______________

"Bridal shower, Kamu, Luncheon is that all?" Adeelah asked as she jotted everything down. She's practically Fatimah's wedding planner with no experience. The wedding was in four months but Adeelah won't just leave Fatimah to breath properly. She had never participated fully in a wedding that's why she's looking forward to Fatimah's. Even during aunt Siddiqa's wedding she didn't attend most of the events. She said she had to attend Islamiyya and her Islamiyya was better than wedding.

Aunt Siddiqa was mad at her then. Real mad, like crazy. She stopped talking to her before she gave up when Adeelah paid her a visit on her own.

Now Fatimah wasn't looking like she's feeling all the jitters. That weakened Adeelah's vibe but still she kept saying that it would be late for them to plan if they didn't do it now. Fatimah said there was an ample time but Adeelah won't cut her a slack. Hence she decided that they jot down everything and wait for time.

"Yes that's it. My budget is for small wedding Adeelah, you know Baffa doesn't like too much innovations. Just a nikkah is enough according to him." Adeelah shook her head. She didn't like too much crowd too but she loved to see people ambulating all over in a wedding. She loved to see smiles plastered on everyone's face in a wedding, the wedding atmosphere was just different from all sorts.

Everything looks like a fairy tale in Disney land. Adeelah loved to watch wedding videos and pictures. Now that it was Fatimah's turn to get hitch, she couldn't keep calm.

"It's not possible Fatimah. Okay? Not in this century." She objected fluttering her long lashes against the subtle skin beneath them. Her eyes had been lighting in excitement.

Fatimah sighed, all those weren't much of a trouble to her. Her biggest trouble was her fiancé's attitude towards her lately. She didn't know what to do again or who to tell. She wanted to tell Adeelah but she's afraid of Adeelah's hands free mouth, Adeelah could go and meet Baffa or Fatimah's mother because of the issue and she would be loud.

Worst was, she could call Fatimah's fiance on phone. Fatimah didn't want any of those.

"Wait, wait," Adeelah noticed the way Fatimah was down. Yes she didn't push things but this was Fatimah for her life. Her support system.

"Why are you worried? Last time I checked you can't wait to be his Mrs. What's it?" Adeelah asked, dropping the jotter.

She faltered to the door and closed it.

"Is the date not appropriate? Like you know? You're going to be on..." Fatimah slapped Adeelah's mouth.

"You're so naughty deep down Adeelah but you behave like a saint. Can you imagine what you're saying? I pity your future husband."

Adeelah stood up and started dancing.

"Oh future husband, imma surprise ya, Fatimah said she pities ya. Oh boy you're in for a soup, oulala... Ahhh. Adeelah... Is one hottie... She be a fierce lady... Yoooo...oooh...ahhhh..." She sang as she swayed her body easily. Fatimah began laughing so hard at the singing tone of Adeelah.

"Keeeeh shut up you will ruin my eardrums. Which type of song is that?" She laughed again.

Adeelah smiled and sat down.

"Now tell me." She said with all seriousness laced in the tone of her voice. She didn't want to hear that nothing was worrying Fatimah.

"I opened up to him. Told him everything and since then he stopped talking to me. It's been five days now Adeelah. I thought he's different from other guys out there..." Fatimah broke down to a cry that crashed Adeelah's heart.

"What?"

"Yes Adeelah I didn't even tell him directly. I just made up a tale and told him. I told him that someone rejected the love of his life because she's been a victim of rape and he said that's good and he would do the same. I asked him what if I was once raped would he reject me? Adeelah he said yes to my face. It hurts Adeelah. I got mad at him and chased him away. And since then we haven't been talking. I just realised that it's always me that does the talking all the time for these two years... Now I am broken. I don't know what to do..." Adeelah hugged Fatimah as she felt anger building inside her. How could he do that?

Fatimah continued whimpering. "I am afraid that he will maltreat me when he finds out. I am scared Adeelah. It happened before I met you, I was very young but I fail to forget, even though we left the state completely. I don't want to be a cheat that's why I thought to tell him and now he broke me." Adeelah was still silent patting Fatimah's back. She was thinking of a solution to Fatimah.

"He doesn't derserve this Fatimah," she wiped away Fatimah's tears.

"Even your tears are precious, not everyone deserves them. Save them for the cry that's well deserved. Go and wash your face. Let me get Maltina for you downstairs to calm you down. We're going to call him right now." Adeelah patted Fatimah's hand and strolled downstairs.

Fatimah went to the sink basin in her room and washed her face. She smiled at herself to get away the pain she's feeling. Adeelah came back after a while.

She let Fatimah gulped the drink and feel refreshed before she folded her arms, forming the plan.

"We're going to find out if he's clean too." She said and dragged Fatimah's phone. She copied his number and saved it to her phone.

"And it means what?" Fatimah asked her.

"Wait, do you want to marry him still?" Adeelah asked.

"No Adeelah I don't think he knows my worth. I am just getting married to make Ummah happy. Baffa will be glad too." Adeelah widened her eyes. What was Fatimah saying?

"You mean you don't love him or what?"

"I taught myself how to love him. His parent hooked us you know after he's been rejected by the girl he loved. Or have you forgotten that Saamir is my cousin?" Adeelah didn't know when she released her phone. Why would Fatimah do that to herself? Marriage's a lifetime contract, like, it's signing that you've agreed to stay with your partner for the rest of your life. And it's just you and them.

Why would Fatimah marry because of her parent? No, she wasn't expecting Fatimah to disobey her parents but everything was done with Fatimah's consent. The guy clearly wasn't into Fatimah that much too and he obviously didn't know her worth.

"My plan is a must Fatimah. Watch me." Adeelah remarked.

Fatimah nodded and hugged Adeelah.

______________

Abba was watching news on the television when Adeelah made her salaam. She made sure none of the wives was with him to avoid trouble.

She greeted him and sat down on the floor.

"Come here," he patted the spot close to him. Adeelah smiled and hiked up to where he sat on the cushion.

"Tell me what's it? What does my girl wants?" He asked, his eyes still lingered on the television.

Adeelah didn't know how to begin talking. She didn't know how to talk to Abba because out of furore Abba may mistaken her face as the lecturer's face and land his palm on hers. She shifted an inch away, and shifted again calculating. When she was sure that he couldn't slap her from that distance, she began talking.

"I am going to fail a course Abba." She announced. Abba switched off the television and looked at her.

"Why?"

She brought out the script of her test and handed it to Abba.

"Abba, check this." She bit her lower lip.

"You failed all Adeelah. What's wrong? Didn't you ask me for Biochemistry textbooks? Adeelah Rabi'u Dambatta why did you fail?" He hollered such that his voice made Adeelah flinched.

"I didn't fail Abba. Stop shouting at me Abb..." She didn't get to complete her sentence when she realised what she's saying and to who she's speaking to.

"Check the questions and answers. You can use goggle Abba." She added.

"And this." She played the recorded conversation between her and Malam Hassan.

Abba was quiet, listening to it.

When it ended he looked at Adeelah.

"Hotel with my daughter? Is he insane? Answer me Adeelah is he insane?" He stood up.

"He is, Abba." She replied because if she didn't reply Abba won't leave her alone. He would keep repeating the question.

"He's playing with fire. Give me his office address. Send the conversation to me. Go and call Fadeel for me, no go and rest. I will call him myself. He's driving me somewhere."

"It's late Abba, leave it till morning."

He briefly looked at the time and heaved. What did the lecturer meant? Sex for grades? And with his daughter? He's mad. He would make sure he remove his teeth before he hands him over to the authority.

"Goodnight Adeelah!" He said, as they walked out of Abba's parlour together. They met Hafsatu along the corridor.

"Baby..."

"Hafsatu if you come here I will mistakenly land my hand on your face." Adeelah giggled below her breath.

Hafsatu moved back giving him way to enter his room. Adeelah took the other side and ambled to her room. Abba had made everything easier for her. And she hoped Malam Hassan's mischief will come to an end soon.

_______________

Adeelah was in the study room searching for a book to read when her phone rang. She peeked into the screen. The name made her heart somersault because it had been a week since they met.

She let the phone rang. The second call came in.

It's Ameer.

She picked the call with a salam to which he answered with no hesitation. Then silence fell, none of them knew what to say.

"You didn't tell me what happened the other day?" Ameer said, breaking the silence.

"No worries anymore. Abba is dealing with the issue now." She smiled.

Ameer didn't feel good, he wanted to hear her talk for some seconds.

"Oh,"

"Yeah." She said.

"Adeelah baby is calling you!" Hafsatu barged into the study room without an excuse. Adeelah looked at her.

"I've to go, Abba demands for my presence." She mouthed to Ameer and cut the call.

"Aunt." She said blatantly.

"Who are you speaking with? You know it's high time you start packing your stuff out of this house. What are you still waiting for? Why aren't you married yet?" Hafsatu asked all in one breath.

Adeelah dropped the book she found. No orchids for Miss Blandish by James Hadley Chase.

"Ou aunt, when are you going to be divorced? I mean it's high time you get divorced by Abba." Hafsatu sent a fist to Adeelah. Adeelah dodged it with a laughter and scurried out of the study room.

She saw Abba outside through the glass door of their verandar. She muffled a veil she found close. Maybe it's for Hajiya Sadiya or someone. She's just sure it wasn't Hafsatu's.

Adeelah met Abba with someone.

"Here I am, Abba." She said from a length. Abba motioned for her to come to where he was standing with a man squatting.

"You've got a new chauffeur Adeelah." Adeelah beamed.

"Salisu this is Adeelah. Adeelah this is Salisu your new chauffeur." Adeelah looked at him.

He was a tall man with a bald head, a burn scald on his forehead. A birth mark on his left cheek and dark lips. She looked at Abba and gulped. This man was the worst among all the chauffeurs she had before.

"Evening." She greeted.

"Evening Hajiya Dillaliya..." He greeted back.

What? Adeelah hissed under her breath because Abba had stopped her from hissing. He said it was a bad habit and a lady with good manner doesn't hiss. She's trying to stop though.

Abba laughed heartily.

"It's Adeelah not Dillaliya..."

Salisu grinned. "Her name is difficult. I will go with Dillaliya because she looks like one." Adeelah hissed and left the sight of Abba and her new chauffeur.

It's going to be dramatic.

_________

For non Hausas, Dillaliya means a woman that sells second hand/ used stuff.😂😂😂😂

Our chauffeur don land! I'm excited. Please vote and comment. Share. Thank you.