MINAL'S POV.
  "What would you like to order Minal? " Nana asked. I stared  at the menu for a while and I don't think there's something I can eat here.  This is what happens when a typical Nigerian comes to a Chinese restaurant.

   After my encounter with Umar in the kitchen where he mentioned I looked stunning,  I rushed to my room, got dressed and left for Nana's house.  She would have skinned me alive if I didn't come today because I've never been to her house and I promised her several times but failed.  Moreover,  she visits me frequently. 

On getting there,  we played some games and chatted for a while before we all got bored so we decided to hang out and catch some fun.  And of all places,  Nana choose a Chinese restaurant.  Now I stuck.

  "Should I help you order? " she asked and I quickly shook my head. "Don't bother about me.  Just eat and I  would grab something in a random restaurant before we get home.  She nodded and ordered for something I have no idea of and I watched her eat with disgust written all over my face. 

   I sat uncomfortably in my chair as my stomach began to grumble.  I've almost drained my drink but it didn't help.

"How are things going with you and your husband? " she asked. 

  "My husband?" I asked looking at her with wide eyes. "Yes your husband Nasir" she said and I let out a hiss.

"My husband indeed.  I can't remember when we got married. " I said sharply.

"But you are about to Minal. It's is less than three months" she said making me choke on my drink. "Minal come back to your right senses.  You are getting married to this guy in less a year" my inner voice said.  Ya Rabbi! I don't like this guy! I can't marry him.

   "A penny for your thought?" she asked snapping her fingers at me.

"Look at me Minal" she said and I slowly raised my head. I don't want her to realize I don't like Nasir.  He's her cousin and she would really be offended and I'm not ready to loose my friendship with her.  She's basically the only friend I have.

  "I know you don't like Nasir, Minal and I've been wondering why you accepted to marry him. "

I opened my mouth and was about to speak when he signified me to stop with her hand. "Don't say a word.  I'm not ready for you right now" she said making me to roll my eyes. "Now this is Nana" I said to my self.

  "I know all you're  going to say is Daddy,... I owe him lot.. Blah blah blah.  But do you know what you are about to do isn't right? The fact is you don't like Nasir and it's so obvious.  I myself wouldn't want you to get married to him because he isn't your type Minal.  He doesn't deserve you. Are you going to choose Nasir over Umar? "

  "Which Umar" I asked playing with my cup. "Umar as in Umar Faruk" she said more like a whisper.

"The Umar whom you share the same roof with. Or do you think I haven't noticed? " she asked smirking.

  "Haven't noticed what? " I asked trying to calm myself.

"That you like him" she replied giving me the "I'm sure of what I said" look. Lord! This girl!

"Jokes apart Nana. I don't love him.  There's nothing between us.  We're just 'friends!' " I replied avoiding her gaze.

  "Friends indeed. Well,  I won't force you to admit anything.  We shall see" she said adjusting her veil.

  "What made you think I like him?"I asked. "What made you think I 'love' him"she corrected.

"Arrrgh! Whatever " I replied rolling my eyes. "Well,  nothing much.  Just the way you look at him,  how you start to blush when you hear his name or see him and you're always bringing up his topic. And also the way you behave when he's around " she said putting a tictac into her mouth.

  I sat still watching her as she chew her gum and laughed at what I have no idea of from her phone.

  "How do I look at him ?" I asked my self trying to analyze what she just said. "How do I behave when he's around?" Now I'm confused. 

   We paid for her meal and headed home forgetting to grab a snack for myself. "Ya Salam! We didn't get you anything " Nana said the moment we entered her room".

  "No worries.  I'll get something to eat from the kitchen " I replied sitting on the bed. It was already Maghrib time so I rushed to the bathroom,  performed my wudhu and observed my salat before I remembered a phone actually existed and I had one.

I searched everywhere in Nana's room for my phone which I later found in her wardrobe. "Ya salam! Twenty-six missed calls" I wasn't surprised when I saw twenty one missed calls from Faruk  and the rest six was shared between Amma and Nasir.  Amma owned two and Nasir owned the remaining three.

   I went to the kitchen and made some French fries before joining Nana and her siblings in the sitting room. "Anty Minal we've never been to your house" Yazid her younger brother said.

"Yes Anty Minal.  You promised to take us with you" Yusra his twin sister added.  Did I mention how adorable these two are?.

  "Don't worry guys. I'll come and take you with me when you are on midterm break OK?! " I said playing with Yusra's hair.

"Anty Minal how many siblings do you have " Yusra asked. I froze and my eyes were fixed on the floor.  How many siblings do I have?  Do I even have any?  Do I have a family?

   "Yusra and Yazid you better go and shower if not... " Nana said.

"....There would be no chocolates" the twins completed in unison and ran upstairs.

  "Are you alright Minal? "  Nana asked sitting next to me and I nodded. "I have to start going Nana.  It's getting late" I said rushing to upstairs to her room to grab my stuffs.

  Ado their driver took me home and I must confess,  I enjoy the old man's company.  We chatted on our way back and I called Amma and Nasir.  I didn't bother to call Faruk because I would definitely meet him at home so I see no use.

  "Where on earth are you coming from" he asked at the top of his voice making me shiver.  I was just entering the house when I met him pacing back and forth in the passage. "Are you deaf?" he asked again and this time fiercely. 
  "I.. I went.. I went.. " I started before he cut me off. " Will you stop stammering and answer my question like a normal person" he yelled and this time around,  I just couldn't hold the fear and tears.  I rushed to my room ignoring his calls.

"Minal come back here" he said running after me.  I entered my room and locked the door placing my forehead on it.

  After spending five minutes in the that position pouring my heart out,  I headed to the bathroom and performed Wudhu then observed my Isha prayers.

  I was still on the prayer mat and after making my Dua, after praying to Almighty Allah the Most High and Everlasting,  I grabbed my phone and dialed Nana's number. I narrated all that happened to her.

  "Hmm!  Then why did you suddenly break down" she asked. "I don't get you miss" I said almost loosing my temper.

"Why didn't you just answer him? But instead you suddenly started crying and ran. I consider it as childishness ". I sat still trying to process what she just said.  Was I being childish?  I asked myself. 

  "Minal!  Are you with me " she asked. "Yes Nana" I replied  folding the prayer mat. "We'll talk tomorrow ok?" she said and I nodded as if she could see me. "When you see him,  just pretend nothing happened and when he asks you,  tell him the truth OK?  I see no reason for your actions in the first place. " she said .

  "Bye Nana" I muttered and ended the call.  I quickly had my bathe and after putting on my nighties,  I went to the kitchen to make some tea. 

  "Minal! " someone called softly from behind making me freeze. I slowly turned and watched as he approached me with a smile on his face making me wonder what the reason for the smile is. 

  "I'm sorry Minal.  " he started as I moved backwards.  He was too close. Damn too close. "I'm sorry for everything.  I was just worried about you and got mad. "

  I simply nodded and made my tea while he watched.  I grabbed two slices of bread and after spreading some jam on it,  I headed to the door.  He grabbed the hem of my veil making me pause.  He came towards and stood in front of me.

"Are you still mad at me? He asked and I shook my head. "I said I'm sorry. Or should I kneel? " he added . I quickly shook my head "I won't let you go until you smile at me" he said taking a slice from my plate.
  "Please Umar.  I'm sleepy. Let me go." I pleaded and he chuckled. "Not until you smile" he said making an attempt to take the cup of tea from me. I let him not wanting the tea to spill on the both of us because I know he would definitely struggle to get it. He took a sip and handed it back to me.

   "Minal just a smile " he said smirking . I smiled at him as he requested and was expecting him to let me go.

  "Nope! I won't take that" he said shaking his head.

  "For goodness sake Umar.  You said I should smile and I did. What else? " I asked letting out a frustrated sigh. "You didn't smile" he replied back. "I did Umar!  See" I said and smiled again. 

  "That isn't a smile Minal.  It was only your lips that moved" he said smirking making me more confused.

"How is a smile meant to be. Isn't it the lips that move?  Must I move my teeth or my entire body? " I had all these questions in my head but I couldn't ask him instead,  I kept on staring at him.

  He moved closer and I caught a whiff of his cologne.

"Nothing happened to your eyes Minal.  They didn't sparkle. " he said softly and I just stood still unable to move. I just pray what's in my hand doesn't fall.  "Good night Minal.  Dream of me and you " he said those words exiting the kitchen.

  I spent up to three minutes processing what just happened before I finally came back to my senses.  "Umar" I muttered letting out a sigh as I exited the kitchen. I was already in my room when I noticed a slice of bread was missing from my plate. 

"Gosh! I wonder how someone can have so much effects on me. " I said loudly enough for anyone beside me to hear. What a night!!

Oh yes!  What a night.  It's already 12:30 AM and I'm meant to be in the dreamland by now but I just can't sleep peacefully without giving you guys an update. You guys will definitely hunt me in my sleep and this one that Legit__Boss is about to adopt my characters.  I don't know how possible it is but I'll sit back and enjoy the show.
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