*

Khadijah  was too tired to even pay attention  to her phone  until the next day after she came back from  school  which marked the end of her registration .

She logged into WhatsApp  expecting to see his text  but was disappointed  to see none. With a shrug  as if she doesn't Care she typed the account number and pressed the send button before she changes her mind.  Kaybee has just widened  the already existing rift between  them. She wondered  when he will be man enough to apologize  or start behaving normally with her and she hates the way he comes in and out of her life like a shooting star. 

She was in the kitchen making gruel for Baba  when she heard some male voices saying  the salams. Knowing  that Baba  is in the living  room  to answer  the door,  she just answered the salam and continued  mixing the ingredients.

" Khadijah come and serve  our guests with water " came Baba 's voice.

She arranged a jug and drinking cups on a tray and securely wrap her veil before going out only to be shocked at the person looking at her with a smirk.

" You're welcome ina wuninku " she greeted dropping the tray on the floor with  shaky  hands.

She was taken back to  a moment in time, a day she tried  so hard to forget. Something she didn't tell anyone.  Not even Zee .

#
She was walking on a lonely deserted road late afternoon when his blaring horn made her turn around frightened that she's about  to be knocked off.  He came out with  a smile she wished she can wipe off with  a stone.

" Hey babe !  Long time no see,  I am still processing on how to make you mine so worry not you'll soon be my wifey " he stated cockily.

" How can you say such things to a married woman? " it is the only defence she can think of .

" hahah that's funny. Even that  guy told me the same thing,  I wonder  why you guys are hiding behind an already dissolved marriage,  I  have  done my research  and you my dear is a divorcee who's soon gonna  get married again to none other than me " he said grinning widely .

Her body  starts to tremble and she didn't  know when she broke  into a run. What scared her is the underlining tone of danger  in his voice. She has been married to a monster and she can sniff  one from a thousand miles  and she knows better to run away from such people.

She had a nightmare that night which is more like a rerun of what happened earlier, she prayed that Allah will not give Haroun the chance  to meet Baba  because they owe his father  a lot and she knows how people  in her society think . Baba  can Marry her off to him just because  of the favour his father had done them. #

She was so immersed in thoughts that she didn't  know when tears cascaded down  her cheeks. She was brought out of reverie by her  father's  voice.

" I am coming " she called back taking out the mug she will serve the gruel  in.

" I think you've seen this man before" Baba pointed at Haroun.

" Yes. He's Alhaji sani's son " she squeaked  out her heart hammering in her chest.

" Mashaa Allah,  he came here  with a marriage proposal  and I told him I will do my investigations on him and if you two  get to know each other and you're okay with  it then he have my consent  and blessings. " Baba  further explained.

Just then khadijah  felt like the world is crumbling  and her  life is coming to an end, how can she say yes to Haroun?but she's  thankful for two things, one being the fact that  she's a divorcee  therefore have the right  to choose a spouse  for herself and can't be forced into  marrying  someone she did not like and two the fact that Baba  is giving her  a choice.

" Uhmm Baba  I don't think I want to remarry  again  besides  am about  to start school " turning to Haroun  with a look of disgust she calmly said " I am sorry you can go and marry someone else ".

Baba was surprised  at the tone she used,  he knows Khadijah  is not the type that will talk back to him in that manner but he understands  why she did so.

He apologized to Haroun  and his fake best friend  that in shaa Allah he will talk  to Khadijah  and Haroun  can start coming over to see her.

Haroun  left  the house with a triumphant smile etched on  his features. He just hope that all his bad secrets are well  covered so that  Baba  will not  find anything discriminating against him. He badly want Khadijah and can go to any length  just to get her.

Khadijah  cried her heart  out that day and refused  to tell Baba  why, she don't want to  cause a rift between Baba  and Alhaji Sani. When Ummie came back from the market where she went to buy some Ankara fabrics she usually sell at home, she was met with  a somber looking  Baba  and puffy eyed Khadijah.

" I hope no one died " she stated instead of asking.

" No" came Baba 's clipped short answer.

" Then what happened? " she asked looking  from one to another.

" Haroun the son of Alhaji  Sani came here earlier  and asked for permission  to seek Deejan's hand in marriage and she has been crying ever since " Baba  explained to an almost pissed off Ummie.

" Okay let me talk to her  " she said motioning  for khadijah  to follow her to her room.

" I think I know why you've been crying  Deejan,  not every man is like Ahmad and Haroun is from a well respected family and an added reason is that his father has done  everything for us.

Don't  you think it will be low of us to decline giving your hand in marriage to his one and only son?  We let you marry for love and it turns out to be a nightmare, pray for khair and in shaa  Allah  all will be well but stop crying"

" Ummie I will stop crying but please don't make me marry him,  I hate him with the whole  of my heart " khadijah  burst into tears and stormed out of the room which startled the twins.

" Yah Allah  habiby talk to your daughter I don't  know why she's behaving  like this " Ummie  cried out  exasperated.

" Let her  be, she will come around".

Khadijah  texted Zee to come over,  telling her that there  is an emergency  and she need her ASAP.

Two hours later Zee came rushing in panting like she has run a marathon.

" What's  wrong with you D?  Yah Allah you look terrible " she gasped .

Khadijah hugged the life out of Zee crying while Zee tried to calm her down.

" I am  dying Zee,  I will die any moment,  I can't marry again talk less of marrying a beast like Ahmad or worse " she cried out.

" I don't actually  Catch what you're trying to say,  can you please shade more light? " Zee asked in a soothing manner  still not able to figure out what is going on.

Khadijah  narrated everything that happened to Zee including  the part of the story she kept away from everyone with a hoarse voice .

" Subhanallah!  That was scary D but you should've  told me earlier but  I understand why. stop crying  In shaa Allah all will be well no one is going to hurt you again. Let's  see how the drama will unfold. Let him  play his game and then we will destroy his plans in one go since Baba  will not force you.  Now dry your tears  you have  some old folks waiting out there for your apology. "

After  apologizing  to her parents and telling them that she will pray and think about the whole Haroun  issue the matter was put to rest.

" Thanks life saver!  " khadijah  said giving Zee a side hug.

" You're damn right I am and I'm  glad to be  here saving  the day " Zee cockily  replied with a smirk  while D threw a pillow at her.

" Yeye over confident  and arrogant pikin " D stuck her tongue  out but she is still worried about Haroun. 

The day being  a Saturday khadijah  and Zee later left for Islamic school together . khadijah  caught a glimpse  of a grey haired, red rimmed eyed and old man looking at her  creepily with a smile on his face and a lovestruck  look. She quickly  averted her gaze and muttered some prayers.

" How's Mr  mysterious  I hope you weren't crying because you are about  to loose him " Zee asked out of the blue .

" You're not serious  Zee, I told you I am not in love with him and even if I happen to be which is not happening in the near future I am not  gonna marry him " Retorted D in annoyance to the delight of Zee.

They reached the school on time and sat on their respective  seats away from each other knowing  that if they sit together they are bound to make trouble.

Five minutes  later the mu'allim came in and he treated fiqh, tajweed and tauheed. After that it  was time for  Quranic recitation.

The muallim is a strict no nonsense man who embarrass anyone that didn't recite her haddah with tajweed or miss some ayahs in the process of reciting,  he sometimes  ask the defaulter  to either wash the toilet  or kneel outside the class till closing  hours.

Khadijah  happened  to fall in his trap because her mind was occupied and she could  not concentrate in reciting  suratul An'am offhand.

" what is wrong with  you? " he bellowed  and before  khadijah  say anything  Zee sprang up.

" She is sick Malam " she blurted.

" Ohhh if that's the case then may Allah grant you shifaa " he said with something  akin to care in his voice and dismissed D to her seat.

The rest of the class and Khadijah  were surprised  as to how easily he let her off the hook.

" Malam is in love " a fat black girl whispered  to  her friend.

" Hmmm" she hummed in agreement.

For the rest of the class,  some girls keep murmuring and whispering amongst themselves.

" It  seems like I have succeeded  in getting us some brand new enemies " Zee voiced out on their way back.

" Na them sabi,  Allah knows that there is nothing  between  us. Girls are so hypocritical, if not why will him letting me off because he was told I'm sick become  a subject  of gossip? " Khadijah replied  with an underlining  tone  of annoyance in her voice.

They kept chatting while walking until  they reached the same place she saw the old man gawking at her earlier.

Upon seeing them, the man grinned from ear to ear and he sauntered towards  them with  a skip in his steps , adjusting  his cap and smoothening his kaftan in the process.

" I pray with everything worth  praying over for that this man coming towards us will not ask any of us for contact " Zee nudged Khadijah  muttering.

Just then the oldie reach them and said his salam and his voice sounds awfully  familiar  to Khadijah but she knows that it can't  be Mr  mysterious .

" Princess I know that you won't recognize me but my heart recognises you from a distance " the stranger said with a toothy grin.

" Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun! " Zee shrieked  out while the old man winced a little still looking at Khadijah  with so much love,  adoration and devotion in his eyes. 

" I know you haven't  seen me before but at least  you should recognize  my voice "

Khadijah  was rooted there out of shock or wonder while Zee couldn't  tamp down her laughter when she realized that the person  in front of them is none other than Mr mysterious.

She laughed hard and loud clutching  her stomach with tears  in her eyes.

Mr mysterious  is obviously  unfazed by Khadijah 's reaction.

" My name is Abdullah and I have been loving you from a distance for a long  time now. To be precise  since the day you moved into this neighborhood" he introduced  himself .

How on earth can an old man have a soft spoken voice,  be current  and modern from the way he always talk  to her on phone and be this hideous and dirty is what Khadijah cannot fathom  for the life of her.

" I am sorry Malam Abdullah  " was all she could say before  clutching  Zee's hand who was still laughing for her to move.

Allahumma ajirni fi musibati wa akhlifni khairan minha is what she kept repeating  not paying attention to what  Zee was saying in between fits of laughter.

" Oh girl,  you're in deep shit,  by Allah if it was me I will burst into tears!!!  Indeed  this world is a scary place, subhanallah  D I  pity this farin jini you suddenly acquired  out of the blue.  Ya  kaybee should be a man and get you two married already " she rambled on not realizing when she said the last part until it was too late.

" What do you mean by that? "

" Nada Aunty  D " Zee said and before D could breath a word she hailed a tricycle  and hopped in sticking her tongue out and saying  that she will call D later.

What Khadijah felt inside,  she cannot explain,  she's too shocked to feel hurt, too overwhelmed to cry or do anything. She felt numb and the happenings of the day crumbled upon her like an earthquake. 

**

Zee kept contemplating on whether  to tell mommy what was going on or to keep mum about  it. After  a long debate with her inner self she came to the conclusion  that its  best to let things unravel by themselves  and pray for the best and an added fact is she don't want to  hurt D by telling mommy and keeping it a secret.

"Earth to Zee" Taheer brought her out of reverie with  the flick  of his fingers. He came over for their wedding preparations  which has been fixed in two months.

" Sorry,  I zoned out for a while " she apologized.
They kept discussing and making list.  Zee wished that Khadijah  Is with her at that moment but she have lectures which she can't afford to miss  especially  now that she's still a JJC as Zee usually tease her.

" Mama said we just can't have a wedding without a walimah or dinner party,  you have to choose one for her sake " Taheer  said.

" Yahsalam mama!  " Zee whined  with a cute pout.

" It is not my intention too but it's  better to have a walimah than  a dinner party since walimah is islamically allowed plus  there will be a learned person to  preach  instead of music "  he reasoned.

" You are right dearie,  walimah  it is then. May we live long to witness  it " she replied with a shy smile.   The last part making Taheer  happy that she's as excited for them to become  man and wife even though he is still angry at Ahmad  for making his girl loose faith in men and making her not trusting him completely.

Zee on the other hand trust Taheer  with every  fibre of her being but will never let him know that. It scares her  on how much she loves Taheer , that exact kind of love D had for Ahmad  which only led to pain and heartbreak.

She used to conceal  how happy and in love she is to her friend who always  want to see her happy,  who is still facing problems courtesy  of the stupid men coming  and going out of her life.

After the incidence with  Grandpa  Abdullah as they later named him, the old man did not relent  in his pursuit of getting the love of his life in person of khadijah.  When she stopped picking  his calls he took it as a cue to start visiting her at home, sending an errand boy  to call her  out.

khadijah  came running into the living room where Taheer  and Zee were sitting panting and watching over her back like she is being chased by an angry blood tasty  lion. 

" Subhanallah khadijah  what's the matter? " Taheer asked getting up alarmed while Zee held Khadijah  trying to make her calm down,  she couldn't even speak she just pointed a finger at the entrance.

Taheer  went out to check what caused the commotion only to see a man casually standing outside with a smirk arms akimbo.

" Assalamu Alaikum Malam what happened ? " Taheer asked with a glare feeling murderous. His over protective  mood on.

" Nothing  Malam,  I just want to speak with  my fiancee  and she is avoiding me like a plague, tell her to come out I have important  matters to attend to" Haroun replied haughtily.

" What do you mean by your fiancee?  Malam I think you're not right in the head"

" I am referring to Khadijah the one that sent you here,  when she comes out she will prove the fact that am her fiancee  " Haroun  smirked.

" Ikon Allah! " Taheer  exclaimed looking at the sky,  as if he will get answers from heaven as to why so many people are delusional.

Just then Zee came out fuming with anger and before Taheer will stop her from saying  something she started

" What kind of an animal are you?  Don't you know the meaning of 'no'  'stay away from me' and  I hate you? " she gently  but  venomously spat out not wanting to gather a crowd.

" Ahh Hajia Zainab we meet again,  how are you and who is this man? " Haroun  pointed at Taheer as if he is referring to a trash.

" Don't act like we are civil with  each other!!  I hate you  and I hate the fact that you're making my friend's life a living hell in the guise of love. Please  let D be she has suffered a lot already and we don't need any more drama  " Zee pleaded almost driven to tears.

" But I love her Zee,  try to understand  that "

°•°

Dan dan dan ana wata ga wata.

Two updates in a row thanks to the lecturer that left us waiting idly in class. Then I said to myself why not type an  update to the beautiful  people waiting for an uppy?? 

Show some love by giving  me tons and tons of feedbacks and votes.

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Nidai ta team  Grandpa Abdullah  ce😇

See yah 😍😘