Another update, just because i want you guys to read chapter 47😂 🔥
Yes i have it written already!

"Ya Nafeesah i thought you're wise."

Adeelah said out of blues. She's been turning the words around her head thinking of how to begin with her sister. At first, she wanted to remain quiet but she remembered what the Sheikh said after he had finished lecturing aunt Beebo the other day. He said that some people only needed reminders in their lives to change, some people want someone to push them onto something and assure them they can do it. That's why the quran stated: fazzakir fa innaz zikra tanfa'ul mu'uminun. Remind! For reminder benefits the believers.

Adeelah had told him she knew about that particular verse. Much to her joy, the Sheikh went on to tell her story behind the revelation of first few verses of suratu Abasa.

"Allah opened the surah with the story of the encounter between prophet Muhammad S.A.W and Abdullahi bn Ummu Maktum who was a blind man. He went to the prophet to inquire more about islam and meanwhile the prophet was addressing the reputable men of Quraish, trying to bring their attention to Islam. When Abdullahi insisted on asking the prophet SAW, he frowned and turned his face away." Sheikh Muhammad Salim had stopped and looked at Adeelah before he proceeded.

"That's why the first verses said: Abasa wa ta walla, meaning he, the prophet frowned and turned his face away. In the few verses after, Allah told his prophet that maybe the blind man whom he frowned upon would repent as a result of what the prophet would tell him or he may benefit from what the prophet would have tell him. Verses followed and the last one i want you Adeelah to understand is where Allah said that all what prophet Muhammad was just a reminder. Whosoever wills should heed to it and follow what the quran says."

Adeelah would forever remember the translation of those verses. She saw more reasons why Salmah was so jealous and protective of her husband. His charm and knowledge would quickly sway alot of girls.

So Adeelah looked at her sister.

"Whatever i am going to say it's just a reminder Ya Nafeesah. Allah said do not approach zina... He didn't say do not commit zina. He said do not approach it. Because if you do approach it, it will be so hard for you to even avoid doing it all. I have seen your hand entangled with Ya Shahid's own. Just take heed and respect yourself." Adeelah told her. There wasn't any need to sugarcoat her talk whilst her sister wasn't a baby. She would rather be straight so Ya Nafeesah would take her more serious.

Mayhap out of shame and guilt, Ya Nafeesah wasn't able to talk. She didn't even reply Adeelah even when Adeelah told her she's leaving for her husband's house. She just sat numb as though she lost her nerves.

If only Adeelah knew she had done more than that and she was about to just slip into the gutter, she would have shred her alive. For real, it's but, a reminder and with Allah's will, Nafeesah was reminded.

Full of regret, she began weeping. Adeelah's words were stuck in her mind, they pricked somewhere, that even after crying she didn't stop feeling the tickles. For years, she had been living such a life. None of her friends saw any bad with it. They all lead their lives the same way. They believed life shouldn't be so boring as this was the modern days. Some of her friends were not even ashamed of saying the stuff they did as though they were tied in a knot with their boyfriends.

Nafeesah weeped again and washed her face. For, she had to cook the day's dinner because Asama'u wasn't around.

******

Nafeesah spent the whole night thinking of what Adeelah said. She remembered the last things she said-which were what had been nagging her. Did that mean she didn't respect herself or what. Tired of thinking she called to see her boyfriend the next day. Now as they sat in his car, windows wound down as she requested, Nafeesah didn't know how to begin.

She wanted him to know that something wasn't right with her, with them. That's why she even dressed upheaved... so disorganised.

"Feenah..." he trailed off, reaching for her hand as usual. Nafeesah hid her hand under her hijab.

"What's wrong?" He finally asked, making it easier for her.

Nafeesah narrowed her eyes at him. Shahid was really handsome and charming. She's carzily in love with him and that's why she did all she could to keep him with her. She knew alot of girls were after him but it didn't bother her because she's sure he had his heart. Now, she didn't know whether what she would say would affect their relationship. She hoped it won't.

With tonnes of gathered courage she looked away. "Do you respect me Shahid?"

Her eyes affixed on him, she wanted to see his expressions and read his emotions as he answer her. She wanted to put love aside and understand if he was worth all she had been doing.

"I do, Feenah."

Nafeesah sighed. "Then I don't want us to touch eachother's hand ever again till after our marriage."

Shahid smiled. "I had been wanting to talk about it too. It isn't right. We shouldn't allow our hearts to mislead us. May Allah forgive us."

Nafeesah thought it was the fic of her imagination but there was it, so simple, it's Shahid's reply. She didn't know when her scowl broke to a smile. Satisfactory smile, proud smile, you name it.

She didn't want him to see it though.

"Ameen." And she opened the door of the car and faltered away. Shahid had remained in the car thinking of her before he drove away.

Nafeesah was all shades of smiles when she reached her room. Finally she didn't have to lose Shahid. It was easier than she imagined. She loved him so much and just his response amplified the love she had for him.

Goofily, she hugged her pillow and began to daydream about the kind of life she and him will lead.

*****

Adeelah would normally wake up in the morning before Muhammad. She would prepare tea and toast for his breakfast on the table. Somedays tea with pancakes.

At first, he told her to stop it because he didn't need her to suffer but she felt like an ingrate to just sleep and wake up to cooked food. Gradually, he began to appreciate the breakfast she normally served him.

As she stood before the cooking, stirring the pancake batter she heard his salam at kitchen's entrance.

"Waalaikumus salam, good morning." She greeted with a plain face, her sight still on the frying pan as she flipped the pancake.

She barely look at his face all along because she's afraid of getting attracted to him.

"You kinda slept off today obviously." She heard his deep voice.

"Yeah i was down with fever last night."

Not as she expected, she felt him walking towards her back. On reflex she turned around to see him just few inches from her. His arm encircled her back, while his other hand felt her forehead, for temperature.

"Still there. I will call the doctor." She suddenly missed the warmth of his arm around her as he tipped back.

Adeelah wasn't sure if she could move again.

"The pancake..." he reminded her and walked out of the kitchen. But then, she saw him smiling.

Five minutes later, she's out with the plate on her hand and flask on the other hand. She met him sitting on the table waiting. She had never meet him waiting because she always set the table before he comes out of his room. As he saw her, he stood up to help her with the flask.

His palm brushed the back of her hand, as much as she wanted to ignore, she was made to look at him abruptly. He casted his eyes away, as though shy.

"Sorry." She heard him say. She nodded in reply while he drew a chair for her to sit.

"Thank you." Adeelah mumbled and sat.

They ate in silence before he cleared his voice. Adeelah had notice that he loved doing it, or maybe he didn't even know that he usually clear his voice whenever he wanted to tell her an important issue.

"Where do you intend to do your service?"

Ya Allah! She had been waiting for this question from someone. Whoever it may be, she just wanted someone to share her idea with. She wanted to with Nafeesah, but she was angry with her. And now he brought the topic.

This man...

"I had been thinking and I couldn't come up with one. I would rather first finish with the camp first."

He listened. "Married woman can choose not to go to the camp."

Adeelah knew about that. "I don't was even want to go."

He smiled. "You can choose not to. The choice is yours."

"Thank you."

He was quiet again before he stole a glance at her.

"I will be at Abuja tomorrow. I don't know if you will enjoy staying at home alone or you would rather go back home to stay with your family."

Adeelah was speechless.

"Or will you like to follow me?"

The question made her choke. She quickly sipped the water she had poured earlier in a cup. What would she follow him to do? It's not like she liked him being around. She just didn't like staying alone.

She wanted to go to Abuja just to visit aunt Siddiqah who had relocated there and maybe stay with her. She hadn't seen her since she gave birth to her baby. Also, Adeelah needed a breathe of fresh air. Although everything has died down a bit, Kano felt still clogged to her.

"I actually wanted to visit aunt Siddiqah. She had been sick. She didn't even came to my wedding."

Muhammad knew about aunt Siddiqah long before. In order to create confusion in Adeelah's head, he smiled.

"And to also see baby Jasrah. Right?"

Adeelah sharply looked at him. Her sight lingered for a while at him. She was too schocked to ask how he knew her. Something about this man too, was bothering her. She had noticed other things that she would rather keep mute about. He said, he heard Adeelah was fierce. Did he possibly heard it from aunt Siddiqah?

"I will get the tickets then." He replied in her stead. Up to his exit out of the house, Adeelah was still thinking. She couldn't believe it.

Adeelah wanted to go to his room. She wanted to check maybe his drawers. She didn't even know what to look for. But she's badly in need of something that would give her a clue of who this man was or how he knew things about her. Now she believed that he married her for a purpose. He just didn't believe with Abba just at a go. He must have known them. His looks didn't scream danger, his actions were mellow too but she's scared.

You can never tell. Humans are so unpredictable. Adeelah spent the whole day lazily, with the residual fever and thoughts. She had receive his call twice in the day, inquiring about her health.

At seven in the eve, his usual returning time, he came with the doctor who checked on her and prescribed some pills. Despite her insistence that she was fine, he bought those pills along with food.

He cajoled her into taking the pills against her wish.

"I told Ammi about you. To be honest with you, she's yet to warm up to the idea of me getting hitched without her consent."

"I am just telling you to prepare to meet her tomorrow. She's nice and simple." He added.

For the second time that day, he felt her forehead and it felt less warm so he smiled.

"Good night. In case you need something. Call me."

Adeelah watched him disappear into his room but as soon as he entered, she heard him place a call. Something rose to her throat and got stuck. Could it be his girlfriend? His lover whom he loved? She tiptoed to eavesdrop but she could barely hear what he's saying.

With a weird feeling of owning, she went to her room and locked the door forcefully.

Muhammad had heard the bang which made him come out.

"Are you fine Adeelah?" He asked.

"Yeah!" She groggily answered.

"Fine, good night."