Chapter 43

Three month.....

Just like yesterday, three Month has pass by and it's just three weeks more to Khalid and Fareedah wedding together with Mubarak and Fatima's own. Everyone was busy with the upcoming wedding of Alhaji Hamza shettima's children.

"Ya Fatima!" Halima called. Your fiance is downstairs at visitors parlour waiting for you." She inform.

"Oh! his here? Why didn't he call me?" She asked and swiftly search for her phone that was cover with blanket on top of her bed.

"Oh my goodness!" She exclaim and cover her mouth with her hand."

"Ya fatima, What happen?" Halima asked.

"20 missed call from him and I never knew my phone was on silent" She said and drape a veil on her head.

"No wonder, he look worried even when he was asking about you. You should hurry up and meet him before he faint there" Halima teased.

She swiftly pace out of her room to the downstairs and met Mubarak pacing to and fro in the living room.

Mubarak was the one that send his proposer to Fatima's father, three month back seeking for her hand in marriage. Their relationship was all fatima wish for in a guy and she realize what she felt for Yushraf before was just an infatuation__ perhaps his look make her carried away and deceived her heart. She now feel nothing for him and has also move on with her new relationship.

Immediately Mubarak saw her, and he walk faster toward her and asked" Fatima are you okay? What wrong with you?" He asked. His voice lace with worried

"Could you please just calm down? Nothing is wrong with me, I just didn't know when you call, my phone was quietly laying inside blanket and it was on silent. I'm sorry if I made you worry about me" She said.

"I'm glad you're good. So how are you?" He asked calmly.

"I'm fine. You haven't even touch that drink" She pointed at the drink on top of the table.

"How can i? When I was so worried you didn't pick my call. I was just not myself that why I have to drive here this night to check on you.

"Mubarak, are you still having doubt I will leave you some day? I mean you still don't believe I accepted you whole hearted?" She asked sadly.

"I'm sorry, I can't just help it." He respond.

"Come and have a seat please" She gesture.

He sat down and gulp down the drink. Few minute later after their chit chat they bade each other goodnight and he drove home satisfy while fatima return back to her room with heart full of happiness__ what more could she asked for? The fact that he care about her much was worth her sleeping peacefully.

* * *

"Mum I will soon be coming back" she said over the phone happily.

"Really! Why?" Her mum asked.

"Two of my friends are getting married, and you know I can't missed it for anything" She said Happily.

"Masha'Allah, I wish them happy married life. May Almighty Allah bless their new home has they go through it." Her mum prayed.

"Mum" she called. "How is daddy health?" She asked sadly.

Tears welled up in Hajiya Rukkayya eyes and she refused to let it out. She sniff in and respond" His getting better, Alhamdullilah"

"Mum you're not telling me the truth. Why are you crying then?" She asked, tears already streaming down her cheek.

And Hajiya Rukkayyah wipe her tears as if her daughter was facing her and knowing she was not telling the truth. " khadijah" She called.

"Yes mum, please go on" She beseech.

Your father health is deteriorating gradually, the doctor said his blood pressure is high and your father is not also helping it, his always thinking and worried about you. He refuse to eat this days and I don't know why" Her mum said.

Deejah sighed heavily and rub her forehead in frustration. " Mum didn't they prescribed any drug for him?" She asked.

"They did, but khadijah is too cost that why I didn't bother to let you know" Her mum said.

"Mum just tell me please, if I can't afford it with the little I have who will do that?" She said. She was so hurt that her mum hide that from her.

She send the money to her mum immediately she ended the call. And told her to buy all the drug that was prescribed and food stuff.

She was thanking Allah for not booking a flight that very day Yushraf send her the money. She had travel back to kano with a public transport and save the money for the future, which she never knew she might be needing for emergency like this.

Her mum was calling again. She was surely sure her mum will call back again after receiving the alert.

She pick the call" khadijah where did you get this huge amount of money?" Her mum question strictly.

Typical Nigerian mothers for you." deejah rolled her eyes. How will she start explaining this to her mother to understand without being rude or other way?

"Mum trust me, I didn't steal it or get it through any means. It was just a gift from someone." She said hoping her mum just believe her, because she know how strict she could be sometimes.

"Yes mum, he asked me to used it and take flight back to kano after my camp which I refuse and he beg me to accept it. But I didn't used it, I still travel back by a commercial car." She explain.

"Hmmm" She uhm." May Almighty Allah reward him abundantly" She prayed. "Where his he from?" She asked.

"His from kano too mum and also serving in Enugu presently" She said. " I have to go mum" My food is burning" She lied. Because she know her mum will still asked her more about him.

"Okay take care, I love you" Hajiya Rukkayyah said over the phone.

"I love you too mum, please take care of daddy. I will call back tomorrow. Make sure you buy the medicine and food stuff okay" She said and hang the call.

* * *

Days were passing by swiftly and the wedding was fast approaching just a week to go and fareedah still couldn't make a perfect choice of dinner gown she wanted. All the sample shown to her by her wedding planner were rejected. She either complain the gown is too tight or that is too big.

"Fareedah which type of gown did you really want? Have try choosing one for you but you rejected them, why?" Her aunt, salamatu asked. She came back three weeks ago just to prepare for her niece wedding. She can't just missed it for the world. Non of her family were left out including her husband. He was so supportive and nothing was lacking financially, it was so full of love and joy as they prepare and anticipated for the big day.

She invited all their family member from Niger state and neighbors of Alhaji sufyaan Imam at his resident.

"Aunty mii!" Reedah called.

"Yes dear, what wrong with you?" She asked her calmly.

"Aunty I don't know, I'm just not myself this days. Things just seem to suffocate me. I...I just wish Abba and mama were alive to just witness my wedding. I wish mum could see how I have thoroughly change. aunty I miss them so much" She said and cry on her aunt lap.

"Is okay Fareedah, we are all here for you."She said and hugged her tightly.

"Please don't leave us again" she cry.

"I won't, I promise" She said and they both cry hugging each other.

"Now get up, let go check what the wedding planner have." She said and force her out.

* * *

"Please hurry up, Aunty Maimuna, Murjanatu and Aisha are already at the downstairs waiting for you girls since, I wonder who you're both going to show case your make up to" Hajiya maryam said to her children and left afterward.

"Mum we're almost done. Ya fatima please hurry up and tied the scarf for me before Aunty Aisha come here herself. I don't want any trouble" Hauwa said.

"Then keep your head now" Fatima queried.

They came down few minute later all ready to go.

"So because you're taking boxes to your sister in-law house you have to paint all your face first right" Aisha their mother younger sister asked.

"Haba Aunty Aisha, you don't just expect us to go roughly ai? And moreover you said our sister in-law house then did you expect us to go as if we are not happy about her coming to our house as a bride?" Hawwy asked.

"I know you this stubborn girl will have mouth to reply back ai" she said and throw her a pillow before getting up from the couch.

"Please habiba come and help us with this boxes to the car and called the gate man to join you" Halima said.

Since the wedding is fast approaching and the boxes her ready she called her sisters and one of her sister in-law to come and help her with the boxes to her daughter in-law house, since they already return back to their father house ever since their aunt landed in Nigeria.

~ ~ ~

Few minute later, her phone started ringing and she thought Hafsat has landed until she saw the ID. Why is Reedah calling her, she thought and pick the call immediately.

"Babe you need to drive here and pick me up fast, no where to go and they just inform my aunt about their coming." She said over the phone.

"So?" What are you saying." Fatima said, trying to pulled her leg more.

"Are you crazy? Did you expect me to just stay at home while they come in with the boxes. I don't even know why I'm calling you bye" She said ended the call.

Fatima smile at her friend nervousness and quickly pick her car key and drove out of the house. She dial Reedah number immediately she alighted from the car.

"Hey Mrs khalid, where are you? I'm already at the gate" She announced.

"Hold on, let me tiptoe out please" Reedah said and end the call.

~ ~ ~

"Please drive, they can't just see me like this" She said fan herself with her hand.

"Hey be calm they ain't here to convey you already so relax. How did you even escape" Fatima asked.

"I was at Yushraf mansion when they came, so I waited for them to go in first before coming out" She said.

"Yushraf is back?"

"No, but he will be coming back today that why I went there to arrange his apartment, since he won't be staying in the main flat for now." Reedah explain.

"Okay, so where should we head to now Mrs khalid" Fatima teased.

"While anywhere I can just filled my stomach should be fine by me Mrs Mubarak" She reply back.

"Ahh that remind me, Mrs foodie will be coming today. I can't just wait to set my eyes on her, I miss her so much. Ever since she go married we haven't met again, umar just took her away.

"Oh Hafsat right? She's coming back today? I miss her wedding" Reedah said sadly.

"A lot of people do, because of the wrong timing. The date wasn't fit at convenience of people time." Fatima was saying when her phone interrupted

"Yeah, she's even calling. Let me pick the call" Fatima said and pick." Amarya, You better start driving down here, because have landed and don't have the patient to wait long" Hafsat said.

"Yes ma'am, on my way." She said jokily and end the call.

"Let go pick her before she kill me" Fatima joke. And reverse the car.

* * *

She was done cooking and everything was kept in place before she return back to her room. She met her dad sitting at the edge of the bed not even noticing her coming in.

"Dad" she called.

"Yes my princess, sorry I was carried away" He said and sat down well on the bed gesturing his daughter to come and have a seat too.

"This was new, it been long her dad called her that name. She went closer and sat down on the bed with him. "Daddy how are you feeling now" She asked.

"I'm feeling better my princess, I'm glad I have you. May Allah reward you for all you did" He prayed.

"Aamin, I'm glad you're feeling better dad too. I couldn't stop worrying about your health." She said.

"As you can see I'm all healthy now and have accepted my fate" He said calmly.

"I'm happy daddy."

"So can I know who my princess is into? Who is that Someone that is always putting a smile on her face?" He asked genuinely.

"Dad you're making me embarrassed now, I'm I not happy even before?" She asked.

"Of course my princess is, but this days the happiness seem to be special and making you glow.

"Dad, mum send you to asked me right" she asked.

"No, not really I just wanted to asked myself, is it a crime?

"No is not. Hmmm" She uhm.

"Why are you uhming you can't tell me?" He asked.

"That not the issue dad. His the same guy I arrested last year" She said sadly. Guilty masking all over her face.

"Allah is wonderful, you both met again and have he truly forgiven you?" He asked shocked evidence written on his face.

"Yes dad we indeed met again and believe me they forgive me immediately I apologized. That was how we became friend and now inseparable " She said almost forgot she was talking to her parent

"Oh inseparable right" Hajiya Rukkayyah who was eavesdropping come in and asked.

"No mum was just talking to dad. It was a slip of tongue" She said and hide her face.

"Uhm I see."

"Please invite him here tomorrow, I need to talk to him" her dad beseech.

"Insha Allah dad, I will. She said and quietly left the room for her parent.

* * *

They were all sitting in Reedah's room talking randomly about school and other stuff when hafsat asked about Mina.

"Is Mina still in prison" Hafsat asked.

"Of course she still there, with hard labor. This just getting to her four month in the cell." Fatima said.

"I'm glad, she's still there learning her lesson the hard way. I thought are parent will bailed her out after two to three days." Hafsat said.

"Seem you've forgotten who are mother is. That woman will never bail her out." Fatima reply.

"I can't believe Mina could betray deejah like that wallahi, it was so heartbreaking when i get the news and could you believe we both went to deejah house to report the issue that very day? Not knowing she was the mastermind of it. I just hate that girl now." Hafsat said in high pitch.

"She's a disgrace to us" fatima utter.

"That life we live in now, nobody is to be trusted. Imagine even our uncle too that the same mum and dad with our father but yet he said he don't want us in his house, in fact he despise us and we didn't do anything" She shrugged.

What a human being? Just like that! May Allah guild us and protect us all from every evil of one" Hafsat pray.

"Amin" they chorus.

"That remind me, what about deejah is she not back?" Hafsat asked.

"She's back yesterday, but said she will be here tomorrow." Fatima announced.

"She must be tired from the long journey" Reedah utter.