Halal love is the best form of  Love,  the kind that is solely for the  sake Of Allah.

*

D woke up with a start from her nightmare, she was in Kaybee's arms snuggled into him then why does it feel so real ? Like what she saw in her dream really happened in reality ?

She tried to get out of  his hold but he held her  closer in his sleep every time she made a move to get out of bed.

" Where are you going to Angel?" He asked huskily .

" Bathroom " she replied trying to hide her emotions .

" D what's wrong ? " he asked again startled by the hoarseness in her voice , as if she had been crying .

" uh nothing " she stuttered .

" Look at me " he urged and she had no choice than to do what he asked because it's more of a command than a plea and she cannot defy him no matter what .

" Tell me what's wrong with you please "

" I ....I .....I....had a..."

" Dream ?" He finished off her sentence .

" Yes " she replied with misty eyes .

" Is it about your past ?"

" yes but this time around it's you and it feels so real " she finally managed to voice out with a sob .

Innalillahi wa Inna ilaihi rajiun was all kaybee could mutter before getting out of bed and crouching in front of D who was seated at the edge of the bed .

Holding her hands in his , he whispered softly " it is only a dream angel and in shaa Allah it will not come true .Had I known that sleeping with you in my arms will make you relive all those bad memories I won't have asked you of it even though it's what I wanted. I am sorry " He apologized .

D shook her head vigorously " No! I want it too ya Hayatee, maybe more than you do,  I'm tired of letting my past dictate my present and future , I want to forget and let go, I know that you're different and you'll never hurt me , we've been married for over a year now but you never complained even though you've been away . So  I am sorry for everything " she wailed exasperatedly and went into the bathroom sobbing her heart out, cursing Ahmad and the likes of him, regretting meeting him, loving him and trusting him .

" Open the door please " she heard kaybee's pleading voice but she cannot let him see her in such a mess .

After washing off her face, she came out with puffy red rimmed eyes and managed to pass a worried looking Kaybee a small smile .

" This is the worst welcome home reception by a wife to her husband ever " she joked trying to lighten the tensed mood .

" No its not " he replied trying to assess her mood .He know that D can be complicating at times but never know that she can change her moods easily, from the look in her eyes, he know that she's hurting inside but his selfless wife is pretending to be okay for his sake .

" Let me check up on the kids" she said walking out of the room. Leaving him to his thoughts.

Ilham was past asleep while Ihsan is doodling with crayons, she gave some instructions to the maid and went to her room to calm her erratic heart and compose herself .

She saw her phone which was discarded since when she was about to take a bath and suddenly remembered that she didn't even inform her parents about kaybee's return but was met with several missed calls from Zee .

I'm doomed  she muttered to herself before finally calling the now pissed Zee .

" Hey preggy " D said trying to sound cool but her voice betrayed her .

" Hello ! Yahsalam D where have you been ? Are you okay ?" She asked in one breath not pausing

" Ya Kaybee is back " she blurted in an attempt to shut Zee up which did the exact opposite .

" Chineke God of mercy and you didn't tell me till now ? When ? How ? Was it a surprise or you knew that he's coming? What did you wear? Was the food delicious ? Did he tell and show you how much he missed you ?" She rambled .

" Yah Allah Zee just shut up !!" D shouted in frustration suddenly having the urge to cry.

" Hey ! You're not okay what's wrong ?" Zee  calmed down and asked with concern.

D told her everything about her nightmare including the things she didn't tell kaybee.

" Poor D , I have an idea of what you should do, for now just be cool and keep praying, your trials are over in shaa Allah. Now go wipe your face and wear that sexy nightie we bought the other day " she finished off with mischief.

Feeling a tad bit better after speaking with her  besty, she  called her  parents and informed them before praying and heading to the kitchen . She found Kaybee and Ihsan playing.  Kaybee giving the child a piggyback ride while she's giggling happily.

" Father - daughter moment without me " D said with a pout .The attention of the duo turned to her .Kaybee gave her the 'are you okay ?' Look and she nodded with a smile .

She was so engrossed into making dinner that she didn't know when Kaybee came into the kitchen and held her by the waist, laying his head on her back .

" Smells delish, what are you  cooking for us ?" He inquired inhaling her scent .

" Just wait and see " she replied still standing by the cooker.

" Will Mamie mind if I join her in making whatever it is that she's cooking ?" He asked

" Yes she will mind because Abba is still tired and she don't wanna make him work, besides it is her duty " .Replied D

" Abba insists that he will help Mamie so Mamie has no option than to oblige " Kaybee retorted taking out the chopping board . He started chopping some onions that were spread out on the island .

" you work like a pro, don't tell me you're a chef?" D asked and he gave her a horrified look .

" Banson sa ido, do your work and  let me do mine in peace "

" Aye boss, your wish is my command " D Mock saluted and proceeded to blend some pepper .

" Better madamemoseile " he replied with a smirk .

They work in companionable silence, saying a thing or two at intervals before finally setting everything on the table .

" well-done Ya Hayatee , you really shouldn't have bothered but that's so sweet of you " D complimented giving Kaybee a high-five .

He felt so happy that he couldn't move an inch  for some minutes after D left the table to her room .

" Yah Allah wipe away all her fears, make her happy once again, give me the strength and guidance to fulfill my promises to her " he prayed before finally heading to his room to make wudu for maghrib salah .

He stayed at the masjid for a while  pouring out his heart to Allah,who he is Sure knows what he is going through better than him and will surely get him out of his misery  and grant him his wishes.

He came back home to the sweet scent of  papaya  and apples  and an involuntary  smile graced his features.

"Mamie where  are you?  I am home " he called out flopping down on the couch.

" Right behind you " Replied D in her most sweetly seductive  voice.

He abruptly  turned towards  where her voice is coming from and his breath hitched because what he saw standing by the door is an Angel ,his angel and no one else's. D looks breath taking in an off shoulder red flowing gown, a black turban on her head and her perfume  is exuding a very cool scent that makes the heart beat slower and then pick up pace at an interval. He felt like burying himself  in her never to let go till the end of time.

" Mashaa Allah  " was all he could say to compliment  the dazzling beauty standing in front  of him.

" Dinner is served boss " D said,  suddenly  feeling shy of him. His intense gaze is making her legs wobbly and the butterflies  dancing shoki in her stomach  aren't helping  matters at all .

" Come and sit beside me for a while" it sounded like a plea and she just can't say no to  him. She want to sit beside him,  be with him and make him happy for as long as she breath in and out on earth.

***

Things are getting worse for Nihal. She has lost count of how many months she had spent in the middle of the forest. The woman holding her captive is very adamant on getting her money back. That's if she have the money to pay her back. She had tried bargaining  to give her all her valuables and properties but the woman only want  what is rightfully  hers, no more no less.

She had lost  her radiance,  she can't remember the last time she spent two days without getting high and drunk and now she's in desperate  need of something to take her mind off things .

"call your madam please, tell her to call my dad  " she told one of the men  guarding her since  the day she was kidnapped.

When the call was made to Hafsat,  she said that she has nothing to do with Nihal's father. It is either Nihal  pay her the money or she will be a dead meat by the end of the month. Nihal wanted  to call one of her friends and the guy she is into  business with but she's not allowed to make any calls. She wish to die,maybe it's better there than here. If only  she knew.

*

Ahmad had been sick for a few weeks.  The drugs don't  seem to be working and Taheer has been informed. He had already promised his wife that he will never  have anything  to do with Ahmad  and he intended on keeping  that promise  so he assigned his friend to go and check up on Ahmad.

The Dr prescribed new set of antibiotics  and drugs for Ahmad. Telling him to stop thinking too much which might cause  his blood pressure  to rise or worse his heart to have a failure. Ahmad  nodded like an agama lizard showing that he has heard  what the Dr  said and he will follow them religiously while in reality he just want to die. He is having recurring  nightmares  about his mother,his cat and his children. How can he not wish to  die when there is nothing for him in this world?  He has forgotten  when last he slept for two good hours without waking up drenched in sweat calling  out to his mother to forgive him.

He had cheated himself indeed and the only thing left for him in this world are his wife and kids who are out of his reach and he hated himself for all the things he had done. He had forgotten  about something called Hauwa. The mere thought of her made his heart ache badly because she is the cause of everything , had she not come into  his life,  poisoned  his mind with money, turn him into an adulterer none of this would have happened. He would have been happy as a carpenter with his doting beautiful  wife to go home to and his cute babies to take care of. Indeed the Hausa man is right when he said Dana sani  keya ce.

He badly want to turn back time and treat  his mother better. Thinking  back. She had been the best mum everyone could wish for,  mama used to wash his clothes even when he's old enough  to do that himself,  she tasked herself with the duty of cleaning his room everyday. She had been his pillar and source  of income with her petty  trading after the demise  of his father. His mother  had sacrificed  a lot for his happiness and now she's gone. Angry at him for breaking Cat's heart,  angry at him for becoming  a bad person she didn't raise,  angry at him for talking  back to  her with so much harshness,  angry at him for abandoning  her and defying her.

"Yah Allah! Forgive  my mother and grant  her the best home in jannah. Yah Allah  forgive my sins and cleanse my heart,  Yah  Allah give cat the heart to forgive all what I made her go through. Yah  Allah  bless my kids and make them among your best servants. Yah Allah forgive me  " He prayed with tears cascading down his face  .

From that day onward,  Ahmad do nothing  but pray and seek forgiveness  from his Rabb. He became a walking corpse  muttering  the istigfars  whenever he's working.

Hauwa's life turned  down hill in a matter of days and she had no idea what hit her until after she had been hit. She has no one to go to,  she cannot  even fathom  how all the riches she has acquired can be gone in a blink of an eye. The only thing  left for her  is the house she is living in and she's so scared that it might be gone too that she's having sleepless nights. She had forgotten about  Ahmad  thinking that he is dead and probably  swarmed by bees somewhere  in the outskirts  of town.

One calamity  after the other keep hitting  her until she went mad. It started  by screaming  and shouting, loosing her long braids, crying  and laughing at the same time. Then she lost control and left the house rambling  to herself,  inflicting injury on whoever dared to come close to her. It is official Hauwa is now insane and she has no one to take her to the asylum  .

***

The next day,  D insisted on staying back at home because Kaybee is back but he refused to let her. Saying that he will be in the house by the time she comes back and will  never forgive  himself  if anything  bad happens to her at school because of him. After much arguments and cajoling D gave in knowing  that her husband is right.

" I'll take you to  school Angel" Kaybee declared  with a triumphant  smile on his face collecting D's bag.

" Yay!  "D squealed out like a five year old who missed her daddy driving her to school.

They discussed  a lot about  the developments that happened while he was away, the traffic  and how she's coping with driving in such  a busy town.

" ya hayatee thanks for dropping me off, this means more than you can ever know " D shot him a grateful smile trying to alight from the car.

" Shh don't mention, it is my duty Angel  .I will  always be at your service for the rest of our lives in Shaa Allah " he shushed  her and came out from his side opening the door for her.

" Best of luck " he whispered close to her ears wishing he had pecked her in the car before  coming out .there are people outside and he don't wanna  make his wife  the talk of the week.

" Drive home safe, I will  miss you like mad " replied  D waving him off.

Her phone beeps and she knew  that it was him. It was a  simple message that made her heart skipped a beat .she can't wait to go home to him as soon as she's done with  her lectures.

After her first two lectures which were  in a row. She met with Zee at their  usual spot and the devil won't let her say a word. She rambled on and on and on ,on how careless D is for not taking care of her body blah blah blah  .

" what do you mean by that ma?" D asked getting exasperated. Taheer is indeed a hero for putting  off with such a hyper human being.

" I always know that your head is filled with  nothing but absolute stupidity .The First Class type " retorted Zee getting riled up. Seeing that D is not getting what she is saying she dragged her out of school  before she could protest and they went to the saloon for make over and what not.

" Yah Allah  I thank you for giving me such a headache in form of Zee" D muttered under her breath after a few agonizing  hours of going through what she considers as hell.

Her phone started ringing  and she knew it was Kaybee now what will she tell  him? That she left school and come to a saloon without seeking  for his permission? she prayed that he won't flip out before picking the call.

"Abba" she greeted in their own way.

"Mamie where are you?  Am in front  of your department " he stated and D felt  like performing  the kind of magic  that will  take her to school in a blink of an eye. How exactly sweet is Kabir yousouf Nasir? He brought her to school  and now he's back to pick her up. Before she could think of what to tell him. Zee snatched  the phone from her and told Kaybee  only God knows what.

" what did you tell him? " she asked

"that we are here he should come pick  you up"

" Did he sound angry  ?"

" why would he? Chill madam even if he is he'll  forget he's mad when he sees you " retorted Zee sounding  annoyed.

" Allah  kyauta Miki masifatu" said D gathering her attention  to the  woman  pedicuring her nails.

After twenty minutes  Kaybee called D informing  her he's there and the final touches were made before they proceeded outside  .

Upon setting his eyes on his wife ,Kaybee felt like freezing time and everyone just to stare at his beautiful  wife  to his fill. Zee had to bring the two love birds  to the land of the living  before Kaybee  cleared his voice and they exchanged  pleasantries. Zee declined  Kaybee's offer for a ride home but he was so adamant she has to give in. During the ride Kaybee couldn't  help  but keep stealing  glances at his wife while Zee kept stifling  her laughter holding  it for when she reached home to have her fill till her stomach  hurts.

The moment they  reached home, D was welcomed with a sweet aroma of something delicious wafting from the kitchen and dinning area. She turned to ask how and why .she saw food warmers on the table but ended  up colliding in a fierce hug.

" you smell like heaven " he rasped and she couldn't  move a limb. This hug is different  from all the  hugs they  have shared.

" I  am sorry for not informing  you that I'm going out. You know  Zee and how she gets. " she apologized snuggling  into him like a cat.

" Shh I understand  besides it's  for a good cause " he replied leading them deeper into the living room.

"you look more beautiful  without make up. But right now you look like a super model and I love just the way you  do all these  for me " he professed.

" I am glad you love  it hun.Back to my earlier question  who cooked lunch " she scrunched  up her eyebrows.

" I have no idea " he held up his hands in surrender.

" last I checked. We don't have  unseen forces in this house dearest  hubby "

" who knows whether  they decided to show themselves  now " he flexed his arms giving  her a toothy grin and she know that her hunch is right. The amazing  man sitting beside her, hugging her to his side with the best  smile she had ever seen in her life had cooked lunch  for them and she had no idea how to thank him.

Try what Zee  told you dumbo. It might be the end of your troubles.

Without a second thought. Not letting her mind to wander  into  what ifs and can I do it or how embarrassed she will be. She kissed her husband, the first time for  her to initiate a kiss. It was slow and sweet  and calm at first. One because Kaybee  was too shocked at her action. Two because he was afraid to loose control  but D assured him with her eyes that it's gonna be okay so he took her mouth in a mind numbing , heart  rending kiss. The one that took them into the world they never thought existed.

It was later when they got their  bearings back that D asked about the kids and the maid.

" We went to see ummie with the twins and she insisted  that I should let them stay for the weekend. So I asked the maid to take the weekend off  too " explained Kaybee with a smile while D looked down at her hands shyly.    

"uh oh don't hide that beautiful  face from me Angel. I will cry " he said with a pout which made her laugh out loud.

" you're more beautiful  than I am " she countered and he bulged  his eyes out  .

" that's the biggest lie  I've ever heard in my entire life"

" oldie  kawae " she teased.

" who's that?" he gave her his no nonsense  look and she stuck her tongue  out at him. They ran like kids around the house  before they finally flopped  down in the rug laughing heartily.

" come let's get something  in your stomach " Kaybee motioned for D to take his hand after they caught  their breath and their  laughter  have died down. She held his hands while he helped her up.

Kaybee refused to let D out of his laps and he fed her like a baby.She returned  back the favor while they eat in a blissful  silence  .wishing  they can stay happy like that forever  .

Kaybee  sighed contently when D went into the kitchen to wash the used dishes. He had never felt this happy his entire life. Nihal never cooked. He is always the one who will either cook or order food for them. She's not neat neither obedient .she never asked for his permission neither appreciate  him. Allah is indeed Great because he has given him D who is a thousand  times  better than Nihal. His patience  has  indeed paid off  because in D he found a gem so rare only an archaeologist  could find.

D wiped away a lone happy tear with the hem of her dress.  She never thought she could be this happy with a man but Kaybee had proven to her that not  all men are the same. What she  shared with him today is something that will be engraved with gold in her heart. Ahmad had never been around to help her in the kitchen,she can swear that he never contemplated  cooking for her. Kaybee's patience  is what draw her more to him and in Shaa Allah  she is going to keep all shyness and bad thoughts aside to love her man. He is the best for her and if she were to live a thousand  lives she will always choose him. Her life will be meaningless without the man after her heart who cooks delicious  meals that made her taste buds explode. Poor  Nihal  had lost a gem busy gathering stones.

The next morning before Kaybee  came back from  his morning run. D had already  made breakfast,made the bed and the house was smelling nice. She even went to the trouble  of choosing some casual  wears for Kaybee and ran a warm bath for him before proceeding to her room leaving him a note to get ready for breakfast  before she comes out of her room. The sight of the note,  the clean room and the hot bath  made his day and he proceeded to follow her instructions  with a goofy grin. Indeed  to love  and to be loved is the best feeling  ever.

Nabeeha called during  the day and teased the duo to her fill before telling Kaybee about her boyfriend. She pleads with him to help her tell daddy about  it before she comes home for the holiday because  it was then that they planned for him to introduce  his folks to hers in Shaa Allah.

" don't worry little sissy, I will tell daddy so that he will start some background  checks on the guy,  am proud of you Doc" Kaybee said with a smile. Playing with D's hair whose head is on his laps.

" jazakallah bi jannah ya Kaybee and D's eternal love " Nabeeha squealed feeling overwhelmed  with happiness.

"Ameen to that,  now go do what you do best naughty human being "with a quick goodbye and a naughty remark to D they ended the call.

" whew!  Your Cousin-friend is a piece of work. I pity the guy already " commented Kaybee wiping an invisible sweat.

" I've been living with her boss all my life. Trust me,  Nabeeha and Zee is a deadly  combination. They never get tired of talking and being sarcastic " retorted D getting off his laps to face him with a glint in her eyes.

" Zee is a good person deep inside, she's  just outspoken and a little  impatient  but she's a gem. She has been with me through it all  sometimes I used to wonder what good I must have done to deserve her. I just pray that she will deliver safely and with ease. Can't wait to see her in labor tho .it's gonna be hilarious " she added while he entwined  their fingers.

" yeah I know, only Allah will reward her. I am grateful  to her too for always being there  for you. I love you D" the raw sincerity  in his voice and the flicker  of pain in his eyes made her hug him to her.

" I love you too and I'm thankful to my Rabb for giving me you. Thank you for being my light at the end of the tunnel "  she replied feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of  his love  towards  her. She know that they've got each other for life.

By noon Kaybee dropped D off at  school  before heading to the post office to collect  the courier he sent before coming from the states.

D was in the class but her mind is somewhere  else. Day dreaming about her handsome husband and smiling to herself. Her course mate had to tap her several  times to get  her attention  back to the present lecture in the class.

" what have you done to me? " both  Kaybee and D asked each other at the same time on their way back home.

They all burst into a fit of laughter  throwing their heads back.

"you must tell me what you did to me first " D urged with a pout.

"Ladies first angel. I am a true gentleman  so you go ahead " countered Kaybee  giving her a side glance.

" No you're the elder one so you go first  ya  hayatee  " she whined batting  her lashes. He loves it when she's in a playful ,pouty, whiny  mood. It makes him feel like a teenager drunk  with love.

" We may have an accident if you keep doing that,  you have no idea the things you do to me do you? " he cocked  a brow and continued. " the thing is, you've been running  through my mind right from the moment  you went out of this car  until you come back in  even now I'm still thinking about you,  like right now as I'm saying this you're everywhere  ,in here " he touched his heart with his free hand.

" I  understand  the feeling because I feel the same way " replied D giving him a smile while he entwined their fingers together giving her hand a light squeeze.

He muttered something  inaudible  and D raised an enquiring  brow at him.

" Can't a man thank his Lord for giving him the woman of his dreams as a wife in peace  again? " Kaybee asked which made her blush a little. Kaybee will soon be the death of her because the things she feel at that moment are just  so extraordinary  and not humanely  possible  but  then they are happening  to her.

After making dinner  and praying maghrib she found her phone which was carelessly  discarded on the couch with numerous  missed calls from Zee and Ummie.

She returned ummie's  call first. Ummie teased her saying that she forgot  about the twins just because  her husband  is back and now the kids have disowned her since she isn't caring.

" I know that they are in good hands that's  why I didn't call besides I was busy at school  throughout  the day. " D defended. The phone was passed to Ihsan who told D that she wants to come home to see her Abba and get some piggyback  rides while Ilham  told  her about  the fun they are having at their grandparents house. Kaybee came into the room and she gave him the phone. The way he interacts with the kids never cease to amaze her.

She called  Zee who teased her to her fill before telling her the reason why she called earlier. She invited D and Kaybee with the kids for dinner .

"aye ma'am we will surely honor your invitation  in Shaa Allah  but please don't flip out masifatu" said D while Zee hissed from the other end saying something about  D always getting on her nerves.

They watched a movie  together, it was a sappy romance based on a book by Jojo moyes 'me before you '

" how can someone  be  this ungrateful? " she angrily asked Kaybee who has no idea why she is so riled  up over a movie .  A fiction for that matter.

" you know how white  people think when it comes to freedom to do whatever you want whenever you feel it is the right thing to do. Besides he has a mindset  that he will never be happy it's better he die than hurt her " Kaybee reasoned

" don't you see that he has hurt her by dying. He should be grateful that she loves him just the way he is and will give up everything  to take care of him " she disagreed.

" But he made her realise her passion and gave her the reason to live her life to the fullest "

" he's not there and it won't be the same "

" He must die one way or the other. It might be sooner or later  " countered Kaybee  .It dawned  on her that she might wake up one day and find him gone forever.

" Yah salam ! I will start praying to Allah from today  for me to die before you. It will be unbearable  to live without  you " she said in a whisper and Kaybee rested his forehead  on hers.

" it doesn't matter because in Shaa Allah we will be united where we can never be separated,  where we will live happily  for all eternity , where there is no sadness, no pain and no heartbreaks. Just enjoyment and love, joy and bliss in Shaa Allah "

" in Shaa Allah " she whispered and went into his arms where she feels like staying forever.

°•°

Hope you enjoy this chappy ? Who can sense that BE is coming to an end ??  Two more chaps to go and it's bye bye .