De - Bright Academy

The Tale of an Orphan

Chapter Two

Fatima picked up her phone. The moment she saw the caller’s name, something stirred inside her. Without hesitation, she answered.

“Hello…”

But the moment she heard the voice on the other end… Everything broke. She burst into tears. Not quiet tears. Not controlled tears. But deep, painful sobs that had been building inside her.

“Fatima?” Baliki’s voice came, sharp with concern. “What happened? Why are you crying?”

Fatima couldn’t speak. Her breath came in heavy, uneven gasps.

“Talk to me,” Baliki urged. “Who hurt you? What is going on?”

Fatima tried to speak but the words refused to come. Only tears. Only pain fill her heart

“Fatima!” Baliki’s voice softened. “How will I help you if you don’t tell me?”

Fatima swallowed hard. She forced herself to breathe. Once. Twice. Then finally… she spoke. “My father…” her voice cracked. “My father wants to force me into marriage.”

“What?!” Baliki’s voice rose in shock.

“He’s an old man,” Fatima continued weakly. “As old as my father…” Her voice trembled. “He slapped me… in front of everyone… just because I was sick and vomited…”

Baliki inhaled sharply. “ Who slapped you?”

“The man they wanted me to marry,” Fatimah replied and continued. “He’s been giving my father money, paying for my school… bringing food every month…” Her voice dropped. “I never knew.” Tears rolled down again. “They said I’ve been sleeping around… that I’ve done abortions…” Her body shook. “Things I have never even thought of doing…”

Baliki went quiet. Listening carefully.

“And now…” Fatima whispered, almost broken, “they want me to marry him.” Her voice collapsed completely. “On Saturday…” then she paused. “Today is already Wednesday, what can I do? I can’t go out,” she added quickly. “They stopped me from leaving the house. I can’t even go to work.” Her breathing became uneven again. “My life will end… They will ruin me…I don’t know what to do…”She cried again. Sounding helpless and trapped.

For a moment Balikis said nothing. Just silence, then finally… “There is something you can do.”

Fatima froze. Her crying slowed. “I’ll do anything,” she said quickly, almost desperately. “Anything, as long as I don’t marry that man.” Her voice steadied with urgency. “I just want to be free. I want to leave this place. I want to escape.”

Silence again but this time it felt different.

Baliki took a slow breath. “Then listen to me carefully,” she said. Her tone had changed. No longer just concerned but firm and decisive. “Because what I’m about to tell you…” She paused. “…you must be ready for it.”

“I don’t know what you’re about to say, Auntie Baliki…” Fatima said, her voice trembling but firm. “But I’m ready.” She wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “As long as it will save me from this… from this hell… I will do it.” Her voice softened. “I know you won’t lead me to the wrong path… You won’t make my life worse.” She paused, then added, almost pleading… “Just… please consider my brother too.” Her breath hitched. “I can’t leave without him… I can’t go anywhere without Farouk.”

There was a deep sigh from the other end. Then Balikis spoke. “What I’m about to tell you is simple… and at the same time it is difficult, very difficult.”

Fatima held her breath and for some reason her heart started beating very fast

“You need to leave that house, and you need to avoid that marriage. A man who could hit you right in front of your family isn't worth getting married to. He would do worse after the marriage, ” Baliki continued. “And for that, you need someone to help you, someone stronger than your father and that obnoxious man.” she pause and continued. “Someone with power… money… and a name.”

Fatima’s fingers tightened around her phone. Where would she get that kind of person

“There is only one person who can do that for you.”

“Who?” Fatima whispered.

“Farzan.”

Everything inside Fatimah stilled. The tears stopped. The pain paused. Even her breathing changed. “ Yaya Farzan…?” she repeated in disbelief.

Of all people… He was the last person she expected.

“Auntie Balki… do you really think he will help me?” she asked, her voice uncertain. “He doesn’t like me… I know it. He also see me as someone my parents thought I was”

Baliki’s tone became firmer. “This is not about liking you or not. This is about survival.” She didn’t wait for Fatima to interrupt. “Tell me, which do you prefer?” she continued. “Calling Farzan… or staying there to be forced into marriage with a man who already beats you?”

Fatima’s silence answered for her. “I will call him…” she said slowly. What mattered now is her survival not her feeling or his feeling. Then reality struck. “But… I don’t have his number.”

“Don’t worry,” Balikis replied immediately. “I’ll send it to you now. I’ll also send airtime. You must call him immediately.” Her voice dropped slightly. “And don’t be afraid… Farzan may look fierce but in reality is a young man with a good heart.”

Fatima swallowed hard. “What if he refuses…?” she asked quietly.

Balikis hesitated for a second… then said the truth plainly. “He might not refuse but the only way he can truly help you… is through marriage.”

Fatima’s eyes widened. “Marriage…?”

“Yes,” Baliki said. “Think about it. If he takes you away without marriage, your family will make it a bigger issue.” Her tone turned practical, almost strategic. “They will accuse him. They may even involve the law. Your father still has authority over you… you know” She paused. “But if you are married to him… no one can touch you not even your father.”

Fatima felt her heart race again. “But… he has someone,” she whispered. “Aisha… And I know he loves her.”

Baliki’s response was immediate. “That is not your concern.”

Fatima went quiet.

“Listen to me carefully,” Balikis continued. “Do you love him?”

Fatima shook her head instinctively, even though she was on the phone. “No.”

“Good,” Balikis said. “Then you have no emotional attachment.” Her voice softened slightly. “This is not about love, Fatima, this is about saving your life.” She added firmly: “Once you are safe, you can both decide what to do next but right now… you don’t have the luxury of choosing comfort. You must choose survival… and whoever he loves, whoever he wanted to marry shouldn't be your problem”

Fatima closed her eyes. Her heart was heavy but for the first time there was really a path. A dangerous one… but still a path.

“ I will send the number now,” Baliki said. “Call him immediately.” she said and the call ended.

Fatima stared at her phone and in less than a minute a message came in. It was a number.

Her fingers trembled as she looked at it.” Yaya Farzan.” She mumbled

The same man she thought disliked her…

The same man who seemed to have several opinions about her…

The same man who had helped her not once but twice…

The same man who she had ignored because she was scared of him… his obnoxious personality,

And now… she needs to seek his help because he is the only man who could save her.

She inhaled deeply. Then whispered to herself.. “This is my only chance…”

Without a second thought, Fatima pressed the call button. As the phone began to ring, her heart followed the same rhythm… fast, loud, and uncontrollable.

Her palms grew sweaty. She quickly switched the phone from her left hand to her right and her breathing became uneven.

What would she even say?

How would she present it?

Would he help her?

Would he reject her?

“Hello?” The deep, familiar voice cut through her thoughts.

Fatima froze. Her lips parted, but no words came out.

“Hello? Who is this?” the voice came again, colder this time.

“I… it’s me…” she stammered.

“You who?” The tone turned distant, uninterested.

“It’s me… Fatima,” she said quickly. “Fatima… the maid that works in your house.”

Silence. Heavy. Uncomfortable.

Then finally. “Why are you calling me?” he asked flatly.

Fatima didn’t hesitate this time. “I need your help.” Her voice trembled. “Please… I need your help.”

“For what?”

She swallowed hard then said it. Clear and straightforward. “I want you to come and marry me.”

Silence. Dead silence.

When he finally spoke, his voice was sharp. “You want me to do what?”

Fatima’s heart dropped.

“Are you out of your mind?” he continued. “Who do you think you are?” His tone turned harsh, almost offended. “You just called me out of nowhere to say I should marry you? Don't you have any shame?”

Click. The call ended.

Fatima’s body went cold. Her hands trembled. That was her last hope… he was her last hope and it was gone.

She didn’t stop. She couldn’t. With shaking fingers, she began typing. Everything. Her pain.
Her situation. Her fear. Her desperation… she typed everything down

“I am not asking you to marry me for love. I just want you to help me out of this situation. You can set your own conditions and I will gladly follow it. I don't want anything from you. I just want to survibe. After everything, you can divorce me and let me go.” She sent the message.

Seconds felt like hours. Then… Her phone rang. She picked it up immediately.

“What will be my reward?” his voice came, calm this time… but calculating.

“What?” Fatimah asked because she did not understand what she meant

“What do I gain from marrying you?” He said

Fatima didn’t hesitate. “I don't have anything but I promise to be loyal to you,” she said quickly. “I will take care of you. I will cook, clean… I will do everything a wife should do.”

“You know I have someone, right?” he asked.

Fatima closed her eyes briefly. “Yes… I know.”

“And?”

“Your relationship with her won't be my business,” she replied softly. “You can continue with her and do whatever you want… I won’t interfere… After all she is your true love”

There was a faint chuckle from his end. “You think you can do that?” he asked.

“I will,” she said firmly. “This is not a love marriage. You are only helping me. I promise not to be a nuisance” Her voice became steadier. “You live your life… I live mine. I will respect you. I will be a proper wife to you but I won’t stand in your way.”

Silence again but this time he was listening.

Fatima’s voice broke slightly. “I just need help… If you don’t help me now… they will marry me off to a man as old as my father.” Her breath trembled. “A man who already beat me… in front of my family.” Her voice cracked.
“Please…Yaya Farzan help me and I promise to always listen to you…You have helped me before…You can help me again…” And then she broke. Her tears flowed freely. Her voice shattered. She cried.

She did not hold back. She did not pretend and she did not hide.

On the other end there was no immediate response. Only silence but the silence was different. It wasn’t rejection. It wasn’t anger. It was… Thought.

Farzan said nothing and the silence stretched long, heavy, and uncomfortable.

Fatima’s heart began to race again. Each second felt like a countdown to rejection.

Then finally he opened his mouth. “When is the wedding?” he asked.

Fatima’s lips trembled. “S-Saturday…” she replied.

“This Saturday or next week?” he asked calmly.

“This coming Saturday.”

“Okay.” He said and the call ended.

Fatima stared at her phone. Confusion flooded her mind. That was all? No answer? No decision? No reassurance?

“Is he going to help… or not?” she whispered to herself. Her chest tightened again. The little hope she had just gained began to shake.

Then she remembered Balikis.

Without wasting time, she dialed her number. The phone rang twice before it was answered.
“Fatima? How is it?” Balikis asked immediately.

Fatima exhaled deeply. “At first… he was angry,” she said. “He insulted me… then ended the call.”

Balikis went silent, listening.

“But I didn’t stop,” Fatima continued. “I sent him a message… I explained everything.” Her voice steadied slightly. “Then he called me back.”

“And?” Baliki asked.

“He asked me what he would gain from marrying me,” Fatima said. “So… I told him I would be loyal. I would take care of him… do everything a wife should do.” She hesitated. “I also told him… I won’t interfere in his personal life.”

Balikis inhaled softly. “Hmm…”

Fatima continued, “Then he asked when the wedding would be.” she paused. “And after I told him… he just said ‘okay’… and ended the call.” She breathed in heavily, trying to control her tears. “So I don’t understand,” Fatima added, her voice filled with uncertainty. “Is he going to help me… or not?”

Balikis let out a slow breath. “He didn’t reject you,” she said thoughtfully. “ And I am not sure if he accepted either,”

Fatima held onto that sentence.

“That kind of man,” Baliki continued, “He doesn't talk too much when he’s thinking.” Her tone became more assured. “If he asked about the date… then he is considering it seriously.”

Fatima’s heart lifted just a little.

“But we can’t sit and wait,” Balikis added quickly. “Time is not on your side and what if we thought he would do something and ended up doing nothing.”

“What should I do?” Fatima asked.

“I will talk to him,” Balikis said firmly.

Fatima’s eyes widened slightly. “You will?” she asked.

“Yes,” Baliki replied. “ Giving you his number is as good as getting myself involved. Leave that part to me.”

Relief washed over Fatima like a wave. “Thank you… thank you so much,” she said, her voice filled with gratitude. “I don’t even know how to repay you…”

“You don’t have to,” Balikis interrupted gently.

Fatima shook her head, even though she wasn’t seen. “I will pray for you… always,” she said sincerely. “I will never forget this kimdness.”

Balikis softened. “Just stay strong,” she said.
“And be ready.”

“Ready…?” Fatima repeated.

“Yes,” Baliki replied. Her voice turned serious again. “Because if Farzan agrees…” She paused. “Everything will happen very fast.” She said. “ I will talk to you again.” She said and ended the call

Fatima slowly lowered her phone. Her heart was still beating fast but this time…Not just from fear. From anticipation… anticipation of what the future hold for her

Saturday was close. Too close. And her entire life was about to change.

She did not know If she will end up with Alhaji Bashir or Farzan… whoever she ended with wasn't her choice but one is still better than the other

Inwardly… she prayed Farzan would come and marry her. Even though he is also obnoxious, she preferred him a million times to Alhaji Bashir

Ya Allah… ease my affairs

*****

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CHAPTER TWENTY

CONTROL OVER ME By MORUFAT AJANI

Between two kinds of love

When Jayden arrives there, he sees Amirah sitting outside the shop, looking so exhausted. He gets out of the car, and moves to her. Getting close to her, he sees blood dripping out of her wrists.

When Jayden sees the wounds, looking like she had been scratching it roughly, he feels concerned. But beneath it, there is also a dark satisfaction that she still reacts deeply to disobeying him. It's makes him happy somehow.

He walks to her. “Are you okay?” he asks.

She looks up at him with red eyes. “I am sorry, sir. I am sorry…sir.”

“You don’t have to talk now. Let’s go.”

He helps her into the car carefully. Getting inside the car, he uses tissue to wipe the blood from her hands and uses his handkerchief to tie it.

Then he starts the engine and drives her to the hospital.

After the doctor cleans and dresses Amirah’s wounds, Jayden takes her to his house.

Amirah sits still in the passenger seat, her hands resting on her lap. Jayden is glancing at her from time to time, but he does not speak.

When they get inside the house, he tells her to sit down.

She obeys and lowers herself onto the couch carefully. Jayden remains standing for a moment, then sits on the chair directly in front of her. He leans forward slightly, his elbows on his knees, his eyes fixed on her.

There is anger in his face, even though he tries so hard not to show it.

“You know you deserve to be punished, right?” he asks Amirah.

“Yes, sir. I’m sorry.” Amirah says, her head remain lowered.

“You’re sorry?” His voice tightens. “I did not expect you to walk away with him like that. You did not even resist. It looked like you wanted to leave.”

She says nothing. Her fingers press into her dress.

He studies her for a short while and finally says. “Why do I feel like you are with me against your will? Why do I feel like you do not want this relationship anymore?”

She shakes her head quickly. “No, sir. That is not true.”

He holds her gaze for a few seconds, then leans back. “You already know there is a consequence for every wrong action, do you? What you did today won't go unpunished either.” Amirah clenches her hands tightly, feeling every bit of wrong and the fact that she has nothing to do about it.

“You are quitting that job. Tomorrow.” Jayden adds and Amirah head lifts before she can stop herself. “Sir—”

He cuts her off sharply. “Did I ask you to speak?”

Hearing that, Amirah goes quiet at once and lower her head back.

He stands up and walks down the hallway. A few moments later, he returns holding a whip in his hand.

The moment Amirah sees the whip, she slides off the couch and kneels on the floor. She bends forward slightly, exposing her back while she lowers head. She's ready to be punished.

Jayden steps closer, brings the whip down across her back. This time, the whip is landing on Amirah's back painfully. The motion is slightly hard and mildly painful.

Amirah winces slightly in mild pain as Jayden continues landing the whip on her skin, again and again.

She does not cry out even though she's feeling pain. She just keeps whispering, “I’m sorry, sir,” under her breath.

After the tenth strike, Jayden stops. Then he crouches down in front of her, breathing hard. He is looking at her for a while before he speaks.

“Amirah, I want to be gentle with you. I really do. But…” He breathes out loudly, throws his head back before twisting it back to Amirah.

“But you are not making it easy for me. You have changed so much and I hate it. You let yourself got dragged away earlier and it took you more than an hour to call me to come and pick you. I am sure you have thought about and tried out like a hundred ways out of me at that moment but can't executive it because of this.” Jayden points at the wounds in her hands. He continues,

“Because you were itching so badly for disobeying me and what can help you out is coming back to me. I’m sure this sudden change of yours is because of that religion you say you are now serious about. Or that therapy. It's affecting this relationship more than I think. I will have to stop you. I need you back to me fully. I hate what's happening between us. I hate what your parents did to us. I hate that they sent you away from me. I hate that they hired a therapist for you who gave you an option of free will. You ain't supposed to have any. Your wish has to be whatever I wish for you...”

Amirah keeps her head down even though she has a lot to say.

He continues, his voice is hard and intense now. “I know you are thinking of leaving me. Just like you did a year ago. After you left, I searched for you like a madman. I would have torn the whole Dubai down to look for you if I had known you went there. But your parents were so discreet about it so I was just searching blindly…No, I refuse to live like that anymore.” He shakes his head and continues,

“I will tell you this clearly today. I am never letting you go again. You are not leaving my sight ever again. And you are quitting that job. Whatever it takes, I will have you to myself.”

His voice grows colder, louder and possessive.

“You are mine. And if I see even the smallest sign that you have feelings for that Imran guy, I will destroy him. Do you understand? I will ruin him completely.”

Tears begin to roll down Amirah’s face. Seeing the tears, Jayden grits his teeth, hating the fact that he doesn't know the reason behind the tears and he wants to know it. He wants to know everything that's happening in his head. That's how it used to be.

Amirah hesitates, then says softly, “Please, can I talk?”

Jayden stands up and returns to his chair while she remains on her knees.

“Talk. Say what you want.” He says, voice tensed.

She wipes her tears and takes a deep breath. “I need to work at that company, sir…. because… because…” The way Amirah is stuttering is getting on Jayden nerves.

“Talk straight and stop acting like I will devour you. I already gave you permission to talk. Why the hell are you sounding like I am a demon?” He sounds loud and angry. Then he controls his voice and continues,

“You are supposed to be safe with me, remember? No matter the situation, you are safe with me. Don't forget that.” Amirah nods, breathe in and out deeply again and continues,

“I said I need to continue working at ARA company because…my father’s company is struggling and we need them. After what happened a year ago our main branch went bankrupt and the only company my family believes can help us is ARA. That is why I went there. I want to work there and later try to secure a partnership with them. Please do not make me quit. This is my parents' only hope.” Amirah's voice is shivering.

For a moment, Jayden stares at Amirah. Then he suddenly burst into loud laughter. After laughing for a while, he speaks.

“Do you hear yourself? Like do you even listen to yourself? Who is ARA compared to my company? Have you forgotten that Dantata Industries Limited is the biggest company in Nigeria?” He frowns deeply, then continue talking,

“I am here. You should have come to me. You should have asked me for help, to rescue your parents' company. You are not supposed to be thinking on your own about how to save your family’s business. That is my role. I am the one who should handle that for you. You need to stop thinking for yourself and let me think for you. As it used to be, as it used to be, stop thinking, stop having opinions for heaven sake.” His voice is loud and cold.

He breathes in and out to calm himself. He doesn't want to be talking to her angrily in order not to scare her but he can't help it.

He kneels in front of her again, after managing to calm himself. He pats her back gently thrice and then lifts her chin slightly.

“I already told you, you are safe with me. You don’t have to struggle. Just tell me what you need. I will do it. That is how it used to be, remember? Remember how you went to school without stress. How I handled everything for you. How I took care of you and everything that concerned you.”

His tone softens.

“I will help your family. I will speak to them myself. I will fix their company. So, please,..” Jayden presses Amirah's shoulder down, “please stop thinking for yourself. Stop disobeying me. It irks me so much.” He emphasizes the last statement.

As Jayden speaks, Amirah screams silently in her mind.

I don’t want your help. I don’t want you involved with my parents again. That will only make things worse. If you help them, they might feel forced to accept you into our lives and I might be forced to marry you. And if they refuse your help, you will turn against them and ruin them even more. Please just stay away from my parents.

“Sir, can I speak again?” Amirah says carefully, “

“Yes.”

“Please let me do this on my own. My parents trust me. I want them to be proud of me. I want to prove I can fix this myself.”

Jayden’s face hardens again.

“I am not accepting that. That guy told me you look like someone he loved and lost. Do you understand what that means? He already sees the girl in you. So he will chase you. He will try to connect with you. And maybe you also fall in love with him.”

His eyes narrow.

“It is obvious you are not fully with me anymore. You are here because you feel attached to me, because you have no choice but to, not because you choose me freely. So I am not going to take the risk of losing you to someone else. Never.”

As Jayden keeps talking, Amirah shakes her head slowly. Tears runs down her face continuously.

She didn't know the depth of Jayden’s feelings for her before now. Hearing him speak like this now makes it clear to her that he is obsessed with her and it frightens her so much.

Jayden grabs Amirah's arm firmly.

“I am never letting you go to him. Never. Not him. Not anyone. Anybody who tries to take you away from me will have to face me first. You know who I am. You know what I can do, right.”

His grip on her tightens. His voice rises loud and aggressive.

“I am sure you know If I can't have something, I can destroy it. Including you. If one day that therapy works and you suddenly decide you are free from me, I will not accept it. I will find that therapist and k!ll her. I will deal with your parents. I will deal with anyone who stands between us. I will destroy all the important people in your life. So think very well before you ever consider leaving me.”

Amirah’s heart is pounding aggressively in fear.

He is still talking and his voice is shaking with emotion now. “You did this to me. Before you, I had many girls that I controlled easily and I had no problem walking away from any of them. But when you came into my life, everything changed. I couldn't stand any of this others again. So I let them all go.”

He runs his hand through his hair.

“When you disappeared for a whole year, I was not myself. I was just existing because the company depends on me. I kept hoping that when you finally returned, I would still be alive to see you. So no, I am not letting you go again. Never. Just so you know.”

He suddenly stands up and walks into his room. A few seconds later, the door slams shut.

Amirah remains on the floor, crying profusely. And when her leg is aching, she slowly lowers herself to sit properly and continues crying quietly.

“What kind of situation is this? What kind of problem is this?” She whispers to herself.

Now that she knows what Jayden feels for her is no longer just control. Knowing It is a deep, dangerous obsession, she feels trapped and scared.

She doesn't want to be in a relationship with him anymore. She wants to break free but how will she do so when he now knows what he will do if she dare do so? And the fact that she doesn't want to go through that itching pain ever again

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A story by MORUFAT AJANI

SECOND HAND LOVE

CHAPTER ELEVEN



She felt his hands on her palms and her heart missed a beat, just an hour ago, their Nikkah had been concluded and they were about to leave the village back to Lagos. Despite the fact that the ceremony was a very brief one , it was better conducted compared to her first Nikkah, two weeks before her Nikkah, Ahmad and his family had showed up and even when her Uncle suggested a Nikkah, they insisted on coming back again.

If only she had her parents alive …

Her Uncle cut off communication with her when he called her twice to see for financial assistance as her husband ( Mukhtar) works in Lagos, and would have so much money.

“I don’t have any money Sir,” She had told him

“Then take it from your husband…” He suggested and that moment, she wish she could tell him what she was going through… but what he said further made her keep quiet.

“I know you are selfish… you will keep rejecting us we your family and allow us to suffer,” He said and he had hang up, he didn’t call her until a year after to ask for money again , she had told him no again, and he swore never to call her again.

He never did Until she called him and pay him a

visit in the village.

He was surprised to see her … Her new car attracted her to him.

“Oh, you must have become a rich woman in Lagos… I know your husband is spending so much money on you …” He said to her and she sighed.

“We got divorced Uncle,” She said to him.

“You left him? Why? And he didn’t collect his car? What did you do?”

“I got this car myself,” She said to him and he was shocked.

“Mukhtar is a violent man …” She said and told him what she went through…

“Haa… you should have endure…” He said.

“His parents were the one who told me to leave …” She said and told her Uncle further about what she experienced.

“So, this car is yours?”

“Yes… I have a fashion house in Lagos …”

“Your tailor work?”

“Yes…”

“You got that car outside from sewing for people?” He asked her to be sure and she nodded.

“Toor…”

“I want to get married again,” She said to him and told him all about Ahmad.

Ahmad visited with his family the week after with gifts and he wanted them to have a Nikkah dome immediately.

It was embarrassing having to see her Uncle exploit Ahmad all in the name of preparing for the Nikkah but he did them whole heartedly… and even promised to get two of his sons jobs. She sighed as the car started.

Even though, she was not sure, If what she had done was the right thing, but she hope it will be … Perhaps, this time she might be lucky.

The got back to Lagos very late that night, her Son was with his Paternal grandparents who promised to attend the Walimah which would be held in Lagos the day after the Nikkah.

Ruqayyah was in school and she wondered how it would be when they meet, she heard about stories of step daughters who would not like their step mothers … but she hope and pray that they would become good friends.

It was her first time in his house and just like Firdaus Fabulous mansion, his was no different, she could not believe that she would also live in such apartment… but with the way her business has been going, perhaps she might own such house in some years.

“Would you like to shower?” His voice woke her up from her thought.

“Yes…”

“Let me show you room,” He said and led her to his bedroom.

“Do you live here alone?” She asked him.

“Yes…”

“This must have been so lonely and bored for you…” She said as she sat down on the bed removing her jewelries.

“You can say that again, it got better when

Ruqayyah come home for holiday…”

“Hmm…”

“But I hope the house will be alive now with you and Aminullah in it,” He said to her.

“Why didn’t she attend the Nikkah?” She asked him and that question was unexpected.

“She is in school,”

“I know … I understand the school would not want her to miss her father’s wedding,” She said looking at him.

“She will be fine …” He said trying to avoid further questions.

“Let me get your bags from the living room,” He said and left the room to go help her bring her bags that had been brought in by the driver. She still have a lot of her belongings in her apartment.

He returned to the bedroom and met her absence…

He sat down for a while before he took his towel and went to have his bath in the next room.









“I have never seen bro being this happy in years.

Thanks for coming into his life,” Firdaus said to

Aminah as Aminah was getting ready for the Walimah. It was going to be more like a get together for those who could not attend the Nikkah. Aminah could only invite her staff and her former parents in law.

“This dress look so lovely on you,” Firdaus said and Aminah broke into smiles.

“And you have a beautiful smile,” Firdaus said …

“Stop making me nervous…” Aminah said and

Firdaus laughed.

“Why are you being nervous?” Firdaus asked and gave her friend a wink, and Aminah blushed, just then there was a knock at the door, the two exchanged glances. “Who is that?” Firdaus asked “I am …” The mother said.

“Mom…come in,” Firdaus said, the door opened and Ahmad’s mother came in.

“Ma Sha Allah, I can see you are almost done,” The mother said.

“Yes mum…”

“I brought you a gift, Aminah,” She said to

Aminah and Firdaus smiled. She watched her mother moved closer to Aminah and gave her a box of jewelry.

“You are welcome to the family …” The woman said and Aminah opened the box and was shocked.

“Ma’am…” She was shocked and short of words. The box contains a complete set of jewelries and she need no one to tell her that they were expensive.

“Just accept it as a token,” The woman said.

“Thank you ma’am, these are not token …” She

said.

“I don’t want you to see me as a mom in law but as a mother …”

“Thank you ma’am,” Aminah said smiling.

“You are welcome dear…” The woman said to her cheerfully and Firdaus smiled the more.

If only she would be that lucky with her in-law…





She opened her eyes and wondered what woke her up, and then she saw him sitting beside her on the bed. It must have been his hand on her cheek that woke her up … after the Walimah the day before, they both got home so tired. They both almost missed fajr that morning …he had rushed his ghusl and rushed to the Masjid, He missed a Rakah.

He had returned from the Masjid and they have returned to bed.

“It almost noon and you haven’t had breakfast…” He said to her and she stood up in a hurry… and then she saw the tray on the stool beside the bed.

It contains a cup of tea and fried egg with bread.

She was surprised…,

“You made this?” She asked… it was the first time, someone would ever serve her that way.

“You don’t like it?” He asked looking confused…

“You don’t like the food?” He asked her and she shook her head.

“I am just …surprised,” She said to him.

“Why?” He asked looking at him, he was used to cooking for his late wife who sometimes would not even be able to leave the bed due to bad health. He did that happily.

“I have never been served like this before…” She said to him and he smiled.

“Get used to it … for a moment, I thought you don’t like tea and bread,” He said and watched her sat up, he then moved the table close to her .

“Are there people who don’t take tea and bread?” She asked him.

“Yes… I met someone like that during my school days. We call him bush boy … and then one of my cousin don’t take tea as well,” He said to her.

“I can’t call my cousin a bush boy … can I?” He asked and she laughed.

They started their food.

“I don’t know if this will do for breakfast… it is almost eleven … I don’t know what you would have loved me to cook…” He said to her.

“Can you cook?” She asked

“Yes, I can ,”

“Wow!!! And do you cook?” She asked

“Yes… I do cook “

“But Firdaus couldn’t, how come you can?” She asked

“I actually learnt how to cook some food when I started the university…I attended the federal university and stay in the hostel, Hamid taught me how to make some food …and when I got married … I had to learn how to properly … especially on days when Zulaykha couldn’t …” He said to her and she nodded, then she recall how Mukhtar would beat her mercilessly if she made a mistake with food or cook later than usual.

“Hi…” She heard his voice and realized that he was looking at her.

“You aren’t eating…are you okay?” He asked her.

“I am fine …”

“Are you sure?” He asked her and she nodded. “You know, you can tell me anything…” He said to her and she shook her head.

“Okay,” He said and they eat quietly. She made an attempt to pack the plates, but he stopped her.

“Let me …” He said to her and she sighed wondering if that will change after a few days.

©Umm Rumaysah