Chapter 14

The next day, Ameenah woke up feeling a bit relieved. She had prayed two Raka'ats and prolonged her sujood. She poured her heart out to Allah, As-Sami' about her problems. She had a feeling that her prayers would be answered. In Sha Allah.

She had her bath and got dressed. She was in the kitchen helping Aunty make breakfast when she received a call from Bashir informing her he was outside. Her back resting on the kitchen wall, "Ameenah just go and listen to what he has to say. And don't act nervous. Act normal." She slowly nodded. She left the kitchen and sauntered into her room. She slipped into her hijab and went out.

He was outside the car. His back resting against the car. Arms and legs crossed, smiling gracefully at her. She smiled a little. "Good morning," she talked shyly. "Why are you shy please? You look beautiful this morning, Masha Allah." She didn't utter a word. She fiddled with her fingers. He chuckled a little stuffing his hands in his kaftaan pocket. "How are you? Hope you slept well." She nodded, "yes Alhamdulillah."

"Masha Allah. I would be going back to Abuja today and I am not leaving till you give me an answer." She raised her head up. Their eyes met. They held nothing but the truth, his love for her. "Please Ameenah believe me; I'm so in love with you. And I don't know what will happen to me if I lose you. It has once happened before and I gave up on love but then I met you. And I know, I can just feel it; you're the one. Please accept my love and be my wife."

She shook her head no, "please n-no please stop loving me." Her words pierce through his heart but instead he smiled. "Tell me your reasons." She looked down again. "I just can't. It's going to happen. You'd leave the moment I need you the most and I don't want to get hurt. You have passed my level. Ni dakai bamu dace ba. A rich person like you can't be with a filthy poor girl like me. I'm sorry but I can't you..."

"You're not filthy or poor. I love you just the way you are. And my parents would love you. They'll love your family cause you guys are the most nicest people I've ever met. I promise you no one would treat you differently in my family if that's what you're afraid of. You're perfect baby, please say yes and you will never regret giving me your heart, In sha Allah."

He spotted baba coming out of the house. He squatted down to greet him. Ameenah quickly turned to leave when baba stopped her, "where do you think you're going?" He asked. "Uhmm baba, I- I'm helping Aunty with some work." She replied and headed in quickly. He shook his head and turned to bashir. "Get up please." Bashir thanked him and got up.

"I didn't know you were in kaduna. How was your journey?" Baba asked. "Alhamdulillah. I came together with Ameenah yesterday evening." He replied, his head down. He respected that man. "Uh- baba, if you won't mind I would love to talk to you about something."

"No problem, come let's go in." He nodded and they sauntered into the house. They settled down at the living room. "I want to thank you for being so kind to me. I am still surprised you trusted me with your daughter the first time you met me. Baba thank you so much for your kindness. You will make me the happiest man if you allow me to ask for your daughter's hand marriage." Baba stared at him for some few minutes. He wasn't expecting him to ask for that. He was surprised sane time happy.

His lips stretched out to a smile, "that won't be a problem son, but I have to ask her first before we go further more." His heart skipped a beat. What if Ameenah says no? She has showed him today that she's not interested in him. She had shown him that they're nothing but only friends. He smiled, "baba no problem. I'll wait and whatever you decide I am fine with it. But baba, you have raised a beautiful nice woman who knows what's right and wrong. Who is God fearing. I've never seen someone so respectful and kindhearted. Her characters really attracted me. And I would be the happiest man if she becomes my wife."

Baba rested his elbows on his knees, hands under his chin while he reasoned Bashir's words. He believed everything he said. He knows who Bashir is since the first day he saw him. He's all over the news paper. He is quite popular. And he knows the kind of house he came out from. He knew his daughter would be treated right.

Before Bashir left, he assured him that it was going to be alright and he'd talk to his daughter about it. Bashir thanked him more before leaving. While baba left for the market. Ameenah had no idea Bashir met her father.

Xx

"Welcome back baba," she squatted down. "Yauwa Sannu Ameenah." He smiled. "Meet me in the living room after Isha prayers." He announced. Her heart skipped a beat. "Baba nayi wani abu neh?" She had to ask. He smiled again, "Meenoh you didn't do anything. I just want to talk to you about something important. Don't worry yourself you did nothing wrong." She rosed up and nodded still not buying it. "I assure you there's nothing. Kinji koh. Karki damu." She nodded again.

He left to the Masjid while she went into her room to pray. After she prayed, she couldn't even eat her dinner. She sighed, resting her head on the wall. What does baba want to talk about? She wondered. She rosed to her feet as if she sat on a needle. She strode into her parents room. She met Aunty on the mat making Du'a. She impatient waited till she was done. "Yes?" Aunty asked. "Mama, baba wants to talk to me about something and I'm scared," she pouted. Perks of being the only child. Aunty chuckled, "you'll never stop this childishness. Is that how you want me to marry you off to Bashir?"

"Me? Bashir? Aunty!" She spoke in one breath. Her reaction made Aunty to laugh. "Haba aunty I told you he's not my boyfriend. There's nothing between us." She defended. "Okay I believe you," she stopped laughing. She knew what baba was going to talk to Ameenah about but decided to scare her more. "I don't know what he wants to talk to you about. Wannan tsakanin ku neh- it's between you two. Just pray it's not something serious."

Ameenah sighed feeling more agitated. He walked in with Salam. She scratched the back of her head already feeling hot all over. "Welcome back baba." She greeted. He smiled and nodded. "Meet me in the living room." He informed. She nervously looked at her mother. Aunty looked away trying to hold back her laughter. "C'mon get up, let's go meet him." She took a deep breath and exhaled.

He was sitting on the three sitter, eyes fixed on the TV. He answered their Salam. She plumped down on the carpet. "Sit on the chair," he said. She quietly stood up and sat on the one sitter. He cleared his throat. "Ameenah, you know how much I love you and how much I love seeing you happy? And you know I will never force you to do something you don't like?" It came out like a question. She slowly nodded. "Earlier today bashir approached me with something very surprising. But I can't just jump into things like that without asking of your own opinion. He asked for your hand in marriage."

He saw the shock registered on her face before she could hide it. A small smile played on his lips, "just remember that I will never force you to do something you don't like." He reminded. But on the other hand she wasn't surprised. She knew he'd do that. She believed he loves her and no doubts she does too. But she can't take the risk of being hurt again. Not how Aamir did with the excuse of his parents not liking poor people. Baba carefully looked at his daughter's face. He looked at his wife. She gave him a sign. He smiled, "my daughter don't worry. Just sit and think about it then we'll talk about it tomorrow night. I know you'll make a great choice."

He rosed to his feet and left the living room. Her eyes glimmered with watery tears and she felt as if whole world was about to crumble. She doesn't like the idea of getting married now and leaving her parents, especially her mother. She stood up and went to her mother's arms. She hugged her torso, sobbing, "Please don't allow baba to marry me off to that man, I don't love him." Aunty chuckled softy. "That's a lie. You're just scared." Ameenah knew what her mother was saying is right. She was just agitated. "Sit properly lets talk." Aunty said and Ameenah did as she was told.

"One of the recognized and indisputable commandments of Islam is that of marriage - the sacred union that takes place only between a man and a woman. In relation to this revered bond, there are many verses of the noble Quran and countless ahadith that encourage marriage for any single man or woman - of any age or background. This is not only limited to the young brothers and sisters who have never been married and are looking for their life mate, but even those who have been through divorce have also been encouraged to re-marry and to "complete" their faith.

Marry the single people from among you and the righteous slaves and slave-girls. If you are poor, Allah (SwT) will make you rich through His favour; and Allah (SwT) is Bountiful, All-Knowing. Marriage it's a beautiful thing wallah. Though it has his ups and downs. There will be happy times and also sad times but you have to be patient and have each other's back. I know you're scared, it's okay to be scared. I was once in your shoes. I think even worse than your situation but now look we're happily married for 20 years and we have a beautiful daughter that we'll soon marry her off too to the one she loves."

Ameenah listened to all what her mother said. She doesn't know how her mother does it, calm her down. She took a deep breath and exhaled. "You know building anything of value takes time," Aunty started again. "A strong marriage takes choosing love. You know how you'll make your marriage strong?" She shook her head no. "Communication—active listening, Intimacy — emotional and physical (sex), Respect, Willingness to grow together, Friendship, play — laughter — sense of humor, Trust, Love them more than being right, Grace, Good will toward each other, Honesty, Compassion — understanding, Cooperation — Happy willingness to help each other, Support — encourage one another in hopes and dreams, Forgiveness, Humility — Being able to apologize even if you're not wrong, Flexibility..."

"A strong marriage takes many things but most of all it takes two people building together. I want you to calm down and think this through. Shrug off all the negative thoughts and focus on the positive. And don't forget to pray harder, okay?" She smiled and nodded. "Thank you so much Aunty. I can't even imagine life without you. You're the best of the best mother."

Aunty smiled so gracefully. She hugged her daughter, "he will be a good husband, I can feel it."