Aishah

TWO WEEKS AFTER the horrifying news my dad told me about meeting up with the so called husband to be

I was devastated when he told me,I was always telling myself this is not real it's just a dream but my dad asking me to see him in person confirmed everything I didn't want to hear or know

I am always in my room crying,missing my lectures and I rarely eat which makes my mom's heart breaks,she tries to pet me but it can't do anything to how I feel

Fareedah tries to be here most of the time to keep me happy but she fails woefully,the only thing that can make me happy right now is my dad telling me he had cancelled the arrange Marriage but I know it's an impossible dream

My mom invited my sister Qadirah to cheer me up today before meeting the so called idiot who accepted this idiotic arrangement

I was in my room as usual crying to Almighty Allah to do his miracle and end this marriage,I pray extra but it seems even Allah has turned his back on me

I stood up and lay back on my bed when I heard a knock on my door

"Come in"I said dryly,the door opened revealing my sister and baby Faiza,baby Faiza giggled when she saw me

I stood up and took her from her mom and went back to my bed,my sister stood at the door looking at me warily

"Aishah what have you done to yourself"she said as she sits besides me but I remain quiet

"When last have you seen yourself in the mirror"she took baby Faiza from me and placed her in the bed dragging me up,she pull me to the bathroom and we stopped at the mirror

I look at myself in the mirror but it wasn't me on the mirror it was the shadow of me,dark circles surrounded my eyes I look old and pale like a witch and my hair look like a bird nest,my lips were dry and chapped

"See what you have done to yourself within two weeks"my sister said and a tear slide down my face

"Can't you tell Dad to cancel this marriage,I don't want to get married to someone I don't know"I said choking

"You should just embrace your fate and stop killing yourself,look at me I'm happy with Yunus and I'm sure you will be happy with him too"my sister said with her eyes full of pity for me

"Yours was different,you love Yunus from the start and he love you too but mine is a total different case,I'm getting married to a stranger"I said shaking my head trying not to cry

"It's okay,we are always here for you"my sister hugged me and I cried on her shoulder "you lost weight a lot"my sister said almost yelling

"I don't know what to do"I sob quietly ignoring what she said earlier

"Just make yourself happy,what if we go out before he comes"my sister suggested

"Not in the mood"I said and sat on the toilet seat

"Go and take your bath,I will be waiting for you"my sister said leaving the bathroom for me

I really love her and the way she always try to make me happy, she's twenty one now and also a new graduate, her husband Yunus is twenty seven he use to be a family friend right from the start

My sister was happy when my dad asked her to marry him,she had a crush on him and it was later we found out he was interested in my sister too and it made them the perfect couple but my situation is so much different from theirs

I took of my clothing and took my bath,I came outside the bathroom and met my sister patting baby Faiza gently,she was already asleep but not too deep

I rub my cream and went to my wardrobe and took a sky blue jeans and white top,I wore it and wear my transparent multi color kimono

I brushed my hair and repacked it applying minimal make up,I wore a white sandals and took my purse

My sister was already dressed in skirt and blouse Ankara,she matched it up with a pink veil and we left my room

We met my mom in the kitchen and informed her about our outing,she was so happy and promised to take care of baby Faiza when she wakes up

My sister owns a car,it was gifted to her by her husband on her twentieth birthday,we entered her car and she started driving us

We stopped in an eatery and came down from the car,we went inside I was the first to go inside and I mistakenly bumped into someone

"I'm sorry"I said as I adjust my white veil

"Aishah!"the person said a bit surprised to see me,I looked up to see who it was and it was Abubakar

"Oh my God,I never thought I will see you so soon"I said smiling genuinely since the worst news got to me

"You asked me to try harder you remember,I really tried I came to your school everyday but I never catch a glimpse of you and now Allah made me see you today without too much effort,he must be in support of me being your friend"he said and I laughed

"Seriously you were the last person I expect to see today"I said smiling and my sister coughed"oh I'm sorry Abubakar meet my sister Qadirah, Qadirah meet Abubakar my soon to be friend"I introduce them

"Nice meeting you"they both said at once

"Why are you here?"he asked

"On a date with my sister"I said

"That's nice,can you give me your contact don't tell me to try harder again"he said and I laughed once more forgetting about the marriage proposal for once

"Let me pity you"I said and he brought out his phone,I typed my number in it and he dialled it and my phone started ringing

"That's my contact"he said

"Ok,we will talk soon"I told him

"Ok bye"he said"nice meeting you"he told my sister and she smiled

"Who's he?"my sister asked immediately he left

"He wants to be my friend"I said

"He's handsome"

"Yeah I was looking forward to our friendship before this marriage stuff destroyed everything"I said as I sit on a chair

"I'm sorry about that,maybe he is not even interested in you in that way"my sister said and I shrugged

We ordered our food and had a nice time together

***************

It was evening and I became nervous,my husband to be and his family will be here any time soon

I wore a dark red abaya and match it up with a black veil and slippers,my sister was kind enough and decided to stay with me throughout the ordeal

I was getting to know the man I'm getting married to today,I was sitting in my room praying quietly that something should happen and hold them up,my phone suddenly rings jolting me from my thoughts

"Salam Aleikum"I said as I took the phone

"Waleikum Salam!"he replied and I knew it was Abubakar immediately I smiled

"How are you doing?"I asked

"I'm fine and about to go out so I decided to call you"he said

"Where to?"I asked

"A dinner"

"With your girlfriend?"I asked feeling a little jealous

"No no no,I don't have a girlfriend,my friend is getting married soon and we were invited for dinner at the bride's place"

"Ho! I understand"I replied

"So what about you?"he asked and I felt uneasy immediately

"I'm called,I will talk to you later"I replied and end the call heaving,I placed the phone on my chest and lay flat on the bed thinking about how complicated my life have turned out to be

I remain in that position till I saw my door open,I tilted my head and it was my sister

"Everyone is waiting for you"she said and my heart skipped

"O ok ok"I replied nervously,I stood up and clean my sweaty hand in my abaya,I went outside walking slowly and I saw them already gathered in the dinning table,I swallowed as lump formed on my throat

I walk slowly to the table and everyone's gaze fell on me

"She's here!"my mom said happily,I smiled nervously at her and sit beside my sister,I was too nervous to look up I kept my gaze on my shaky hands

"How's school?"my father in law to be asked and I looked up

"It is fine sir"I replied with a small voice

"You look beautiful my dear"my mother in law to be said and my gaze involuntarily fell on a glaring face

He was glaring at me like he wants to tear me apart I felt at ease a little because it felt like he wasn't in support of this marriage too and it will make it more easier for me to leave the marriage if need arises

The parents started chatting about random stuffs and business,any time they talk about the preparation of the marriage I feel like throwing up,my sister was holding my hand under the table trying to ease me up

I nodded quietly at her kind gesture,after what seems like years the dinner came to an end

"So we agreed on three months time"I heard my father says and I looked up immediately,I was so lost that I didn't hear what they were saying

"Yes,the wedding preparations should start soon and we should start informing people about it"my father in law to be said and I could feel tears welling up in my eyes

I tried to compose myself till they left,I went inside my room and locked the door,my sister knocked on the door severally but I didn't bother opening it,my mother plead but I ignored them and started crying once more

I can't believe I will be someone's wife in the next three months not just anyone but a stranger,I always have this unpleasant feelings for tall guys and now I will be one of them's wife

My phone started ringing and I took it,it was Abubakar

"Hello"I tried to maintain a good voice

"What's wrong with you?"he asked sounding worried

"Nothing I just had a bad night,is the dinner over already?"I asked him

"Probably I wasn't able to go my car broke down"he said casually

"I'm sorry about that"I said

"Yeah no problem,can we see soon?"he asked

"Yeah"