SA'ADATU'S POV.

MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA.

I got discharged from the hospital the next day as my condition has improved, Alhamdullilah. At this point, it feels like a never ending cycle really. One minute I am alright, the next, I am on the hospital bed, suffering from such an excruciating pain I could not help but think at times whether death will be the best option for me.

It is a bad thought, I know. But unless you can relate to the type of pain I feel in those moments, then please keep your judgements and half-baked Islamic advice to yourself.

I stood in the lobby of the floor waiting for Khalil to sign the release papers, and at one point, I found myself lost in my thoughts. The thoughts got disrupted though when the sound of a child wailing reached my ears.

I blinked back to reality, pushing myself off the wall I was leaning against with my arms still folded over my torso as I narrowed down the source of the sound. I could not see much, but the wail came from a room, down the row where my room was. From where I stand, I watched as a doctor and two nurses rushed over the room, forgetting and leaving the door ajar—slightly enough for even I who stood by the end of the hall to be able to see what is going on in the room.

The child on the bed was wailing in pain, a pain I could very much relate to as well and from what I can see, a woman who resembles the child's mother could only sit by the side and cry as well, not knowing how to aid her child in any way. She could not help even if she wants to.

A man, whom I could only imagine to be the child's father stood by her side, watching as the doctors went about their task of trying to console the child and ease his pain, but it was of no use—at least, not emotionally. Though the child's father made no move to console his crying wife, nor wailing child, I could tell from the look on his face that he too, deep down could feel the pain from seeing his family in such situation.

The sight entirely...my heart squeezed.

Voices from those passing by reached my ears, their words clear as if they meant it for the target to hear. "Oh Allah! Look at that pitiful child. He is SS as well by the looks of it. Only Allah knows the pain he is going through at this moment."

"Ai ingaya miki that child is a regular. I have never seen a sickle cell patient that frequents the hospital as much as that child does. I have been working here as a nurse for over three years, and wallahi barely two months pass by without the child having a crisis attack. Abun ma abun tausayi wallahi."

"Allah sarki, it is indeed sad. The parents are both AS Kenan?"

"Of course. You see this is why we always advocate for one to know genotype before marriage, amma some are blinded by love that they forth with it. Now look at this fisabillilah, love or not, it is the child that suffers at the end after all and what help will love be of to the family? People need to take this seriously, but they just won't."

The second woman in the conversation released a loud sigh. "Toh, Allah dai ya shirya kuma may the child get better. Truly, no one should have to go through that if there is a means of avoiding it."

"Allah dai yasa mu fi qarfin zuqatan mu."

"Ameen thumma ameen,"

The sound of their retreating footsteps matched the silence that accompanied the end of their conversation, and I was left standing there, with their words stuck in my mind and my eyes stuck on the room in which the chaos still continued. Only, it was not just I that was staring, a small group had formed to watch it as well.

One of the nurses in the room noticed, and in an attempt to protect the patient as well as his family's privacy, she closed the door, and despite him being out of sight, the sound of his wails could still be heard, only muffled. It played loudly in my mind, like a broken cassette with no end in sight, and the words from those women accompanied the sound.

A soft hand placed on my shoulder, accompanied by a familiar voice jolted me back to reality. "Hey, babe...are you okay?"

I took in a sharp breath, flicking my eyes up only for my gaze on land on Khalil—the sounds from earlier ceasing to exists, a stark note that it was all in my mind, that no sound came from the room anymore.

Khalil has a way of seeing things I try to hide, so I know it is futile to try so. But, I still did.

Blinking, I forced a small smile on my face, then nodded. "Yeah, everything is okay. You are done, right?" He nodded. "Let us go then," I attempted to side step him and walk away, anything that till take me away from this place really so I will not have to dwell on the thoughts that have plagued my mind longer than I would like to admit.

However, I could not even take two steps away from him as his hand stretched out, softly taking a hold of my arm, halting my steps. I stopped, then spun around to meet his gaze.

"Yes?"

His brows furrowed as he took in my expression, no ounce of lark evident on his face. I felt exposed. As if he could see deep into the deepest depths of my being by that mere look, and suddenly, the fake smile on my face felt too heavy to hold up, so I let it drop.

His assessment stopped. And I noticed a small frown appearing on his face. "Are you feeling pain again?" It was not a complaint, but rather words filled with worry.

Am I feeling pain again? Yes. But, not in my body. No. My heart rather...it is heavy with pain I cannot bring myself to speak of, not even to him.

So, I shook my head no, though the fake smile never graced me with its presence again. "I am fine," I released a small sigh, "I am just exhausted."

He did not seem convinced.

I released another sigh, then stepped closer to him, casually hook my arm around his as I tipped my head up to hold his gaze. "I just want to go home with you, can we do that now?" I softened my tone, hoping that and the puppy eyes would get through to him.

It always does.

His visage visibly melted. Releasing a sigh of his own, he placed his free hand on mine that held his, then whispered. "Let's go home then," His lips curled upwards into a small smile. "I am sure Zaheer has gotten the car ready by now, and hopefully, we will make it home alive, and in one piece."

I smiled genuinely, it widening to a small grin. "You know you ought to have some faith in your brother."

"I do, I am allowing him to drive my car, aren't I?" I doubt Khalil would ever trust Zaheer's driving skills. He is good, he knows that but he is hella reckless. "Plus, I asked him to take care of you. Doesn't that count as I having faith in him?"

I narrowed my eyes at him slightly, "You chased him away the moment you arrived, quite literally, and even threw him helmet at him when he left it behind."

"He was going to forget it. I simply tossed it to him, and he caught it." He was quick to defend himself, and though it happened in front of me, I am finding it hard to believe he did not do it without any intentions. With him, one can never be sure really. He must have seen the distrust on my face because he then added. "Besides, what was I supposed to do? Let him sleep here as he had insisted? Hauka nake?"

Shaking my head, I rolled my eyes slightly with a sigh then simply opt to walk away for there is no rationalizing the things Khalil and Zaheer do. Neither of them is serious really.

I only took three steps, before his voice came. "What are you doing?" He evened his step with mine in a single stride. Stupid long legs.

"Heading out of course."

"Let us go together then," He took a hold of my hand, hooking it around his arm, in a way supporting me.

I lifted my head to narrow my eyes at him slightly, "You know I am well now, right? I can walk perfectly on my own."

"I know you can," He met my gaze, then flashed me one of his charming grins. "Besides, don't we look better when we walk together? That way, everyone will know I have a strong, and beautiful woman as my wife. It is a win-win for me really."

"And I? What do I get out of this?" I teased.

"Aside from a good husband?" He arched a brow. "Well, I guess more to tick off your to-do list,"

I chuckled, "Walking down the hospital lobby is not on my to do list with my husband," I stated as a matter of fact, at least, not walking out like this, not under this circumstance. But, I left that part out, not knowing if I want it anymore even.

Thankfully, he did not get it. Instead, he said. "Well, in that case, you get more to add to your memory jar. The next time I upset you, remember this moment and remember how much I care about you." It was a light joke, one that went well with the air as we made our way out of the hospital.

I could not help but tease him though. "So, you will upset me?"

"Never intentionally," He affirmed, the sincerity behind his words hard to miss and so was the intensity in his gaze.

My words got stuck in my throat, any thought of further teasing him flew out the window as butterflies filled my tummy. Instead, I found myself saying, "Let us go back home then, Mr. Wambai. Shall we?"

"Yes, we shall, Mrs. Wambai." He grinned. I grinned back.

The moment we arrived home, safely and in one piece Alhamdullilah, Zaheer disappeared off to who knows where leaving the two of us alone. Two of us became one of us as I decided to take a shower again as well to get rid of the hospital scent off me. If there is one thing I hate more than anything in my life is hospitals as a patient, and to end up smelling like it as well.

So, I left him alone to get rid of the scent lingering on my skin. After the shower, I got dressed up and decided to head to the living room where I am sure he is. However, as I stepped out, the sound of his voice reached my ears, and by the looks of it, he is talking to someone.

I evened my steps, in case we have a guest and I step out just like that. But, that was when I heard the other familiar voice, and realized he is on a phone call. He has this bad habit of answering the phone on speaker, especially when he is at home. Today, it seems he is on the phone call with Ummi—his mother.

"Ya jikan Saadatun?" She inquired, her usual grim tone never changing. I thought she had a thing against me at me, only to realize she uses the same tone with everyone so it was not personal. Besides, she never treated me badly truthfully. She's not the warmest, but she is not bad as well.

"She is much better, Alhamdullilah."

"Masha Allah, haka akeso. Alhamdullilah," She was quiet for a second, but it was too soon before her voice came again. "Yanxu kai Khalil is this how you want to live the rest of your life?"

Khalil sighed, and though I do not understand what she meant by that, his sigh is evident enough that he knows it very well. "Ummi..." I watched as he massaged his temple, an act he is familiar with when tired. "...everything is according to the will of Allah. We do not decide things for ourselves." He said instead, softly trying to calm down whatever she is about to brew.

It did not work.

"Will of Allah, and your choices as well," She stated, as a matter of fact. "Khalil why are you so stubborn fisabillilah? We warned you against marrying this girl since we found out her condition, but you've never listened."

My condition? He was warned? My brows furrowed, my heart suddenly pounding behind my ribcage as I froze in my position, unable to move forward, nor backward. Normally, I avoid hearing anything that would upset me. But, at this moment, it felt as though my feet were planted right there, I could not move.

Ummi has never showed me hatred in any way, so I never knew or thought she could possibly have some ulterior feelings regarding me. Apparently, I was wrong, and even Khalil appears to know.

"Ummi, there is nothing wrong with my wife."

"She is a sickle cell patient. Kullum kuna hanyar asibiti. And you are telling me there is nothing with her?"

"Yes, she is sick but haka Allah yayi. It was not her choice as well," He did not raise his voice, nor make any attempt to show he wants to argue with her. But, even by speaking softly, he tried to get his point across. "Just because she is SS does not mean she is not to be loved, or marry."

"It is not that she is SS which I have a problem with, kaima kasani." Her usual indifferent tone is now laced with underlying anger. "What I have a problem with, is your decision. Kai AS ne, ita SS. What is the outcome of this marriage? Ka gaya mun. We have warned you fervently amma kaqi ji. You first hand now know how it feels to care for an SS patient, do you want to subject your kids to the same thing?"

I know that. It is the one thing I have been worried about this entire time.

Do I really want to go down this lane with Khalil? Can I bear such burden knowing we are the cause of it? We have spoken of this before, and I know his stance on it. But, I am not so sure how long he will keep up with it, and living with that worry is the worst feeling ever.

"It does not have to reach that," Khalil said, his own tone serious, unlike usual.

"What do you mean?" Her voice dropped. "Do not tell me you are willing to still go through with that stupid decision you have made?"

"Ummi, it is the most rational decision here..." He tried to get her to understand.

But, she cut him before he could go further. "The most rational is, either you divorce her and marry someone you can have kids with, or do stay with her, but bring someone capable of giving you healthy kids. I have no problem with Saadatu, but I cannot sit and watch you give up on having kids all over some nonsensical notion of love you have. Do you think that love with always be there, Khalil?"

"Ummi, the love I have for Saadatu is for the sake of Allah,"

My eyes teared up at both their words, my heart a tug of war between her painful yet truthful words, and his sincere ones. I do not know what to think, or how to feel but I know my heart is heavy, and my eyes are filled with tears. His words did not make it any less. If anything, they only had more tears streaming down my face.

"She is all I need," He continued. "If not having kids is the best option and what Allah wills for us then wallahi I am satisfied with that. But, I cannot let her go, not when I have already married her and I cannot bear the thought of having her watch me father a child with another woman. Idan nayi haka, ban mata adalci ba."

I looked up, trying to blink back my tears as I used my hand to cover my mouth, so as to muffle any sound that might trigger him into knowing I am hearing his conversation. But, the tears only streamed down more, his words pressing my heart down.

Ummi was silent for a short while, and I almost thought she had ended the call. But, after long, agonizing seconds, she spoke up, her voice low and her words composed. "You and your stubbornness is the sole reason you are in this position. If you had listened, none of this would happen."

"If I had listened, I will not have her in my life and a world of mine where she does not exist," He shook his head slightly, "Ummi, my life is incomplete without her. Wallahi the love I have for her is not something you can quantify."

She hummed, "Khalil kenan. I hope you do not regret this."

"I won't," He did not hesitate to answer. "All I need from you is your prayers. Allah ya bamu zaman lafiya, ya bani ikon riqe ta da adalci."

"Ameen," She sighed, resigning. "Allah muku albarka dukka."

"Ameen Ummi."

"Send my regards to her,"

"I will, in shaa Allah." Knowing he would endthe call then, I turned around and quietly made my way back to the room,closing the door softly behind me. Then, I leaned my back against it andquietly cried, the tears sliding down my face like waterworks.

_*_

Okay, Khalil Wambai is such a sweetheart, I cannot be convinced otherwise. Haba, where will I find a man like that abegg??

Okay, romance aside, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR GENOTYPE BEFORE MARRIAGE! To stay on the safe side, please avoid marriages that will lead to sob stories later on. Personally, I have a cousin in a similar predicament to Saadatu, only she has kids and they are all going through hard times. However, her relationship with her husband is honestly the best I have ever seen. Allahumma bareek kawai.

That does not mean everyone will get that though. Allah ya kare mu, may we all be on the safe side and may we be blessed with righteous spouses.

So, like this you have my best friend to thank. Like this I did not want to update but one request from her and well, here we are. Ku gode wa Ummu fr, else da sai Friday mu hadu.

But like this i finished writing this chapter since around eight. First of all, my laptop fervently refused to connect to Wattpad, any website but it. And then my phone ran out of battery and the charger refused to work. I had such a huge scare! Las las i gave up and just started watching Kdrama then left the phone to see whether it will charge or not.

It shows that it has started finally, so Alhamdullilah, and i had to try another computer to get this chapter out so I have suffered lowkey. Nonetheless, i hope you enjoy it for real.

I am, and will always ship Khalil and Saadah. Yawwa, end of chapter, game over. Done deal kuke ji.

What do you think would happen next?

And tell me Khalil does not make your heart flutter? Impossible. The man is just too perfect, your Adnan can never. Speaking of which, ko yana ina oho? Ni tunda nace zan bishi UK ya gudu ya barni jamaa. Sai ga Jannah airport with no Bayero siblings in sight, na so i carry my Ghana Must Go and returned to Miya because omo, who fit carry me to UK now.

I've sha moved to Maiduguri with my man Khalil Wambai now. So, stay safe single people. I know e pain you, but hold your pillow and sleep tight. Someone's son will love you as well.

Stay safe and single,

Love, Jannah Mia.