Chapter 20: Chapter 20

The next day, he dressed up in a set of kaftaan and headed out to daddy's office, knowing he would be at his office even though it was a Saturday.

He waited in the reception before he was ushered into the office. "Salamu alaikum," he mouthed as he closed the door behind him. "Wa'alaikumus Salam, muhsin. How many times will I tell you to just come straight to my office whenever you come? You don't have to stress yourself going through all that process before you see me." Muhsin ducked his head as he smiled. "In sha Allah I won't repeat this again. Good morning daddy. How's work going?" He greeted him.

"Work is going great Alhamdulillah. How is the company going now? Hope there isn't any problems concerning the company." Muhsin shook his head, "no daddy, everything is going great now...."

"How's amira and everything? I hope there's no problem." He shook his head again. He felt the nervousness rising as he thought of a way to start approaching his wife's father with what was in his mind. "No, daddy, we're all fine. But...." He allowed the words to hang while he breathed out. He was terrified. Was it hot in there? He felt like he was going to suffocate. He glimpse at daddy, was checking something from his computer. Then he looked at Muhsin and removed his glasses.

Daddy offered him a pleasing smile before he spoke, "please speak up, my son. What do you need?" He asked muhsin. He scratch the back of his head, maybe that was not a great idea. He wasn't even ashamed to come meet his father's wife to ask for something like that? All the reasons not to do that came clashing and he had no way out. He was already in the office and the man was clearly waiting for him to speak up.

He gathered the courage and started talking, hoping daddy would understand. "I wanted to speak with you about... Dalia..." then he paused. "What about her?" Daddy ask him. His heart pounded hard that he thought daddy could hear it. His hands trembled in fear, what would daddy think of him? A selfish person? "I have observed the girl for quite some time now and by Allah I really admire the girl and the right thing to do is to ask for her hand in marriage, that's why I came to ask permission from you." Daddy had a straight face as he listened to his son in law before he switched it with a bright smile.

"Masha Allah, Masha Allah. I am so happy about this, muhsin. And I am very proud of you for approaching me with this talk. But I have to contact her uncle first and talk to him about it. But have you spoken with her about it?" That's when the real fear started. How was he even going to start telling her that when she was dead afraid of his wife? Why didn't he approach her first before coming to daddy? Airhead, he cursed himself. "Well, we don't have any problem in sha Allah. I just came here to ask for permission first."

Daddy nodded his head as he had understood what muhsin said. "You have no idea how happy I am about this. In fact, I will go meet him face to face as soon as I am done with work today. May Allah bless you all. You have my full permission and support for this." Muhsin heaved a sigh of relief before started thanking him. He never knew it would be easy when he was married to his daughter. But daddy was different, he was one of a kind and he would forever be grateful to have him as his father in law.

He left the office after a short while and went to Yusuf's house. He had to tell his cousin about it first before he told anyone. He knew daddy would do him the favour of telling his parents about the news. He wouldn't make the mistake of going to inform his father, knowing there was no way his father would agree for him to do that to Amira, not when her father is his closest friend.

Yusuf gave him a questioning look as they settled down in living room. "What?" Muhsin asked him beaming from ear to ear. "You look so happy this early morning. What's the secret? Or are you going to be a father?" He asked him. Muhsin threw his head back laughing. He had long removed that thought about amira having their baby. "I wish... but this too is a good news but guess," he spoke, excitedly.

"You're making me feel weird, just tell me already." Muhsin chuckled before he adjusted his sitting position to face Yusuf on the three seater they were seated on. "I was from daddy's office just now," he started. "What took you there?" Yusuf asked, for an unnecessary reason, his heart skipped beats. What took him there? If it was business matter he wouldn't be that excited. He stared at muhsin, eager to hear what he has to say. "I asked Dalia's hand in marriage and he agreed. He is going to...." Then Yusuf didn't hear his next statement.

He felt a throbbing pain in his chest as he tried to keep his cool. The girl he had been chasing just one time his cousin was now trying to take her away? He had taken her away if daddy had agreed to it, then muhsin has taken her away from him. Why didn't she tell him there was something between her and muhsin? She accepted a married man over him? That was being selfish, he thought to himself. "Yusuf? Yusuf? What is wrong? I was telling you about the good news but you seem off."

"You asked daddy for dalia's hand in marriage? Why? When you already have a wife?" His words were a demanding and an accusation. Muhsin chuckled out of confusion. "What... what do you mean, Yusuf? I came here thinking you'd support me and be happy for me like I am. Don't you want me to be happy in my life? You know my marriage with Amira is a mess and this girl is my only chance of my happiness."

Yusuf let a long sigh as he rubbed his temple. Maybe he had gone too far. And he had no right to be angry with his cousin since he didn't even think of making that kind of move when the girl doesn't even like him. "You're right, you deserve the happiness in the world and I am very happy for you. May Allah choose what's khair for us. Congratulations brother." Yusuf felt a knot tied in his throat. It hurts, it really did. He had lost her. How did he let her to slip away that easily? He consoled himself and took deep breaths before he smiled.

Muhsin left hours later and he found himself calling Dalia. He had to ask why she chose Muhsin over him. After several trails, she finally picked up. "Salamu alaikum, good afternoon." He heard her voice. "Wa'alaikumus Salam, how have you been, Dalia?" He asked her even though deep down he wanted to vent his anger out. "I have been okay, Alhamdulillah."

"Why didn't you tell me you were in a relationship with my cousin, muhsin?" She heard him say before she had the chance to close her mouth. She was mute for a minute. Then she chuckled, he must be joking, she thought. "Relationship? Why would I be in a relationship with a married man?" She answered his question with another question instead. "Be honest with me here, Dalia. Are you or are you not in a relationship with Muhsin?" He asked her again.

"Why do you suddenly think that I am in a relationship with him? Nothing is between us. He sometimes come to pick me up in school when daddy's driver is not around and that's all." He palmed his face and sighed. What was going on? Muhsin went ahead and asked for her hand in marriage without talking to her about it or was she lying to him? But, why would she lie, to avoid getting him hurt? He ended the call instead. What was he going to tell her next? He had nothing to say. He was abashed and hurt. Just a little more effort he would've gotten the girl but his brother overtook him.

He blamed nobody but himself. If he had made the move muhsin had done, he would be the one rejoicing and praising Allah for fulfilling one of his wishes. Allah knows he wanted to cry out his heart. He knew what he had seen in that girl. He knew how she'd make a perfect wife, a perfect mother if he was the one to marry but he had played with his one chance and now he had lost her, for good.

**

Daddy dropped down from the car and headed into the house. He walked up the stairs as he called mommy's name. She rushed out from her room thinking it was an emergency. "Alhaji? What's wrong? What happened that you are calling me nonstop?" She asked, panicked but his facial expression said otherwise. She followed him into his room as she impatiently waited to hear why he was calling car.

He removed his Babban Riga first and kept it aside. She offered him water from his fridge and he thanked her before gulping it down. She sat beside him on the bed. "Alhaji, you haven't said why you were calling me," she spoke when he kept the glass cup on the side drawer. "It's something to be joyous about so calm down, hajiya. Your daughter has finally found a husband, it's time to rejoice." He happily spoke looking at her. "My daughter? Which of my daughter, alhaji?" She gave him a confused look. "Dalia, of course. Which daughter do you have now that isn't married if not her?"

Mommy smiled at him, "really? This is great news. Yusuf has finally approached you about her." She grinned from ear to ear. He chuckled a bit. "Not him, hajiya. Muhsin, amira's husband came to my office this morning and asked for her hand in marriage and I agreed...."

She scrambled up from the bed as her heart did a loud throb. "Alhaji? It's like I didn't hear you well, you said muhsin? Muhsin? My daughter's husband? and you agreed? No that cannot be. Never! I am the only wife in my husband's house and my daughter also has to be the only one in her husband's house!" She stormed out of the room and headed to dalia's room.

Dalia read the message again. 'Whatever you're going to hear from daddy, I hope you're going to understand.' She stared at the screen as she thought of what he meant. First Yusuf with his weird accusations and questions now Muhsin with a confusing text.

She heard the door bang open which made her to drop the phone on the marbled tiles. She quickly rose to her feet when her eyes caught sight of Mommy. She was in deep waters, mommy has seen the phone.

Mommy looked at her to the phone on the floor, mouth wide open. She moved further into the room and picked up the phone before she read the messages he sent her. "Dalia?" She spoke with a hint of betrayal in it. Dalia stuttered guiltily. She had no excuses for hiding the phone from her. "So it's true. So you've been betraying me, dalia? After all I have done for you, took you as my own child you idiot, useless child."

Mommy's hand hit and she fell with the force of it. The second slap had been much more worse than the first. She hadn't expected mummy's beating to be that painful with so much force. She screamed as loud as she could, yelping for help. She felt the pain from every part of her body.

Daddy finally came to her aid and dragged her away from mommy. "You better stay out of this let me deal with the stupid girl here. So he bought you phone? And that's why you often come home late while you're there hanging around till you succeeded in stealing my daughter's husband? I will hit you to the extent that you wouldn't move a limb." She tried to attack her again but daddy's loud voice stopped her. "Dalia, go downstairs and wait for me, everything will be fine, just go, now." She quickly ran out without another thought.

Mommy also stormed out of the room the moment dalia left. "Where do you think you're going? Get back here, Hajiya. You want to kill someone's daughter because of your selfish interest?"

Mommy walked into her room and closed the door before she locked it. She picked up her phone from the dressing mirror before she searched for amira's number. Few rings, she picked up. "Where were you when your husband went to your father and asked for that stupid girl's hand in marriage? Where were you?" Mommy clamoured. She was beyond angry. She had warned her before about that but Amira played deaf ear now what her mother was afraid of was happening.

"I don't understand you mommy, he did what? Which girl are you talking about?" Amira asked her mother, perplexed. "Your husband, Muhsin went to your father's office this morning and asked for dalia's hand in marriage and your father agreed. Do you understand now, dumb head? You don't know anything but roaming around the city with your stupid friends." Her mother thundered. The phone almost slipped from amira's hand as she rise up from her bed. "Mommy tell me you're joking please. Marriage? With dalia? No please..." Her whole body trembled as she started her water works. She placed her hand on her head while she held with phone to her ear with the other one.

"You better get yourself in this house right now to fight for your right before it's too late." Mommy ended the call and headed to the door when alhaji hadn't stopped knocking.

Amira threw the phone on her bed before she ran to her drawer, grabbed her car keys before she headed out. She hadn't even thought of taking any veil with her. She rushed to her car and entered before she killed the engine and reversed and left the compound after the gate man h