D refused to call nor pick Zee's call for a week which made the bride really , super and rightfully pissed at her best friend. D decided to call her on a Sunday evening after coming back from islamiyyah.

" Assalamu alaikum Amaryan Taheer " D cooed knowing that the explosion will come at any moment.

What Zee said next made her almost double over with laughter.

" Who is speaking please? "

" Its Khadijah Aliyu Your Besty does the name ring a bell? "

" Khadijah Aliyu? Maybe you mistaken me for someone else but I don't have a friend bearing that name. Wrong number " and dutttt Zee hung up on her.

D was in a dilemma on what to do to appease her friend, she knew that Zee is not just angry at her but have disowned her.

She finally got up to meet Ummie in the kitchen when her phone vibrated. With the hope that it's Zee that Called back she fished out the phone from her bag only to be disappointed and glad upon seeing Kaybee's ID.

" Assalamu alaiki " he sounded excited.

" Wa'alaikassalam, I know it's good news so spill " she said.

" How can I spill the good news when my Mamie is not happy? " he asked and she was surprised as to how he always seem to know her mood from the sound of her voice. They tell each other everything so she did not hesitate to tell him.

" Besty is super pissed to the extent of disowning me " she told him with a pout.

" Subhanallah! What do we do now? I think you should personally visit her and apologize. " he advised.

" Okay thanks Abba "

" Shhh your problems are mine, your Besty is mine and whenever you're sad it breaks my heart, my duty is to make you happy always angel "

" Awwwn that's so sweet of you, same here and more. So what made my man happy today? " she inquired with a smile, totally forgetting about her surrounding deeply immersed in the phone call not knowing that Ummie was standing by the kitchen door watching her and listening to the conversation.

" I was able to talk my boss into giving me two weeks break so In shaa Allah I will be coming over to see you and who knows if I'm lucky to have you as mine before I leave? " he said feeling super excited like someone who hasn't been home in ages.

" Mashaa Allah I am so happy too. Ashe we have a very special guest to welcome in a few days" D said mirroring his excitement.

" Just wanted to break the news to you first. I know that you just came back from school, have some rest take care of yourself and the kids for me. Can't wait to see you angel " he knows about her day to day schedules . They always tell each other about how they plan their day in the morning and how it went in the evening.

" Take care too" she whispered before clicking off the call.

It was then she saw Ummie giving her a freaky smile.

Ducking her head low in shame she said " Ummie am back "

" Mmmm I know that you're back but not just right now " she stated still smiling.

" Sorry I Called Zee In the living room and received another call "

" From who? "

" Ummie!!! " she whined cheeks flushed.

" Deejan! " Ummie mimicked

" It's Yaya kaybee he said he will be coming in a few days in shaa Allah " she rambled off and ran to her room feeling totally embarrassed.

What she didn't know is that Ummie used to eavesdrop on her phone calls until she is finally certain that D have some kind of feelings for kaybee and they have a mutual understanding of each other, the news of course relayed to mommy.

" Mamie welcome " the twins greeted their mother and she hugged them feeling ecstatic.

" Your Abba will be coming soon " she told them knowing that they might not even remember him but to her astonishment they started jumping up and down in happiness.

" Do you know him? " she can't help but ask

" Yes. We always talk to him with Ummie's phone. He said he is our Abba and that he will bring us lots of chocolates and toys " They both narrated to her at the same time.

Her heart swelled with a foreign feeling for kaybee and she respect him more, he had never told her that he used to call her kids and now he has worm his way into their hearts.

' I respect you more Ya kaybee ' she said to herself before patting the head of her bundles telling them that yes kaybee is their Abba and he loves them and Afreen so much.

She quickly type a long apology text message to Zee telling her how sorry she is and her reasons of not picking her calls or calling her. She told her that she will visit her the next day after school before finally taking a bath and heading to the kitchen to help Ummie.

" What are your plans for him? " was the first thing that came out of Ummie 's mouth the moment she entered the kitchen.

" Ehhh?" She feigned to be clueless.

" Deejan I will spank you with this spatula if you don't stop acting this way " Ummie warned

" I don't know yet Ummie, but I will ask Zee tomorrow in shaa Allah "

" Allah yashaa, she's rightfully angry at you, why didn't you at least text her? "

" Ummie I just wanted to give her some space to enjoy her honey moon, but I'm sorry " D said sieving flour for the meat pie and doughnuts she makes for sale.

" Its okay, help me grate the okra when you're done sieving the flour " and they worked in companionable silence.

After a sumptuous dinner of tuwo with okra soup they sat in the living room to watch the network news.

" Could you believe what happened today? " Baba asked no one in particular.

" I saw that guy Haroun, he did not even spare me a glance and I am glad I did not say yes to him I would've died with regret of not being a good father to you Deejan " Baba sadly stated.

" But that man Abdullah is a nice fellow, he's just too old for you and his wives would've made your life a living hell . " Ummie interjected and D felt shy knowing that they are going to bring up the issue of kaybee.

" Alhamdulillah now that she will be marrying someone we are sure will never hurt her. "

" in shaa Allah, he will be coming home soon, I think we should discuss about the wedding preparations, none of them is getting any younger and the kids need a father and mother figure in their lives "

" You're right " Baba agreed.

They talked some more about D and kaybee to which Khadijah kept mum fidgeting with her fingers.

**

The next day after her lectures, D hailed a cab which took her to Zee's house. She knocked for a while before the door swung open revealing an angry looking Zee.

" Assalamu alaikum aunty Zee " D tried not to flinch at the look Zee gave her.

Zee didn't reply her greetings but instead motioned for her to come in.

" Am very sorry Aminiyata, please forgive me. Had I known that you'll be this angry I won't have done what I did, try to understand that I have your best interest at heart. " D apologized the moment she sat on a couch.

" Are you not happy that I got married? " Zee asked arms akimbo.

" Of course I am, why won't I be happy for you?my happiness solely depends on yours but why did you even ask? " D replied looking incredulous.

" I thought you were sad and envious that I am happily married to Taheer that's why you cut me off " Zee stated.

Now it's D's turn to be angry

" Haba Zee, how will you even think of such as if you haven't known me for ages? I am your best friend, you're my only friend and you've always been there for me. It will be so low of me to be unhappy at the expense of your happiness and I am disappointed that you think of such. I am sorry for not calling you it was purely to let you enjoy your honey moon that's the truth " D said wiping away a lone tear.

They have never had such a fight before and none of them has any idea as to what went wrong. D picked her bag and left a stunned and slightly guilty looking Zee and stormed out of the house.

Her chest felt heavy and she was looking down willing back her tears when Taheer came into the house calling her name but she didn't even hear him until he raised his voice and called her again.

As Khadijah raised her head, Zee came running out of the house to stop D from going without them solving their problems.

" Sweetheart please don't let her go, I am sorry D " Zee said breathlessly.

" What's going on? " Taheer asked confused.

" Nothing " D said and before Taheer could make a move she quickly ran out of the house and luckily for her a tricycle just dropped a customer and she entered telling him to drive out of the area.

She had never been this hurt by someone other than Ahmad, heck this hurts more than what Ahmad did to her ever pains her in the heart.

She reached home looking agitated. After saying the salam she made a beeline to her room when Ummie called her back.

" What happened? Why are you looking like you've been in a terrible fight?? " Ummie asked sounding alarmed because it has been long last she saw Khadijah looking this tense.

"It's nothing Ummie, I am having a serious headache let me just sleep it off " she left

" Ikon Allah, baki je gidan Zee din bane?( wonders! Haven't you gone to Zee's house? " Ummie asked the retreating figure of Khadijah who did not even hear her in her haste to be in the privacy of her room to cry out her frustrations.

Five minutes later, Ummie heard the voices of Zee and Taheer saying the salam and upon looking at Zee she knew that something is definitely wrong and whatever it is it's not good at all.

" Ummie good afternoon " they exchanged pleasantries Zee looking like she wants to fly to D's room.

" I know that you can explain things better to me Taheer, please tell me what happened at your house, Khadijah came back looking like she has been crying. " Ummie inquired.

" Ummie I have no idea what happened between them. All I know is that Zee is angry at D for not picking her calls, she has been complaining about it ever since the first day of our marriage but she told me yesterday that D will be coming over today. I just came home to take some important papers that I forgot when I saw D storming out of the house and Zee following her trying to apologize but she left before I could ask hence the reason why we are here " Taheer narrated what he knew.

" Hmm, Zee what happened? " Ummie turned her attention to Zee who is now sobbing.

" I feel ashamed of what I did, Wallahi Ummie I don't know what came over me, I was just so angry please don't let D hate me for the rest of our lives"

" Okay, I heard you, but you have to tell me what happened "

" I said some hurtful things to her and treated her badly ... I..
I... I accused her of being envious of my marriage and happiness but by Allah I didn't mean what I said. I was just so mad at her " she finally blurted.

Both Taheer and Ummie shook their heads weighing the gravity of what they just heard. Ummie can swear that she has never seen those two fight each other for more than some minutes before finally making up, in other words they have never had a serious fight.

" Zee why would you say such to her? " Taheer sounded disappointed and Zee's sobbed more.

" A'a let me call Deejan, don't admonish her yet, can't you see that she's sorry about what she did already? " Ummie said getting up from her sitting position.

She came back a moment later with a red rimmed eyed and puffy faced Khadijah trailing behind her wiping her face with the hem of her veil.

"Deejan what happened? " Ummie asked khadijah for the second time.

" Nothing " was her short clipped toned answer.

Ummie knew that this is bound to happen. She knows that Khadijah will never tell them what happened especially when she is the one being wronged not the other way round.

" D Dan Allah Dan annabi forgive me , I am really sorry, it was a slip of tongue I didn't mean any of those hurtful things I told you " Zee said coming closer to D .

" It wasn't your fault it is mine and I am sorry, I am happy that you're happy and I wish you all the happiness in this world because you deserve it .Thank you for always been there for me ,I will never forget your love and kindness towards me and I am sorry for not being able to reciprocate it back. May Allah reward you with a home in jannah " D said in a slow sad and unattached voice .

Zee's heartbeat skyrocketed ." D what do you mean by what you just said ? Please don't do this to us,we have come a long way to be broken because of such a small matter, I said I am sorry ,I really am Khadijah please don't shut me out I beg you " Zee wailed looking helpless while tears cascade down D's cheeks.

Ummie and Taheer had become spectators to the unfolding drama.

" Zee what you did hurts me more than what Ahmad did to me , I have forgiven you but I don't think I can live with myself knowing that you think of me as someone who's envious of your happiness after all the things you've done to me ".

" D !!!" zee exclaimed in utter shock trying hard not to believe that what is happening is real.

" Deejan!!!" Ummie bellowed having had enough of D's nonsense.

" she made a mistake, she was angry at that time and rightfully so considering how close you two are and she apologized to you what else do you want her to do ?? Lick off your toes or turn back and change what happened??? Stop this childish act of yours and make peace with her " she said in a stern no room for argument voice which D knows best not to defy .

" I am sorry on behalf of Zee D , she was so worried for the past week, I know that you guys love each other but I came to realise that you share an extraordinary bound that's so rare in the few days I've spent with Zee. Ki mata afuwa no body is perfect and a misunderstanding between two people in a relationship is common " Taheer said trying so hard not to gather Zee in his arms to comfort her and wishing that he has a magical power to make things right between the two best friends.

" It's okay I am sorry Ummie" D apologised.

"Alhamdulillah, I will leave Zee here and come pick her after work in shaa Allah" Taheer said getting up to leave.

Ummie thanked him and Zee followed him to see him off. He told her to take things easy and not expect D to be cool with her before pecking her on her forehead and he left .

When she came back into the house, Ummie was nowhere to be found neither is D .she went to her room and saw her lying on her stomach clutching her head .

" You cried so much and now you're having a headache huh? Mine is aching too but it's a dull one " Zee stated fishing out panadol tabs from a small bag where D usually stash drugs for different ailments .

She poured some water from a jug in a cup and handed the tabs to D urging her to take the drugs .

" Thank you " D whispered.

" Don't mention dear, now scoot over, I want to sleep too " And they lay there each in her own thoughts sleep eluded them .

" how is married life treating you so far ?" D finally asked turning over to face Zee who was slightly taken aback .she didn't think that D will ask her such a question considering what happened.

" Ehhh ?"

" Have you gone deaf ?answer me jhor " D smacked her arm.

" Alhamdulillah it's as I expected and much more , to be honest I was scared but Taheer is nothing but sweet and caring, can you believe that we use to cook together? And he hasn't gone for work until today .D hurry and get married to real man I swear marriage is the best thing " Zee has entered a dreamy haze which made D very happy.

" That's so Mashaa Allah , I trust Taheer and I am glad he's taking care of my baby, then why are you so angry at me if everything is right ? I thought you're angry because you have some problems and I wasn't there for you" D stated .

" awwwn Besty Mie " Zee cooed

" Don't even start,I use to wonder whether you're wired upside down at child birth but now it's a proven fact that you're, Allahu yashfeeki Zee , you really need du'a "

" But I miss you terribly it makes me regret ever been married " Zee pouted.

" You see what I just finished talking about bah ! You're one hell of a crazy human being, may Allah give Taheer the fortitude to bear with you " D said cupping her hands in mock prayer.

"Ameen, so how is our Abba ?"

" Our Abba ?? You and who again ?madam I don't share my man especially not with you " D tried so hard to hide her smile but could not .

Ummie came over to see if they are talking to each other and was surprised to hear them conversing so she left with a satisfied smile. She knew that their bound is too strong to be broken by a mere heat of the moment provocation.

" Subhanallah ! I was gone for a week and you have become selfish .What happened to sharing is caring ?" Zee grasped out in mock surprise arms akimbo.

" Shhh, don't split my head into two , and we have some plans to do because as you said and I quote ' Our Abba' is coming in the next few days "

"Yay!!! I cannot wait to see a live Romeo and Juliet contemporary scene " Zee started jumping on the bed like a five year old .

" Madam my headache " D warned .

" It should wait till after our sweety left before coming back "she stuck her tongue out .

" You're crazy "

" I know "

" Grow up "

" Never "

" You're now married"

" Happily so"

" urghhhhhh I hate you !!!"

" I know you do ....love you more D !!!"

°•°
Yesterday night as I was typing this with a plate of indomie, I told my bunk mate about how this chapter is coming up and she almost choke me to death , reason being that I should not dare separate the two besties .I was like duhh I am a sensible and peace loving person just a little drama won't hurt yeah ?

Hope you enjoy the chappy as much as I enjoyed typing it.

See ya !

Love love and love #Humy