Chapter 39

"So are you ready to pay off for the damages? Shafiu asked just before they enter inside the building.

"I don't have the money to pay it back."She stated.

"I know and I'm ready to pay more than that for you" He responded.

"No thank you! You've really done a lot for me, please let me face this challenge myself." She beseech.

"And how exactly did you want to do that khadijah?" He asked; worriedly.

"I will try and look for them by any means insha Allah and apologized." She said confidently.

"Uhm that really sound brave actually. But are you sure is the best thing to do? I mean will they accept the apology without trying to humiliate you?" He asked again concern.

She smile and nod her head in disagree to his question. "I don't really know him much like wise his sister too, but I most compliment their upbringing, shafiu they were well brought up, their not arrogant like me, I doubt if they will humiliate me just like I did to them. And even if they do, then trust me I'm ready for it, all I want is their forgiveness. No matter what they will do to me, it won't hurt more than what have ever done to them. I deserve to be humiliated!" She said and lean on the car seat.

"I hope you find them soon, I will also help you with that. And in case you find them please just give me a call and I will be right their to apologies too on your behalf. I wish you best of luck.

"Why are you doing this to me?" She asked, as tears gather into her eyes.

"Because I'm your friend and I choose to care about you." He said nonchalantly.

"Thank you so much shafiu, I will forever remember every of your gesture! Though my first impression about you was wrong, please don't asked me what it was" She said and sniffed in.

"The gate is open, should I just drive you in? He asked.

"Yes please, I will be glad.

She halted out of the car and wave at him until his car was out of the mansion. She sighed briefly and walk into the building alone since shafiu refuse the offer of coming with her, he gave her some excuses of having to take care of some things in his work place.

~ ~ ~

Fatima lead her to her room, and told her the get together will be starting in less than hour from now. She excused herself and came back with a glass of juice on a tray.

"I haven't seen hafsat, is she not coming?" Deejah asked.

"Of course she will, she just call and told me she got delay but will soon reach here in a minute.

Just on clue she barge into the room. "What am I missing here?" Hafsat asked.

"Talk about the devil, the devil appear!" Fatima exclaim.

"And who is the devil you guys are talking about?" Hafsat asked feigning serious.

"Of course the devil just barge into the room" And they all laugh.

"So deejah were you missing me that much, that you couldn't wait for me to arrive huh?" She winked.

"So full of her self. What so special about you that she will think of huh"

"Whatever I wasn't talking to you" She said and wave a hand. " So when is our prince charming get together starting.

"Price charming? Deejah asked raising her eyebrow.

"Oh yes her dream man, hopefully "Hafsat respond.

Reedah came out of the closet fully dress for the get together. And behold it was HER! she clear her eyes to be sure if really she wasn't dreaming, she walk closer to them and found out it was really HER seating comfortably on the bed with out any remorse. Their eyes met and for the first time she saw the differences in her eyes. It look pitiable, rather than the latter that look arrogant. Deejah was shocked too at the sight of seeing who she was looking for right behind her.

"You?" Reedah pointed at her in disbelief.

Fatima and Hafsat both stare at them in confusion has the room was getting heated

"Fatima please don't tell me she's one of the friend you keep praising all the time to me. I can't believe it. I'm sure even devil is not arrogant like her!

"Fareedah, can you please just stop insulting my friend, what have she done to you to humiliate her like this? No matter what she did I don't think she deserve this" Fatima said angrily.

"Did you called this an insult? Did you think this is even close to what is really called humiliation in dictionary? And of course no matter what I won't have the right to stand for myself. Because she's a millionaire daughter or heiress to her father company or which of them exactly? Tell me? She question bitterly.

"Please allow her, I really deserve it" Deejah said letting tears rolled down her cheeks.

"This same lady beside you was the same person that told me I was stinky, she was the one that slapped me, she was the one that arrested my brother, and it wasn't enough for her yet, I fareedah the billionaire daughter of late Alhaji sufyaan imam became a maid to this wretched soul here. A human who don't have an empathy, feelings of pity but hatred. And you still expect me to be calm? I guess you haven't had a rough life in your whole existence before. Until everything collapse before your eyes." Reedah hiss loudly and wanted to leave their sight but deejah hold the hem of her gown firmly which stop her from moving.

They were all shocked at her revelation, and they turn to look at deejah who was already on her kneels, she kept crying without a word. "Khadijah was that really you" Fatima asked in disbelief.

She nodded her head. She was out of word, everything she said was the bitter truth of her. " I'm sorry, please forgive me. I know I deserve more than this. I know what I did is really unforgivable, and forever embroidered in your soft heart. But what exactly could I do to erased the hatred? What exactly could make you believe that have change for better? Just as you said it, When everything collapse before your eyes and you had a rough life to walk on you will surely believe nothing is permanent." She sighed briefly, and continued.

"Life you chase today will make you spilled the worst of you some day. It is never a bed of roses! I'm sorry Fareedah, I can't really asked you to forgive me today, tomorrow or next, but please for the sake of Almighty Allah, forgive me some day to come. Have truly regret every bit of what I did to you and your brother and it hunt me back daily. Believe me have been searching for you both since before you sue me to court and the first day I saw you together with Khalid I wanted to come closer and apologized but it was too late__ for he already drove out of the exclusive bakery. I'm sorry for all have ever let you go through in life, I'm sorry for the short time pain have ever let you both go through, I'm sorry...." And Reedah lift her up and hug her. She was speechless at her word and painful tears find their way.

"Is okay! have forgiven you." Reedah said and sniffed. After they break the hug

"You must be joking please be sincere" Deejah beseech. Her eyes was so red from the amount of tears that came out of it.

"Believe me, have truly forgiven you and I hold no grudges against you anymore. You've really change a lot, I can't believe I heard those word coming out of your lips today. I thought until I stop breathing, I live no more will i ever hear "I'm sorry" from you. You've really prove me wrong, I never imagine today will come this soon or better still, even exist.

"Thank you for finding it in your heart to forgive her fareedah. You're indeed the best, thank you very much" Fatima chirp in and hafsat nodded in agreement.

"You don't have to thank me, we are all human. Come let me take you to Yushraf place before the get together get started." Reedah announced happily.

Deejah shrink at the mentioned of the name, she was nervous and sweat was forming on her forehead. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she flinch again. " Are you nervous and scared" Reedah asked and she nodded quickly.

"Then don't be, his very easy and simple. You should just apologized and you're good with him. And please make sure you don't even mentioned that damage stuff" She advised, and intertwined their hand together and lead her to the boys quarter.

They arrive at the door step and Reedah knock calmly. The door open widely by Yushraf and he was rooted in his position without moving. "Will you rather let us in than to live us stranded" Reedah asked. And he let them in still in shocked.

"And who do we exactly have here today" He asked surprisingly.

"Don't be sarcastic please" Reedah beseech.

"Trust me, I'm not. I'm just surprised that all."He shrugged.

Deejah was just silent throughout their conversation. Praying internally it goes well just as his sister assured her.

"She want to apologized for everything she has ever done to you." Reedah said.

"Oh really, the heiress of Agogo company herself want to apologized? That sound interesting." He said nonchalantly.

Deejah close her eyes for a brief, trying to swallow the numb forming on her throat, as tears started blinding her vision. She refuse to be weak but her eyes choose the opposite. And she close her eyes and knelt down right before his foot. She expected the worst at this very minute and let go of all her personal emotions. Before she could speak Yushraf beat her to it.

"You don't have to kneel down please. My sister has already forgiven you, so who am I not to, I don't hold any grudges against you anymore. I was just craving for something like this, perhaps I was desperate for it, but this was just something beyond my imaginary. I never imagine you to take yourself so low this way, as if nothing exist or bothered you than to just apologized. I'm glad you regret your action. Please just don't do that again, you don't exactly know where you will meet again.

Life is all about meeting each other in a different angle, status, background. We all meet to path, and path to meet again. Be careful with your tongue it might lead you to "had I know" Which can't be revised back. Life is simple when you choose to walk on the simpler part of it." He said gently and smile.

"Can we all start a fresh again?" Yushraf asked after his advice

Deejah raise her eyebrow and let the tears flow freely down her cheeks. Are they twins? Why so softhearted? Did she really deserve all this warm gesture? She asked herself inwardly as she stare at this gorgeous handsome man standing before her with his dimples deep. He is indeed worth starring at. She sniffed in and wipe the tears flowing.

"I'm khadijah Muhammad Agogo, nice meeting you again." She said, still not lifting her eyes off him.

"I'm Yushraf Sufyaan imam with my twin sister here fareedah Sufyaan imam, it our pleasure to meet you too." He said.

That explain it, their twins."Congratulation, I heard you've done your convocation?" She asked.

"Yes thank you, please enjoy your stay with us Deedee" he emphasized the last word.

"Is that my name? She asked.

"Not really but from me to you" He said. And she smile.

"Yushraf is almost time. Please hurry up and meet your guesses, Reedah said and dragged deejah along with her.

"I told you my brother is easy to go with, unlike me." She scrunch her nose.

"Trust me, you're simple too, you just reacted as every human being in your shoes should have.

"Thank you, and I'm glad we meet again! Come let go in.

~ ~ ~

To say she was happy was understatement. She was more than extremely happy. Smile couldn't skip her face, today was indeed her best day. She will never forget it. She could beat her chest that a lot has indeed been lift out of it. She could now find peace in her heart, tonight she will sleep as if tomorrow won't exist again. She will announced the good news yo her parent too.

"Deejah what are you thinking about?" Hafsat asked.

"Nothing really, I'm just happy I'm now a free girl that can do anything without feeling any remorseful of my action again." She said and drank from the glass cup serve to her.

I'm glad you're happy khadijah, it really means a lot to me too. May you always find your happiness.

"Thank you Hafsat. And Fatima thank you for inviting me to this wonderful get together, I will never forget it.

"You don't have to thank me dear. Just say Alhamdullilah everything surely has it right time and today was really the right time for it.

"I will keep the memory of it" She said.

"I heard the first batch of NYSC list will be out tomorrow?" Fatima asked.

"Yeah it will and hopefully we will be among " deejah said.

"Yes fa I can't wait too, I want to go to camp first before my marriage, I want to enjoy that moment." Hafsat said.

And Reedah came and join them on their table.

"Says who is getting married this year ending." Fatima said.

"A very big thanks to everyone who took their time to come down to this get together to congratulate me. May you all return back to your destinations safely" Yushraf said and hand over the mic. And the blasting of music continue as everyone enjoy their meal.

"I most surely compliment this cake, is truly the best have ever tasted" deejah said.

"You won't believed if I mentioned the name of who bake it." Fatima said

"Oh who did it? Hafsat asked.

"Yushraf bake it.

"Oh your prince Charming?

"And deejah heartbeat, was he really the prince charming Fatima has been talking about?

"And here is the promise I made! Even on my tie schedule I was still able to fulfil it.

"Did you all want this book to be a happy ending just as you imagine it to be or tragic end?

"Should I split the next chapter into two and update faster? or one and update slower? I will go with anyone you choose, insha Allah!