The drive to Maryam's house was awkward and quiet, only the sound of the AC could be heard.

Muhammad looked at Maryam who has been staring into space for like forever and then back in front of him.

A lot of things were going through Maryam's head. She was excited as well as nervous, she never in a billion years thought that ya Muhammad had some kind of feelings for her. Even though some people told that he had feelings for her, she never took them seriously because it just did not make sense to her.

She has been crushing on him since like forever, but now that he told her his feelings, she just doesn't know what to make of it.

"Maryam you don't have to beat yourself up you know, I'll accept whatever decision you make. I just needed to get it out of my system." He turned, and their eyes met, but she quickly averted her head. "Follow your heart, okay?"

She nodded her head and said, "Insha Allah." Silently, such that only she heard herself. He also nodded and just then honked. She looked up and found that they were already at her house. The gateman opened the gate, and he drove in. He found a spot and parked, then looked at her.

"Thank you ya Muhammad." She smiled. "Always." He rested his head on the headrest of the car. He watched her grab her phone and put it in her bag. She was about to get out, when he said, "the painting."

She looked at the neatly wrapped painting, and smiled saying, "thank you." She grabbed it and just then Muhammad dumped a bag on her thighs. She looked at the bag then him in surprise, "what is this?" She held the bag. "It's a little gift for you." He said huskily. "A gift, wow! thank you." She strapped her bag around her neck and opened the bag. "No no, you know you aren't supposed to open a gift in front of the giver right?" He said with a hint of smile in his voice.

She chuckled and nodded saying, "right." She looked at him and their eyes met, "thank you." He nodded with a little smile and told her to greet his sisters. She said "Insha Allah, please greet mummy for me. He said Insha Allah he would, and she got out. She waved at him and walked into the house.

Once she was out of sight, a slow smile made it to her lips. As for Muhammad, he rested his head on the wheel for a while, said some supplications, before driving home.

——————

Maryam dropped all of her stuff; her veil, bag in their room, but carried her gift and painting with her to mama's room, but she found only ya amma and Yasmin in the room. She salaamed and they answered. "Ina mama?" She asked looking around.

"She went to Aunty Binta's house." Ya amma said sitting up. "So...how was the date?" Yasmin asked teasingly wiggling her eyebrows. She blushed and sat down, "you won't believe what happened." Yasmin and ya amma looked at each other and laughed saying, "what?"

Ya amma noticed the bag she was carrying and squealed saying, "what's in there?" She moved to collect it, "wait now!" Maryam held out her palm, "we'll get there."

They sat down, and she told them all that had happened. In the end, Yasmin held her mouth, and ya amma stared at her wide-eyed. Maryam pointed at her and laughed saying, "exactly, that was my reaction too."

"Dama all this while..." Yasmin started. "Wow. Masha Allah. Ni it's the way he confessed for me." Ya amma said. "I know right." Maryam squealed. "You know before he dropped me, he was like 'Maryam don't beat yourself up okay? I'll accept whichever decision you make. I just needed to get it out of my system, just follow your heart." She mimicked Muhammad. "Oh ya Rabb he is so cool."

"You know I was so surprised I didn't know what to say. I didn't say anything." They all laughed and she smiled saying, "Now let's see what's in here." She opened the bag and hurled all of the contents on the bed.

"Wow! a whole set of oil paints and sketch pad." She picked a roll-up leather paintbrush pouch and a novel. "Living and sustaining a Creative Life." She read the title excitedly and opened the book. "It says it is a compilation of 40 personal stories by working artists. Ohh! I'm so excited." She grinned.

"Art and Fear." Yasmin read another book from the gift. "let me see." Maryam collected the book and opened it. "I've read about this book on Erika's blog, it tackles artistic insecurities and the challenges professional artists go through." She beamed hugging the books. "Oh Allah ke kam, I wonder why you love reading so much." Ya amma said picking a small cute sack from the bed, she opened it and pulled out an artistic statement phone case. "Wow! Look at this cute pouch."

Maryam squealed and snatched it from ya amma's hand. "He is so creative." She flipped it over. "I'm so changing my phone case right this instant." She looked around. "Wait...I left my phone in our room, I'll just change it later."

"Candy!" Yasmin squealed reaching to grab a pack of sweet, "no Yasmin, let mama see them before you open anything." Ya amma suggested. Yasmin pouted saying, "dama I wasn't gonna eat them."

"Chocolate!" Maryam exclaimed grabbing a pack of Toblerone. "Wait...there is a note on it." Ya amma quickly removed the note, "it says 'don't eat too much though, I won't be responsible if you get sick'. Maryam smiled and collected the paper from her. "Look at his handwriting, it's beautiful." She gushed. "Gaskiya it's nice." Yasmin said, "can we eat one?" She added pointing at the chocolate.

"Yes, gaskiya." She opened the pack and pulled out one. "Ya Muhammad yayi kokari gaskiya." Ya amma said breaking a piece of Toblerone and popped it in her mouth. "Ya Rabb, I still cannot believe it all," Maryam said looking at the stuff.

———————
MUHAMMAD
He had just showered, wore some comfy clothes, and was in their sitting room eating and working. He just couldn't believe that he has confessed to Maryam. He didn't know he could do it but he did anyway.

He smiled to himself at his courage, now even if she does not accept him, he is just glad that he told her. He ate his food in silence, answered his emails, took his medicine did a little work.

He started feeling stomach pains so he retired to bed.

In the morning.
He woke up, prayed, and bathed. He was looking for what to wear, and he heard his phone ringing. "Who could it be?" He asked walking towards the drawer where his phone was on. He unplugged the phone and checked the caller. It was Samir, his colleague.

[He was half expecting the caller to be Maryam.]

He answered the call and greeted him. "Hello, Samir."
"Hello doctor Muhammad, how are you? Ya jiki?"
"Alhamdulillah. How is work?" He opened the drawer, and took his AirPods, and wore them. He went and wore an Ash T-shirt and paired it with blue joggers. "Yusuf is getting transferred? To where?" He asked, his mood suddenly changed.

Samir said to suleja.

"I don't know what's wrong in this world nowadays, who are they hiring now?"
"Tahir Aminu."
Muhammad frowned, "Tahir Aminu dai? They are replacing Yusuf with Tahir Aminu?"

"Isn't he the son of the chairman?... Wai daman wannan medicine ya karanta? Ai I thought maybe he studied music and dancing since that is all he does."

Samir chuckled, "Dr. Asif announced the decision yesterday and I have to say I am not a fan of it." Muhammad shook his head and took his phone as he exited the room. "ai ni I don't know what is wrong with that man. He does whatever he wants. Yanzun they are transferring that hard-working man to suleja? When is he leaving?"

"Next week I think." Samir said. Muhammad nodded in understanding and said, "I'm going to have to speak to Dr. Asim before then, then."

"Alright toh, when are you coming back?"
Muhammad walked to their living room and found Abdallah having his breakfast. Abdallah looked up and saw him, and made a little fluttering motion with his hand whispering, "come and tell all about yesterday."

He smiled and shook his head before walking to the kitchen. "I don't know, probably in two weeks or so." He opened the fridge and brought out a bottle of water.

"Toh Allah ya dawo dakai Lafiya." He prayed. Muhammad thanked him and disconnected the call. He uncapped the bottle and gulped down the water, an old habit of his, drinking from the bottle. He took the remaining water with him to the parlor.

"I say your message yesterday, you told her?" Abdallah asked curiously. He pushed the tray of food to where Muhammad sat. Muhammad took his time before he answered him. He opened the food flask and smiled, the food was smelling real good. He put the food on his plate and began to eat.

As he was sipping his coffee after breakfast, he glanced at Abdallah who was watching him like a hawk. "What?" He asked laughing. He held the cup with both hands to avoid spilling the coffee. "You can kill someone with that look you know."

Abdallah chuckled, "just tell me what went down between you and Maryam."—"come on, Yaya, don't keep me in suspense!" Muhammad shook his head and kept his coffee on the center table saying, "alright...alright, I did ask her, but she hasn't replied me yet."

"I'm telling you, Insha Allah, it's going to be a positive response." Abdallah prayed. "Can I see your phone please?"
"What are you going to do with it?"
"Something you can't do." He said whilst collecting the phone from Muhammad. He just watched him as he sipped his coffee

Abdallah clicked on messages and went to send Maryam a message when he saw something that stopped him. "Oh wow! Sharpshooter." Muhammad glared at him trying to hold his laughter. "I never took you for the romantic type." He nodded in affirmation. "That's nice." He added teasing Muhammad.

Muhammad rolled his eyes with a smile on his lips, "Yanzun dai let's go and greet mummy." He placed his cup on the tray. He pockets his phone and heads out. Abdallah followed suit. They spoke about life and stuff as they made their way to the main house.

———————

MARYAM
"I knew it all this time, that he likes you. All that Maryam this, Maryam that, isn't for nothing." Mama said rolling a dough. Maryam hid a smile as she played with flour. They were making pizza for breakfast. "Yasmin come and cut up the sausages." Adda amma shouted from the pantry.

Yasmin muttered an okay before grabbing a knife and a chopping board. "Yanzun what are you going to do?" Mama glanced at her. "She is probably gonna say yes!" Ya amma squealed walking out of the pantry. Mama eyed her playfully saying, "who asked you?"

"Look Maryam, I'll accept whatever decision you make because Muhammad is a nice guy. He is religious, he has a decent job and has a good family. And at this age, you aren't getting any younger."

"Aikam dai." Ya amma said and chuckled. Maryam also laughed and shook her head. She feels shy whenever mama mentions Muhammad. It is not easy speaking about a guy that likes you and vice versa with your mother.

"What is this I am hearing about Muhammad?" Mubarak asked walking into the kitchen. "Make the sauce," Mama commanded Maryam pointing at the blended tomatoes. Maryam nodded, took the blender, and poured the content into a pan. "Nothing," Mama said glancing at him as he walked around the kitchen looking for something to eat.

"I'm sure I heard something about him and Maryam." He opened the fridge and closed it in frustration. "Why isn't there anything to eat or drink in this fridge?"

He turned and grabbed a piece of banana off the counter, pulled out a chair, and sat down. "So we were saying? You, Muhammad." Maryam didn't know what to say in front of mama. Does she say oh yeah, Ya Muhammad likes me or he told me he likes me and is waiting for my response?

"Ya Muhammad told ya Maryam that he likes her." Yasmin blurted out. All heads turned to her as they complained about her big mouth. Mubarak looked at Maryam then at mama, "Muhammad likes you?" He asked more like stated. "Dama I knew it." He whispered.

I need to get out of here. Now!!

"Mama the sauce is ready. I'll just head upstairs to freshen up." Mama nodded, and she skipped out of the kitchen to their room. "Ya Rabb." She laid down and took her phone from the bedside drawer.

"Oh, I forgot to tell that crazy girl about this." She chuckled suddenly excited to hear siddiqa's opinion. She switched on the phone and saw a message from Ya Muhammad. "Let's see..." she mumbled to herself as she clicked on the message and what he wrote brought a smile to face.
'Good morning beautiful!'

It is a simple message, but it holds a lot of meaning, to her.

She dialed siddiqa's number, and immediately after she picked up, Maryam said, "guess what."
"What? What? What happened?" Siddiqa asked curiously. Maryam chuckled. "You will never believe what happened to me."

"Maryam! Don't leave me hanging, tell me."
"Ya Muhammad, kinsan ya Muhammad ai."

"Yes, yes I do. What happened to him?"
"He... he told me that he likes me!!!" She beamed. "Oh my God no, I don't believe you."
"Wallahi I'm serious, it happened yesterday."
"Ya Rabb!" She squealed, "I am so happy for you, what did you say to him."
"Nothing. Ke I was completely speechless." Siddiqa laughed, "I understand that kind of situation."

Maryam nodded, "but he was cool about it, he was like do what your heart tells you to. And you know, he just sent me a message this morning, saying 'good morning beautiful."

"Aww, that's so cute. I still am digesting it." Maryam smiled, "well digest it well oo." They laughed and joked around a little before Maryam's tone turned serious. "But kinsan my only problem is it's going be like a family relationship. And I don't really like..."

"No Maryam, if it's meant to be, it will be and if it's not then nothing is going to happen. Just put your trust in Allah, and trust the process. So don't worry."

Maryam smiled saying, "thank you, Sid, I needed that."
"Always."

.
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I love you all💙

Fatima🥀