Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Tears filled her eyes as she stared at her husband getting dressed for his wedding Fatiha. He looked over to her and chuckled before he looked away and shook his head. “What’s with the tears again, amira?” He asked not glancing at her.

She looked away and hissed. “You’re seriously asking me that ridiculous question?” She retorted looking at him again. He picked up his phone and car keys before he approached her on the bed. She hurriedly stood to her feet to leave but he beat her to it and caught her hand. “Tell me what’s wrong with you, amira?”

She looked at him, sending daggers his way. “You’re going to your own wedding Fatiha right now; that’s what’s wrong?” She spat. He shrugged his shoulder and let go of her hand. “We spoke about this last night. I was supposed to be with my guest at the hotel yesterday but I spent the whole day with you to make you feel better but you’re acting the same way as you always do. Please learn to be grateful, for once in your life.”

He adjusted his neatly ironed Babban Riga that was hanging on his arm and started walking towards the door. “And better get ready in three hours, my brother will be here to take you to my parents house for the event going on there.”

On his way out to his car, he met Karima walking in from the gate. He hissed and looked away when she attempted to speak to him. Her mouth hung open as she kept peering at him from head to toe. She closed her mouth and shook her head as she continued walking.

Karima stepped into the house and headed straight upstairs to amira’s room as she looked around the clean place. She encountered with amira still in bed wailing like she left her two days ago. She rolled her eyes and hissed. “You’re still crying over this when he has already left looking satisfied and excited about his wedding? Step your game up and change your ways, amira. You showing them that you’re weak will give them access to hurt you more.”

Amira sat up on the bed and took a tissue before she cleaned her face. “What do you want me to do exactly? I've tried every possible way to stop him but he turned down on me.”

Karima hissed as she walked over to amira’s closet. She came back holding a new red dress from amira’s new collections. She laid the beautiful dress on the bed, “you're wearing this today. And I was not talking about you bugging him to call off the wedding. C’mon that is too late and by the looks of it that girl is coming prepared so you better step up your game, that’s what I mean. Else you'll be here in dirt while he’s in her room getting what he has been wanting, a small girl for that matter.”

Her comment was so out of character, so far from what amira knew of karima, she just stared at karima open mouthed. Her brain formulated, no thoughts other than to register that she was shocked by the fact that karima was right. She closed her mouth then looked at the dress before glancing back up to catch karima’s devilish eyes. “I think you’re right. Let me go freshen up.” Amira hurriedly stood up and headed to her bathroom to take a quick bath.

**

Finally the day she has been afraid of was here and she couldn’t halt the dawn ebbing its gradual way into daylight. Everything hinges on what she does before the time, and once done it can never be undone. She would be someone’s wife in less than three hours. She couldn’t think straight or do anything right. Today it would be the difference of running away or officially being married to someone.

Amrah walked in with her friends, Amina and hamida. She heaved a sigh of relief and rose up to embrace them. “I though you weren't coming.” She enfold them in a hug. “Wouldn’t miss your wedding for the world,” Amina retorted as the settled down on Dalia’s bed.

Aunty Sabeeha, which happens to be mama’s younger sister walked in with a tray. She responded to her friend’s pleasantries as she rested the tray on the bed side drawer, close to dalia. “Dalia you should eat now please, it’s almost noon and you haven't eaten anything. Eat if you don’t want your mother to get more worried.” Dalia ducked her head, staring at her henna before she nodded her head.

She took the plate from the tray and kept it on her laps before she dig in. “ what about Asiya? Isn't she coming?” She asked before she took a spoon full of rice. As on cue, Asiya walked in looking jovial as always. She squealed and enfolded dalia in a warm embrace. “Congratulations dear, I'm so happy for you.” She hugged her again before they settled down and started making a productive conversation which helped dalia to be less worried until she heard the knot has been tied and that was the moment she has been dreading.

Adrenaline flooded in her system , it pimped and beats like it was trying to escape. Her heart would explode, she thought. Her eyes wide with fear. Her heart wants to either run out or face the fact that she was under someone else now and she was married to that person she never thought in her wildest dream will be her husband.

“You’re officially someone’s wife, how does it feels like?” hamida hugged her as she squealed. “I’m so happy for you.” She said as she cupped dalia’s face in her hand. “May Allah bless your new home.”

Dalia smiled a little and nodded in response. “I need to pray,” she muttered for the first time ever since she heard the announcement. She walked towards the bathroom while Amrah laid a different new dress for her to wear on the bed.

After she had prayed two rakaats and made her dua’s, she changed into a different dress. “He called when you were praying,” Amina told her as she handed the phone to her.

Her heart flipped as she tried to restrain herself. With trembling hands, she called him back, few rings he answered the call. She looked away from her friends as they keep giving her teasing looks. “Salamu alaikum,” she murmured but loud enough for him to hear. “Wa’alaikumus Salam, how are you today?” He asked and she returned. “I called but you didn't pick. You weren't close to the phone, right?” He cleared his throat, trying to think of a way to announce about the wedding nikkah even though he knew she had been told.

“I was praying.” She interrupted his thought. He cleared his throat again and breathed out. “I know I'm not a romantic man, but I am deeply in love with you and I want to shout how happy I am to finally be husband. And as from today, I am so proud to call you my wife.... My wife... it feels so right doesn't it?”

Dalia’s cheeks suddenly kissed pink like a strong rose, the blooming colour so cute against smooth skin. She looks away as if he was there with her. “I have to go now, I'll see you later, okay?” She responded before ending the call.

She turned to look at her friends just to find out their attention was not with her. She heaved a sigh of relief and adjusted her veil. Hamida helped her with her head tie after she had finished throwing tantrums about not wanting any makeup on her face. “Masha Allah, my daughter looks so beautiful even without makeup,” aunty sabeeha commented the moment she stepped in. “Now come, your husband’s family has arrived and they want to see their bride.” She held dalia’s hand and led the way out.

She met his cousins and aunties that she could audibly remember meeting them when they went to yola months ago. They seem very nice, she commented. She smiled at the several camera’s till her cheek got tired.

Later in the evening, the bride was conveyed to his parents house. Aunty had never been happy, not even when he got married the first time. The girl she had been admiring was now her daughter in law, a dream come true for her. “Muhsin really knows how to choose a wife, she’s so beautiful, Masha Allah. May Allah bless their union and bring peace to them,” aunty’s elder sister, aunty Raliya which happens to be Yusuf’s mother commented and the ladies in the room chorused in union.

Dalia ducked her head more under her veil as she smiled. She had never felt uncomfortable in her life till that moment she was with her in laws. “Salma, take her to his room to pray before dinner gets ready.” Salmah stood to her feet and helped dalia up on her feet before they left the living room.

Dalia heaved a sigh when they weren't in contact with any guest anymore. “Now you can unveil your face please. I've been wanting to see you since I couldn't come to kuje and you refuse to allow me to unveil you. Now there’s no one here, you can remove the veil unless you want to pray that way.” Dalia chuckled softly before she raised the veil and kept it on her head. Salmah squealed and enfold her in a tight embrace. “I'm so sorry,” she murmured as she shifted back. “You’re just so pretty Masha Allah. No wonder he couldn’t stop complaining when aunty told him he can’t go see you earlier.” Dalia smiled sheepishly and ducked her head. “Thank you,” she finally spoke. “Now go pray, I'll be back with hijab and prayer mat.” She let’s go of dalia’s hand before she sauntered out of the room while dalia looked around the captivating room. She beamed a little before she sashayed into the bathroom.

She walked out to meet the room filled with his cousins. She paused and smiled at them, fiddling with her fingers. If only they knew how shy she was. “I’ve spread the mat for you already. You should pray now and then eat. Your husband is already waiting for you in daddy’s living room. He looks so eager....” Salmah smacked fauzah on her laps to shut her from speaking. Fauzah glared at her as she massaged the place salmah smacked her.

Dalia smiled sheepishly as she walked passed them to where fauzah showed her. She prayed isha, before they urged her to eat and get ready for the moment she has been dreading; to meet him. How was she even going to look at him? The thought of now being his wife made things worse for her. “You'll be okay,” salmah soothed when she observed how dalia was nervous.

She walked into the living room as she looked back to see his cousins closing the door. She sighed and slowly turned to look at him. He peered at her through soft eyes that always soothed her.

He has eyes as open and honest as any child, a warmth and safety. In that moment she found home, her place to find company when the cold winds blew. Even in the night, his eyes lit the way.

His eyes was one of happiness growing, much as a spring flower opens. She could see how it came from deep inside to light his eyes and spread into every part of him. A person smiles with more than their mouth, and she heard it in his voice, in the choice of his words and the way he relaxed. It was beautiful.

“Why are you still standing there? Don’t you know how eager I am to hold you?” The way his lips lifted upwards. The way his teeth were perfectly aligned. The warm glow his happiness gives. His smile was a ray of sunshine. Her soft lips stretched into a smile as he walked over to her slowly and pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her. His embrace was warm, and his big, strong arms seemed very protective when wrapped around her frail body. The world around her melted away as she squeezed him back, not wanting the moment to end.

He moved back and held her soft hands. He stared at her as she lowered her gaze smiling. “No one can admire you as much as I do. I think my fondness of you is strong enough to survive the arctic cold and tropical heat any relationship could come across.”

She tried to hide the heat rising from her cheek but failed. She looked at him beaming. “And you said you weren't a romantic man.” He raised his brows, “what? I'm not. These words are coming straight from my heart, I promise.” She chuckled softly and nodded. “Fauzah told me your father wants to see us....” She looked up at his face as she spoke calmly.

“We’re leaving now, don’t worry.” he smiled and gave her forehead an affectionate kiss before he led the way to the door. He paused in the doorway and looked at her. “I love to look into your eyes. They reflect my happiness.” Dalia suppressed a smile. He could tell from her blush that she really liked his cheesy lines. Her usual even brown had a rosiness to it, it was cute.

He led the way to his father’s study where he met both his parents waiting for them. Dalia quickly freed her had from his hold as she ducked her head, embarrassed.

Daddy ushered them in and they settled down. “Alhamdulillah, I am really happy for you both. May Allah strengthen the knot that keeps your hearts together and blesses two hearts faith and love for each other. May this marriage last as long as eternity and bring endless joy to everyone close to you. May Allah shower you two with everlasting peace and happiness. And please muhsin you have to treat both your wives equally and fairly. We have spoken everything about this two days ago, I do not have to repeat myself.” Muhsin nodded his head smiling.

Dalia swallowed hard while her heart pounded against her ribcage. She got so caught up with him that she managed to forget about his first wife. “I'm wishing you a happy and long marriage. Now you should take your wife and go home.” Muhsin thanked them both before they bade them good night and left.

They find themselves gaping up in front of the house. He helped her with her suitcase into the house. She continued following him in while she wondered where her room was. They walked pass his room and amira’s room before they skipped another room into a living room. “This is your living room,” he told her as he continued walking. “There’s two rooms in here and both are all yours, for starters.” He unlocked the master bedroom and ushered her in.

She smiled as she looked around the appealing view. “Do you like it?” He asked and she briskly nodded. She settled down on the edge of the bed looking at him, she couldn't help but look at the view standing before her. She watched as he removed his cap and kept it on the mirror before he walked over to her and kneel in front her. He placed his hand on her hand and her skin tingles at his touch, her breathing becomes shorter and faster. He smiled softly at her. “We should pray first then eat, but before that....”

She felt a chill travel down her back as his warm breath reaches her neck. He kisses her just below the ear. His kisses dot up her neck, until he reaches her lips. He enraptures her in a heavy kiss until they heard an intruder barge in on them. Dalia pushed him off her and scrambled up.

She hid behind him moving backwards when amira walked further into the room. Anger boiled deep in her system as she recapped the position she had met them when she barged in. There was someone he could kiss now other than her? What was next now? So he was unfaithful to her? This was what he wanted?

“You traitor. How could you? After all the love I have showed you, Muhsin? You still married her? You really did? I... I don’t even know why I spit myself open for someone who would never even bother to show me the thread...”

“Amira, cut this out and kindly walk out of this room before I lose my temper, I'm warning you, do not try anything stupid now.” She glared at him before she averted her gaze to dalia. “And you, I have warned you before haven't I? But you still married him, right? Since you chose the hard way, I assure you dalia, you will regret knowing someone named muhsin. You will regret stepping your feet in my house and with your legs, you will leave this house for, I assure you that.”

“What sort of nonsense is this, amira? Are you okay?”

“You have not seen anything yet...” She furiously moved to the bed and dragged the whole sheets down with the pillows. She took the bedside lamp and smashed it on the floor before she moved to where her suitcase were arranged and scattered everything. “You have just started seeing my madness in this house, dalia. Just wait... I have more coming....” Amira stormed out of the room leaving the door open.

He hissed irked and walked over to the door before he closed it. She slumped down on her knees as the tears continued to cascade down. He knelt down before her and held her shoulders with his strong hands. “You see this was what I was afraid of. I can't stand this...”

“Listen to me, dalia. She can’t do anything to you, I assure you. I have promised to protect you from any kind of harm, no one dares touch you in watch.”

“Well... what if you aren't here?” She asked furiously. “Look, I can’t do this I've told you, I can't... she... I just can't....”

He stared at her for a long moment before he enfolds her in a gentle hug, and she buries her face in his shoulder, sobbing quietly.

A long moment later she pulls away, smiling a little through her tears. “Come, let’s go to my room. You need some rest,” he told her before he helped her up. He held her hand in his before they sauntered out of the room.

Even after they have settled down in his room, she hadn't stopped the tears while she continued lamenting about amira. It took him hours before he could convince her and later on she fell asleep in his arms. He smiled at the view as he tried to lay her down on the bed. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead before he covered her body with the duvet.

He loves her and he promised to protect her fearlessly, powerfully and unconditionally always.