Muhammad just sat still, staring at her and she stared back. She was trying as much as possible to be brave for his sake.

"Why?" He asked with a confused face. He was shocked. He didn't know what to say, or even what to think. She wants to marry him, why? His lips tightened when he remembered Abdallah. "Did Abdallah say anything?"

She immediately shook her head and said, "I just know you're the right person for me." His eyes widened at that, she thinks so?
As if reading his thoughts, she lowered her voice and said, "yes, you let me be myself and encourage me to find more of myself." And that is true, no better person listens to her weird likes and vibes with them like Muhammad.

She looked at him and found that his eyes soften at that, and that boost her confidence. "You're always there, no matter what. You make me feel special and I can be my best self around you. Isn't that reason enough? Or should I continue?" She chuckled at the last part. She was being sincere about this, everything she said was the truth.

He smiled and shook his head. What she said warmed his heart. The thought alone that she thinks of him like that makes him feel special.

He sat upright with a soft groan. His pain has subsided for now but it still hurts when he moves, so he tries to stay in the same position all the time, when possible.

Maryam saw that but chose to ignore it. When she felt tears threatening to spill, she looked up and pushed them back.

He opened his mouth to start talking, but she quickly cut him off, "was Ya Abdallah supposed to tell me something?"—"Is there something you're hiding from me ya Muhammad?" She is so afraid of rejection.

He was looking at her as if searching for answers in her eyes before he sighed and shook his head saying, "No."

"Are you sure? Because it seems like you're hiding something."

"I'm not hiding anything, Maryam." He firmly nodded. She sighed, he is never going to tell me, is he? She felt sad a bit but masked it with a smile. "Alright, I trust you."

To say he didn't feel bad will be a lie. She doesn't deserve to be lied to. But he didn't lie, he just didn't tell her his condition. He cleared his voice and said, "you know I love you Maryam, but I don't think it's right to just get married without going through some processes first."

"Isn't all that done to know one another more?" She asked. He nodded. "Is there anything we don't know about each other, Ya Muhammad?" Her heart was racing, she never thought she could do this, ever. She is trying so hard to convince him. She just cannot lose him.

"Just think about it, okay?" She said. He nodded his head. "Promise me," she added. Her hands were trembling underneath her hijab, she tightly clasped them together, to stop the motion. She needs to do this, for him. He deserves everything good in this life.

He loves Maryam, but he just has to make sure she isn't doing this for him. Perhaps she knows about his illness and is finding ways to help.
"I promise." He managed a smile and watched her as she got up.
"Goodbye." She said.
"Bye." He waved.

She walked shakily out of the room. The moment she was out, she walked quickly to their car and got in. "Innalillahi wainna ilaihi rajiun." She muttered breathing heavily. "Innalillahi wainna ilaihi rajiun." She kept and placed her head on the steering wheel.

Do not hyperventilate Maryam, stay positive she said to herself. She stayed like that for a couple of minutes, just inhaling and exhaling repeatedly, to calm herself.

"Ya Allah." She whispered and just started crying. She has been too hard on herself, she has never been one to hold things to herself, but this time she had to, for him and it's killing her. Her heart was aching, he looked so sick. She is doing the right thing, yes? She cried for him, for her, and just cried to relieve her sorrow.

She cried to her heart content, practiced some more breathing exercises before heading back to the main house as if nothing had happened.

And that is what we call a brave woman.
                  ——————————

The moment she left, Muhammad sat back into the chair and started thinking. He is happy that she returns his feelings, and at the same time sad. He feels like Abdallah did say something, he cannot let her make a rash decision if so.

After a few minutes of silence, just thinking, he got up and headed straight to the toilet, where he took a quick bath, performed ablution, and got dressed in a gray v-neck shirt and a blue washed out denim jeans. He looked amazing.

He then prayed, read the Quran, and asked Allah to guide him on the right path, to help him with this problem he is going through currently. Amin.

He got his books out from the nightstand and did a little reading. By the time he was done, it was already 5 pm, he got up and headed to the main house.

He found his siblings in the living room upstairs, had a little chat, played around then went to Mummy's room. He found her on the prayer mat, reading some azkar. "Assalam Alaikum." He said almost quietly. She heard him anyway and answered with a shake of her head and a smile playing on her lips.

He also smiled and sat on the only chair in the room. He waited until she finished what she was doing, before greeting her.

"Ina gajiya Muhammad, ya jiki?"
"Lafiya Alhamdulillah."
"Toh Masha Allah."

They had a little chat and laughed throughout, after a little while the room when silent. She didn't know what to say, she didn't know how to bring the 'Reesla' topic to him. So she is just going to let daddy do that since he brought the talk up. "Kaje daddynku na kiran ka."

"Alright Toh," he got up and left the room. As he was heading to daddy's side he met Abdallah on the way. "Hey." Abdallah casually said and was about to walk past him, when Muhammad held his arm.

"Abdallah, I wanted to have a little chat with you." He said with a serious look on his face. To say Abdallah's heart didn't skip a beat will be a lie, even though he didn't know what the talk was about.

"Wh...what?" He stammered. Muhammad lowered his voice and looked around, "didn't I tell you not to tell Maryam about my illness?"

"What do you mean? I didn't tell her." Abdallah said eye widened. "Abdallah don't lie to me, I'm warning you." He threatened.

"I swear I didn't say anything." He kept trying to convince Muhammad until he let him go with a sigh. "Then what was that all about?" He looked down thinking. Does this mean Maryam wants to get married to him?

"What was what?" He asked curiously because there seems to be something he is hiding.

Muhammad looked up and shook his head, "oh, ummm nothing." Then he walked away. Abdallah followed him with a suspicious look, this guy is hiding something. He thought as he watched him round the corner into Daddy's chamber.
                    ————————
Thousands of thoughts were running through Muhammad's head as he walked to daddy's chamber.

"Assalam Alaikum." He salaamed as he pushed open the door to daddy's parlor. "Amin Waalaikum Assalam." Daddy answered from inside. He came in and got seated. "Daddy Ina wuni," he greeted.

Daddy looked up at him and smiled, "Ina gajiya Muhammad, how are you?"
"I'm fine Alhamdulillah. How is work?"
"Alhamdulillah, just dealing with some construction issues here and there." He said and rubbed his temple.

"Allah ya bada sa'a, ya kara daukaka." He prayed. "Amin Amin. Allah yayi Albarka."
"Amin ya rabbi."
"Toh ya jikin?" Daddy asked reducing the volume of the television. He sat up and folded his arms.

"Lafiya, I'm getting better Alhamdulillah."
"Toh Masha Allah."Muhammad nodded.
"Muhammad," Daddy called.
"Naam."

"I have found a suitable bride for you." Daddy said. Muhammad's heart started racing. "I know you don't have anyone but if you do, now is the time to say it."

Innalillahi wainna ilaihi rajiun. He quickly looked at him and said, "bride, daddy? What kind of bride?"
"Kaniyanka da what kind of bride, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Get ready tomorrow, we'll go to Kano to send a proposal for your marriage Insha Allah." He felt a sharp pain in the chest. What is happening?

"I'm sure you know her already, Reesla, Yusuf's daughter." He just stared with his eyes wide opened, he felt like everything was crumbling apart in him. Just there, he sat in total paralysis, not knowing what to do.

"Do you understand?" Daddy firmly asked. His lips started shaking, he didn't want to get married to the 'suitable bride' just for the sake of some illness.

"Muhammad!" Daddy called sternly. And just like that without thinking, he blurted out, "There's someone."

"What?" Daddy asked taken aback. Muhammad looked at him, "I have a woman that I'd like to get married to."

Daddy leaned back, "why didn't you say anything earlier?"
"I just wanted to be sure." If Maryam loves him and will like to get married, then why not. "Who is it?" He asked curiously.
"Maryam."
"Which Maryam? Aisha's daughter?"
"Yes, Maryam Abubakar Garki."

Daddy just sat there and stared at him, surprised. After a few minutes, he sat up, "when did that start?"
"A few months back." Of course, he had to lie, he wasn't going to say today, was he? As crazy as that sounds.

"And you didn't think it was necessary to tell me."
"I wanted to tell you, but when you brought up Reesla, I just couldn't." He finished. "And mummy knows." He added.

He nodded and said, "go then, I'll get back to you later."
"Toh." He got up, said goodbye, and left. He went straight to his room, got his car keys, and went out for a drive. He needs some fresh air, and to get things off his head and just have what he hasn't had a while. Peace and alone time.

He didn't have a particular destination in mind, he just drove to where his heart took him to. He drove to a park, parked, and just sat in his car for a few minutes. That's right, he is marrying Maryam only because he loves her and she also wants to spend her life with him. He isn't doing it to cure his illness. But he didn't want to marry her this way. He wanted it to be special and beautiful.

He picked his phone and looked at the time, then hurled it on the passenger seat. "Ya rabbi." He sighed heavily and dropped his forehead to his forearm on the steering wheel. "Ya Allah please make this journey easier for me. Amin."
—————————

Ya Allah please ease our sorrows and make our life easier.
Amin.

Fatima🥀