someone like your ex husband stop thinking negatively, be optimistic.We love you so much and can sacrifice anything for you and our grandkids " Ummie chastised and Khadijah nodded .

Zee stayed till after dinner when her brother came to pick her up ,with a promise that she will swing by and help with the packing before the final relocation .

" Thanks for today Besty ,you really made my day " D said giving Zee a hug

" You're welcome and same here ,take care of yourself and the princesses for me"

" I will in shaa Allah you too " she waved them off and went into the house with a satisfied smile kissing her lips .

°•°

Am glad you like the last chapter even though I know the reason why. Hope you'll like this ten folds because I really enjoyed typing it .

Thank you .