Yeah, an update not a dream!

*****

Adeelah gained consciousness ten minutes after. The doctor explained that she's stressed out. Hajiya Sadiya linked it with the wedding jitters. It's after Adeelah was on her feet that Hajiya Sadiya realised amidst all these chaos, she hadn't catch a glimpse of Adeelah's groom. Ameer.

So she decided to ask. "Have you called him?"

Adeelah could swear she had forgotten about Ameer. No, she's forgotten that her wedding was going on. Before she could answer, a doctor came to see Hajiya Sadiya together with other members of the family. When Adeelah was sure they were out of sight, she looked at the drip on her hand and removed it. It's painful but she cared less about it. By Allah her heart was in more painful pieces than the piercing of a needle.

She tiptoed still feeling a little bit dizzy. She heaved a sigh, as if gathering all strength she had therein. She sided the hospital wall and quickly as she could, she exited the hospital.

She's lucky to get a napep around. So she stopped him and directed him to her house. Fifteen minutes later, she dropped and asked him to wait so she could bring his money.

When she dismissed him and she had turn on her heel, she heard someone call her. It's Ameer.

"In." She casually told him and they entered inside the house. No one was around, not even Malam Labaran, perhaps he had gone somewhere and 'forgot' to lock the gate as always. Ameer followed her inside the house.

Once in the main parlor, Adeelah jammed the door and slumped on a cushion with a loud sigh. Ameer looked at how she changed in a spur of a moment. Her eyes were hollow and pale.

"Explanations Ameer. Explanations." She breathed out, her hands slapping her face continuously. Ameer had never seen her in such a situation, he had never seen someone in such a disoriented state of mind. Adeelah looked like someone who's about to run insane; as if she's waiting for someone to unknot something and she would break loose.

Ameer felt pity for her. He wondered why she was looking that way or why there's no one in the house on their 'supposed' wedding day.

"The house is so quiet!" He finally said, not having a clue of where to begin talking.

Adeelah was surprised she could grin. Even though it was a mocking grin, she was surprised it came out so well. She stood up and walked to where Ameer was standing like statue.

"All thanks to you! All thanks to who? You! Damn you! Ameer Muhammad!" She yelled, this time around tears threatening to fall out of her eyes. She's never imagined that a day in her life would come where she would regret the course of her existence.

Astaghfirullah, but she wished she died than to witness such a day. Her head was full, webbed of confusions.

First, she heard about Beebo, then Ameer called off the wedding, then she, a ball, or rather a dice was tossed over to a stranger man and she's married off to him.

Then after all these, Abba fainted. In case someone missed it, that wasn't all, that same day she found out she's been living a whole haram life. Abba was part of a Mafia group or whatever they call it. No, 'fore that, he had a hand in the death of her mother! Not to forget that Abba was about to sacrifice her kidney. Her mother's wasn't enough, he had to give hers or her brother's!

How more ruthless could he be?

Wasn't it enough to make her go nuts? Wasn't it enough to make her wish she could just die? But here she was, even able to produce a sarcastic grin. Even able to remain sane, even able to bottle it up without absentmindedly spitting it out to any of her father's wives.

With her voice full of anguish and rancour, she gazed over at Ameer again. She tried to see his eyes, perhaps she could find reasons. Perhaps she could see his feelings too but all she saw was completely numbness. She shook her head vigorously as though it would make her forget everything at the instant.

Suddenly she remembered what her mother had written in one of those letters she kept for her.

Patience isn't easy as it seems. It's not an instant attitude. You have to practice it before it becomes part of you.

The flower you nurture, water most often, grows beautifully and bloom. The attitude you nurture grows bigger and occupies every portion of your heart thereby becoming your habit.

Nurture and inculcate patience in your heart Adeelah. You may not understand this at eleven I am sure.

But remember some day I will leave the world and you see, you have to be patient habibty.

Ten years after, she's sure this was the kind of patience her mother preached. If not, she wouldn't have agreed with the marriage to the strange man when Abba told her. But she agreed. Proud of the effect of her mother's words on her, she mustered some courage amd looked at Ameer again.

"One more minute of your silence will make me insane Ameer. I promise." She croaked. Ameer sighed for the first time and sat beside her. He wanted to first of all calm her down as a brother before he begin but he didn't know how. So he just stared at the space ahead of him.

"She took me: told me about her relationship with your, our father." He stuttered, not knowing where to begin telling her all what Beebo told him.

Adeelah looked at him. "Who?"

Ameer felt something clogging in his throat. It pained to say her name and to believe that evil woman was who raised him and whom he had been calling with the name, 'mother' and... oh lord!

"Beebo." He finally said it, pearls of sweats forming on his forehead.

Adeelah felt her intestines move upon the mention of the woman she had been dreading to hear about.

"Beebo?"

"Yes. I don't believe all the stories she told me though. I just told you in brief in the message just to have something as an excuse but I didn't believe a single line." Adeelah closed her eyes to remember what the message said. She remembered it had been ringing in her head before Abba passed out.

'Assalam Alaikum Adeelah. I hope this meets you in good health. In case I can't reach you again, it's Ameer and i wrote this text to tell you that I'm under pressure hence this circumstance. I am sorry, all explanations will come later when things are steady a bit. I found out who my real parents are. I, Ammar and all of you are siblings. It's a long story. And the saddest for my part. Please don't be mad at anyone. Adeelah I'm sorry but things have to be this way. My real mother is dead too...'

Then Adeelah remembered the number of times she overheard her father talking with the Beebo woman. She could remember how scared of her outburst her father was, then she could remember the call she received.

"She mentioned someone called Rahama and said she's my mother. She said Ammar was an illegitimate Danbatta."

Contrary to Ameer, she believed everything. Because she remembered she had confronted Abba and he had say it's a long story. Bas! She needed no further explanations now, everything was adding up.

"It's the truth Ameer. The saddest truth we have to keep between the two of us if i may implore you."

Ameer sharply looked at Adeelah.

"Yes Ameer."

He looked at her again, in disbelief. Surprised of her calm demeanour.

"Beebo will ruin everything." Ameer whispered.

Adeelah shook her head, weighing things up and how she could tell Ameer that Beebo was dead. No matter how mad Ameer must be with Beebo, she knew it would shatter him to hear that Beebo was no more. At least for years of his childhood to manhood, he had been looking up to her as his mother. That bond they shared for years would still be there no matter what.

She had never been so sorry for someone like she's for Ameer and herself.

She couldn't believe she fell in love with him or rather believed she's in love with him. If only she knew it's just a natural feeling, if only she had listened to those instincts she had whenever she heard him speak, if only she paid attention to the oddity she felt whenever she's with him, she wouldn't—they wouldn't have reached this place. But in order to negate her feelings for Salisu, she chose Ameer.

If only she knew choosing Ameer would shatter her peace of mind, she would have set him free.

But it's all late. Albeit, it's of complete faith to believe in fate. She firmly believed that it was bound to happen. Ignoring her tears, she looked at Ameer with blurred sight.

"Beebo had an accident few minutes ago. I knew from the hospital Abba was admitted."

Ameer quickly rose on reflex.

"Which hospital is it?" His voice wasn't fierce but it was etched with concern for his mother figure. How would he feel to know that she's dead? But he wouldn't hear that from her mouth.

"Triumph." Immediately the words rolled off her tongue, she saw Ameer trudging towards the door. With no word, he opened it and walked out. Adeelah managed and closed it.

As if waiting, she burst into cords of cries. The sound of her cry was breaking in contrast with the way her heart was breaking.

She's crying for thinking about how to kill Abba. She's crying for-for her first thought of not trying to defend him-. Right before her eyes she's been reminded how Abba was to her. Via Ameer's actions.

Ameer didn't care her father was admitted. All he cared was his mother figure. After all she had done. Adeelah pulled a pillow beside her and muffled her cry with it.

She remembered Salisu too. She remembered the way he looked so pale when he told her his mother was sick.

It all dawned on her that, they all defended their parents. So why couldn't she do the same? Why would she think of doing something bad to Abba? What would be her gain after she has spilled Abba's secret. So she would protect him. She would tell everyone in the family that she threatened Ameer to call off the wedding. They didn't need to know the truth. Perhaps Abba could later tell them, it's up to him.

"I am sorry Abba..." she cried louder. With each wail, she's reborn. She would protect her father even if that meant losing her life.

No matter what, Abba had treated them well, no matter how bad his lifetsyle was, he gave them the best life even though it was with haram money. But Abba was only a human who made mistakes. And she could remember, daily, when she looked at him while he's in trance, she could see regrets filled in his eyes.

Adeelah cried till she couldn't cry no more. She would do everything to see her Abba wasn't humiliated. She would do it!

Because she's certain Abba had regretted. Even the part where he had her mother's kidney for sacrifice. She didn't care whether her mother knew or not but she would stand with him.

Till her or his last breath.

So, Adeelah stood up with same words ringing in her head.

She could remember when Abba touched her hand before he spoke. She could remember what she saw in his eyes.

He had said to her. "Baby Adeelah accept this marriage as if you're doing a favor to me please. Save me from the shame."

"You're already saved Abba. In sha Allah."

Adeelah washed her face and walked out of the house to somewhere. Not the hospital.

****

What would you do if you're in Adeelah's shoes?

For the long silence I'm sorry, it's beyond me too. But now, Alhamdulillah.

Steady updates to make it up for you guys in sha Allah.

Please appreciate this chapter by dropping your comments! Thank you.