Chapter 13

She settled down on the bed feeling exhausted. The house was quiet. Manahel and Bilkisu were in school. She was alone with her Aunty. "Alhamdulillah," she smiled. She was happy that she had finished her registration and would be leaving today. She had already packed her bags waiting for her cousins to come back from school before she leaves. She wouldn't want to leave without saying goodbye.

She had her bath and offered her Asr prayers. She was on the praying mat when the girls came in. She smiled, "look who's finally back. I missed you guys," she pouted. "Haha! Who wouldn't miss my company please," Manahel flipped her invisible hair. "Oh please I'll be out of here in few minutes."

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes. Ameenah's phone interrupted their conversation. She looked at them. "We know it's him just pick up," Manahel teased. She hissed, glaring at them. She picked up the call, "Salamu Alaykum, Ameenah." He chirped in. "Wa'alaikumus Salam, Good evening." She greeted. "How are you?" He asked. "I'm fine Alhamdulillah."

"Where are you now?" He asked. "Uhmm, my aunty's house. I'll be leaving for kaduna now."

"Can you give me the address?" He asked. "Why?" She dares to ask. "I'm in Zaria, now please the address." She looked at the girls. "Uh! You? Why?" She stuttered. "Ameenah I'm here wandering around please give me the address."

Without having a second thought, she gave him the address. He assured her he'll be there in few minutes before ending the call. She looked at the girls, "he's in zaria." She blurted out. They squealed hugging her. "You have to change. He can't see you wearing hijab," Manahel said. She glared at her, "I'm not changing anything. This won't be the first time he'd be seeing me with hijab. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be going to inform aunty about it." She walked out.

Her heart throbbed fast. She met her in the living room. "Ah! Ah!! Ameenah kin shirya?" She asked. She was still standing. She nodded her head, "y-yes aunty." She scratched the back of her head. "It's like you have something to say."

She slowly nodded, "there's someone.... that.." she trailed off. "Your boyfriend?" Aunty asked. She quickly shook her head. "He's a friend of Aisha's husband. He took me to Abuja a month ago. Wallahi I don't know why he's coming here now. He just informed me that he's in zaria."

Aunty Sa'adah laughed a little, "it's okay. He's taking you back to kaduna?" She asked. "No aunty I don't think so. I'd leave the moment he's gone." With that, they heard a knock on the door. Ameenah could swear her heart was going to come out of her chest cause of the way it's beating. "You should go open the door he might be the one." She nodded and walked to the door. With a shaky hand, she unlocked the door.

He smiled, "Salamu Alaikum." He greeted. She found herrself smiling back at him. "Wa'alaikumus Salam. Uhm come... come in please." She chuckled nervously. "You're welcome." Aunty Sa'adah greeted. He greeted her. She offered him a sit and excused them. Few minutes later Manahel brought some refreshments for him. He thanked her.

They sat there watching the news. Her eyes was glued to the tv even though her mind wasn't there. She was really uncomfortable. Why isn't he saying a word. She looked at him and their eyes met. She looked away. "You look more cute when you're shy," he started. "Why are you here please." She had been wanting to ask that. "Oh! So I'm not welcome here?" He asked feigning hurt. "No, no I don't mean that. I'm just surprised. I told you I was leaving today and you just decided to visit just today?"

He chuckled. "Ameenah I'm here to take you back to kaduna."

She looked at him to see if he was joking. She couldn't read his face expression. "And please don't say no. Please," He pleaded. "But.." she started. "Precious Gem, go get ready." She pouted making him to laugh. "You're so cute." This time around she smiled. "Now go get ready please." She nodded and rose to her feet.

Few minutes later she came out with her suit cases, he helped her with it. She bid them adieu with her cousins teasing her life. She felt like hitting them, but on the bright side she was leaving that minute. After that, they set straight to Kaduna.

Xx

7:36pm.

"Precious Gem, wake up. We're here." She slowly opened her eyes. How did she managed to sleep? She was thinking about him and feeling uncomfortable with him not saying anything and the next she slept off through the rest of their journey. She looked around, they were home. There's her home. She grinned. She didn't notice he was already out of the car. He opened the door for, she came out muttering a thank you.

He helped her in with her suitcases. She felt overwhelmed seeing her mother after weeks. Aunty thanked him for the help. "Please come in, you have to eat before leaving," Aunty urged. He didn't argue, he was actually happy he'd spend some time with Ameenah and tell her what's in his heart before leaving.

"Is there any Masjid close to here? I haven't prayed Maghreb." Ameenah nodded, "yes there is. Just behind our house you'd see it." She said. He gave her his phones and car keys, "please keep this for me before I get back."

He left while she sauntered into her room to offer her prayers. After praying, he still wasn't back. She took his car keys and phones to the living room before heading to the kitchen. She arranged the warmers and refreshments in the living room. Just then, he walked in. "Oh you're back," she smiled. He smiled back. "You're welcome," she added. "Thank you."

She served him some Masa and Miyan taushe Aunty made. His first few spoons were delicious. "This is one of the best Masa I've ever eaten. I bet you can make something like this." He commented. She chuckled, "not as good as aunty's own."

"Well I've tasted your cooking before, it's so delicious. Believe me your cooking is amazing. Your husband will be a lucky guy."

She smiled sheepishly looking away. "Thank you." She murmured fiddling with her fingers. She waited till he finished eating. "Allah sa dai ka koshi sosai?" She asked. He nodded, "Alhamdulillah."

"Masha Allah. Uhmm.... But, you're not leaving today right? Because it's getting late and that road isn't safe."

"No I'd be staying at my uncle's house. He leaves at u/rimi." She nodded. "Do you need anything?" She asked. "Yes, you. I need you!"

Confusion was written all over her face. What does he mean by he needs her? "Ameenah." He called out. She looked at him, baffled waiting to hear more. "I have something really serious to tell you. I don't know how you're going to take it."

She nodded indicating for him to continue speaking. "I..." his phone interrupted. He looked at the phone, annoyed, "I have to take this." He stood up and went outside. She sighed wondering what he had in mind. What does he want to say? He looked serious. She felt mystified.

She stood up and left the living room. He wasn't outside the compound of their house. He must've left for masjid. She went into her room to pray.

After praying she went into aunty's room. She met her on the praying Mat. Aunty smiled, "Xaggee baad ka tagtay sharciga- where did you leave my In Law?"

Her eyes widened, "but aunty he's not my boyfriend." She defended. "Are you going to tell me all these weeks since that day he took you to Abuja you guys haven't met again?" Aunty smirked a little. She knew there was something up. The way Ameenah was glowing when she looked at him. And how he smiled when he looked at her. "Mama we've met but, but mama he's not my boyfriend." Aunty laughed a little, shaking her head. "Ok, ok naji. Whatever it is at the end we're all going to hear."

"Now get up and go I know he'd be back from the mosque anytime soon. Your father will be back soon." Ameenah sighed and rose to her feet. She dragged her legs to the living room. She met him sitting, typing away from his phone. "Sorry I kept you waiting." She smiled apologetically. "It's fine. I just got back now."

She smiled nervously. "Please sit." She did as he said. "Now I want you to listen really carefully."

She nodded feeling nervous. "What I'm going to tell you now. It might shock you or make you uncomfortable but I'll nderstand." He added. She swallowed hard, feeling sweat all over her face.

"I have known you for only five weeks but it feels like years. I've observed that you're a great person. An amazing girl. I don't remember from when, but since the time you are with me is the time I have loved you to thee. Your presence gives me a positive vibe, a vibe that makes me feel so happy. A vibe that makes all the difference in my life! This is not liking, this is not infatuation, this is not a crush. It is pure love from my heart! I love you a lot and there are no second thoughts about it. And, I only pray that I get the same energy from you. Ameenah I'm not saying all of this to one day break your heart and leave, no, what I want is for you to be part of my life, as my wife."

It takes a second or two for the new information to sink it, even though it is right before her eyes, larger than life. Her lips stretch open, in complete amazement. She searched into his hazel brown eyes. He was telling nothing but the truth. Words left her mouth. Her heart felt silent. "Please say something," He pleaded. "Do you have nothing to say? I have poured my heart out to you, now tell me what you're thinking please." But her mind was blank and her eyes wide as she stared at him in horror. His eyes desperately searched hers... waiting for an answer.

"It's fine, I know you weren't expecting that." But she was. "I would take my leave now." He rose to his feet. "I will come see you tomorrow morning before I leave, In sha Allah." He left without her uttering anything to him. He was scraped and intimidated by the way she acted. He doesn't want to ruin their perfect friendship. He regretted saying it this time. But one day he has to come out clean. And the sooner the better.

She sat there dumbfounded. Once again fear found her. It spoke to her in it's cackling voice. It told her legs to go weak, her stomach to lurch and her heart to ache. As much as she tried to hold it in, the pain came out like an uproar from her throat in the form of a silent scream. The beads of water started falling down one after another, without a sign of stopping.

She remembered. She remembered what happened to her. She doesn't want that to happen again. She can't be with a rich man again and get dumped at the end. With an excuse of their parents not wanting a poor person in their family.

She didn't noticed when aunty walked in. She felt her mother's hand on her shoulder. She slowly looked up. "Ameenah what happened? Why are you crying?" Aunty asked, panicking. "Nothing happened." She looked down. "You can't just sit here and cry without a reason. Better start speaking."

She bursts into new set of tears, "Mama I can't do it. I'm scared. They'll hurt me again!" Aunty sat down beside her, "Ameenah look at me." She cupped her face. "Tell me what happened." And then she told her what happened. Aunty chuckled, "so because he confessed his love for you that's why you're here giving yourself a headache?" She looked down trying to control herself. "Ameenah stop crying this isn't a bad thing. It's good thing to me. So what if he loves you? Ok tell me, you don't love him?"

"No it's not that," she lamented. "Aunty I don't want what happened between me and Aamir to happen again. I don't want that." Now she gets it. She sighed. "Ameenah don't say that. Be positive please. His parents might not be like that. I'm sure they're not like that, as long as they value every human being. Cry everything to Allah and you'll feel better. When you don't know what to do, seek guidance from Allah and do istikhaarah then leave the rest to him. You'll be fine. In sha Allah everything will work out just fine. Don't rush, don't push yourself. Think about what he said, okay? Don't just push him away."

Ameenah nodded feeling a bit relieved. That is what she wanted; someone to talk to and tell her what to do. And she thank Allah Al Baari for her mother. She is everything she wanted. She loved her mother so much. She took a deep breath feeling relieved. She thought of pushing him away but after having a talk with her mother, she was going to think through before making a decision.