*

Khadijah  felt like  a huge mountain  had been dropped down on her head upon hearing Kaybee's question.  She knew that him and her getting married  is inevitable,  it's  the right thing to do because their  relationship  will be meaningless  without it but never in a million years had she thought  it to be this soon.

" Ya kaybee don't you think it's  too soon? " she finally  managed to say.n

" I don't think  so angel,  both of us are adults and this is not the first time for us. Sleep over it my dear  and ask for  Allah's guidance. " He consoled  his chest feeling heavy fearing that she might say no. He don't even want to imagine how much it will break him when she says no or try to prolong  the marriage.

He is not  going  to take her to the  states with  him. He just  want her to be branded as his and nothing  more.

They chatted  for a while before  they retired for the night. Each engrossed in deep thoughts  of what is to come  and praying  that whatever it  is it will  be for the best.

Early morning of the next  day D went to consult her mother about the marriage issue .

" He is right Deejan, you have had ample time to know each other and be sure of your feelings towards each other, it's not good to prolong the issues of marriage but you should pray istikharah and then decide .we will support your decision " that gave her the renewed vigour to say yes because her mind is at ease with the idea.

She also informed Zee and then headed to the kitchen to make breakfast for her soon to be groom. As she was making yam balls and humming to herself totally unaware of the happenings around her, kaybee startled her by clearing his voice.

" Subhanallah ! You scared me!" She exclaimed suddenly feeling shy because she's in her PJs .

" Good morning Angel, you look more beautiful when you are cooking and humming and maybe dancing ??" He cocked a brow in amusement while she hid her face  with her palms.

" Good morning Abba ! How was your night ?" She tactfully changed the topic ignoring his earlier comment on her appearance .

" Alhamdulillah but I couldn't sleep well and you know why .So what's your answer ?" He pouted something she now realized is his habit .

" You said I should think about it huh ?I didn't even start thinking yet" she said with a hint of mischief in her voice.

" Don't you love me Angel? What about the trust you have for me ?" He asked sadly and she felt like laughing at his misery but held herself in order to enjoy his childish attitude.

" I do Abba ! More than you can ever know ,but I don't want us to rush you know لا.plus the issue of school and everything it's just too much to take in and decide in a short span of time " she explained frying the yam balls .

" okay I understand where you're coming from D ,but I am not going to take you away with me, you'll stay here and continue with your studies ,I just want to make it official and halal between us before I leave and that's all .please consider " he begged and she smiled which earned her a hard glare from him .

" Okay , I was just pulling  your legs, I have already decided and it is a yes ! I will Marry you next week in shaa Allah " She slowly stated stressing each word while the look of pure elation lights up kaybee's face which  made her wish she didn't drag the issue just to see that look .

"Alhamdulillah! I thank you O Allah for the blessings You bestowed upon me after testing me " he prayed unable to tamp down his excitement.

" Now let me call daddy so  that he will make arrangements for the printing and distribution of invitation cards,it will be a simple but grand nikkah in shaa Allah " he started pacing up and down the kitchen fishing out his phone from his pocket and dialling Daddy's number.

" Yah Allah! Save me from this overexcited man " D flail her hands in the air with a smile gracing her features.

Before she knew it, Nabeeha ,Anisa and Mommy called her congratulating her and teasing the living hell out of her saying that they can't wait for the wedding .Baba and Ummie also congratulated her and to her utter shock Zee bustled into the house engulfing her in a bear hug before greeting Ummie and Baba who were having breakfast .

" Yah Allah! Zee who told you about it?and why are you here at 10am in the  morning?  " D asked Zee when they were in her room .

" Nabeeha told me mana,since you're too stingy with good news and my hubby happened to be the best of the  bestest who knows when his wife really need to be  there for her friend "she exclaimed.

" I was in the kitchen, and I told you earlier  that I will say yes. Ohh Mashaa  Allah. I will advice him against letting you out any how though. "

" Ehen now,  you said you'll say yes what happened to telling me that you said Yes?na you sabi enemy of progress  " she squeezed her face and cocked a brow in anticipation.

Hitting her head with her hands D narrowed her eyes " I am so sorry Ummie Zee,  forgive me for not telling you,  now will you be a sweetheart  and tell me how the hell I am  going to  prepare for  a wedding in just seven days? "

" Chill  babe!  Just take a Chill  pill. It is just a nikkah remember? Don't overwork yourself  and leave everything  to me. Your super woman " Zee winked  at D taking a sip of tea.

* *

Ahmad has not been feeling well for over two weeks and his health has been deteriorating  each and every passing day that he happened  to be sick. Hauwa was out of the country with  her new conquest and is not expected to be back any time soon. He doesn't  even have a single penny to take a cab to the hospital. There is no fuel in his car and his account balance  is at zero. All the people  in the house dislike  him with a passion  and he has no  one  to call a friend or even an acquaintance. Seeing that he might die lying in bed waiting for the help that will never come, he sucked up his pride and went to the gateman.

" Good evening Baba " he managed to squeak  out.

The old frail looking gateman looked at Ahmad like he has grown horns. The guy in front of him has never said hi to him for the whole period  of his stay in the house. so it is either the world is coming  to an end that day or its going to rain cat and dogs.

" Barka  kadai yallabai what can I do for you? " he finally asked when he came out of shock.

" Ammm dan Allah  baba I want you to help me with two hundred  naira" he said scratching  the back of his neck suddenly  feeling so low and shy.

The old man regarded him for some time before finally fishing  out the  naira note and handing it to him.

" Thank you Baba in shaa Allah I will return it back as soon as possible " he said gratefully and slowly went out of the house  feeling dizzy.

Knowing that he has no one to go to seeking for help. He hailed a bike and gave him the address to Taheer's place of work.

Luckily for him Taheer was in the office with  no patient.

" Assalamu alaikum  " he made his presence  known.

" Wa'alaikassalam  " Taheer answered his prayer still scribbling on a file.

" I am sorry to come here unannounced  but I have nowhere  to go  to and no one to talk to. Taheer  I know that I don't deserve your empathy and compassion  but as a good  Muslim who  is better than me help me out " he begged.

It was after he finished talking  that Taheer  looked up with a hard glare gritting  his teeth but the hard look was suddenly  replaced  with a pitiful look.

" Subhanallah!  What's wrong with you man? "  Taheer sounded alarmed and his medical instincts made all the hatred he  has for Ahmad dissipates  into thin air.

Within some minutes he had already  checked the blood pressure and sugar level of Ahmad,  his weight and what not.

" I must admit you to put  you  on observation  for now let's wait for the test result" Taheer explained to Ahmad  whose breathing  is now laborious.

" No.  I don't have a penny to pay for the bills   just help me with drugs and then I will leave " Ahmad moaned out in agony,  it seems like the pain he was feeling earlier  when he was at home is increasing bit by bit and now it is unbearable.

" Don't  worry I will take care of everything,  lie down there and I will give you a sedative that will make you get some sleep " Taheer motioned  for Ahmad to lie on the bed and helped  him in adjusting the pillow. He then injected  him and after that  left  to the ward for the afternoon rounds.

A gazillion  thoughts were going on in his mind,  he knew that by helping Ahmad he has called trouble  upon himself  with his wife and he cannot hide anything  to her.  A feeling of dread overwhelmed  him all day long and when the test results came out his suspicions were confirmed. Ahmad's  deficiency  system is getting worse and he also have a chronic ulcer  hence the reason why he complained  of back ache,  heaviness in his chest and dizziness.

" Why have you not been taking  your drugs religiously? " he asked  the now better looking Ahmad  handing him  a plate of  jollof rice which he gobbled down in a jiffy before answering  him.

" I don't have  the means to buy them and her royal highness is no longer giving  me any allowance " he replied  feeling ashamed of himself.

" And the ulcer? " Taheer  asked even though  he already knew the answer to his question.

" Same story  and I just can't eat the bland food for  the maids,  there is  no salt or oil in it,  just white local rice with stones and pepper  " he grumbled.

" Hmm Ahmad kenan !  Now what is the essence of all the things you have done  to your mother and family  because  of a woman who has no value in the society  and in the eyes of our Rabb?  You were blessed with people who love you truly and wholeheartedly,  people  who will do anything for  your happiness even if it is at the expense  of theirs but you threw all that  away because of worldly gain and dancing  to the tunes of Satan.

You abandoned  your mother  till she died and your uncle  too. You treated your wife in the cruelest way known to man and disowned  your children even  before they can recognise  you in the midst of crowd. I doubt  if you have ever  held them, prayed for them or bless them.  You have left everything  that matters to you for the sake of someone  who knows your worth not and neither loves you for the sake of Allah "

After taking a deep breath Taheer  continued " you were my best friend Ahmad ,  I loved you and held you in high regards but from the day that you brought  D here after  you raped her you became like a stranger to me. Till today I used to  ask my self why?  Why did you do what you did? Is it that you have lost your sanity or what?  Is someone  behind the things you're  doing? 

But then I have never  seen a bad person  treating his mother  the way you treated yours. I have seen and  heard of many bad people who held their mothers in high regards  and when she says no it's a no and no one  can make  it  a yes "

By the time Taheer  paused to take a breath  Ahmad was crying like a baby.

He went on to preach  to him about all the punishments of his misdeeds and the end of people who act like him. Reminding  him about  the  torments of hell  fire,  the punishments  for adultery and fornication,  the prohibition  for drinking alcohol .

" when last did you pray? " he asked and Ahmad looked down in shame.

" I can't remember " he mumbled

" Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi  rajiun!!!  Ya Allah  Ahmad ridda kayi?  Have you become  an apostate? What the  hell do you mean by you can't remember  the last time you prayed?? " Taheer bellowed seething  with rage.

"Wallahi I don't know what got over me Taheer. It was satan and that devil in human form Hauwa. I want to repent and change before I die because the pain I felt and am still feeling for  the past weeks is unbearable  and I know that it's  nothing  compared  to the torments of jahannam.

I know that I have  cheated myself and led a useful life to waste,  I know that I have not done right by cat  neither Ilham and Ihsan. I know that Allah  will never  forgive  the atrocities I have committed if I did not repent sincerely  and ask for forgiveness  from the people I have  wronged. I miss mama so much I always dream of her these  days.

Taheer!  Bariki batayi ba,  it's  nothing but a worthless life which will not lead to happiness. From the day I divorced D I have  stopped enjoying  the highlife but was too far gone to turn back  and reflect. Hauwa squandered  my money telling me that she will marry me but later humiliated me in public and the most annoying part is that I love her. " Ahmad narrated his ordeal to Taheer who was listening  with keen interest.

" Ahh that reminds  me.. D is getting married next week in shaa Allah  " Taheer released the bomb  which shook Ahmad  like an earthquake.

" Hasbunallahu wa ni'imal wakeel,  Taheer  please don't tell me Cat is getting married to another man other than me and that too by next week. I will be doomed" He cried out in utter frustration.

" What else do you think? You wanted her to wallow over the pain you caused her and keep waiting  for manna to fall from heaven or what? Dude it's  not like I don't feel for you or something  but  you caused all that upon yourself.

You were doing well with  your carpentry  job even though  it's  disheartening  to see your mates making it big in life but you never  know what  Allah  planned for you. You were lucky  to Marry a rare gem whom you treated like a piece of trash and scarred for life and the most grievous sin you committed was abandoning  your mother and letting her die  with  the pain you caused her. Now tell me how on earth will you find peace? And indai  Hauwa  ce this is just the beginning if you don't get your acts together  and leave that filthy life once and forever." Ahmad kept nodding  like an agama lizard or a child who is being  admonished by his mother for taking sweets without permission .

" I have learnt my lesson Taheer  I swear I do but please don't let Cat marry another  man, the pain will be the death  of me " he pleaded.

" The die is cast  Ahmad  and it's  not like you're going to take her back let the poor  thing  find happiness in life  before she die please and if you're really sorry then that's what you will wish for  her ".

" But I Love her,  I still do and will keep loving her till the day I die "

" Then pray for her,  for her happiness  and a peaceful  home " Taheer said adjusting his reading  spectacles. Just then the call for maghrib sallah was made and the two friends left for masjid and after  the prayer,  Taheer  made Ahmad pay back all the missed salahs for the day.

" honestly  I feel different  and kind  of refreshed  thanks man you and Zee deserved each other " Ahmad stated.

" That reminds me of  the world war 3 that is going to take place  after I tell her what  happened  today " Taheer cringed. The thought  of pacifying a mad Zee making him sweat.

" You don't have to tell her you know " Ahmad suggested.

" Unlike  you dear Ahmad I am an ideal husband and I don't hide anything from my wife who happens to be my best friend and partner in everything. Now take this rosary and start  saying the istigfar. I will take you to the ward and call it  a day "

" Thank you " Ahmad appreciated with a sad voice laden with different  emotions. What Taheer said made him remember all the times he used to tell Cat the same thing,  how he had planned a straight out of fairy tale future for them and how he messed up.

Thirty minutes later,  Taheer left Ahmad in the ward after giving him some drugs and leaving him in the care  of a trusted nurse whom he tasked with the duty of feeding and providing  for the needs of Ahmad  because  the next day is his day off.

Upon reaching home, the sweet scent of bakhoor and incense  welcomed him first before  a tantalizing  aroma wafted to his nostrils which made his stomach growl loudly.

" Sweetest I am home!! " he called out plopping  down on the couch and trying to remove his red necktie.

" Welcome  home dearie,  you've been missed while you're gone and how was work ? " Zee came out from the kitchen and sat on his laps giving him a peck and undoing the top buttons of his shirt.

" Eventful " he sighed and she nodded in understanding  knowing that whatever it is he will tell her about it after he is well  rested and she just can't wait to hear him out.

" Sweetest I want to tell you something but promise  me that you won't get mad." Taheer said after dinner.

" Are you getting married? " she asked eyes wide like they will pop out .

" Yahsalam!  When will you grow  up Zee? " he chuckled and she pouted feigning annoyance.

" I promise  I won't get mad as far as it has nothing to  do with  you adding another wife "

" You're sufficient  for me wifey!  It is about Ahmad  I met him today and he is so sick you may think that  he will not survive today " he finally said praying that she won't get mad kissing her forehead.

" That's good news,  exactly what I want to hear happening  to the idiot, hope  you were not the one that treated him and you did not even  give him the chance to be all cocky and arrogant  because I won't let him disrespect  you" she asked with  a murderous glare as if Ahmad is in the living room.

" Yes  I did but.... " he didn't  get to finish  his sentence  before he heard the loud sound of the door being banged by none other than Zee.

°•°

Hehehe cliffy not cliffy  hangy! 

How are we? If good Alhamdulillah if not then may Allah make it easy for us.

To all those  saying  that I am evil, I  am Wicked and too harsh on Ahmad  blah blah blah blah (you know your kai)  I hope this will erase all those rainin sense you did to me 😁

So any guesses on what's gonna happen next??

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Miyetti duddum - Aishatu ❤